Friday 17 December 2010

PLAYING CATCH UP

WE WISH YOU ALL A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS, HEALTHY NEW YEAR!


THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LOVE, PRAYER AND SUPPORT!




THE WELL

When we left Kenya the well was very deep and the plan was for the culverts (concrete rings) to be put in place - to line the well.  Shortly after we got home the rainy season set in - the latter rains - and all work had to stop on the well.  We were able to contact the contractor on Monday, Dec. 7, and he has told us the digging in complete, but the well is not finished.  The rainy season is over and work can resume; however, he has been ill - was hospitalized for a month -  and unable to supervise the completion of the work.  Additionally he reported that the culverts that were sent are the wrong ones (not a big surprise - that's Kenya) and he is waiting for the new ones.  They require a month to cure before they can be transported.  He reported that the water is 3 feet from the top of the well.  This is amazing!!!  Here are photos of the digging process.  A man sat on the ground and began digging with a hand tool, like a pick.  He merely dug around himself in a PERFECT CIRCLE, and absolutely straight down.   Mind you - he was not using any kind of measuring device, yet this hole was the right size for the culverts to eventually be inserted - approximately 39.2 inches.  As he got deeper and deeper his partner would lower an old make-shift bucket down by a winch and bring up the dirt and eventually the mud and water. Every couple of days we would go look at the progress.  The hole was so deep and dark that we couldn't see the man down there - we would call out to him and ask if he was there, and he would reply.  The only time we could see him was at high noon when the sun shone down the hole.  After water was hit, before he would enter the well he would have to check for snakes and other small reptiles - they are attracted to the water.  We had enough trouble thinking about those potential snakes without asking just what those small reptiles might be in there.  As the well got deeper it would take them a few hours to winch up all the water so that the man could to down to dig some more.  Additionally, sometimes when digging wells the oxygen level gets very low, so the digger can only be down for a short time.  In some cases there is special equipment to get oxygen down to him - it wasn't necessary with our well.




HE'S HIT WATER
THE "BUCKET"



RETURNING TO KENYA
John will be returning to Kenya on January 11 with Jeremy Bell from Emmanuel Christian Centre in Lichfield, and I will be going to the States.  By the time he gets there the well should be complete - lined and covered with a concrete slab that has a manhole for maintenance purposes.  


FOOTBALLS, BASKETBALLS AND VOLLEYBALLS

Jeremy came with us he brought some unexpected gifts.  Before he left the UK his 18-year-old son, Josh, told his dad that he really should take some footballs (soccer balls) for the kids.  So he bought several, deflated them and packed them, along with a pump.  Boys all over the world love to play football - even in the village the boys know about Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal. (All well-known and highly successful soccer teams for our American friends.)  Needless to say, there are no footballs for the kids in Kadawa.  While there Jeremy and Marty also went shopping in Kisumu for Volleyballs and Basketballs. 

The Sunday school class totals about 180 kids and the secondary school across the road has given permission for the children to meet on the field out in front of it.  So, one Sunday, Jeremy went over while church was being held to give the kids these balls.  You should have heard the squeals, laughter and hollering!!!   It took the boys a split second to form football teams,  and boys and girls to start batting the volleyballs around and tossing the basketballs. What a delightful sight and sound it was.  John and I quickly left the service to go watch and take photos.  The youth leaders quickly appointed one or two youngster with ongoing responsibility to collect the balls after use, and store them in the church.

















THE LAND
The bean crop was recently harvested on the Widows Farm and the maize crop will be harvested the end of December.  Some maize from the previous harvest, which was being stored until the cost of maize went up and was less affordable to the widows, is now being distributed amongst the destitute widows.  They are receiving 3 tins each (a tin is about 1 kilo, or roughly 2 pounds).

       CARETAKER'S HOUSE & STORAGE BARN
       We will soon be starting to lay the foundation for the farm caretaker's home and the
       attached storage barn. We hired an architect and have plans for the home and store.
       The structure will cost approximately $13,500 (£9000); there will likely be a rise in
       the cost of building materials due to inflation. If you want to help us with this next 
       phase of the project you may send contributions to our regular channels.




                                        BLESSINGS & MUCH LOVE!!!!