Installment 38
“What time does the 1:00 flight leave for Nairobi? I asked. “It will be leaving at exactly 3:00” Notaclue, the airline airstrip operator answers. “But it is after 3:00 now” I say. “Yes, it will be leaving Lodwar (another town) at 3:00 on the dot” Notaclue says with a straight face. “OK, then, what time will it be leaving here for Nairobi” I press. “The schedule says it will leave at 1:00 sharp” he says. “So, what time should I be at the airstrip?” I wonder out loud. “Don’t be coming any later than 4:00” he replies. So, at 4:00 Jeff drops me off at the strip and I begin to wait. A little bit later I get a call from Jeff; “The flight is delayed until 6” he informs, “I will come get you and we can eat at English Lady’s, which isn’t English Lady’s any more.” He comes, and we drive towards El’s, (about 15 minutes away). About 10 minutes in, we get a call from Carla, who is at EL’s saying that some other confused passengers just got a call from their travel agent informing them that the plane was at the strip and they needed to get there fast. “Aha.” says Jeff, “we can beat them back to the strip.” Going like 60, Jeff delivered me back to the strip, with my elevated adrenaline from going like 60, around, thru and everything but over….(and maybe that too), bicycles, piki pikis, and donkey carts…..just in the nick of time to not see the airplane….which ‘is coming’, and is ‘already there’. By this time, Jeff is speaking Swahili of some sort. And I am praying for his soul. Now you may have caught me in some exaggeration in the past, but this time it’s all true….including doing the ‘leave and return’ thing twice. Shortening an otherwise boring story, I finally said my last goodbye to Jeff (who seemed relieved) at 5:00, because the airplane ‘is on it’s way’. Oddly enough, and I know you won’t actually believe this, but almost immediately thereafter, the plane came at 7:00. Lucky for me, I had an 8 ½ hour layover at Nairobi, which had been modified to about 1 ½ hrs, so I didn’t have to wait so long…. So began my transition back to the 21st century, and my journey home….and because the flight from Nairobi, for some strange reason, started in Africa, and therefore TIA applied, we were held in Amsterdam for about 45 minutes while they rechecked our passports…..before we were allowed off the plane. And after only 9 hours in the air in conditions that they won’t allow chickens to endure, the mood, as you can imagine, was quite joyous, with many versions of Swahili being shared.
Now, about my time in Africa. If you haven’t been there, well, you haven’t been there. I started the journey, really, shortly after we got home from our October trip to Africa. Having enjoyed the ‘food’ and ‘roads’ so much, I told Sandy that I just had to get back before my body completely healed. January 31, I was back consulting with Victor and on my way. The rest you know….and some of it is true, but I’m not even sure what parts. It started off with a hard 1st night in Kenya, but progressively got worse….just kidding. Traveling alone was different, and other than being alone with 400 other people, I seemed to take it ok emotionally, even with the problems that I encountered. Once at Instep, I suddenly remembered that the place is over-run with kids, and had a wee bit of buyers remorse….and had to re-hone my evasion skills. But all that is old news. When I got there, there was some things going on with the staff, which at the time added some stress, but worked itself out and has rebuilt a strong base for the future. Being the only ‘visitor’ at the Home for the whole time, J & C felt obligated to give over all the emotional stress to me, so they could continue their idyllic life of self indulgence. So, let’s recap a few of the notable things that the past 2 ½ month have presented, and you have been able to live vicariously through my incredible words.
The Building Project:
This was much more taxing on my psyche than I had anticipated. Having worked in the construction industry for almost 40 years, I kinda thought that I could handle a couple of buildings. But then TIA infiltrated and I soon came to the realization that maybe no building could ever be built in Kenya. Just getting a decent contract with Jackson, who has no license, no insurance, no bond, but fortunately also has no assets that we could use as leverage. And then there were the suppliers….yeah, remember….’the materials are coming in fact they are already there’……tomorrow. This could have driven me nuts, had I not already crossed that line. Over and over, we had promises of delivery, only to be disappointed…..me, not Jeff….he somehow knew what would happen…..he is amazing. The rain was coming and “I” had a schedule to meet. I really had a hard time with that, but looking back, God had His timing and somehow, enough materials arrived and we made the timeline that had been established….and I was able to leave feeling that “I” had been incredibly amazing. Fortunately for all of us, God provided Jackson and he out performed all our expectations, getting 2 buildings thru stage 1 in the time he said it would take for 1.…another miracle, me thinks. So, I leave knowing that some progress has been made, and I wish that I could take some credit, but I was waaaay out of my league,,,,, only thru the Lord‘s grace and mercy was anything accomplished. The clinic even has some walls, both exterior and interior started….pretty cool….sometime I might share some pictures of the progression.
