Final update from Kenya, from Tony….

Thursday evening, we had a nice time sharing and getting to know the staff better. We were wishing we had done this earlier in the week but it was great to get to know a little bit about them. Friday morning Bobby, Charlie and Ed went into town to get a new generator to replace the existing one which could not handle the load of the well pump. They purchased a nice generator and put it right to work filling the tanks when they got back. Now the facilities will have water even when Kenya Power is out for extended periods.

We did a lot of tidying up around and put the repaired tanks all back in place. We caulked and patched the few remaining gutters that needed repair and hooked them back up to the tanks for water collection. The home now has a more than sufficient amount of water storage available to handle extended dry periods without power.

Ed took the time to show several local pastors how to fit and distribute reading glasses. This was a need pastors had indicated would really help their members in Bible reading and study.

We took time to play with the kids and visit with sponsored children. The children at the school gathered together and sang several songs. There were probably about 100 kids and that was a real joy. As the evening wore on we received numerous notes from the kids thanking us for the work we had done and imploring us to come back again. The joy in their hearts is really a blessing. We should learn to be so thankful for all the Lord as given us.  Quilts made by the ladies in the Quilting ministry at our church were handed out and appreciated.

Dad did some additional carpentry repairs and built a few boxes to store tools in. They were inventoried and stored so we know what will be available when we return.

We had a wonderful meeting with several local pastors in the evening. We spent a couple of hours discussing their needs and then shared a meal together. It is very clear that the church in the area is desperately seeking teachers to train and teach their church leaders. Although discussions of improving facilities was discussed briefly, the overwhelming request of all the pastor there is that the church in the US send people who can train local church leaders. There is a passion to learn the word of God in these men that I only wish I could emulate. We will begin to see if there is a way we can meet this need going forward in some way.

Saturday morning, we caught the flight out of Kitale to Nairobi and will spend the day here in the Hampton House. We will leave tonight and be home Sunday morning. It has been a wonderful trip and as usual we leave feeling blessed. Thank you for your support.

Ed, Bobby, Charles, Eldon and Tony

Tony, Bobby, Charles, Ed, and Eldon are on their way home after a great week of work repairing and updating the Lord’s Servants Home facilities and fellowshipping with the children, High Schoolers, Churches, and ministry workers and partners associated.  They thought we sent the message with a bigger list that they could get done…Ha, they knocked it out.  It has been nearly two years before substantial work was done on the facility.  Here is Tony’s last work day update….

It has been another good day. We have mostly just tried to make sure all the jobs we started are complete. Bobby spent the day working with Ronnie the electrician to clean up more random electrical issues. There are so many small problems around that this is a never ending task. Bobby wired the new well switch we bought to accept a generator but the generator we have appears to be a little underpowered.

I spent a good bit of the day in Kitale getting supplies and getting the small generator repaired. I also put a metal cover on the well pump box and just helped out with a few other things.

Dad built several benches for the kids and they were working hard to get them sanded smooth so they can use them in the school. He also finished up repairing a cabinet for one of the teachers and made a few boxes to store our tools in.

Ed worked with Ken to monitor and adjust chlorine levels in the water so as to make sure the water is as healthy as possible for the kids.

Charlie and Ed both spent time securing pipes and replacing faulty faucets and other plumbing issues.

Pastor Ken did cement work around the compound in several areas that needed work.

Tomorrow we plan on using a new generator to insure back-up power for the water well pump and meeting with pastors and leaders here. We will do clean up and rest a little in preparation for the long ride home.

It has been a good day

Thank you again for your prayers and support.

Tony, Eldon, Ed, Bobby and Charles