Homa Bay

We slept well at Tobias’ house in Ongoro, and by 7, the drillers were back at work, preforming another flush and then setting up for the flow test.  To measure the depth of the water, they use an electronic water depth gauge, basically a water sensor on a very long cable.  Unfortunately the one they had was faulty.  They had a spare, but it was also acting up, so I got out my tools and got to work.  I found a broken wire on the lead, and repaired that, and after a bit more tinkering I got it to work.  The spare was taken into town and another fundi was able to repair that one as well, so they were not delayed too badly.  They finally got water flowing around 12:30, so finally we were able to take some pictures and leave.

The drive to Homa Bay took about 1.5 hours.  This is Stephen’s home church, and was the first church started by Alfayo Bodi back in the day.  They have a new feeding station here with a new dining hall / church building that we helped with.  They are feeding 45 kids here.  They sang for us and thanked us a lot.  One girl got up to give her testimony, but when she started talking about her parents she fell apart.  It was tough to watch.  Although all of the orphans we see have lost parents, usually they are quite stoic, even happy.  Her pain affected us all.

We ate a quick lunch at a church member’s house, before heading out for Kisii.  We stopped to see another soapstone seller called Amos, and bought a few items that we will have at Kick for Kenya.

Tomorrow, Chebaraa.

Ongoro

We traveled safely from Kisii to our orphanage at Ongoro.  In the local area, “Ongoro” means “dry place.  Indeed the place is far from surface water and wells are very scarce.  The soil is very sandy and the water table is deep, so we have struggled to dig wells here in the past.  But not today.  Healing Hands International, in cooperation with Christian Relief Fund have partnered with us to drill a deep well here to serve the orphanage and the community.  They arrived Tuesday and began drilling.  When we arrived, they had reached the water table and were installing casing for the new, 110 meter deep well.

Soon we were joined by Ebenezer and Tom Opondo from Healing Hands, who had come to check on the progress of the new well.  We had a nice visit with them and discussed ways we that may be able to partner with them in the future.  They are a great organization, which has helped us with a well at Londiani and has conducted agriculture training at several of our sites, as well as distributed food aid to some of our more remote locations.

At Ongoro, we also got to see the progress of our expansion project.  We will be adding an additional 64 orphans and widows here soon, and Tobias is hard at work building a new dining hall to replace the smaller hall that will be converted into a dorm.  He is also building two new latrines and doing some kitchen upgrades.  It wont be long before this place is bursting with 154 souls, making it our largest Orphanage.

We got to spend some good time with the kids, as well.  We kicked the soccer ball around and played, while most of the kids were transfixed by the well drilling operation.  Things really got exciting when the drillers began purging the well, causing a vast stream of water to shoot into the sky!  It was a momentous day.

As darkness fell, Susie went to the hall to answer questions from the kids, while I took care of the pictures and blogging.  Soon we will have dinner and the evening devotional.  We will be staying here tonight and hope to see the flow test from the new well tomorrow morning before we leave.

Be blessed.

Uriri

We had an easy journey over to our orphanage at Uriri.  There we met Kennedy Chandi, the director for this area, and Joseph, the manager at Uriri.  Everything looked very good here, and we enjoyed spending a few hours with them.  We enjoyed a great lunch a Kennedy’s house and then toured the place.

Uriri us in sugar cane country, and they have a small scale cane-crushing operation here that really helps with supplementing the income for this place.  Recently, their business has suffered because the lorry (big truck) that they had suffered a blown engine.  Rather that replace the engine in a very old (1970’s) vehicle, we were able to replace it with a newer one, thanks to a generous donation from one of our donors.  The lorry should be delivered soon.

We discussed the new medical program with Kennedy and evaluated the current clinic and nurse.  The old clinic is very small and not really suitable for our upgrades, so we will be building a new one here very soon.