While the stress was high during the construction, it was nothing to the situation with Mama Manu. I got really emotionally involved….much more than I would have thought….being a Marine and all. It still holds me hostage to emotion when I think of that woman giving her last bit of food and her life for her baby. This is a strong memory…and coupled with the hospital, morgue, and burial,,,where since it’s planting time, I’m sure that they have plowed her grave…. it has been a real life changer for me.
And then there was Dorcas. Such a sweet little thing. Never asked to be born, but was brought into a nasty world. If you had met her, you would have been amazed at her tenacity. You’d have loved her too. When you come to Instep, you can see where she has a permanent place….also in our hearts….if you want, I will show you how long she was…..I have the string. Out of that whole thing, her mother was reunited with her family and we hear that she is doing well.
We buried 2 while I was there…with much more personal involvement than anything I have seen in the US. Life and death are much more hands on. Like English Lady said, “You know you are alive here”
So, for me, in a culture that is not push-push like in the west, I found that the adjustment to being “alive” has been hard….really good, but hard…really hard. I have been wondering how all this will affect my ‘living’ from now on. I still don’t feel ‘called’, but I don’t know if I can ever really feel at home anywhere now. I miss and really want to get home, but I already miss and want to get back to the 15th century. Maybe, like a lot of the teachings I have had from the Lord, if I wait, it will fade, and I won’t have to confront my convictions…..you all know what I mean….don’t you? All this sounds negative, but it really isn’t…..it’s part of that ‘life’ that Christ has called us to. You remember…..we live here, but our heart needs to be with Him…we don‘t belong, but we are called to demonstrate His life to whom ever we meet…..torn…
Things I won’t miss in Africa:
Ugali, the roads, lack of technology, door locksets that were old when Charles Engles was farming, electricity outages, crappy Chinese stuff that is sold there…and they say that they are a people of pride….maybe in China,,, sitting alone for lunch, the bread, the snot, people telling me things that they know won’t happen, the dust when it’s dry, the mud when it’s wet, the toilet paper, malaria (which I didn’t get this time) the typhoid and TB and other diseases….over a million a year die of malaria in Africa.. the mattress that I ‘slept’ on, the disdain for human life by some, did I mention the roads?
Things I will miss in Africa:
Ugali, the roads, lack of technology, door locksets that were old when Charles Engles was farming, electricity outages, crappy Chinese stuff that is sold there…and they say that they are a people of pride….maybe in China,,, sitting alone for lunch, the bread, the snot, people telling me things that they know won’t happen, the dust when it’s dry, the mud when it’s wet, the toilet paper, malaria (which I didn’t get this time) the typhoid and TB and other diseases….over a million a year die of malaria in Africa.. the mattress that I ‘slept’ on, the disdain for human life by some, the people whom I’ve come to love…especially the staff, the kids….yes, the kids, the warm mornings, the sounds, the smells,,,,well some anyway, the connection with ‘life and death’. Life that is different and by some standards, not so good, but it is real life. And, mostly, Carla…..Jeff,,,,not so much…well, maybe some.
I’m still not sure why I went this time. The ploy was for the buildings, and that saw some progress, but because life is more than buildings, I hope that there was a better reason for me to be there. Someday, Jesus might share with me the real purpose for me and Africa this time. It’s a dangerous place for a person to visit….if you let it, it will confront your motivations….and that might be harder than being cooked by pygmies. By the way, where did the pygmies get those big iron pots? I know that the most encouraging times were those spent with adults, talking about how Jesus really sees us, and how much we need Him and His grace….it always seemed to go to the same place….’do we obey Him because we should, or because we love Him and want to please Him. Seems basic, doesn’t it,,,,but it’s the same argument that WE all have everyday…..isn’t it.
I can’t figure that place out, mostly because of the people. There is something deep that is going on….more than just poverty and lack of knowledge. At first, I began to think that maybe these people are just stupid and living this way is the result. After getting to know many of them, I have come to the conclusion that intelligence is not the problem….it is for me, but not for them. I met some of the smartest people there. They have the ability to solve some complex problems, but somehow can’t create solutions to the real problems facing their society. Give them a piece of pipe, an inner tube, some wire, sticks and string, and they can fix almost anything. (just wait til they find duct tape) But, work on the deep issues,,,,not happening, even tho they mostly know where the problems are. Nope, it’s got to be spiritual…it’s not intellectual, which leads me back to a main principle of this blog…“the hope is in the children“. The one thing I know, I love those people….and I hate those people….and I hate to hate those people. I know, it doesn’t make sense, does it. Just so you know, I’d give my life for those people. Good grief…this is giving me the creeps.
