Monthly Archives: August 2011

Mjengo wa kifahari

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Trying to get the kids to think of a title for this blog post….it’s like pulling teeth!  But this is what they came up with.  (translation:  an attractive construction)

Today I’m at C4KK Children’s Shelter…watching construction continue on, hanging at Ann’s working on the computer and just being here.  I’m writing this pretty early in the day (11:30am) so there will be other photos but this is what I have so far:

The new driveway is coming along nicely

 

Hanging out with Isaac and Edward (plus a few more coming and going watching computer stuff)

 

Digging on the well continues

 

more work on the new driveway

 

off loading stone for the new drive (this substance creates a "concrete like" surface)

 

The sukuma is coming up nicely :)

 

Digging for a new wall to separate C4KK Children's Shelter and animal enclosure from the rest of the property

 

That’s what’s happening thus far at 11:45 this morning :)   There is no electricity here (none wired not that it is out) so my battery is running out quickly.  I’ll be charging back up tonight once I get home (hopefully!)

More construction

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Saturday was spent at the C4KK Children’s Shelter construction site.  Tati, our “adopted” Kenyan son and a Form 2 student doing very well I might add (yeah kind of a proud mum statement!) came with us to see the progress.  His last visit was while the barbed wire fence was being put up…he spent a little time digging post holes.  A little off topic, but Tati has a strong belief in Jesus Christ and with the corruption and greed he sees in the government, churches and even families he said “the answer is simply God”…amen Tati!

Back on topic, here are updated photos of construction:

The well is still being dug and a wall was built in order to cap it once it is operational and to use now with a pulley system to bring dirt up from the bottom (it's pretty deep but no water YET...it's coming!)

 

The plaster for the veranda walls is complete

 

A couple of rooms were floored...looking very nice!

 

More material is dropped on the clothesline path...more to come to make it complete

 

Tati (in red) was given a tour by Chris and Kelvin (2 of the secondary students who stay at the shelter during school holidays)

 

Chuck and Tati throw some stone

 

C4KK Children's Shelter with it's beautiful green roof!

 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (one thing God has granted me is the ability to “shamelessly promote” the needs) funds are needed to continue construction.  You can donate online, it’s easy, secure and tax deductible!  We thank God He continues to provide through your generous support and remember, anything (fundraiser, financial support, prayer support, care packages, etc.) you can do to help is appreciated.

She did what?!

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Recently I was talking with Ann (house mom for C4KK Children’s Shelter-coming soon!) about how exciting it is to see the building coming along and moving date getting closer and closer…God willing!  We talked about her having her own room.  You could hear the excitement in her voice as this is something she hasn’t had for years because she has shared a room with up to 4 children.  She is looking forward to having a small space to herself.  I remembered she had a wooden bed where she was before (where she was kicked out of the “other” orphanage, one we shall not name) and asked her if it was stored at a neighbors so it could be brought over once she moves into her room.  Here’s a look at her room with the new floor:

Ann told me she had a bed BUT since the owner was not supporting them she used the bed for firewood.  Yes you read that correctly, they had a little food at the home but no way of cooking it.  She saw no other alternative (they had already used the fence posts for firewood) but to use her bed to help feed the children.  After she burned her bed she was given another bed to use from the orphanage owner’s church.  But when the owner came to the orphanage and kicked her out he told her to leave the bed since it was his. As for now she is sharing a room with 2 girls and they have 1 bunk bed and a couch (at least we call it a couch…you are basically sitting on the wooden frame) for them to sleep on.

With the shyness of a little child she says “but you know mum (that’s what everyone around here calls me) a new bed would be nice to go with the new room I’ll be moving in to.”  “We will have to wait and see about finances” I told her.  Then she says “the bed I’m looking at is 4500/ ksh.”  Which is approximately $57 USD.  It kind of made me laugh as she has apparently been looking at beds and daydreaming about the one she wants!

I tell you this for a couple of reasons:  1) Ann made a decision to sacrifice her comfort for the sake of the children, 2)  She never complains about her current situation of sharing a room,  3) it’s neat to see her excitement and the kids’ as they watch their new home being built and knowing they won’t be kicked out of this one, and 4) as we move closer to “move in” day items such as a bed, dressers, rugs, curtains and much, much more are needed to make this a home for the children and Ann…which in turns means funds are needed.

Please prayerfully consider helping with any of the above items.  (You can do that through our website’s donation page.)  C4KK Children’s Shelter is going to be home to these kids, a place they can feel safe and wanted.  A place where their needs will be met by a faithful God and a place which shows God’s glory on a daily basis just by the fact it is there!

 

Shamba time!

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Before getting into the “meat” of this post (ha, pun for the shamba/garden) here’s an update on C4KK Children’s Shelter construction:

the middle section will be where the gate is with walls on either side

 

the pathway along the clothesline will be filled in more to make a smoother walkway

 

veranda walls are getting plastered...can't wait to have tables out here to sit and read!

 

digging on the well continues...no water yet but they are anticipating soon!

Now it’s shamba time!  C4KK recently purchased some fruit trees (sorry don’t know the English word for these fruits as I am not familiar with them) along with more skuma (kale like veggie) and began a nursery with eggplant, cabbage, onion and tomato!  All vegetables that are normally bought on a regular basis…now there should be enough to feed the kids (once they are ready to be harvested)!

First thing to do is get manure.  Here’s Bosco shoveling it into the truck.  The wind was blowing and by the time he was finished he was covered in poo…poor guy!

But once he was finished he was king of the poo pile!

Then it was time to fill in the spots for the trees with a mixture of manure and soil and plant/water the trees.

the trees will line 2 sides of the shamba...so lots of fruits!

 

this one makes me a bit queasy because of the angle...but I like the photo!

