Moving In

Much has happened over this past 4 weeks. The iron sheets are going up on the second house. A store of 3 small rooms is almost complete. Tiles are going down in the first home. Plumbing and electrical fittings are going in. A more secure fence has been erected and large iron gates are in the process of being fitted. The days have been full but we are progressing. We are trying desperately hard to be there to celebrate Christmas on the land. In fact we went with the children to inspect the possibilities of moving in. They decided to stay in the cottage with furniture piled up around their ears. They were so excited they didn't mind. Today we'll move the furniture around and begin to fix the beds back together.

I don't get much opportunity to be hands on in helping but try a little here and there. I started to help with some brick laying before being called away to another part of the building project. I'm never very long in any one place. With so many workmen around I'm continually moving from one to the other attempting to solve issues or to encourage the workers to do a good job. Or I'm running into town to collect materials. even the smallest of needs can take an hour or more. Still can't really work out why but customer service doesn't seem to include speedy or efficient service.

Will try to get some time to organise something a little special for Christmas. We will at least celebrate Jesus' birth and what Christmas is truely about. Other things might come in the days to follow. A number of people are telling me they are coming to celebrate Christmas with us...think they are expecting a feast but in the middle of construction, cleaning and moving, hope they won't be too disappointed. The children will enjoy whatever we do.

Stella (the chook) appears to be looking for somewhere to lay eggs so maybe that will be her Christmas present to us if I can ensure her wellbeing before and after Christmas dinner.

We will attempt to send a Christmas message. Hope the internet is up to it.

Hope your pre Christmas is not too crazy. Remember what it is all about!

Meet Stella

Mostly my days are consumed with building and things revolving around this. One of my days started this way. I went in search of some baked bricks that we needed for the lining of the septic tank. One of the locals took me to two locations, the bricks weren't of great quality and they were asking too much for them. I knew of some bricks at the local Children's Welfare Society and thought I'd like to support them. When I reached there I discovered the ones they were having were sold so I continued the search. I was ringing one of the workers to help me with a number for a truck driver we normally use for deliveries. He told me of another person having bricks. I found them at their market stall. having already seen poor quality bricks I convinced the lady that I needed to see the bricks before I could commit to buying them. This lady is now a generous friend called Catherine. She called a 'pici pici' or what we would call a motor bike. So the driver, Catherine and myself all on the motor bike went in search of these bricks. It was a little way away along dirt tracks. The bricks were good and at a price we were used to paying. Catherine also has a large water melon patch, peanuts and several little projects happening. She picked me some water melons and then took me to her house to meet family that were at home. Generously I was also handed a hen. To my surprise! So after meeting people, seeing the projects and negotiating the purchase of bricks, motorcycle driver, Catherine, myself, the hen (now known as Stella) and watermelons ventured back along the dirt tracks. We dropped Catherine back at her stall as I continued home on the back of the pici pici with Stella under one arm and watermelons under the other. You can see Stella is tied by one leg. there are some neighbourhood chooks that come and encourage her to escape. I asked about 10 local boys to catch her one day. As I spoke I realised that my words were probably futile to the group of boys under the age of about 12 "Try not to scare it" I said. They agreed and then the chase was on. Stella was off and running along the track through the fences across peoples yards. All the while with these energetic young boys following her moves. One proud young boy however, managed to catch her. I bought some chicken wire yesterday.

Somedays can be a little frustrating like taking about 5 hours to try and purchase goods from the hardware. The only things that are in high speed around here are the chicken chases and matatu's (crazy mini bus drivers). But then there are the great moments of generously being given a chook and carrying it home on the back of a motorcycle and the local boys enjoying a great chase.

Yesterday I was introduced to a young girl of about 10yrs who apparently fell from a tree about 3 months ago. Her arm is disfigured and is looking quite broken and one ankle really badly damaged. I'll organise to take her to the hospital today. I have a contact in the hospital who is a paediatric doctor. Once I get to the hospital I can call him and when he can he'll come and get me and push me into the head of the line. The last time I took someone to the hospital he rescued me from the casualty line where I was handed the number 116. I feel bad about pushing in but not so bad not to accept the offer of help. God is good and continually provides for us what we need. To Him be all praise and thankfulness!

My days are full and my communication getting further apart. It's not without trying. May you all see some new blessing in your life today. love Jan

Moved to Blue Waves

A couple of weeks ago I moved to Bungoma. Closer to the building site. The name of the area is 'Blue Waves' as it has a large motel called 'Blue Waves'. We actually live right behind the motel.

