News Flash! Michael Gillette the Courier to Arrive in Uganda Monday!

We are so excited!

Everything is having a happy ending. Stated differently, "for we know all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes."

Last week I contacted my Audiologist, Donna Eskwitt, at the Riverside Medical Clinic (she is wonderful) to tell her the story of our break in. One of the things that was taken was my sound processor. It might be a surprise to many that I am deaf on my left side as a result of treatment for Meniere's Disease. One very nice thing that improved the quality of my life immensely was the bone implant conduction surgery developed by Cochlear (Here is a link to more information Cochlear Americas). The system has two parts. The first is the titanium post which was implanted into my skull (Hey, this was not taken during the robbery).  (That is supposed to be a joke). 2) The second is the sound processor which attaches to the post. The sound processor, also known as a BAHA, was in my purse which was stolen. Without it, I can't hear sounds on my left side.

After contacting Donna at about 11:30 a.m. on Monday the 9th of September (did I mention that Donna is amazing?) she swung into action, calling Cochlear. She found out that the warranty had expired one day after the break in, so the BAHA could be replaced. She filled out paperwork, emailed it to me, and filed the claim to receive the new BAHA that same day. She also convinced Cochlear to overnight the BAHA to her. Tuesday she programmed it for me based on my records and packaged it up for shipping via Federal Express. When have you heard of such speedy response from a medical care professional? (Did I mention that Donna is incredible? )

This is where the story bogs down. Things continued to be pushed along by Donna, a fantastic professional, She coordinated with FedEx to deliver a package to us in Gulu. It was coming down to finding the elusive storefront that was supposed to receive packages from FedEx versus shipping it to Kampala, the capital city which is located a good 6 hours away. Jeff and I had some interesting interactions with shop keepers here in Gulu trying to explain what FedEx is. Not one of the-20- some thing shop owners had ever heard of something called a FedEx. So it seemed that shipping to Kampala and having them hold the package for me until I was able to get there would be way to go.

But wait, there is more!

Meanwhile, the Outreach Department at The Grove Community church was also trying to find a way to get things to us, including a replacement for my stolen computer. A team of staff members, including Andy Gibeault, Crystal Niermann, Joe Hobbs, and Adam McIntyre (did I mention how outstandingly creative they are?) were brainstorming to find a solution. They had the idea of sending someone to deliver things to us. After calculating costs, finding a super low fare available for use in doing humanitarian work, and looking at other logistics, they determined that sending a someone from church was the best option. (Did I mention that the Outreach department is made up of amazingly clever people?).

Now it all boiled down to this: who was available to come to Uganda on short notice? This person must have had the required yellow-fever immunization which is in short supply. He/she must also not mind the long 2 day trip each way, and be flexible with respect to logistics on the Uganda side of the ocean. Here enters another hero of my story - Michael Gillette. Michael is a college-aged man who has been to Uganda on short term mission treks twice during high school, and was available for just the right time period before beginning a new job on October 2. Besides, Michael loves Uganda and has a true servant's heart. (Did I mention that Michael is a remarkable young man?)

Once the decision was made to send Michael, I went onto Amazon and, using some of the money that had been donated by kindhearted and generous friends to help us, ordered some things to replace other items that had been stolen.

My sister, Ginny Scarbrough, (yes, another stupendous human being) ran around in the heat wave collecting glasses, the sound processor, and other important things we absolutely needed. These included a jumbo sized bag of chocolate chips because my "baked in a frying pan" cookies are such a hit over here. Kari Gillette (who happens to be incredible) told me that there were a few people who wanted to know what they could send to us, so I can't wait to see what arrives. (Did I mention that I know some of the most remarkable people alive?)

Meanwhile,  my son, Jacob, (a young man who is second to none -- yes, I agree that I am a little bit partial, but I know that everyone else who knows him believes the same way) ordered a new computer for me. He was a wise shopper and found what is almost never heard of - a $300 off sale on an Apple computer. Amazing. He is also coordinating the receipt of all of the things that will be delivered, and making sure that they are ready to be picked up Saturday afternoon by Andy Gibeault (you know it already, an incredibly compassionate man).

From there, Michael will leave Sunday morning from Riverside and we will meet him Monday night in Kampala. Sigh.

