Babies, Kids, and Goliath, Post #4

Please pray for all our health, safety for the many workers around here, Holy Spirit led leadership here, and God’s guidance in some decisions we have coming up in the next few days.

Kids are kids but the toys sure have changed.  This boy made a car out of wire and bottle caps.  The most favorite toy without a ball at the orphanage is an old car tire.

Boy in the community with hand made toy car

Boy in the community with hand made toy car

The kids are really sweet.  We have enjoyed reading Bible stories…more like acting them out.  Here Brian (David) has slew Goliath (Tony).  The cheer from the kids must have been heard all over the community.

David and Goliath

Reaching out to the community with clean water…. The project is coming along really well (pun intended).

Reaching out to the community with clean water.  Well is in the background, community is behind the cameraman.

Reaching out to the community with clean water. Well is in the background, community is behind the cameraman.

More babies at the LSH.

Caroline (Caretaker), Carlos (Baby), and me (enjoying holding a baby)

Caroline (Caretaker), Carlos (Baby), and me (enjoying holding a baby)

Kittens in the woodpile

Kittens in the woodpile

Enjoy this video and song by Audio Adrenaline.  It is encouraging to me, right now especially.

We Hit Water!!!! Post #3

Imagine thinking about and praying for and working hard towards something, having setbacks and roadblocks, and finally giving in that it just won’t happen under your control.  Then it breaks loose and not only happens, but happens way faster than you can even keep up, cheaper than you planned, and more perfect than you designed.  That is us and the new water well project.

We hit water today after only drilling a few hours.  We were prepared to drill to 100 meters deep but in 40 meters, the drillers went through 2 aquifers and then hit a solid layer of quartz.  They drilled on some yet but will stop and set the pump at about 37 meters.   The water flow is excellent and the driller estimated it at 6000 liters per hour which is way more than we could deal with.  He exclaimed that after 300 wells drilled in his career, this is the best one he has done.  He was really excited.

We will be laying pipe tomorrow to hook the well into the tank setting atop the 15′ tank stand which will be finished tomorrow.  By the end of the week, we hope to have all plumbing done and water to the community distribution site.  We will need to have it tested and a chlorinator installed first before distribution to the people in the area.  I spoke with the local church Sunday and they will assist with that and make sure that people know it for what it is, provisions from God and human effort showing the love of Jesus in a practical way.

I’ve had a great day.  Praise God!

Lots going on.  Drilling, water flowing, tank stand in background being welded, trenches for piping.

Lots going on. Drilling, water flowing, tank stand in background being welded, trenches for piping.

My Buddy Nicole

My Buddy Nicole

Many new friends I met at Misanga Primary School.  They now know how to high five and play Simon Says.

Many new friends I met at Misanga Primary School. They now know how to high five and play Simon Says.

It is Tuesday night here in Kitale. We continue to enjoy our time here in the Lord’s Servants Home. Terri has been really connecting with a lot of the kids here during her time as the “teacher” for 25 preschoolers. They all want your attention, want to please and need as much love as one can give. Her biggest struggle has just been seeing so much need and feeling rather helpless. The spiritual and physical needs are tremendous. Terri also helps with the cooking each day. There is always a lot of chopping, peeling, cutting and dicing for dinner and supper. She has gotten to know the ladies that work in the kitchen and has made some quick friendships.

The highlight of the trip so far was when Terri and I were able to drive in to the hospital and visit the maternity ward where Dorothy (the caretaker) was having her first child. By the time we arrived, Dorothy had delivered the baby. We were in the waiting room hoping for a chance to see her. She had the baby a little after three and around five she walked out of the delivery area. We greeted her in the waiting area with her precious new daughter Stephanie. She was so tired and had to spend the night at the hospital so we visited, gave her a few small gifts and then left her there to spend time with her mother and other friends. The hospital is quite an experience but again there just isn’t time for that here. Mother and daughter are doing well and we thank the Lord for this wonderful gift.

I have started driving a little and am feeling fairly comfortable on the left side of the road while avoiding pedestrians by the thousands, bicycles and motorcycles by the hundreds, animals by the dozens, and various other challenges on the 25 minute drive into town. It is quite an experience and I’ll leave it at that……..

Tony and Terri

Only 147 Million Orphans. 1st Blog from Kenya

I am reading a book called Orphanology by Tony Merida and he states that there are 147 Million children in the world who awaken each day not knowing who will care for them.  As I close my 1st full day at the  Lord’s Servants Home today, I praise God that there could be 147 Million and 56.  The 56 kids at the LSH know that someone is caring for them, values them, and wants them to succeed.  I am blessed to be part of that and out of well over 100 people helping with this ministry, I get to be one of the fortunate few to give a real hug and smile to the kids.

