Last Days

I apologize in advance for the delay of this post.  I missed posting for our last days at the VTC so this will wrap up the trip.  We spent our last two days at the VTC continuing the same pattern.  Kelly continued his welding class, while Jill, Emily, Alissa, and Prissy rotated through the other classes, checking on their progress and getting to know the students.

It may seem like there was not a lot of structure to this trip, and its true.  We intentionally left things wide open to leave a lot of time to build relationships with the students.  While to American eyes, this doesn’t seem to be very productive, in reality its one of the best things we can do for them.  Kenyans value relationships above work effort in a way that westerners don’t really get.

Kelly’s welding class was a huge success.  He was able to cover the basics of safety, theory, oxy-fuel welding, grinding, and stick welding.  Every student got to have a hands on with all of the equipment and Kelly identified four students that showed exceptional aptitude and interest.  I know all the Kenyans we very happy with the result, and Kelly also felt like he got a lot accomplished.

Behind the scenes, I was meeting with key people, making plans for the future of the VTC, and making an important new hire.  Jackie Jepkemoi will be joining the KWO team as our Kenyan Director of Health Services.  Jackie is a Clinical Officer, which in Kenya is similar to a physician’s assistant in the US.  She will travel around to all of our locations, evaluating our clinics and nurses, build relationships with the local doctors and hospitals, and coordinating acute care for our people.  She will do a lot to bridge the gap between our local nurses and our medical mission teams.

I met with Stephen several times during the trip.  I also got to meet Mercy, his fiancé.  She is an awesome girl; I told Stephen that he is really marrying over his head.  I think they will be a good match.  They asked me to do a “marriage counseling session” with them, which made me laugh.  I’m not a counselor, but I did sit down with them and told them all I could think of in the way of marital advice.  It’s hard to know how that will translate in their cultural context, but I gave it my best shot.

The biggest new for me coming out of this trip was what just happened to occur while we were there.  Thursday, a road grader worked on the road back to Sondu all day.  It makes a huge difference for the people in this area to have a good road.  Also on Thursday evening, after three years of waiting, the power came on for the first time.  We’ve been running on generators for all this time, and now we can finally do all the things that electricity makes possible, like power tools, electric welders, desktop computers, sewing machines, and hair driers.  And of course, lights.  God is good!

Friday after lunch, we loaded the vehicle and said our goodbyes.  We drove into Kisii to stay a night at the Dados before our long drive back to Nairobi today.  We made it to Java House downtown around 2:30 and after a late lunch, we spent an hour or so at the nearby market.  Everyone got the souvenirs they needed and then it was off to the Capital Center for last minute shopping, and repacking.  Now we are here at the Nairobi airport, waiting for our flight.

It was such a good trip.  All of our travelers did very well, no one got sick, and everyone feels like they accomplished something.  I know the Kenyans loved having us and that made it all worth while.  Be Blessed.

Day 2-3 VTC

Yesterday, we departed from our hotel in Narok and completed the long journey to the VTC. We made a quick stop at the Nkumat in Kisii for last-minute supplies, groceries and water. We arrived at the VTC around 3pm and found our friends Thomas, John Kariuki, Lucas waiting for us.  We made our introductions and then toured the campus.  None of our travelers has been here before, except Prissy who saw it under construction.  We met the two young mothers who are here and their new babies.  These girls arrived at the VTC pregnant, and rather than sending them away, we decided to keep them here so they can learn a trade.

After we unpacked, we were just in time for evening devotional.  As usual, it was amazing.  It’s always a moving experience for me, but this time I felt something different.  It was not only a feeling of love and worship for our King, but also a profound sense of being at home; like my soul was thirsty for the sounds and feeling of Kenyan worship.  This place has really become a part of me. 

The others were also deeply moved by the experience, especially when we went down to the Dirubi orphanage for their devotional.  By the glow of kerosene lanterns, the 130 orphans of Dirubi sang with all of their hearts.  The songs of the redeemed of Christ, under a dark African night, is an experience that cannot be adequately described.

Wednesday morning broke and we enjoyed a great breakfast together.  We then split up to observe and participate in the classes around the VTC.  Kelly is teaching a welding course, and he began with safety and theory.  The kids were very receptive and polite and asked good questions.  Kelly said that their questions were every bit as good as any class he has ever taught.  By the end of the day, he had moved on to a demonstration of oxy-fuel welding using local materials.  It is a perfect approach to how these kids will likely practice this trade in the future.

Jill and Emily spent time in the kitchen with the catering class.  They experimented with corn tortillas, and the new spices they had brought.  Jill told me she ended up learning far more about African cooking from them than she taught.  I know they appreciated the effort, and the friendships that they are making.

Prissy and Alissa went down to spend time with the cosmetology class.  They got their hair braided, pedicures, and spent time playing and talking with the girls there.  This is the main reason we came on this trip.  To build relationships and show these kids that they are loved.  Mission accomplished.

In the afternoon, it was back to class and then play time.  Our people played soccer, Frisbee, and other games with the VTC kids as well as the kids from Dirubi orphanage.  Everyone really enjoyed that.  After devotional, we made an early night of it; everyone is very tired. Tomorrow there will be more fun things to do.

Day OneL Travel and Shopping

Well, I am back in Kenya!  It’s always good to get to my second home, even if it is for only a week.  But what a week we have planned!  I traveled here with Kelley Vaughan, my good friend and master welder, KWO board member Jill Brown, and her daughter Emily, as well as Prissy Chambers and Alissa Sharp.  We are headed to the Vocational Training center, to start a welding program, observe the other areas, and love on some kids!

Our flights were smooth and easy, even with a very short connection in London.  All of our many bags stuffed with gifts and teaching supplies arrived with us and we spent a relaxing night at Kamulu.  Francis and Mauryn Mbuvi are joining us on this trip, and I am so blessed to have them.  It’s been a while since I traveled with both of them.

This morning we drove into Nairobi to shop for welding machines and supplies.  We met a nice man working at our first shop, and he stayed with us the entire morning as we went from place to place gathering what we needed.  The ladies were very patient as we did man-shopping, which in Kenya can take some time.  No single place has everything you need.  I gave our guide a nice tip as we drove on to the Junction Mall for lunch at Java House and a quick Nakumatt visit.  Then we hit the road for Narok, a convenient waypoint on our way to Dirubi and the VTC.  We should arrive tomorrow after lunch and we will be there until Friday.

Tomorrow the VTC!