The other day, and this pertains to the last paragraph, I caught one of the older kids with a piece of pipe with fittings on it. Now we have spent hours talking about honesty and integrity. Me: “where did you get that pipe?” Busted Kid: ….silence. Me: “is it yours?” BK: ….silence. Me: “do you have permission to have it?” BK: “I just picked it” (read stole…earlier blog) Me: “explain ’picked it’” BK: ….silence. Me: “OK, since you like that pipe (3’ long), I think you should keep it for awhile, so until tomorrow, you can keep it with you…..at all times……when you are doing chores, eating, going to the bathroom, and yes, you can even sleep with it” BK: “awww, I don’t like it that much.” Me, (thinking) ‘you probably won’t by tomorrow’. “enjoy your pipe”. Next day about 11:00.am: Me: “Hey, BK, can I have the pipe?” BK: “please, please, please, I will never ‘pick’ again.” Me: “OK, love you!!”….thinking to myself, if he does, I’ll bet it’s smaller. So this opened up a whole new opportunity to talk with all the older ones again about how Jesus wants us to treat others……hopefully, one day it will click and they will be able to pass along the wisdom…..not mine,,,God’s.
Before I quit, a few words about Peter. He was a trained ‘Riffraff’ guard and worked at English Lady’s….before my time. He lives out near the home and made the commute everyday or stay in town away from his family. Anyway, Jeff and EL got to talking and came up with the thought that Peter wouldn’t have to commute so far if he worked at Instep…..see how smart Jeff and EL are when they get their heads together.. (also how caring and giving EL is) So, he came to be with the Instep staff and stands at the entrance to the property watching over us. As a side note, I had to sneak over the fence for about a week, until Carla explained to Peter that I was really just one of the kids that had a physical deformity. Peter stands about 5’6” and weighs about 55kgs….120lbs….and has ‘good eyes’, and a gentle and kind spirit I’ll explain the good eyes thing in a moment, if I remember. Peter speaks a form of English that no-one has ever heard before, and can do it without opening or moving his lips….but his Swahili is to die for! One day, a bad man came to the gate and I was watching from a ways away, and was a bit concerned. But I swear that I saw Peter grow to about 6’5, 240lbs right in front of me, and sent that guy away. That’s when I realized that he is the right man for the job. It might be hard to understand, but there are people that want to do harm and damage to those who live inside Instep….it’s hard for me anyway….but they lurk out there, both day and night. Night we have 2 security guards patrolling. I like Peter and just wanted to share how God uses people to accomplish His purposes….sometimes just to keep some safe… Oh, the ‘good eyes’? When you come to visit Instep, you will see many black people, that seem to live in the area. I have observed that the ratio of black to white in that area is pretty high, unlike in Anacortes. You will notice that some of the Kenyans have eyes that just might give you the shivers….not kidding here….especially the older ones. Now we know that the eyes are the window to the soul, and so checking out the eyes is a good thing. Peter has ‘good eyes’…as do all the staff at Instep. He has demonstrated his loyalty in a couple of ways that I can’t share here, but there is no doubt that he is willing to lay down his life for his friends….sound like something that you’ve heard or read somewhere??? Anyway, I like Peter.
Finally, I want to give you some advice….I know, kinda like a typewriter giving a computer advice, but humor me. When you come to Africa, to Instep,,,,and I hope you will, a couple of things you might want to know. 1. There is a ‘romance’ to Africa, and you will feel it when you arrive. But, after a short time, you will wonder where it went….it’s called culture shock. Hang in there, the romance is still there, but you will see it differently than you expected. 2. Don’t come to help change the people….come to show what Jesus looks like in the flesh…..love and let Jesus do the changing. And last, when you come, please understand that Jeff and Carla have been on the ground for a long time and have developed an understanding of how it works in Africa. Please, please don’t try to understand how it works…..for a long time, at least til ‘you get it‘….and don’t try to tell them how to do what they do….because, it’s not the world you and I know, and it takes awhile to be ‘assimilated’. Ask them questions and share insights, and most of all love and encourage them….even Jeff.
So, that’s that. I’ve really missed my best friend. And now that I am reunited with her, I’m all better….well, almost. Overall, I’m worse for having done the last 2 ½ months. The “it’s all about me” factor has been called into question, and this time with a vengeance. But a good thing is that somehow, Sandy has entered into the same struggle and now we are becoming assimilated….it’s true in our lives…..resistance IS futile. I think we have tasted some of the real life that E.L. spoke of, and now the washing machine (installment 31) doesn’t seem quite as important.
This, much to your relief, is probably the last blog from Safarislim for awhile. I’m pretty much out of material, and really don’t have the energy to make up anymore stories….even if they are true. But, if you need a new installment……it is on it’s way….in fact it is already there…..
