October 25, 2005

Dear Friends,
 
It is almost six months since our team was in Lira, Uganda.  You may remember that our goal was to build 10,000 stoves while we were there, but that we actually completed only about 350.  However, we hired three people to continue our project, JK, Mary and Francis.  Mathew, with All Nations Christian Care, has continued to supervise. T oday I received this e-mail from JK:

We have made 6,028 stoves in all. That is our achievement. We hope to make another 6,000 in three months time. Thank you. Greetings to Christine and Chuck. All of my companions have also greeted you. They are happy in their work. (and hi from ken) . Yours truly, Okeng Jk

Peter again.  I am so proud of our Lira team has been so successful!  You have no idea how difficult it is to accomplish things in Africa.  I am also pleasantly surprised to receive an e-mail from JK.  E-mail in Lira was as slow as any place in the world, taking me 45 minutes some times just to log in to my account.  They were digging trenches **by hand** to install a new fiber optic cable while I was there.  Perhaps it is hooked up now.  What a contrast of old and new cultures.
 
Ken is in Lira right now.  I think he helped JK set up an e-mail account and why the "and hi from ken" is in the letter.  Ken has spent a month in Eastern Turkey and two weeks in Armenia promoting the rocket stove.  So since he was "in the neighborhood," he dropped by Lira to check on the situation there.  I am anxious to hear from him about the camps and the LRA.  I have read several accounts of the weakening of the rebels and the hope for peace in Northern Uganda.  When I hear from him, I will send you a report -- better than reading it in the newspaper :-)
 
This last Sunday I signed thank you notes for those of you who made donations.  We're late, I know.  Thank you for your patience with us.
 
Thank you all again for your interest and support.  I hope to write you again with more good news.
 
Sincerely,
 
Peter