Everything is going very well.  It’s beautiful here and the kids are well.  Greg, Tony, and Terri are doing great.  We have a great start on our projects and we have had a great time with the kids.  Tony and I focused on the playground projects and got two plastic slides, swings, and teatherballs installed.  Big hits.  Greg and Terri have been awesome servants today.  Our water project is moving forward and we have hope of drilling a well this coming week.  We have supplies on hand already for installing an elevated tank and for other projects.  We hooked up the TV and DVD that we sent in the container months ago and the kids are watching Jungle Book now.  Every now and then I hear them cheering for something.  This morning we gave then some “Saturday morning cartoons” just like we all had.

I’m blessed here in Kenya!

PS.  I’ll download some photos tomorrow.

January 2013 Trip Update

Update on our plans for our next trip to The Lord’s Servants Home….  Greg Perkins, Tony and Terri Yoder, and I will leave the US on 23 January and spend two weeks at the orphanage in Kitale, Kenya.  Greg and I will go on to a town north of Jinja, Uganda to visit a relatively new ministry and orphanage that is serving in that area. 

Besides loving on the kids and meeting the new ones, our trip outline in rough terms is as follows….

  1. Projects.
    1. The new well.  We have decided to drill a well and have completed a survey, indicating water at 120 meters.  We hope to have permitting completed and ideally the well drilled by the time we visit.  Our goal will be to complete installation of the well, pump, storage tank, piping, and chlorinator before we leave.
    2. Projects associated with the goods on the container such as playground slides, swings, and merry-go-round installation as well as TV installation in the dining hall.
    3. Implement mentorship projects for the older children.
    4. Review of all projects implemented previously and act as needed, upgrading some such as rain gutters, lighting, and electrical installation.
  2. Business and planning discussions.
    1. Budget review for 2012, new budget for 2013.
    2. Lord’s Servants Academy (new nursery school) vision, short-term plan, and long-term plan.  This will lead to decisions about building a classroom for future 1st through 4th grades classes.
    3. Farm future plan and use of the land.  How can we best honor God with that land.
    4. Discuss use of the old church building and initiate actions.
    5. Cooperation between The Lord’s Ministries, The Liyavo Bible Church, and The Lord’s Servants Home.
  3. Visit the Stream of Hope for the African Child ministry and orphanage in Uganda.
    1. Get to know Pastor Isabirye and the ministry goals and needs.
    2. Deliver some medicine, goods, gifts, and relief.

Please keep us in your prayers as we finalize our plans and work towards gathering provisions.

Trip planned for January 2013

Our plans are beginning to take shape for our next trip to The Lord’s Servants Home.  At this point, Greg Perkins and I will leave the US on 23 January, spend two weeks at the orphanage in Kitale, Kenya then travel to a town north of Jinja, Uganda to visit a relatively new ministry and orphanage that is serving in that area.  Others may join us at The Lord’s Servants Home. 

The timing of this trip is such to allow us to A) catch the kids on their school break and get to know the 20 new ones that will have joined the home by then, B)  Complete the fresh water well project during the dry season, and C) travel by land to Uganda during the dry season.

Our trip outline in rough terms is as follows….

  1. Projects.
    1. The new well.  Our goal will be to prepare for this, decide what course of action, and complete installation of the well, pump, storage tank, piping, and chlorinator before we leave.
    2. Many small projects associated with the goods on the container.
    3. Implement some mentorship projects.
    4. Review of all projects implemented previously and act as needed. 
  2. Business discussions.
    1. Budget review for 2012, new budget for 2013.
    2. Current and long term issue review.
    3. Lord’s Servants Academy (new nursery school) vision, short term plan, and long term plan.
    4. Farm future plan and use of the land.
    5. Cooperation between The Lord’s Ministries, The Liyavo Bible Church, and The Lord’s Servants Home.
    6. Plan outline for the next visit.  How many, what kind of activities, how long, when?
  3. Visit the Stream of Hope for the African Child ministry and orphanage in Uganda.
    1. Get to know Pastor Isabirye and the ministry goals and needs.
    2. Deliver some medicine, goods, gifts, and relief.

Please keep us in your prayers as we finalize our plans and work towards gathering provisions to complete our purpose to serve and love the people in Africa and honor God with this.