What....now there are 105
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Installment 37
Installment 37
6:45 pm April 7, 2011. 2, count ‘em 2 foundations in and backfilled….and 2 almost 2000 sqft concrete slabs in and curing. It’s been a long haul, but God has been merciful and allowed us to get all the main groundwork done before the hard rains start. The rainy season should be well on it’s way by now, but only enough water has fallen to get the maize started, while keeping the ground, and ‘roads’ solid enough to get materials delivered on site. I don’t know what you think, but I KNOW that it is another one of His little miraculous touches. I am so thankful to Him for giving us this blessing of hard ground….it probably should be added to the “Stations of the Cross”…or some other religious celebration. This has been a challenge for me, coming from a western culture, with western ideas, and a western clock and calendar….none of which have a whole lot of bearing here. I have run a few projects at home…some small, some big. There, you get plans, funding, land, order materials, hire subcontractors, get inspections, hold mostly to a timeline, and finish the project. Here, “maybe tomorrow”….”I am coming” “it will be there on time”…..they don’t tell you whose time they are talking about….”I was just calling you” “if you need it, it is coming”…of course I needed it yesterday…..this is how things operate. So, I’ve been here since before my hair turned this grey, and I still struggle with the concept of TIA. I still think that if I need something, I find a supplier and it comes….right??? I don’t know how many times I heard “we are on our way”. I think what they mean is that they are on there way to ignoring me or driving me insane…..insaner. Jeff has been here long enough that he has come to believe that this is the way things are done in Africa. I, like every other mzungu, knew that it would be different when I just explained how I wanted things done. What I said; “ When we make a deal, I need you to fulfill your obligation in a timely manner”. What they heard; “I have lots of money and want to ‘help you out’.” What they say; “I am understanding you perfectly, you say you want to live long enough to see this project finished, and I am already delivering”. What really happens; “Maybe tomorrow!” So, I am learning, and Jeff is snickering. But in the meantime, we have gotten two buildings started, and I only have a small ulcer……I‘m going to need and internal medicine man when I get home... That being said, it’s a tough learning curve, and I’m still a long ways from getting ‘it’. Next time I come to Africa to build something, just shoot me…please.
Like all really good experienced contractors, I have put into place a system of cost overruns and so have almost depleted the funds on hand for both buildings. Staying right on budget might work somewhere, but not with the US government and not in Kenya. So, that being said, we are slowing way down until we get a handle on just where we are financially. For the last 4 weeks, we have had around 40 to 50 construction workers on site 6 days a week, in order to get the buildings to a point where they can be continued even during the rainy season. But we will consult with Fundi tomorrow and see how we canl proceed at a much slower pace that will keep in line with how God provides funding to continue. When Sandy and I came last October, there were 82 Babu hunters here and now, even with losing one precious one, we have 94...all sleeping in 5 not so big rooms….it’s possible that we could use a little more room here….like maybe a dorm….yeah that’s it, a dorm…now why didn’t I think of that….we even have Marryme and STGI coming on staff soon to be house parents…..it’ll be fun to see how God provides for finishing the two buildings….maybe He will use YOU to part of one of His miracles.
So, Pinkerton….yes the one in Octobers blogs stopped by today and we walked around the property and up to the clinic site. “What are you going to be doing for water up here?” he asked. “We are thinking of running a pipe from the tanks 300 meters away and either building a water tower, or burying some tanks and using solar power to pump it” I answered. “Hmmm,” he said, “why not another borehole?” “Cost” I said, “that and I hadn’t thought of doing it that way”. He mused a minute, saying; “a clinic, and maybe two school buildings up here….you could use a borehole”. Then he looked at me and just started praying, asking God to provide another borehole. I mean, I’m thinking, “how many miracles can one childrens’ home stand?” As Pinkerton finishes, he says don’t be surprised when it happens. I thought about just saying “yes Ron, now just go about your missionary-ing” but after reading my Oct blog, I might just wait a bit.
Anyway, I feel like a great weight has been removed, and I feel better. All this time I have been in this argument with myself…’just relax, and see how God works this out’…..’yeah, easy for you to say, I’ve been called here to get these projects going’…..’no, you’ve been called to obey God’……‘yeah, I know, but I am important and God needs me’…….‘yeah right, like He can’t do this without you’…….and so this is how it goes inside my head every day…..good thing, I guess, otherwise it would be empty…..my head, that is.
I think next time I’ll talk about some kids…….have I told you how much I appreciate J & C lately?