It is 2:00 a.m. Uganda time and sleep eludes me. I keep thinking of all the things that are falling into place, all the people who have worked so hard to make this happen, and how fortunate I am to be surrounded by people who are willing to put so much time and effort into something to help us out. Unworthy, yet loved. People showing up to be the hands and feet of Jesus. People who care. I am blessed.

Thank you,

September 2019 Newsletter

We emailed our September Newsletter but wanted to post it here for those who have not signed up for our email updates. If you would like to be added to our list, enter your contact information here and we will include you next time: https://tinyurl.com/WeinsteinSignUps

It seems like a long time since we began our Journey to Uganda, but other times it seems like just yesterday. Thank you to everyone who has and continues to encourage and support us during our "Journey to Uganda". Whether you are someone who has committed to supporting us monthly, has provided a one time financial contribution, showed up to help us pack, consistently prays, left money on my porch to buy a treadle sewing machine, donated and organized sewing supplies, sends emails and/or texts to check in with us, - each one of you is an important component of our Journey. It is just like a body, where every part is important (see Corinthians 12: 15-20). We can't be successful without everyone doing their part. So, thank you for being a part of our crazy lives right now. We can't believe that we are in Uganda, writing this on a Saturday morning while most of you are sound asleep on the other side of the world.

We are calling Gulu, Uganda our home for the next year or two. Gulu is a thriving town of 150,000 people located in the northern part of the country. There is construction everywhere as sidewalks are being installed, drainage features constructed, and roads paved.

What could possibly go wrong? We left our home at 3:30 on Wednesday August 14 and reached our destination of Gulu Uganda on August 16 at approximately 6:00 p.m. with nothing remarkable to report. What could go wrong? We had the backing of friends, relatives, our home church (The Grove) and our sending agency (Harvest Alliance). We were "prayed up" and knew that we were walking as God desired. What could go wrong? After all, we had been to Uganda a total of 12 times between the two of us so we knew what we were getting into. What could possibly go wrong? If you read our blog (Weinsteins2Uganda.blogspot.com) you already know that 2 days after we moved into our house, while we were sleeping (and apparently were helped to keep sleeping by a whiff of a gas such as chloroform) someone entered our house and took everything of monetary value. If you haven't already, please go to the blog for details. Our house was a hive of activity the next few days. People we knew from Gulu Bible Community Church stopped by with hugs. Church leadership intervened on our behalf with the police. People listened, talked, and let us know that though we were miles away from our loved ones, we were loved right here in the midst of it all by the locals.  When the news hit our home turf, we received so many texts and emails with expressions of love and concern that we are still overwhelmed by the knowledge that so many people care about us. Although I am still processing this experience, we are moving on with the things we have come to Uganda to do.

Tea at Three I wanted to invite a few of my friends over to surprise them with the plans that are taking shape for the sewing ministry. So I did. Did I know that tea meant a full feast? No, I did not. Fortunately, I have Evelyn in the house. Evelyn, who is helping me learn to cook the Ugandan way, also prevents me from making a major social error such as only having tea and the lovely chocolate chip cookies that I was going to prepare on the stove top. She helped me through the menu planning mode and we ended up with a meal fit for a queen. Pasted beef, fried pork, millett, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes; enough food for everyone and leftovers. When my friends showed up, they were wearing traditional Ugandan garments and brought gifts of cassava root, bananas, roasted g-nuts, and beans. I went back to my bedroom and put on the dress that they had surprised me with 2 years ago. We had fun eating, and I showed them the two treadle machines that they and other ladies in the area will be using. After the excitement of seeing the space for the sewing machines (I think I'll call it a studio) we settled down to visit. And what do you do when visiting at a tea? Why, shuck beans, of course! I love it here!

Age is Just a Number In Uganda babies, children, teenagers, and young adults are seen everywhere. The absence of older people (especially men) was something that struck me on my first visit. In Uganda, the median age is less than 16 years old. (The median age is the age where half the population is younger and half the population is older.) In contrast, the U.S. median age is almost 38 years old. A few weeks ago we met a young pastor and his first comment was,"I heard that a couple was coming to Gulu, I thought you would be younger. Maybe in your 20's or 30's." Another time we heard that the church leaders were looking forward to us sharing our wisdom, knowledge, and experience from our more than seventy years of life. We are both "only" 62 years young.  It is a matter of perspective. Back in Riverside, we are following a generation of those who grew up in the Great Depression and fought in World War II. We've respected and learned life lessons from them. It is a hard concept for us to grasp, but over here, we are those role models. A pretty weighty realization. These boys fashioned cars out of plastic bottles, using bottle tops for the wheels. Children at the Gulu Bible Community Church Preschool Jeff is with Stephen, the young man who we have sponsored through World Vision since he was a child.

