David spent more hours yesterday trying to pinpoint all the details of food budgeting. Our food prices are rising astronomically along with the rest of the world’s. The Global Food Crisis is certainly hitting us here as items that we use in large quantities, such as maize flower (cooked up as breakfast porridge in hundreds of cups daily) have doubled in price. That hurts. We’re tightening our belts farther. Schools all over Uganda are adding surcharges for feeding or requiring parents to bring rice and beans along with their children. Since we exist to SERVE the poorest of the poor we don’t see surcharges as a very good option for our families who are already hit even harder than us by the food crisis. We are trying to think creatively about menu shifting (to cheaper food items which are still nutritious where possible) and creative buying options.

David spent still more time at government offices in Bundibugyo tracking down a water tank and reimbursement for football costs. He arrived home just in time for chapel where our deputy Were taught the students. Then it was more meetings for food issues, budgeting issues, issues related to the loss of funds from last week’s theft. He arrived home at six, exhausted and discouraged. One step forward, ten steps back. This is the first job I’ve seen David in that can actually get him down - no doubt it’s the spiritual component of oppression and attack.

Home wasn’t a reprieve as water had overflowed from our ceiling tank flooding through one ceiling so David went up to the rat-filled attic to deal with the water. By the time he was ready for his shower, a staff member showed up to tell him that staff were quietly striking by refusing to eat their food at dinner - due to issues with staff food the last few days. And the kitchen manager showed up to ask; what should I do?? A huge fire flared up a few minutes later on the other side of the fence and David biked over to investigate. The newspapers here have been reporting that recent school fires in Kampala have been linked to the ADF, a rebel group that has recently been moving in our area and which comes over the border from Congo. So we are on the alert for suspicious sounds and sights, not the least of which is fire.

David did finally get his dinner - and a none too shabby one either, including home made coffee ice cream and chocolate chip/craisin/pecan cookies (I’ve got to cheer him up somhow!) But it was out again for problem solving power issues during evening preps when David discovered that someone had shut off a breaker in the power room, shorting the system temporarily.

Today we leave for a few days away with the team near Queen Elizabeth National Park. We are ready for the break but hesitant to leave. With nearby rebel movements, power, food and water issues, and last night’s teacher issues, we feel concerned. Yet we know we badly need this break and possibly even a quick trip to Kampala to check my thyroid levels as I have been extremely tired again. Pray for us to rest well, pray for the school to run smoothly in our absence. Pray for our hearts to grow in faith.