Final Day in Gulu...

It's hard to believe but we are packing for our long journey back home, and I must say were are excited! As impacting as this trip has been for us, we miss our families and everyone else sooooooo much. Since we are frantically trying to get ready to leave for home this post will be brief.


This morning we met and prayed about the land we feel especially good about regarding Children of Hope's future plans in Gulu. The grace and sovereignty we have experienced in to coming to know that this land is available for sale is absolutely remarkable. We found out today that representatives from the University being built (see picture) beside the property COH is considering, came to the property owner yesterday and asked to purchase the land in order to expand their footprint. Thankfully the land owner's spokesperson said that Children of Hope are yet to make a decision on the land so it is not available for sale until they decide what they are going to do. It is a very desirable tract of land, ~16.5 acres, in the direction where Gulu is presently expanding. We had the land assessed and it presently lists for 10million UGS per acre, or $5000 per acre, and due to favor with the land owner (because of the end use of the land), it is being offered to COH for 7million UGS, or a little over $3,500 per acre. There will be instant equity of 25% on the land, and that will rapidly increase as the city is expanding their limits to include the acreage COH is considering. This situation so reminds me of the land we were a part of purchasing in Romania back in the mid-90's following the revolution and the collapse of the iron curtain. The land value went up there in a few short years 1000's of percent as the city expanded and absorbed the land the church in Oradea, Romania is presently located on.





At the end of the day we returned to the COH home to spend time with the children. Wow it was soooo much fun!! I have included a few shots of them for you to enjoy. We presently have 13 children on site, but the need is endless, and the reason for purchasing land is to be able to build a 'Village of Hope' so we can take many more children on, as well as widows, so they can have a hope and a future. One of the new little girls, Sharon, is holding one of six of the dolls that Dorie Reiter sent over for each of the 6 girls to enjoy. Also below is a shot of the seven boys playing with the trucks that Dorie sent over as well. THANKS DORIE! They all want to give hug Momma Dorie! Thank you as well for ALL the clothes that Keith & Michelle Benham sent over...WHAT A BLESSING!!!