Eye Can See Clearly Now Three years ago I started bringing reading glasses to Uganda as part of the High School Mission Trek. This ministry was first started by Ron Richmond of the Grove and glasses have now been given out in Mexico, South America, Belize, Thailand, and Uganda. These non-prescription magnifying type glasses are a blessing to help people read again, reduce eye strain, and allow them to do close up work like sewing and manual labor. When we arrived in Anaka for a three day visit, Pastor Alfred had included time for glasses distribution. We had not brought any glasses with us on this trip, but I let him know that the Adult or High School Teams would bring them next year. He said that there were over one hundred pairs left from the High School visit in July. I was touched when he wanted me to give them out because this was my ministry. I hadn't realized just how very much I had become associated with eyeglasses in the community. Working with Shirley Moran and church volunteers we were able to hand out thirty pairs of glasses to the community members in just ninety minutes. What a blessing to be able to be used as a part of such a life-changing ministry.

On the Road Again During our first three weeks our good friend Shirley Moran from Kentucky joined us. She helped us settle into our new home and travelled with us around the country. Together we visited the Grove's church plants in the towns of Adjumani and Anaka. We attended Sunday services and led programs and interacted with the community in both locations. In Adjumani we visited one of the refugee camps that is inhabited by the Dinka people from South Sudan. Over one million refugees have moved into Uganda from this country immediately to the north. We met with the church's youth soccer team, Yvonne and Shirley led a Women's Program, and Jeff talked with the Men's Leadership Board. In Anaka we visited the church's grain storehouse, and walked through the market area praying for the vendors and their businesses. Yvonne and Shirley met with the women of the church and taught a lesson on how they are God's handiwork, created by Him for a purpose.  Jeff held a reading glasses give away and met with the men to talk about leadership and the roles that men need to play in the church, the family, and the community. It was very rewarding to see how these young churches have grown and the impact that they are having on their communities. During the programs for the women at both churches, ladies were given jewelry which had been donated to remind them of how precious and unique they are.

No Prior Experience Needed by Jeff Before we left Riverside I had several people ask me what I would be doing in Uganda. My answer was usually…I’m not sure, or whatever the Church needs. Yvonne knew she wanted to teach sewing and use that as a ministry to fellowship and help generate income for the women. But I was a bit uncomfortable and unsure about what God had planned for my life in Uganda. After meeting with the leadership of Gulu Bible Community Church we are now “Church Mission Specialists”. Our roles will be to offer expertise and guidance to evangelism, church planting, discipleship, and leadership development. We will also visit and support the pastors and churches planted by the Grove in Lira, Anaka, and now Adjumani. Pastor Martin Onen has proposed his “Vision 2040 which has a goal to plant 10,000 churches in ten African nations in the next twenty years. Yvonne and I will play a small part in this plan as we do research in best Christian practices, look to build relationships with agencies in different countries, and establish systems that can be replicated and used for trainings. In addition to her sewing ministry Yvonne has been asked to use her computer skills to train the new pastors, help with websites, newsletters, and report writing. I will use my background to assist with developing business and leadership classes, and helping with programs for the men in the community. So, if you ask me next year what I did during my time away from Riverside, I think this will be my answer.

Ways to connect with us: Our Blog: Weinsteins2Uganda.Blogspot.com Facebook Group: Weinsteins2Uganda Email: mrsweinstein@fastmail.fm We love to chat: use FaceBook Messenger To Donate: http://harvestallianceintl.org/contact/

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

I have a love-hate relationship with technology. This evening I’m deep into the hate side of the equation. I guess that wonderfully written post, so thoughtfully crafted, was not meant to be seen. This post might be better, or perhaps worse, but I’m moving on.
Moving on. That’s what we’re trying to do. We knew when we were planning to come to Uganda there would be a time of transition. We hadn’t planned on unwanted visitors in the middle of the night as part of the transition, but many of life’s largest growth times come with the unplanned. So we are interested to see see how God is going to grow us.
A few mornings ago this was the verse on my daily calendar:

That is the image that is filling my mind, replacing the thoughts and images from the unwanted visitors.

