the week Africa got cold

This week has been unseasonably COLD and wet for Uganda. I know what you are all thinking… “oh you poor things”, but seriously it has been cold. We are in fact experiencing African winter. Monday was the grand opening of the babies home at Suubi and it was by far the coldest, dampest day we have experienced in our 6 months in Uganda. No one ever knows the actual temperature here, so we look it up on the internet and we read that the low for the day was 16 degrees Celsius. It felt WAY colder. Even as I’m writing this blog I’m wearing socks for the second time in six months. With all that being said, I still managed to get a sun burn this past week on the one day the sun did shine☺

Matt has been busy organizing things down at the production unit to make life run more smoothly. He has been compiling every product that has ever been made in the shop and creating job packets. Each packet will contain an overview of the job, a drawing of the product, a cut list and a list of material. This will hopefully save much time in the future. Matt and Gerry spent last Sunday setting up a new security system for the production unit. This was a new challenge for both Gerry and Matt, but so far so good. This will hopefully save the shop much money. Even with a security guard, many items have going ‘missing’. Another huge accomplishment at the production unit this week has been the purchase and setup of the shop’s new generator (40 KW John Deere). They are now off the main power grid, which was unreliable and charging the shop FAR more than they have been using. The shop can run on the generator for a 9-hour day at 2.3L of diesel/hour. This will save them loads of money as the cost the cost of diesel for 9 hours is less than the cost of electricity and the workers will be provided with constant electricity, which equals greater productivity. Great week for the production unit!

Down at the babies home we are excited that the Grand Opening is done. Now we can really settle in and focus 100% on the babies. The new schedule is going wonderfully and my nannies are being amazing with all the change and crazy things I’m asking them to do. The babies are getting smarter as they are now playing with playdough, being read to and receiving intentional interaction among other things. They are also feeling more settled. I also, am blessed to go to town once a week for meetings and of course to get my preemie fix in☺

An update on Meg for all you faithful blog readers – she rolled over yesterday for the first time!!!!

We have been missing Canada as we are hearing small tidbits of the Olympics – makes us proud to be Canadian, but also miss home a little too☺

Love to you all!