Greetings from Sozi, Kalangala District, Ssese Islands, Uganda.   Tuesday 1st April

How the time has flown.  We return to UK in 10 days time!!  Land in Heathrow 11th April at about 7:30 am and get a coach to Gloucester where we will be picked up and driven home.

We had such a storm last night. Best/worst one since our arrival - but we have all survived!!   Just a tree or two down!

We ran our first course last week - the focus of our visit here this time.  It was a great success.  We had 7 students who learned the basics of carpentry on Monday and Tuesday producing 4 benches between them.  Wednesday and Thursday were on the basics of brick laying, and after practising making corners they added 2 courses of bricks to the classroom walls. Friday was supposed to be on the use of the brick machine but John had a stomach infection which laid him low all week so they completed the benches by sanding and varnishing.  The students were resident in the dormitory and fed 3 meals a day, for which we had a local lady to help prepare the more African aspects of the food!!  At the evaluation session on Friday afternoon the students gave us good feedback which has given us confidence and confirmation for future courses when we return later in the year.  We now have a better idea of the cost of each course and hope to look for sponsors when we are home.

Our female dog gave birth to 7 puppies Saturday night and all are doing well.  We have sold 2 of our bigger pigs and expect the 5 little piglets to go today. We are giving one of the mother pigs away to Pastor Fred who lost a pig recently. He will give us back a piglet or 2 in the future.

We are still having enormous difficulty with the paperwork but ever hopeful that things will happen before we leave.!!! Well maybe.

This Sunday we were preaching at the Kalangala Pentecostal Church back to back services at 8 and 10.30am.  My voice was tired at the end!!  Today we are speaking at the Scripture Union of the Ssese Agricultural College in Kalangala.  Next Tuesday I am going to Namulanda  (near Entebbe) to join Pastor Margaret as she launches her new ministry base.  I am hoping to call in at the environment office on Wed morning to get our Used Permit??? before heading back to the island and last minute packing!

These last few days are being spent cleaning and tidying round and leaving things packed safely away.  We still have to confirm that the family staying on our land will oversee things while we are back in UK.

We look forward to seeing you when we return and hope that we will be able to arrange presentations of all we have achieved out here this time.

Thank you for your prayers and support, it has been so good knowing you are with us!