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.