6:45 pm April 7, 2011. 2, count ‘em 2 foundations in and backfilled….and 2 almost 2000 sqft concrete slabs in and curing. It’s been a long haul, but God has been merciful and allowed us to get all the main groundwork done before the hard rains start. The rainy season should be well on it’s way by now, but only enough water has fallen to get the maize started, while keeping the ground, and ‘roads’ solid enough to get materials delivered on site. I don’t know what you think, but I KNOW that it is another one of His little miraculous touches. I am so thankful to Him for giving us this blessing of hard ground….it probably should be added to the “Stations of the Cross”…or some other religious celebration. This has been a challenge for me, coming from a western culture, with western ideas, and a western clock and calendar….none of which have a whole lot of bearing here. I have run a few projects at home…some small, some big. There, you get plans, funding, land, order materials, hire subcontractors, get inspections, hold mostly to a timeline, and finish the project. Here, “maybe tomorrow”….”I am coming” “it will be there on time”…..they don’t tell you whose time they are talking about….”I was just calling you” “if you need it, it is coming”…of course I needed it yesterday…..this is how things operate. So, I’ve been here since before my hair turned this grey, and I still struggle with the concept of TIA. I still think that if I need something, I find a supplier and it comes….right??? I don’t know how many times I heard “we are on our way”. I think what they mean is that they are on there way to ignoring me or driving me insane…..insaner. Jeff has been here long enough that he has come to believe that this is the way things are done in Africa. I, like every other mzungu, knew that it would be different when I just explained how I wanted things done. What I said; “ When we make a deal, I need you to fulfill your obligation in a timely manner”. What they heard; “I have lots of money and want to ‘help you out’.” What they say; “I am understanding you perfectly, you say you want to live long enough to see this project finished, and I am already delivering”. What really happens; “Maybe tomorrow!” So, I am learning, and Jeff is snickering. But in the meantime, we have gotten two buildings started, and I only have a small ulcer……I‘m going to need and internal medicine man when I get home... That being said, it’s a tough learning curve, and I’m still a long ways from getting ‘it’. Next time I come to Africa to build something, just shoot me…please.
Like all really good experienced contractors, I have put into place a system of cost overruns and so have almost depleted the funds on hand for both buildings. Staying right on budget might work somewhere, but not with the US government and not in Kenya. So, that being said, we are slowing way down until we get a handle on just where we are financially. For the last 4 weeks, we have had around 40 to 50 construction workers on site 6 days a week, in order to get the buildings to a point where they can be continued even during the rainy season. But we will consult with Fundi tomorrow and see how we canl proceed at a much slower pace that will keep in line with how God provides funding to continue. When Sandy and I came last October, there were 82 Babu hunters here and now, even with losing one precious one, we have 94...all sleeping in 5 not so big rooms….it’s possible that we could use a little more room here….like maybe a dorm….yeah that’s it, a dorm…now why didn’t I think of that….we even have Marryme and STGI coming on staff soon to be house parents…..it’ll be fun to see how God provides for finishing the two buildings….maybe He will use YOU to part of one of His miracles.
So, Pinkerton….yes the one in Octobers blogs stopped by today and we walked around the property and up to the clinic site. “What are you going to be doing for water up here?” he asked. “We are thinking of running a pipe from the tanks 300 meters away and either building a water tower, or burying some tanks and using solar power to pump it” I answered. “Hmmm,” he said, “why not another borehole?” “Cost” I said, “that and I hadn’t thought of doing it that way”. He mused a minute, saying; “a clinic, and maybe two school buildings up here….you could use a borehole”. Then he looked at me and just started praying, asking God to provide another borehole. I mean, I’m thinking, “how many miracles can one childrens’ home stand?” As Pinkerton finishes, he says don’t be surprised when it happens. I thought about just saying “yes Ron, now just go about your missionary-ing” but after reading my Oct blog, I might just wait a bit.
Anyway, I feel like a great weight has been removed, and I feel better. All this time I have been in this argument with myself…’just relax, and see how God works this out’…..’yeah, easy for you to say, I’ve been called here to get these projects going’…..’no, you’ve been called to obey God’……‘yeah, I know, but I am important and God needs me’…….‘yeah right, like He can’t do this without you’…….and so this is how it goes inside my head every day…..good thing, I guess, otherwise it would be empty…..my head, that is.
I think next time I’ll talk about some kids…….have I told you how much I appreciate J & C lately?
Monday, April 4, 2011
Installment 36
Installment 36
I was out wandering around the two building projects today, with my clipboard and aire of superiority ……just out of Jembe reach when my phone rang. It was Fundi, and he alerted me to the fact that we had a visitor on site. “He has come with a complaint” Fundi said. “I don’t remember anything about a complaint in you initial bid documents.” I replied. “Make sure it is a quality complaint, and not one of those second rate Chinese ones that are prevalent in Kenya, before you accept it.” “We have not ordered one” he returns, but this one seems to be sawa (OK), but maybe you should be coming and seeing for yourself. So, always taking advantage of doing ’boss stuff’ I went over to the job shack and introduced myself. “Habari asubui, my name is Terry and this is my project, I hope you are impressed.” “I want to talk to you about a problem.” he begins. “Oh, a problem huh. In the case, I am just a visitor…..it’s that Jeff guy that you need to talk to…..how do you like his project?” I wisely responded. “My name is Rich Indian Person and I have been supplying your rocks, ballast (read ‘gravel’…..you’d think he’d know that only ships have ballast) and sand.” he continued. “If this is a problem, why do you do it?” I countered. “Supplying materials is not the problem, your roads are.” RIP says. “We are not owning any roads,” pipes in Fundi, “they belong to the District.” And I chimed in; “To my recent knowledge, there are no roads in Kenya.” “But your roads are destroying my lorries.” he insists. Suddenly it hit me, this guy wanted to complain about the roads. “It might come as a surprise to you, but you are so ‘yesterday’, I have been complaining about the ‘roads’ here for months.” I chided. “So will you be fixing them?” RIP asks. (Ah, now you are going to like this….I really was able to use my new found Kenyan ways.) “Yes, I will be fixing them tomorrow, in fact the repair team is on its way…in fact they are already there.” “Checkmate” he concedes, “turn about is fair play.” Imagine, a supplier of materials that consistently loads 10 ton trucks with 15 tons of material and then drives down the …dare I say it….roads, beating them to a pulp, complaining about the poor condition of the roads.