The three questions that I am asked:

Question: What address should be used for mailing letters and packages
Answer: None. There is no reliable delivery/ mail service to Gulu. Even Amazon doesn’t deliver here.

Question: How are you managing without your prescription drugs?
Answer: The carryon suitcase stolen was found on the backside part of the property, contents intact.

Question: How can I make a financial contribution to replace items that were stolen.
Answer: A dear friend, Chasity Testa of The Grove Church, has put together a fundraising effort. It is posted on Facebook, but I’ll copy/paste the information here:


Friends! Prior to this post I have NEVER asked anyone to pull out their wallet and donate cash to anyone or any organization. Our dear friends , Jeff Weinstein and Yvonne Weinstein left the comfort of their life in California to live for a year in Gulu, Uganda. They expected to love on, teach and empower the citizens in their village and surrounding villages.

What you will read is that after just a few days there, they were burglarized while they slept. It is still unclear as to how this happened. It appears as though someone they trusted, set them up. I know that I could be writing about two missionaries that were murdered here and I am so grateful this is not the case.

The reality is that everything of value, including a cochlear implant processor($4500), all of their medicine for a year, all of their cash, credit cards and literally everything of value was stolen from them. THE WEINSTEINS ARE STAYING in Uganda. They will take what the enemy intended to harm them and turn into good.

There are two ways you can donate: You can send your donation to me (ANY AMOUNT) and I will combine all together and take to The Grove Community Church and it will be wired directly to them and you will be provided a receipt for tax purposes or you can go to the following link :

http://harvestallianceintl.org/contact/

This will send the money directly to their account (MUST MENTION WEINSTEIN) as well and will also provide a tax deductible donation. Will you help me love on this family that has just suffered immeasurable loss. I cannot imagine the defeat they felt as they begin their life in a foreign land. I am free to answer ANY and all questions that you may have. I RAISE A HALLELUJAH EVEN IN THE MYSTERY!

Things that Go Bump in the Night

We arrived in Entebbe after 22 hours of flying, as scheduled, and had a rather uneventful 7 hour drive to Gulu. Little did we know that things would become eventful in an unwanted way before too much time went by.

Even though it was late in the day, we were greeted by a couple from Gulu Bible Community Church who gave us a warm welcome and a tour of our new house. Since it was not furnished, we spent the first few days in a hotel in Gulu. We purchased the bare minimum of furniture: beds for 2 of the rooms, 10  plastic patio chairs, and a few kitchen supplies such as dishes and cups. We were beginning to unpack the suitcases and incredibly large duffle bags; Shirley describes them as large enough to put a body in. Thoughts of the many people who had contributed sewing items and money to make this trip a reality warmed my heart. Although we so far from making this house a home, it felt natural to be here. 

Unfortunately, something happened to make us feel very uncomfortable and insecure in our house. We were asleep the night of August 21 when we were awakened at approximately 3:00 a.m. by the sounds of men shouting and fighting outside. Jeff ran into the living room to see the front doors wide open. He called out for me, concerned that I might be outside. I ran up to him and saw that the strong padlock we carefully use each night to secure the front door was missing. We ran into the hallway leading to the bedrooms, locking the hallway door behind us. On the way to our bedroom at the end of the hall, we woke up Shirley. We three locked ourselves into the unlit bedroom, armed with the only things at hand: a can of mousse and a spray bottle of DEET.

By this time, things had grown quiet outside. Jeff peered around the window and saw someone with a bow and arrow. He whispered to me to phone Robert, our faithful friend and driver for long distance travel. “Robert, please come! There were men shouting and arguing, Jeff saw someone with a bow and arrow, and we don’t know where our guard is”. It took about 10 minutes for Robert to arrive.  He ascertained that no one was on our property, then knocked on our front door.  “Baba Jeff and Momma Yvonne, it’s safe to come out” were some of the most beautiful words ever spoken.

We turned on all the lights in the house and found that someone had gone into every room of the house, taking everything of value. The mini photo printer- taken from the kitchen counter. My MacBook Pro - taken in its case from the living room. Shirley's backpack was missing. And from our bedroom they took a number of items. A quilted case containing external USB drives which had been right next to my head. My purse. A large suitcase partially unpacked. A carry on suitcase with prescription bottles  needed for a year, and the meter for measuring the INR of my blood. All gone. 