 

you wouldn't find me digging in that crap...literally!

 

Roman then watered all the newly planted baby trees

 

shhhh....the nursery!

 

That brings you up to date…I will be going to the shelter tomorrow too so I’m sure more photos are forthcoming!  Annastacia (house mom) has already picked some of the skuma that was planted a few weeks ago.  Yeah God!!

Friends, family and more family

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Sunday Chuck and I decided to take a walk and see if Bosco and his family were home.  They live fairly close and would make for a nice walk.  We arrived at his home to find it empty but as we came back to the road Annastacia, Bosco’s wife, came around the corner collecting her kids who were playing in a nearby field.  She spotted us, not hard with our white faces blaring, and in her very broken English said “Bosco, mom, home”.  We got the idea and followed her to grandma and grandpa’s house.  Actually the kids ran ahead knowing full well where grandma’s is!  Once we arrived we said our hellos and were invited into the home for a seat.  We were able to have a conversation as Bosco’s dad can speak some English…his English is much better than my Swahili so I give him all the credit for carrying the conversation!  Great grandma (Bosco’s dad’s mom) arrived and her voice is so high pitched it almost hurts my ears!  But what a happy lady and whenever I see her she seems to be the happiest person around.  Then Bosco came, he was at a neighbors visiting, and he took us for a little tour of the area…which basically means meeting the extended family.

We first went to the backyard to see where Bosco lived when he first got married and had their first 2 kids.  The house is no longer there but he showed us where it had been and which plants he had planted.  He was pretty excited as some of those flowers were coming to the children’s shelter.  Then we went next door to meet a cousin, his wife and kids.  A few yards away another cousin and family.  Lastly we ended up at great-grandma’s house (Bosco’s mom’s mom).  She knows no English and spoke mostly in her mother tongue (Kamba) but was sharp as ever and told us of her belief in God and that He created us all the same…hands to work, eyes to see and mouth to speak to each other.  Then she quietly pulled out a small vile of something and put just a bit in her mouth.  My curiosity got the best of me and I had to ask…shyly Bosco said it was tobacco!  She chews!  Hey, give her a break though, at over 110 years old (no one was quite sure and some said around 120!) she deserves a little indulgence!

It was time to head back to grandma and grandpa’s for tea and mandazi (donuts).  After a bit more conversation and viewing of photos we were on our way home, or so we thought!   Next door (opposite from where we started) was another cousin who was home now.  Of course you stop and greet each other, we had met Raphael a couple of months ago at Coletta’s birthday party but we sat for a bit and had a nice conversation before finally heading home.

We left our house around 11 and arrived home at 5:30pm.  That’s a lot of family to meet!  But what hit me was how much this family loved being together, so much so that they live within a mile of each other…by choice!  The elderly are honored and taken care of with such love and concern and the entire family takes an active role in their care.  It was bittersweet for me though as it made me miss my own family, but what a blessing to spend a Sunday afternoon with a great family.

 

Extended vision

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As plans move along and construction continues God extends our vision to fall more and more in line with His vision.  We, of course, are only moving as God leads and as He provides but this is what we are seeing for the property at Caring For Kenya’s Kids (C4KK).

C4KK Children’s Shelter continues to be under construction:

roofing is now complete!

Yes the roof is complete, now for finishing plastering around the edges to block up any holes at the roof line.  Then onto flooring and other construction type stuff (glass for windows, electrical put in, etc.)

Clothes line poles were cemented in last week.  The “trench” will be filled in with hardcore material so as you walk along this path and you won’t be in the mud hanging clothes!

More of the roofing.  The door to the left is the entrance into the shelter which is now covered by a roof and the latrines (being used for storage during construction) are also roofed!

Now for the extended vision part:

A new driveway is being made which is closer to the actual building in anticipation of the “extended vision” aspect.

At the left, bottom of the photo is where the cow and pig shed will be located.  Then a wall will separate the property and on the other side of the wall will be a church and a secondary school.  As I mentioned, we are moving with God’s leading and providence…as He provides we move.  There are so many aspects of C4KK Children’s Shelter, animal enclosure, water tanks, pump for well, furniture for the shelter, labor for construction, cows/pigs, garden supplies, etc. which need funding…feel free to choose your favorite and visit our website to donate online!  Just mention in the comment box which project you are helping with…thanks for any and all help you feel led to give.  It’s all appreciated :)

 

If it’s not one thing…

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Good news, the water tank was filled yesterday!  Which meant I took a very nice shower instead of “bucket bathing”, yeah!

Bad news, the electricity is out today – meaning no electricity to pump the water, boo.

Hopefully the electricity will be back on by this evening,  not only so the water source can continue to flow but it’s pizza night and without electricity there is no oven.

Oh, the generator ran out of petrol and there is no vehicle around to go fill it up so I’m keeping the freezer shut and praying a vehicle comes home soon to go get petrol so we can generate a bit of energy to keep the food good.

Let’s see…anything else?  Guess that’s enough for now :)

God is able!

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the roof is almost complete!

Roofing continues and is just about finished.  It certainly has been a test of patience – let me give you a brief overview of something that recently happened:

Boards were bought for the veranda – 14′ for the longer section and 10′ for the shorter section.  Instead of using the 14′ boards for the longer end, fundis (craftsman, of which I use the term loosely) began at the shorter end and CUT the 14′ boards to fit the 10′ section and then proceeded to piece together the 10′ boards with scrapes to make them 14′!  This is just one example of what happens on a daily basis at the construction site.

Chuck and Bosco discuss plans

Chuck and Bosco figure out the best placement, dimensions and necessities for the animal enclosure.

God is able!

This sign showed up one day attached to the fence at C4KK Children’s Shelter…He certainly is!