We being Darryn, Kevin, Godfrey and myself. Darryn is an Australian guy from Newcastle, visiting for 3 weeks to help with the project and to get some things ready for another 4 men arriving from Australia next week. Kevin is an 18yr old who also works on the property, washes the borrowed car, even if it is 10pm and helps to cook every second night. Godfrey is 26yrs and helps to care for the home where we are staying. He will be making gutters and charcoal ovens for us. He too cooks every second night with Kevin. I with Darryn's help cook on the alternate night. The boys are fun and very helpful. (oops! had a photo of the boys cooking but accidentally deleted it sorry)

Darryn is getting used to the crazy driving here. I've become quite confident on these pot hole filled roads and the driving antics of other drivers. Maybe it was the day of his arrival I was driving. There is often cars overtaking others or swerving potholes and therefore driving head on towards you. You must be alert at all times. As I was overtaking a very slow truck on a road wide enough for 4 lanes but no markings and two vehicles were approaching from the other direction Darryn calmly ask me "Are you sure you want to do this?" He later revealed that while calm on the outside he was not so on the inside. But it was all very sedate and no risk, maybe just not what would happen in Australia on our clearly marked roads. However he is now relaxed enough to fall alseep while I drive. (Or maybe this is to hide the fear factor?)

Blue Waves doesn't get running water to the homes for some reason so we buy it most days from a cart pulled by a donkey. Today it must have been very tired, or just feeling at home, as when it got to the back door it sat down. It is a very placid donkey.

I've been to Kisumu in the last few weeks to look at another school for the blind. The young girl Lydia will most likely go here rather than to the other school I visited simply because it is a little closer and transport a little easier. Things are a bit hectic here with all the building but we should be taking her to school next week.

Also traveling to Eldoret on a number of occasions picking up and dropping off people at the airport, to college and purchasing of materials for the project. Always something different happening.

Otherwise I'm well and continue to be excited about the progress of the land. The trusses for the roof began to go up yesterday and will be completed by tomorrow. Roofing iron next week. Still seems like a lot to happen before we can move in but we are getting closer.

Jotham (house dad) has been working hard on the site. He is our storeman and records all the materials coming and going. He also has been creating some great seed beds and is now transplanting the vegetables out. They are looking great! The climate here is almost perfect for growing crops. Hot and sunny through the day. Rain in the afternoon most days.

The days continue to go past quickly. Each day is filled with checking on the land, collecting materials, following things up, etc. However, no day seems to go as planned. We generally achieve what is most urgent and then slip in other things that come our way. Such as the other day. We had our plans and then along the way we are visiting a school to verify a school girl's story who came to us for help with school fees, we verified then discussed things with the grandmother who cares for her and then took them to the bank to clear the school fees so she would be allowed to return to school. Then an urgent call came from someone we know needing money for surgery, so we went looking for an office where we could transfer money over the phone. All these things are good, all these things take time, not planned but just as necessary.

I trust God to give us the time and energy to do what needs to be done at the right time, in the right manner, for the right people.

Thanks for staying connected with us. Hopefully I'll be able to add more things, more regularly.

It's been a month since I've posted something here. I've really been trying to get to it but long days on the site and limited electricity have hindered me.

There are quite a lot of funny things that happen and that I see along the way to my various activities. I can't always get a photo. But this driving school has called itself 'Ding Wall' driving school. I wonder how many walls were dinged before they came up with this name. The driving on the roads here is absolutely crazy. Although I think some of the asian countries might come out on top of the crazies. You really have to be very alert whilst driving here. There may be vehicles passing you on the left and right or even over taking something or trying to avoid a pothole and therefore they will be heading straight towards you. Sometimes even flashing their lights so that you get out of their way. Pot holes here can easily remove a wheel. Some appear to be one to two feet deep.

People continue to find it very funny that I go to the site and move about with my tape measure and am able to give useful instructions. They all know my tape measure. A friend working on the site had been borrowing my tape measure for a few days. Whilst I was on the site the other day I went looking for a tape measure as my friend wasn't on site but he had left it behind for me. I must have been looking like I was needing to measure something. I was called by another workman and my tape measure was handed to me. Sometimes when you begin to see the walls come up you can see how you might want something a little different. I only wanted to move three large windows all about 20cm in the same direction. Since our contractor wasn't on site I had to request that no further brick laying occurred on either the back or front of the house until Monday when I'd be back again to direct measurements.

I should have taken on a job that requires measuring things (I guess I have)....I really enjoy it. Whilst waiting for work to begin early one morning Andrew began measuring each persons height. Our masai guard is 7 foot tall. Andrew being 6 ft tall was the only one capable of measuring the masai.

The govt. continue to ration electricity and water. We've had no running water for most of the past week, and electrcity has gone off again since I've started writing this so am carefully keeping an eye on the level of battery I have left.