And all then cash we had on hand was gone. Poof!  Just like that. 

And it slowly dawned on me, My purse contained not only cash, my passport and credit cards, but my $4500 sound processor which allows me to hear from my deaf side. 

The guard was in the guard house adjacent to the only entrance to the property. 

Robert and the guard walked the property, and came to the gazebo which had been designed to look like a hut. From the outside looking in, Jeff and Robert could see many of our belongings thrown around.  For example, all of the contents of the large suitcase from our bedroom were dumped out and rifled through.

Robert went to the police station and paid for the police to come out to do an investigation. When the sun rose, he went back to pickup the officers He also picked up a police dog and handler. Fingerprints were taken from any flat surfaces. When we were allowed to retrieve belongings from the crime scene, we found that Shirley’s backpack was untouched except for her share of the cash she was carrying, Jeff’s backpack was gone - except that his passport had been taken out and left behind on the floor.  My computer was taken, as were my USB backup drives. And my purse was gone, including all of its contents.
People from the church were called early on and began showing up to lend us support. Tim Cypher, another missionary located in Gulu, heard and came with coffee and muffins. We were surrounded by loving and caring people throughout the day.
Later that day Jeff and Robert were called to the police station to give their statements. The security guard and his friend were arrested as the prime suspects.

It has been an odd week, with the security guard and friend being bailed out by the landlord, who began pointing his finger at Robert as the criminal. The investigation is still ongoing. There is little hope that we will recover our money and possessions.

We still have many unanswered questions.
How did the thugs get the key to our front door padlock?
How did all three of us sleep through the activity of people going through the house carrying things. And what about the large number of the things that were taken from our room? That must have taken some time. One theory is that they used some sort of gas to put us into a sound sleep.
Where was the guard during the time they broke into our house, removed our belongings, and went through our possession?. What didn’t he check on our safety after allegedly chasing off the thieves?

What have we learned from this?

1) We have a lot of love and support in Uganda. We are so far from home, but they have helped carry us through.
2) The Grove, our home church, has some incredibly loving and dedicated people in the Outreach Department. They worked round the clock to make sure we knew they were backing us.
3) We have a strong network of caring friends in the U.S.  They are a steady source of strength for us.
4) Satan would like for us to go back to Riverside. Between this and the equally upsetting challenge that was occurring back at our home on Monterey Rd, we feel strongly that we need to finish our work in Uganda.
5) We praise God that we did not wake up during the robbery and face physical harm. He is good.

Things that go bump in the night....

We arrived in Entebbe after 22 hours of flying, as scheduled, and had a rather uneventful 7 hour drive to Gulu. Little did we know that things would become eventful in an unwanted way before too much time went by.

Even though it was late in the day, we were greeted by a couple from Gulu Bible Community Church who gave us a warm welcome and a tour of our new house. Since it was not furnished, we spent the first few days in a hotel in Gulu. We purchased the bare minimum of furniture: beds for 2 of the rooms, 10  plastic patio chairs, and a few kitchen supplies such as dishes and cups. We were beginning to unpack the suitcases and incredibly large duffle bags; Shirley describes them as large enough to put a body in. Thoughts of the many people who had contributed sewing items and money to make this trip a reality warmed my heart. Although we so far from making this house a home, it felt natural to be here. 

Unfortunately, something happened to make us feel very uncomfortable and insecure in our house. We were asleep the night of August 21 when we were awakened at approximately 3:00 a.m. by the sounds of men shouting and fighting outside. Jeff ran into the living room to see the front doors wide open. He called out for me, concerned that I might be outside. I ran up to him and saw that the strong padlock we carefully use each night to secure the front door was missing. We ran into the hallway leading to the bedrooms, locking the hallway door behind us. On the way to our bedroom at the end of the hall, we woke up Shirley. We three locked ourselves into the unlit bedroom, armed with the only things at hand: a can of mousse and a spray bottle of DEET.