The guy across the ‘road’ has been encroaching for the last couple of years. It is platted as a 10 meter (about 33’) wide road. Now since the ‘road’ is basically ‘the field’ that hasn’t been plowed, neighbor is slowly trying to correct that, and has the ‘road’ down to around 4 meters. After all, you can’t have too much ugali, which as you remember is mostly maize, which will grow on the ‘road’. So now, Jeff has gone to the officials to get them to reinstate the whole pothole generating area. After all, you can’t have too many potholes….besides, they can be revenue generators….the price of lead is up.
Speaking of revenue…..yeah you knew it would come eventually….me being a ‘missionary’ and all…..we have 94 kids here….needing sponsorship……2 building projects to take care of the 94, maybe going to 400, that could use some help. And remember too, that pretty close to 100% actually gets to the kids…mostly in Kleenex, but in other things too. Almost no administrative overhead….not that I haven’t tried to get on payroll. You can’t do better than to ‘take care of the widows and orphans’….both of which are cared for here. rehemaministries.com
Sandy says that I am down to 1 week. I personally haven’t noticed….or have I?? I wouldn’t have noticed, except that a lot of the people here are continually offering to help me to pack…….every since I came. I can’t wait to get home, but I really don’t want to leave….how does that work. This place sucks…………your heart.
I was out wandering around the two building projects today, with my clipboard and aire of superiority ……just out of Jembe reach when my phone rang. It was Fundi, and he alerted me to the fact that we had a visitor on site. “He has come with a complaint” Fundi said. “I don’t remember anything about a complaint in you initial bid documents.” I replied. “Make sure it is a quality complaint, and not one of those second rate Chinese ones that are prevalent in Kenya, before you accept it.” “We have not ordered one” he returns, but this one seems to be sawa (OK), but maybe you should be coming and seeing for yourself. So, always taking advantage of doing ’boss stuff’ I went over to the job shack and introduced myself. “Habari asubui, my name is Terry and this is my project, I hope you are impressed.” “I want to talk to you about a problem.” he begins. “Oh, a problem huh. In the case, I am just a visitor…..it’s that Jeff guy that you need to talk to…..how do you like his project?” I wisely responded. “My name is Rich Indian Person and I have been supplying your rocks, ballast (read ‘gravel’…..you’d think he’d know that only ships have ballast) and sand.” he continued. “If this is a problem, why do you do it?” I countered. “Supplying materials is not the problem, your roads are.” RIP says. “We are not owning any roads,” pipes in Fundi, “they belong to the District.” And I chimed in; “To my recent knowledge, there are no roads in Kenya.” “But your roads are destroying my lorries.” he insists. Suddenly it hit me, this guy wanted to complain about the roads. “It might come as a surprise to you, but you are so ‘yesterday’, I have been complaining about the ‘roads’ here for months.” I chided. “So will you be fixing them?” RIP asks. (Ah, now you are going to like this….I really was able to use my new found Kenyan ways.) “Yes, I will be fixing them tomorrow, in fact the repair team is on its way…in fact they are already there.” “Checkmate” he concedes, “turn about is fair play.” Imagine, a supplier of materials that consistently loads 10 ton trucks with 15 tons of material and then drives down the …dare I say it….roads, beating them to a pulp, complaining about the poor condition of the roads.
The guy across the ‘road’ has been encroaching for the last couple of years. It is platted as a 10 meter (about 33’) wide road. Now since the ‘road’ is basically ‘the field’ that hasn’t been plowed, neighbor is slowly trying to correct that, and has the ‘road’ down to around 4 meters. After all, you can’t have too much ugali, which as you remember is mostly maize, which will grow on the ‘road’. So now, Jeff has gone to the officials to get them to reinstate the whole pothole generating area. After all, you can’t have too many potholes….besides, they can be revenue generators….the price of lead is up.
