Dirubi and the VTI

This morning we enjoyed a good breakfast buffet at theDados, and set out for the Dirubi Orphanage and the Vocational Training Institute (VTI).  It takes about and hour and a half to get there from Kisii, and Francis really shines as a driver on the bad roads of this remote area of Kenya.  Jeff and Arnold were fully packed, as we were leaving them there to work on the automotive shop.

We arrived about 9:30 and Thomas proudly gave us a tour of our first orphanage at Dirubi.  There were a few changes from my last trip, notably some decorative fencing and improved ventilation windows in the kitchens.  The old clinic has been transformed into a library with quiet study rooms for the students, and the new clinic is looking really fine.

Then we went across the road to the construction site for the VTI.  To say that they have been busy is the understatement of the century.  There were easily fifty masons hard at work with diggers, rock breakers, concrete men, and water women swarming like ants all over the four-acre site.

Construction began on 18 June and today they have six classroom buildings and one widows dorm complete, two more classrooms with walls up, the administration building has walls, and three girls dorms are at the foundation stage.  The Great Hall, (dining hall just doesn't describe it) has its footers laid and foundation walls being built, and the girl's bathhouse foundation is started. The west septic tank is being dug and the plumbers start tomorrow on its structure and the drains for the bathhouse.  The progress is truly amazing!

We met with Thomas and discussed a few changes, some questions that they had for the architect (me), and final fitting out for the automotive shop.  Jeff and Arnold met the two candidates for automotive instructor and settled on one of them as the best choice.  His name is Evans and he owns a shop in Sondu.  He trained one of our orphans a couple of years ago that is now a successful mechanic on Kisumu.  Notably missing was our choice for principal, it seems he doesn't want the job as bad as he did in May, so we will be meeting with another man Wednesday evening at our hotel.  Please pray that he works out, because its past time to get the teachers lined up and furnishings purchased and installed.

After a great lunch prepared by the women of the Dirubi church, Susie and most of the team went up to see the Melanie Feeding Station at the Lee McGraw Orphanage.  Jeff, Albert, and I looked at the VTI some more and made plans for their week here at the site.  They will be staying at Thomas' house in Sondu so I know that they will be in good hands.

While we waited for the others to return, I walked to the top of the site and pondered all that had been done and all that was left to do.  I said a prayer for the workers and for our plans and thanked God for all he has done here.  He really does use broken people to do amazing things.  This facility will give job skills to orphans, those whose lives might otherwise have been lost, and allow them to be the salt and light of his kingdom to the next generation of Kenyans.  Truly, the meek shall inherit the earth!

On the way home, we stopped at Sondu, where it was market day.  A traveling carnival ride had been set up there, the kind with chairs on long, swinging chains that spin around and swing way out.  We stopped to take a picture of it, but that wasn't enough for Pam Hicks and Francis Mbuvi.  They jumped out and ran to join the riders on the shaky structure.  Susie went to take pictures and Doris went to see up close.  I hung back with a video camera to capture the disaster, er, uh, I mean, fun!

The workers loaded our riders and a dozen or so more and prepared to start the equipment.  Apparently there was some critical electrical component missing, so they were using a bucket of water with a crude copper switch arrangement to start the machine.  VERY SCARY!  Everything went well, however and our riders and witness came back excited and beaming. 

We finished up back here at the Dados with another fine buffet and are now preparing for bed.  Tomorrow we will be at Ndhiwa to see my friend Alfayo Bodi.  Here are some pics of todays fun:

26 Sept 2011