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?