Speaking of revenue…..yeah you knew it would come eventually….me being a ‘missionary’ and all…..we have 94 kids here….needing sponsorship……2 building projects to take care of the 94, maybe going to 400, that could use some help. And remember too, that pretty close to 100% actually gets to the kids…mostly in Kleenex, but in other things too. Almost no administrative overhead….not that I haven’t tried to get on payroll. You can’t do better than to ‘take care of the widows and orphans’….both of which are cared for here. rehemaministries.com
Sandy says that I am down to 1 week. I personally haven’t noticed….or have I?? I wouldn’t have noticed, except that a lot of the people here are continually offering to help me to pack…….every since I came. I can’t wait to get home, but I really don’t want to leave….how does that work. This place sucks…………your heart.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Installment 35
Installment 35
Dorcas was a fighter. Born into a world where sometimes kids are just thrown away, to a mother that didn’t really understand how to care for a baby. Her first year was lived in poverty, in a small community that barely has electricity, no plumbing or modern conveniences. Unknown to the world, or even to some around her. Malnourished, lacking medical care, struggling for life. Almost 13 months of mostly neglect. But God had a plan. Observed by Freida, one of the aunties here, who became very concerned for Dorcas’s welfare. Through a series of mini-miracles, which I think I told you about, Mama Dorcas has been reunited with her family, and Dorcas spent her last days in the loving arms of Mama Carla. Many of the last days in the hospital getting care and fighting to recover. In the end, there was just too much against her and Jesus kindly took her home, but not before she experience true love and care here. She might have ended her days in the environment that she was saved from, but for the concern of 1 person and the commitment of a few more that wanted to show her that she was a life worth fighting for. It might not have been for long, but that little one was loved, and she will be missed.
Today, J and C commissions a ‘Post Mortum’…an autopsy, to find out just what happened. She would seem to get better and then get critical…get better…..then critical. The Dr determined that she had massive fluid in her abdomen and around her heart with blood clots in her heart, and that she had serious TB. All of which was just too overwhelming for her little body. Even if caught a couple of months ago the chances were not good that she could fight it. So, she is all better now, and we are the ones hurting….but it’s OK, we’ll see her again.
Jeff handed me a piece of string last night and said, “this is how long Dorcas is, would you mind making a casket for her?” A piece of string….representing a someone whom I’d become attached to….I think I’ll keep it. So that’s what I did today in between the other things that I have to do. I sure am thankful for the table saw that was given to us…so thanks to Frontier Building Supply. Tomorrow, we will honor little Dorca’s life and give her a permanent place in the little cemetery here on the property…hopefully she will be the last. On last thing, the Dr said he learned something with Dorcas, and from now on he will check out baby’s heart when the demonstrate some of the symptoms that she exhibited….that a good thing…thanks Dorie.
OK, so on with some more stuff. Amongst other things today, I had a brand new experience. I got behind the wheel of the van, and took a couple of the women here to go to Sabanga….the little village where Dorcas came from, to get maize. We need maize to make ugali, and we sure wouldn’t want to be without that…..would we. Driving out of the compound, I immediately began my quest for the ‘road’….which is quite illusive. Here, I had to continually remind myself that we drive on the wrong side of the ‘road’…which is fine, except that off the main ‘road’ the side ‘roads’ are only about 10 feet wide, and a lot of that is taken up by cows, which are difficult to see when only the tops of their head show above the potholes…and they tend to bellow a lot if you drive on them. But I managed to keep the damage to the cows….and to us to a minimum, and made it to the main ‘road’ which evidently now has archeological digs going on along with the lead weight mining operations. I asked one of the men why they were digging and he said, “We have suspected that at one time there was a paved road here and we are trying to substantiate the information.” I wished them well, while quietly doubting their sources. Making it to Sabanga, having to only stop for one blood transfusion, I came to the conclusion that even without a college education, I am almost as good as Jeff at hitting most of the potholes. Entering the village and stopping somewhere in the 15th century, the women asked me to stay in the van while they went to bargain for maize….”they charge more for putting up with wazungu” Peris reminded me. So while they were on the ‘search and negotiate’ mission, I spend about 20 minutes talking to a young Kenyan man about honesty and ethics, something that I have found is seriously lacking here. ‘The Kenyan people do have a problem with those things” he said. “How about you, do you have a problem with those things?” I probed. “No, no, no,” he emphasized, “I only ‘pick’ things (see previous blog), I would never steal things”. “So,” I continued, “if I got out and ‘picked’ your piki piki, (motorcycle) it would not be stealing?” “Oh yes, it would be stealing from me.” he said. “but you said you don’t steal.” I followed up. “No, no, no. I only ‘pick’” he replied. And so the conversation continued….but there seemed to be a disconnect in logic….in him too. Since I have been here, I have had many such talks and am still amazed at the responses I get. My hope is in the children. Anyway, the women came back and I drove down the line of shacks until I got to the maize provider of choice. We loaded 180 kgs of maize and headed home, on the wrong side of the ‘road’. Peris says that as soon as I learn to drive, she will go with me again.
