Installment 10

Installment 10
I’m beginning to lose track of how many days I’ve been here, so I guess it’s time to start just using installments, so now I’m on the installment plan just like any good American. I met with one of the men that we might contract to build the next building today. We spent about 2 hours talking and looking at the blueprints. Skeptical at first…..both of us,,, me of his knowledge and abilities, and he of my intrusion into his world, we soon overcame our mutual distrust and settled down to circling each other looking for an opening. As I opened the blueprints for the clinic, I smoothed them out with my hands and asked if he knew what these were. “Those are hands.” he said, “I am familiar with them,,,,see, I have them too, but mine are not that pale sickly color.” “Hmmm” I thought, “it’s going to be hard to stump him.” “Do you know what is under my hands? “Those are blueprint plans for building information,” he replies. “Good answer,” I say, trying to encourage him….”Do you know how to read and understand them? Jackson, (I call him Jackson because he says that is his name), explains, “I went to school to learn building and have been building for many years…..do you know how to read them??” Feeling relief that at least one of us knows how to read blueprints, I press in…”When you say building, do you mean buildings?” I pretty much knew I had caught him off guard. With a hint of Jeff’s look, he asked “Do you know where Victor is?” And so began what we both fear is a long relationship. As luck would have it, he did understand what all the lines and numbers meant and even the engineering sheet….now I have an idea too…but I still like the nice blue color of the paper. Perhaps I can learn the Kenyan way of building from him and he can learn to expand his ’Swahili’ from me….but I have yet to talk to another builder. We have the weather on our side for now and we hope to pull the trigger on getting the building started very soon.
I spent quite abit of the last two days designing administrative form for the builder to use to keep strict account of time and materials. Also, because of my background (also a builder…yes, of buildings) and that I am the best legal mind in my room, I have written what I hope is an airtite contract for the builder to agree to. Airtite, now there’s a term that I understand because it makes no sense. If you have the time and umph, might you pray that we choose the right contractor for this project? TIA and the wheels turn slow here, except on the vehicles coming at you, and the weather won’t hold forever, plus Sandy says that I MUST come home this year, so we need to get started. Even with all that pressing in, there is one other major factor….Carla says that because of so many kids, it won’t be long before they will put a couple in MY room….”but I don’t like kids.” I said. “Right!…you’re catching on……how’s that building coming along??” she smiles
One of the new kids is Matthew. He was born in December along side of the road…I guess his mother had something ’important’ to do as she forgot to take him with her when she went off down the road. I’m sure that Matthew said something like “Hey wait, aren’t we supposed to at least get to know each other?” Something like that, anyway. Once again, God has his ’search and rescue’ squads. Someone came by…maybe an angel…maybe just someone God used, and picked the little guy up and took him to the police. “I know just what to do with this little guy” says the police. “He needs a mom and dad and a family, and a mzungu to torment as he grows up.” So, here he is, already sizing me up. Soon, he will become a producing member of the snot community.
Yesterday, I was sneaking thru the veranda, seconds head of the big kids when I saw Abigail stand up and take a step. I think it was her first….am I a proud mzungu or what. Abby is the baby that Sandy is holding in that classic picture I took in Oct. She, yes, actually both of them, had typhoid. I don’t know how old she is, but probably around 6 or 7 months…maybe 8. Pretty cool huh? Oh crap! I’m beginning to realize my worst fears……liking kids. Pray for me….I mean it!
Getting lots of maintenance done….like it matters…90 kids can pretty much stay ahead of a Navy construction battalion. “hey, where’s Babu?” “I don’t know,,,let’s break something and he will come and fix it.” one says, setting the trap. I fall for it every time.