The buildings are now really happening quickly. This week coming will once again be filled with many things to do. Get a new PO Box in Bungoma, our soon to be new address, apply for electricity, begin digging the septic, planning the roof for the first home, completion of the cottage - plastering, flooring and then fittings. I'm exhausted before I begin but trust God will give me the strength required to complete what He has for me this week.

I've had the pleasure of meeting a man who really has a heart for the children of Kenya and particularly our area. He sits on the national board of Child Welfare, as the vice president. I went on some visits to some homes and a school with him and some Canadian visitors he was having. Some really interesting opportunities keep cropping up in amongst what I'm already doing. He is going to help us get everything in order for the registration of Robin's Nest. We need 20 children before this can happen but there is much to put in order before registration also. God knows our needs and continues to provide!

I continue to try and develop my kiswahili language skills. my time this past few weeks has limited me but I hope to continue to improve. I can understand and speak small, simple sentences. I've improved but have a long way to go.

Hopefully I'll post something again before too long. Thanks to those who follow this site, think of us and pray for us. You are appreciated!

Bricks! Bricks! Bricks!

Yesterday the first brick for our homes was made. After the long wait for machine to arrive we finally have it in our compound, it has been serviced and is up and running. Although during the servicing one of the parts were broken. We have had it fixed and after one and a half days we should already have around 2000 or more bricks. Yay! Thank you Jesus! The first brick being the first trial didn't survive. But the ratio of materials is now sorted and the bricks should be better and stronger than ever. We are wanting to make around 4000 bricks for the first round. This will be for two large homes, some fencing and maybe a storage shed. We are borrowing the machine from the Ministry of Housing. They are telling us they will give us a maximum of two weeks. We will be encouraging workers to work long hours so we can attempt to make as many bricks as possible. The bricks then need curing for 14-21 days. We will begin construction as soon as the bricks are ready. We are hoping that the first home will be ready by mid to late sept.

A machine costs around $40-50.000 aud. Just in case someone has some spare money. We would be able to make bricks for ourselves as well as for selling. A great self-sustaining project!

The renovations on the cottage are also moving ahead. The slab has been finished today and brick work will begin next week. Hoping for this part of the project to be completed by the end of August.

For Lydia (see previous post) I went on my first visit to a school for the blind. The children were happy, the teachers seem dedicated and some lovely things were happening in the classrooms. One of the classrooms, in the picture, had students of low vision sewing under the guidance of a totally blind teacher. Another classroom had totally blind students using knitting machines. Another, a pretend shop and many others the teaching of braille. I'm wanting to see yet another school for the blind and meet with the parents before we decide on the best thing to do. The parents have written a letter and informed the school they want the help but we want to investigate things a little further.

School is now on a break for a month for most schools to allow for harvesting. Some schools are in session until the end of the week. Although many schools also provide tuition. This becomes an added income for the teaching staff. It is highly encouraged.

Now while we wait for the bricks and slab to cure I have a few days where I don't really need to be on the site. So I'll use the time to catch up on some paper work, recording of finances and developing policies and procedures for the homes. Still much to be done!!!

Some visitors from Canada next week for a few days. This will be nice. One will be speaking at a conference and the three others, myself and the Robins will fill in the days visiting the new site, visiting families from the Branch and helping to do some home maintenace and gardening where we can.

Thanks for following this site!

Watching Ants!

We now have the first slab complete! Not without a few minor stresses along the way but it's done. As the slab was being done we had about 30 workers on site. Everything is done manually...everything! Some were excellent workers others need a bit more direction. A couple of weeks ago I saw part of 'A Bug's Life'. I was reminded of it again as I watched the workers, one after the other with a whell barrow, have it filled by the guy who fills, after the guy who mixes, and off they go one after the other to dump the cement for the slab. But a difficulty arose for a couple of the wheelbarrow drivers when their path was blocked by a plumbing pipe. They just stopped still and began to wait. I needed to direct them around the pipe onto another trail - they then managed to keep going. As we were nearing the end of the slab and up to the 3rd lot of bathrooms rain began to pour down. Work stopped during the down pour but then grdually kept going as the rain eased. It was at this point when I left the plumbers side momentarily. But I thought that by the third lot of bathrooms (and this was a mirror image of the 1st lot) that the plumber and his helpers were making good progress. But as I put on a spay jacket and headed back out to the site in the light rain I stood, looked and realised once again that the plumbing was not placed within the correct space. As I pointed this out to the contractor he went into investigate...but of course the ants kept working. It didn't matter that there were people rearranging pipes, the cement just kept coming...right up to the feet of those trying to sort the pipes. Ashame I didn't have the video running! But the slab is now complete with preliminary plumbing and electrical work done. However, we continue to wait for the brick machine.