All the while, the two buildings have been coming along. Fundi is doing great and we are almost ready to pour the ground floor slabs. I think we are ahead of schedule, and maybe getting close to the end of the dorm funds….just saying…
Dorcas was a fighter. Born into a world where sometimes kids are just thrown away, to a mother that didn’t really understand how to care for a baby. Her first year was lived in poverty, in a small community that barely has electricity, no plumbing or modern conveniences. Unknown to the world, or even to some around her. Malnourished, lacking medical care, struggling for life. Almost 13 months of mostly neglect. But God had a plan. Observed by Freida, one of the aunties here, who became very concerned for Dorcas’s welfare. Through a series of mini-miracles, which I think I told you about, Mama Dorcas has been reunited with her family, and Dorcas spent her last days in the loving arms of Mama Carla. Many of the last days in the hospital getting care and fighting to recover. In the end, there was just too much against her and Jesus kindly took her home, but not before she experience true love and care here. She might have ended her days in the environment that she was saved from, but for the concern of 1 person and the commitment of a few more that wanted to show her that she was a life worth fighting for. It might not have been for long, but that little one was loved, and she will be missed.
Today, J and C commissions a ‘Post Mortum’…an autopsy, to find out just what happened. She would seem to get better and then get critical…get better…..then critical. The Dr determined that she had massive fluid in her abdomen and around her heart with blood clots in her heart, and that she had serious TB. All of which was just too overwhelming for her little body. Even if caught a couple of months ago the chances were not good that she could fight it. So, she is all better now, and we are the ones hurting….but it’s OK, we’ll see her again.
Jeff handed me a piece of string last night and said, “this is how long Dorcas is, would you mind making a casket for her?” A piece of string….representing a someone whom I’d become attached to….I think I’ll keep it. So that’s what I did today in between the other things that I have to do. I sure am thankful for the table saw that was given to us…so thanks to Frontier Building Supply. Tomorrow, we will honor little Dorca’s life and give her a permanent place in the little cemetery here on the property…hopefully she will be the last. On last thing, the Dr said he learned something with Dorcas, and from now on he will check out baby’s heart when the demonstrate some of the symptoms that she exhibited….that a good thing…thanks Dorie.
OK, so on with some more stuff. Amongst other things today, I had a brand new experience. I got behind the wheel of the van, and took a couple of the women here to go to Sabanga….the little village where Dorcas came from, to get maize. We need maize to make ugali, and we sure wouldn’t want to be without that…..would we. Driving out of the compound, I immediately began my quest for the ‘road’….which is quite illusive. Here, I had to continually remind myself that we drive on the wrong side of the ‘road’…which is fine, except that off the main ‘road’ the side ‘roads’ are only about 10 feet wide, and a lot of that is taken up by cows, which are difficult to see when only the tops of their head show above the potholes…and they tend to bellow a lot if you drive on them. But I managed to keep the damage to the cows….and to us to a minimum, and made it to the main ‘road’ which evidently now has archeological digs going on along with the lead weight mining operations. I asked one of the men why they were digging and he said, “We have suspected that at one time there was a paved road here and we are trying to substantiate the information.” I wished them well, while quietly doubting their sources. Making it to Sabanga, having to only stop for one blood transfusion, I came to the conclusion that even without a college education, I am almost as good as Jeff at hitting most of the potholes. Entering the village and stopping somewhere in the 15th century, the women asked me to stay in the van while they went to bargain for maize….”they charge more for putting up with wazungu” Peris reminded me. So while they were on the ‘search and negotiate’ mission, I spend about 20 minutes talking to a young Kenyan man about honesty and ethics, something that I have found is seriously lacking here. ‘The Kenyan people do have a problem with those things” he said. “How about you, do you have a problem with those things?” I probed. “No, no, no,” he emphasized, “I only ‘pick’ things (see previous blog), I would never steal things”. “So,” I continued, “if I got out and ‘picked’ your piki piki, (motorcycle) it would not be stealing?” “Oh yes, it would be stealing from me.” he said. “but you said you don’t steal.” I followed up. “No, no, no. I only ‘pick’” he replied. And so the conversation continued….but there seemed to be a disconnect in logic….in him too. Since I have been here, I have had many such talks and am still amazed at the responses I get. My hope is in the children. Anyway, the women came back and I drove down the line of shacks until I got to the maize provider of choice. We loaded 180 kgs of maize and headed home, on the wrong side of the ‘road’. Peris says that as soon as I learn to drive, she will go with me again.
All the while, the two buildings have been coming along. Fundi is doing great and we are almost ready to pour the ground floor slabs. I think we are ahead of schedule, and maybe getting close to the end of the dorm funds….just saying…
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