Yes, it’s that time of the year again.....hard to believe since I know some of our friends in the US are still digging out from under snow!
While many have been experiencing record breaking cold - hot and dry still describes the weather here. We are in the middle of a serious dry spell and two days of brief rain last week was just enough to “wet our whistle”. Daily trips to the spring to fetch water continue and I’ve discovered one advantage to waiting in line to get water - it gives me a chance to put my hot, dirty feet in some refreshing cold fresh water. Ahhh!
Other than the weather, our year is of to a great start and we find ourselves amazed at how God is growing the ministry and adding to our numbers. Just last week when the final two teenagers headed off to boarding school, William and I were talking about how there were “just” 10 of us at home now. I had a good laugh when I realized that we thought 10 was a small number!
Here’s a bit more of what’s been going on:
CML ACADEMY
Pupils and teachers are settling in and the first C.A.T. (continuous assessment test) was given this week. According to the results we have some work to bring the kids up to the level we know they need to be at academically. Good thing teachers and pupils are excited and ready!
In the above picture we are giving students drinking water following play time. Because drinking water is scarce we discovered many children were drinking less than a glass of water per day. We are so blessed to be able and provide them with clean drinking water!
We are slowly furnishing the classrooms with desk and chairs and recently purchased 50 new small plastic chairs for the kindergarten classes and a new Kenyan flag. That just leaves desk for the older kids to be finished, tables for kindergarten and desk for the teachers. Right now every desk and coffee table in my house is at the school and I can’t wait for them to get their own…ha! ha!
PROJECTS AROUND THE FARM
In addition to the Christmas chicken giveaway (see last update) I’m happy to report that we are now eating and selling chicken. Our total population is still around 100 but we always have new ones being hatched and old ones that need “recycling” (ummm… this means eating).
Yes we have Bananas! After planting over 20 banana tress we are now eating and selling some very sweet bananas. The kids love them and so do our neighbors.
Above- Tom, Brian, Mark and Joab handle the bananas with care while making some personal selections in the process!
We still need to go deeper in the well, but finding help to dig has caused a delay. Many of the local men are mining these days and so the experienced diggers are out digging for gold. We have been able to prepare for putting a top on and it's beginning to look more like a well now!
MANDAZI HUT / CANTEEN
In my last update I reported on one of our graduating students Joab who’s now selling mandazi (Kenyan version of a donut) from a small 3-room hut we built that functions as the school kitchen. In addition to making and selling mandazi, he has also been cooking porridge for the kids and lunch for the teachers. Now Joab has turned the end room of the canteen into a little store and is selling candy, sugar, tea, eggs, oil and other small items. Talk about your entrepreneurship! Our hat is off to this energetic and industrious young man as he learns first hand about business, budgeting and customer service.
DISCIPLESHIP
We continue working closely with 12 kids. Some have returned to boarding school till April but Joab, Monica, Maurine, Mark, Martin (Mezee) and Collins are still at home with us. Our daily devotions and family discussions remain lively and insightful and we see God transforming their lives in many ways. Whether it’s giving money to help pay schools fees for another young person, leading worship or Bible Study at school or teaching the Sunday school class at church, we see them reaching out and impacting the lives of others.
VISITING DAY
The first Sunday of each month is visiting day at two of the local High Schools where some of the kids we disciple board, so last Sunday off we went with a bag full of drinks and mandazi. What a joy to hear each one is doing well in adjusting to the 2011 school year and that they are making new friends as well as seeing old ones.
Below Brian is enjoying some juice during visiting day. Brian attends Kanyawanga Boys School and is a Form 2 (10th grade).
We help sponsor several boys at Kanga Boys High School so there was a big crowd when we delivered juice and mandazi. In the background you can see other groups sitting around the commons area "Visiting" with students.
An unexpected surprise was the presence of a lady selling ice cream. We had never seen this before and many of the boys had never even tasted ice cream. What a treat for all! Here you can see the ice-cream lady behind the boys as they enjoy their cones!
SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Our on-going training for local Pastors and church leaders continues. In conjunction with Clarence Matheny Ministries, the School of Leadership Development met this month and covered the topic “Honoring Christ With Our Lives”. Sessions included such subjects as; Avoiding Ethical Landmines in Ministry and Honoring God through Daily Decisions.
WALKING THE COW HOME (My big cow adventure!)
Last August William bought me a cow for my birthday. At the time we were about to leave for the US and so decided to let the cow stay with the original owners. It was agreed that once we got back we would come get the cow and “walk her home”.
Feb 13th was the day to go get the cow. Joined by Monica, Hemstone and Joab – William drove us all to the farm at 7:30 am where we met Collins with the cow. Several well wishers came to see us off and Pastor Ken prayed for our journey.
We were told that taking a well known “short-cut” would reduce our walk to about 1 1/2/ hours…. so off we started. Then we stopped. Two of the boys had to go get something from the Pastors house so we had to wait. While we were waiting I decided to hold the cow (this is where the adventure began). While holding her, she spooked at something and started running. Still holding the rope (big mistake) I tried to run and pull her back. One of the boys was yelling at me to let go…only he was yelling it in Luo using a word I haven’t learned yet…… so I held on and started yelling “Whoa Betsy”!
I soon found myself being drug across the ground…still holding the rope. When I finally let go, it wasn’t quick enough to avoid a serious rope burn…ouch!
With my focus on keeping the cow from getting away and it wasn’t until I got up, dusted myself off and saw shock in the eyes of the boys that I realized I’d also scraped both my elbows, side & hip. I must have still been numb from the excitement because I told them I was ok and ready to walk the cow (now named Betsy) home.
Our 1 ½ hour journey turned into a 3 hour walk – and the scenic walk included a number of hills and valleys, numerous fields of sugar cane, homes with children running out to greet us, other sojourners walking cows and even a river to cross.
All in all it was a beautiful journey. Waking the next morning however to find additional bruises and a sore swollen foot I can say that while the trip was worth it.....this cowgirl has officially retired!
William took this picture as we arrived home and yes, we are tired after our long walk. If you look close you can see a sling shot in Toms (far right, blue shirt) hand. He and Joab were aiming to get a bird to cook along the way but I think I scared them all off..lol!
Below Maurine helps me wash some of the dirt off.
Let us Praise Him today day for His never ending love
and for all the wonderful things He has done!
Happy Valentines Day to all!