Too soon, it was time to depart for Kisii and the Dados hotel.  We had time for a nice rest before dinner.  At dinner, Susie and I ordered chicken and chips (fries).  Our food came quickly, because we have learned that the secret to ordering here is first to ask what they have.  Angton, Stephen, and Jackie didn’t do that, however.  They ordered goat, and the waiter dutifully turned in the order.  The restaurant didn’t have goat, but they didn’t tell our diners.  Instead, they sent to the market for some goat to cook.  Our people waited three hours and dinner never came, so they just gave up. Welcome to Kenya!

Tomorrow, Ongoro.

October 14, 2014 - Ndhiwa

This morning Susie, Angton, Stephen, Jacklyn and I packed up and left the VTC. The Coulstons followed us in their vehicle.  We were bound for Ndhiwa but had a couple of stops to make along the way. 

 

First was Nakumat, to renew our supplies of water and other supplies.  Then we visited our old friend Daniel who owns Kisac Fair Trade, our soapstone sculpture connection.  We ordered the medals and trophies that we will give out at Kick for Kenya next month and shopped for unique items to sell to the crowds on that day.  As always, Daniel displayed his great hospitality and we took tea and bread with him, while he told us of the new work he is doing.  Daniel is a ward representative to the county government.  He is the first politician that I have ever liked.  He seems to be doing a very good work, trying to empower women, encourage the area youth, and inspire his constituents to acts of kindness.  I’m glad that Charles and Darlene got to meet him.

 

Then we parted company with the Coulstons.  They were planning on visiting a former street kid that went through their program at Made In The Streets who is now serving deaf orphans by teaching woodworking skills at an orphanage called Sam’s Place.  The rest of us were headed for Ndhiwa and our old friend Alfayo Bodi.

 

We arrived in time for lunch and then toured the place, paying close attention to the clinic there and the other needs that they have.  Then the rains came.  We took shelter in the dining hall for a while and then in Alfayo’s home.  At 7 o’clock, we went down for the evening devotional with the orphans of Ndhiwa.  They inspired us with their love and joy, and I like to think we inspired them a bit too with our words of encouragement.  When we were done, Susie demanded a hug from each of them before they could leave the hall, and I joined her. It was a beautiful moment, especially poignant for me because of my history with that very spot.

 

Six years ago, I stood in that same door way and took a photograph of a tiny girl in a taffeta dress.  Her name was Lavenda, although I didn’t know it at the time.  Her mother, a widow, was serving as a cook in this orphanage.  Both Lavenda and her mother were HIV+.  Lavenda was probably about six years old then, but she was painfully small and frail.  As I took the photo, she looked up at me with beautiful eyes and a vulnerable expression. My heart melted.

 

I was her exact opposite.  I was a son of a privileged nation, grown into a spoiled man. On that day, I was questioning many of the things I thought I knew; surrounded by a sea of poverty that I was seeing for the first time.  My worldview was crumbling around me as I witnessed both the worst and the best that this world has to offer.  Hundreds of orphaned children had passed before my eyes and camera lens in the preceding days.  I saw their terrible circumstances but I saw their incredible happiness too.  My expression was probably not vulnerable like Lavenda’s; masks are so hard to take off. 

 

I will never know what she was thinking in that moment.  We were separated then by language and culture.  Now we are separated by that thin veil that divides this world of sin and death from the new, redeemed world that God is building.  Lavenda died in 2011 of a cancer that her weakened body was powerless to stop.  She beat me to eternity, but her short life was full of God’s purpose.  She has become, for me, a symbol of hope and redemption.  Her life, and then her death inspired me to take a different path, and I can’t wait for the day I can hug her at last and thank her for all she has done for me.

 

But today I did the next, best thing.  I stood in the same doorway where she once stood, and, inspired by my faithful wife, hugged all of her brothers and sisters - all 140 of them.  We hugged with the warmth of Christian fellowship, with the Love of the father binding us together.  It was a moment of sublime joy; my heart was full to bursting.  It was a great day.

 

Tomorrow, Uriri.

 

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!