We were seeking after an electrictian working at another site. This was the construction of a second story. I came across a work of art. Several large steps of corrugated iron which created the platforms for moving cement from the ground to the roof of the building. The foundation for the second story. The cement was mixed on the ground and then shoveled up each layer until it reached its destination. Two workers per platform so they could take it in turns in shoveling. It was quite skillfully done. I was amazed to see such an event!

When visiting a support unit in a local primary school a little girl Lydia, 10yrs, was highlighted. She became blind after contracting measles at the age of two years. Much of her life so far has been spent hidden in a village. A teacher discovered her and has helped the parents to get her to school. The Support Unit however is not equipped to support her needs. An Australian visitor who accompanied me on a visit to the support unit was really touched by this situation and is interested in supporting Lydia in attending a school for the blind. So that is another one of my missions this week. To investigate a school that would be suitable and caring for Lydia. I will be visiting with a man I know who used to be a principal of a school for the blind. So I will be looking to him to help us decide if the school is of a good standard or we need to look else where.

So much need everywhere you look!

Using some of this week to continue planning for our next moves. Next week we get started on renovating and extending the cottage already on the ground. It is so cute now I don't want to touch it but it needs to become more useful. So we will add a kitchen, laundry, bathroom and two bedrooms. The small room already there will become an office, there is a meeting/living room and what is the storeroom now will become a walkway to the new bedrooms and cupboard storage. So there will be extra room for visitors or children if the need arises if the homes are full.

The land is still an issue but we believe God will have victory and that the land will be restored to us in time. And maybe even more!!! We look forward to the day this happens but for now just continue to move forward with what we have and we are thankful!!

Making Progress!

Its already July. The last couple of weeks have gone by very fast as my days have been full. Mainly with watching over and planning steps forward for the site of Robin's Nest. Its very exciting! I'm told that by the end of next week the slab for the first home will be complete. It looks like we will be held up by the hiring of the brick making machine. It was supposed to come to us last week but it is being borrowed from the Govt. and they have decided that they want it for the next couple of weeks. We'll wait for God's timing. After next week some renovations will begin on the cottage that is being converted to an office and home. It's here that I'll live whilst in Kenya, once it is complete. We are thinking maybe by the end of August the first home and cottage should be ready for habitation. I keep up to date with what they are doing on the site and decide whether it is something that needs input or whether they can be left for a day or so. Monday we will be discussing a wiring plan so I'll most definitely be in Bungoma that day.

Bungoma is about 30 mins from where I stay. I generally go in a car but if that isn't available I go by public means which is generally a mini van for about 14 passengers that will carry about 20 or more. Sometimes the vans are so full that they can't close the door properly or only place for some of them to sit (particularly the conductors) is with their bottom out the side window.

The work here is very labour intensive. I counted 16 guys working on preparing the foundation. Everything is done by hand. All digging, carrying of large stones, cement mixing, etc. It was like watching ants in and out of trenches. Quite incredible. I'll have the video camera ready for the building of the second house.

I'm working on footage from the video camera that was taken at a funeral of a friends's father. It was quite an event. It lasts for about a week. I only visited a couple of times and then was present on the actual burial day. Family and friends and even just the neighbours come and stay around the clock, expecting to be fed, for several days leading up to the burial. It becomes very expensive for the family. In this particular tribe the body has to be returned home for at least two nights before the burial. I went with some others in the procession from the morgue to the home. The coffin is carried in the back of a ute and with as many people s can fit in. This man belonged to a Salvation Army Church. Those in the procession from his church, played the drums and sang as they carried the body and also on and off throughout the burial ceremony. When they mourn they really mourn. Very loudly and openly. My friends were composed but others felt free to express. Quite an experience! On the burial day they have a service on the property. Then they moved in a procession carrying the coffin around property just a little, singing all the while. Then still in song the coffin was buried.
They like having the funerals videoed and I was it. I was concerned about looking like a tourist at a funeral but wanted to help in this way. I'm yet to go through it all and put it together in a sequenced order. NOt knowing the language I don't really know the important bits either. Some parts there were people walking across in front of the camera, people who were beside me knocking my arm, etc. So hopefully I will be able to put something suitable together.

The children have continued to practice the scottish dance taught to them by Cory, a visiting Australian. They have participated in one interschool competition and were supposed to compete again this past week, which has been moved to next week but I think now postponed. I need to get some more information about what is happening. They were hoping to go to the national level as very few participate in dances from other countries. Most of the schools perform traditional dance. It is amazing to watch. I got to go to one of the bigger competions last year.

WoW! Things are really happening here! Looking forward to showing you more and more progress.

I sent a stack of photos through on the last report (29 June) which should have come via email, so will just publish this without photos. They take a long time to load. Let me know if you haven't received the report and I'll send it through.