By this time, things had grown quiet outside. Jeff peered around the window and saw someone with a bow and arrow. He whispered to phone Robert, our faithfully friend and driver for long distance travel. “Robert, please come! There were men shouting and arguing, Jeff saw someone with a bow and arrow, and we don’t know where our guard is”. It took about 10 minutes for Robert to arrive.  He ascertained that no one was on our property, then knocked on our front door.  “Baba Jeff and Momma Yvonne, it’s safe to come out” were some of the most beautiful words ever spoken.dibly

We turned on all the lights in the house and found that someone had gone into every room of the house, taking everything of value. The mini photo printer- taken from the kitchen counter. My MacBook Pro - taken in its case from the living room. Shirley's backpack was missing. And from our bedroom they took a number of items. A quilted case containing external USB drives which had been right next to n bottles  needed for a year, and the meter for measuring the INR of my blood. All gone. 

And all then cash we had on hand was gone. Poof!  Just like that. 

And it slowly dawned on me, My purse contained not only cash, my passport and credit cards, but my $4500 sound processor which allows me to hear from my deaf side. 

The guard was in the guard house adjacent to the only entrance to the property. 

Robert and the guard walked the property, and came to the gazebo which had been designed to look like a hut. From the outside looking in, Jeff and Robert could see many of our belongings thrown around.  For example, all of the contents of the large suitcase from our bedroom were dumped out and rifled through.

Robert went to the police station and paid for the police to come out to do an investigation. When the sun rose, he went back to pickup the officers He also picked up a police dog and handler. Fingerprints were taken from any flat surfaces. When we were allowed to retrieve belongings from the crime scene, we found that Shirley’s backpack was untouched except for her share of the cash she was carrying, Jeff’s backpack was gone - except that his passport had been taken out and left behind on the floor.  My computer was taken, as were my USB backup drives. And my purse was gone, including all of its contents.
People from the church were called early on and began showing up to lend us support. Tim Cypher, another missionary located in Gulu, heard and came with coffee and muffins. We were surrounded by loving and caring people throughout the day.
Later that day Jeff and Robert were called to the police station to give their statements. The security guard and his friend were arrested as the prime suspects.
It has been an odd week, with the security guard and friend being bailed out by the landlord, who began pointing his finger at Robert as the criminal. The investigation is still ongoing. There is little hope that we will recover our money and possessions.


We still have many unanswered questions.
How did the thugs get the key to our front door padlock?
How did all three of us sleep through the activity of people going through the house carrying things. And what about the large number of the things that were taken from our room? That must have taken some time. One theory is that they used some sort of gas to put us into a sound sleep.
Where was the guard during the time they broke into our house, removed our belongings, and went through our possession?. What didn’t he check on our safety after allegedly chasing off the thieves?


What have we learned from this?

1) We have a lot of love and support in Uganda. We are so far from home, but they have helped carry us through.
2) The Grove, our home church, has some incredibly loving and dedicated people in the Outreach Department. They worked round the clock to make sure we knew they were backing us.
3) We have a strong network of caring friends in the U.S.  They have maintained a steady source of strength for us.
4)

Overwhelmed by love in the form of jewelry (no, this is not about Jeff)

This is a picture of the people who cheerfully greet each other first thing in the morning every day, scantily clothed no matter the weather. A nicer, more friendly group one would be hard pressed to find! They are my buddies in water aerobics class. We meet 6 days a week in the outdoor pool in Shamel Park, rain or shine, wind or calm. After a cold winter in a pool with wind and rain, it is no wonder we have formed a special bond. 

When Nina, our teacher, asked what the class could do to help us, I asked if they would be willing to donate any unwanted costume jewelry for use in a project that I have planned. And so began the daily showering of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. All colors of the rainbow. All styles. My friends brought over 400 pieces of jewelry! There will be many smiles in Uganda because of their generosity. 

I am going to miss the water and the exercise. Most of all, I will miss my friends who are so generous.

P.S. If you are in the Riverside area and are looking for a way to work out and a place to meet some mighty nice people, try Water Aerobics by Nina 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/790135004402393/

Definition of generous

Definition of generous

a. characterized by a noble or kindly spirit : MAGNANIMOUS, KINDLY; a generous heart

b. Ladies of the Raincross Quilt Guild

I went to my last meeting of the Raincross Quilt Guild http://raincrossquiltguild.blogspot.com/ a couple of weeks ago and was overwhelmed by the generosity shown to me. My guild friends kept stopping by where I was sitting and handing me boxes and bags of sewing supplies to take to Uganda. They gave me notes of encouragement. And I can't forget the cash (a total of $410) that people kept handing me to purchase anything else needed. Friends. Generous.