Kinyach - April 2014

We left the Kunste in Nakuru bright and early.  The roads are pretty good all the way to Kabernet, and our driver Angton, almost lulled me back to sleep, but a constant squeaking started from the front of the vehicle.  Worried that it might be a wheel bearing, we stopped for a quick look.  We quickly discovered it was just a loose bolt or two on one of the body panels.  Fortunately, I had my new tool set that I brought on this trip and was able to put it to rights pretty quick.  It wouldn’t have been a trip breaker, but very annoying on the rough road to Kinyach.  I love fixing things.

We stopped first at the equator to take a picture.  I try not to miss the equator crossings; I can’t remember how many I have made.  When I was a kid I remember my dad telling me about “crossing the line” on a navy ship, and all the ceremony that attends that.  I’m glad we don’t do the hazing for first-timers, though.  I never thought I would ever cross the equator, and now I can’t even count how many times it’s happened.  Crazy.

When we reached Kabernet, the road begins to descend 3,000 ft into the Kerio Valley.  I asked Angton if he minded if I drove the descent, and he agreed.  I haven’t been driving these last few trips because of my foot injury, and now I remember why - it hurt!  I did take the opportunity to give Angton a few pointers on conserving the brakes by down-shifting and pulsing.  He seemed to take it well, though no professional likes to be schooled by an amateur.  I gave him his seat back when we made the turn onto the rough road that leads to Kinyach.

This road is almost entirely through the tribal lands of the Marakwet.  They are ancestral rivals of the Pokot and Samburu, who neighbor them.  Kinyach is in Pokot lands, but just barely.  The people were friendly to us as we passed; we always draw a stare this far out.  Not too many white people around (read, none.)  There is a new cell tower about half way along the road, but it doesn’t reach to Kinyach.

We arrived at Kinyach in time for lunch - well, a late lunch.  We toured the place with Wilson Kiptoo, the director here and Jackson, the area chief who donated the land and is a church elder as well.  Since I was here last, the dining hall is completed, (it only lacked finishes last time), and the clinic has been built and Wilson’s new house on the site is underway.  They are also working on the kitchen expansion with new stoves and two sinks.  We discussed their progress and their challenges, including a problem with the local government well.  This well has become unreliable lately due to lack of maintenance by the government agency that runs it.  Right now they are trucking water from the nearby river.  Getting a well drilled here will be expensive, but definitely has become a top priority for us.

After our discussions, I sat down with Wilson, Helen, and one of the widows to get more information on food costs.  I am trying to understand better the diet of our orphans at the various places and what their actual costs are.  All three of these folks knew to the shilling every cost and the weight of every item.  We discussed strategies of getting more protein into the kids diet.  It’s hard here because milk and eggs are not available locally in sufficient quantities and meat of all sorts is very expensive.  We will keep working on that.

That evening we shared in the orphan’s devotional, always a highlight for me.  I love their singing voices; they are like vitamins for my soul.  We slept that night in the nearby community guesthouse.  As I drifted off to sleep, I could still hear the singing.

This morning we arose and bathed, then went to the orphanage for breakfast.  We had boiled eggs and chapatti with fresh mangos, papaya, and oranges - so good.  Then it was time for church.  As usual, I was asked to preach.  By now, I am prepared for this.  I did a passable job with an adaptation of Tod Brown’s “Forgiveness” sermon.  It seemed right for a group in perpetual tribal conflict.  I think they liked it.

At the end of service I got to make the big announcement of the expansion of the Kinyach Orphanage to include a feeding program.  Now an additional 50 orphans will get two, life-sustaining meals daily in addition to the 60 receiving full care at the orphanage.  The response was awesome.  I had Wilson take some video of the announcement, so I hope to get that edited and up on the web soon.  By the way, remember to check our KWO Facebook page for a whole ton of pictures from my Kinyach visit.

We left on time for the drive to Eldoret.  It was almost without incident, except when the honey, which had been given to us at Kinyach, spilled and made a nice mess in the vehicle.  I got to practice what I preached today, though it was harder than it should have been.  God is still working on me.  We made Eldoret before dark, and had a nice dinner.  We are at the Sirikwa now, resting for the night.  Tomorrow, Kapsabet!  Be blessed!