It was a long trip but it all "prayed" off!  I have a new best friend, Alyssa, who is 24, lives with the  Coggins and is raising 4-mo old baby Micah (which means "Who is like God?").  I have been able to help Alyssa by taking care of Micah--one of my favorite things to do.  Today I visited the Sanctuary of Grace school and delivered letters to the 4th graders from my 4th graders at VS.  I was amazed at how the kids couldn't take their eyes off me and surrounded me.  Love, Ashley

Hello, Family and Friends! 
This was our first morning waking up in Gulu.  The sunrise was spectacular.  We were awakened at 5:00 am by the sound of roosters crowing in chorus--not what I hear in Fayetteville. I had to laugh.  They crowed about every 10 minutes.  I figure it was God's snooze button!!  We are living in a hut on the property.  Lisa and Keith live in another hut.  Everyone else--Alyssa, Micah, and the Coggin's two adopted sons, Elisha (16) and Jonathon (18)--lives in the "big house."  Elisha cooks all our meals--biscuits in the morning and killer dinners at night.   A generator gives us power for three hours in the morning and three at night.  That means no AC--doors just stay open all day and night until we all go to bed.  Water on the compound is safe to drink--no ice, however, b/c generator is not on long enough to make ice.  Sleeping under mosquito nets is quite the challenge--especially for those middle of the night trips to the bathroom--with a flashlight. 

Bill has had minimal medical activity today.  Expecting more people from nearby villages to come by tomorrow to his clinic on the doorstep of the Coggin "big house." Donna is helping Lisa type a curriculum she willl use at a new school in Kitgum--a district to the north of Gulu.  We are typing it in so Lisa can customize per the African culture.  Ashley is babysitting Micah.  Ben slashed the yard today (a swing blade to cut grass).  He was in heaven--didn't know it was work!! 

Keith Coggin has been in Kampala the entire time we have been here trying to work thru the bureaucracy of getting clearance on a crate that contains a pre-fab buliding which will be a new classroom for the school.  After days of red tape (and you wouldn't believe it if I told you), he got clearance.  The truck will arrive Sat morning.  The crane will get here tonight.  Keith is on his way home.  Called a few hours ago, however, to say that the wheel--yes, entire wheel--came off his SUV.  The roads in Uganda are so bad that they tear up the vehicles.  Our driver just left (8 pm) to get Keith who is still sitting on the side of the road--a mere 2 hours away.  Keith was not injured, thank God. 

Any of you had a rough day?????

We leave for Kenya on Sunday. 

Y'all take care; we'll talk to you when we get a chance.  Enjoy the pictures.  Love,