Dear Friends and Family:
Thank you for your prayers for our family. I can happily report the safe arrival of Mara Elise Gordon to Susanna and Chris Gordon. She is a beautiful addition to the family for which we are grateful. I have some orphan updates and prayer requests to pass along. Please click on the link to read more….
My grandchildren census is at 26 with the safe arrival last week of Mara in Cincinnati on Feb. 18. This one should move back to Indianapolis in mid June, but I think it likely that a visit to see her will be an early trip on our schedule after arrival. The “old” newest grandbaby in Japan is doing very well with good growth and behavior being reported by her proud parents. Both are appearing regularly on my Facebook account.The next anticipated arrival is penciled in at the end of March, a third son for Debbye and Aaron.
Rachel and I leave Kenya two weeks from tonight. We are trying to tie up loose ends and get a few things accomplished we had deferred to this time. Tomorrow, after our regular church, I will probably visit a local church in Bomet that a friend has been asking me to attend with him. Next Sunday we are invited to attend a different local church with our househelper, Janet. Rachel says we’re invited to another home for lunch next Saturday with our previous long-term househelper and his family. The pre-departure rush seems to occur each year. I think I still have the energy.
One of those things deferred and accomplished this morning was a visit to the Kitoben Vision orphanage where we had a great time. Rachel and I took a young medical couple from Duke University, Stephen, MD — Internal Medicine and Erin, RN. Also we took a young Kenyan man 20, Gilbert, whose parents work here; and our driver, Donald, whom I like to take as he always contributes a lot.
As we prepared to load, one of the Tenwek visitors gave me an assignment. Mark and his wife, [look older than me] who are here doing water projects with schools had planned to go to this home too but has run out of time before they leave. He had the name and phone numbers of the director, Alice [and her husband, Samuel Langat], and their contact in the States, Drs. Tom and Anne Kettler, of Kansas City, who are my friends and the major supporter of the Kitoben Vision Childeren’s Home. Alice was interested in a well [borehole] with which type of projects Mark is involved.
He wanted me to look at the place where they were buying land suitable for a borehole, see if they had the deed yet [they don't], and give Alice the requirements of the hydrological study and registration with the Bomet County Council. He showed me the costs of a borehole project in Eldoret a European group had put in. The cost of it was a pretty good estimate of what a borehole would cost here — 1.6 million KSh [$20,000]. Mark repeated his mantra, “Water is not free”; even a borehole requires someone to maintain it, power must be used to bring it up — diesel or electric usually, and then the water must be transported.
He also gave me a picture of a water kiosk at a place near the Bomet airstrip called Itembe. I told Donald I wanted to see this before we arrived at the home and measure the distance there. At Itembe a project had been set up from a borehole with a water line to other kiosks. Unbeknownst to us, at the head of the road to the airstrip, a kiosk now exists. As we drove along the highway towards the airstrip away from Bomet, Donald suddenly pulled off the road and hailed a grandmother with some children — I thought perhaps a relative. No, she climbed in as he brought her with us to show us the project kiosk; she was on the committee — how he knew her by sight, I don’t know, but Donald knows a lot of things and people around the area. He himself has a private water project in Silobwet, so I also learned he knows water development.
When we turned off the highway on the airstrip turnoff, we pulled up to the next intersection of the road that parallels the road and there was a kiosk for the Itembe water project — it is 0.7 kilometer [0.42 miles] from the home. The lady gave Donald the details of the operation. The water is turned on and off remotely and a pipe brings it to the kiosk. Someone works in the little permanent shed during hours of operation and has a handle to turn on and off the faucet in front of the building. People come up with their containers and pay 5 KSh {\=} for 20 liters [$0.06 per 5 gallons US]. Lots of bystanders came up and joined the conversation as I looked around. No water was running at the moment.
After we visited the home for awhile, I discussed the topic with Samuel and then Alice. Samuel says that they buy 80 liters [4 containers, 20\=] and hire a motorcycle for 10-15\= to bring it to the home. [their donkey was stolen; water transportation is a major use for a donkey] They actually began using the water from the kiosk in January when their water tanks from the rain water collected from the roof and gutter system ran out in dry season.
Apparently there is some consideration at the Itembe project to bring the water line closer to the home and a college also abutting the airstrip. According to Donald, the water would be metered locally where you could take whatever you need and pay as you go from the meter. The lady from the highway closer to Bomet says that the project near them is separate from Itembe and plans extending a line in the direction of the home as well, but that is future. [I thanked her and gave her 100 \= for her time and walking back home.]
Alice had the vision that perhaps if they had their own borehole, they would have their own water [albeit with a distance away] and they could sell to the neighbors. I really questioned if the seasonal water need would be the best use of such a $20,000 expense and if any profits would be realized after expense of maintenance and power [the electric power has arrived -- the power lines go across their back property line.]
I explained that people in the US usually didn’t put in a well themselves and maintain it if they lived within reach of a water company line. [It might sound cheaper than paying a bill until you pay $2,000 for a new pump after a lightening strike or paying a company to clean it periodically or test the water.]
The power lines that go overhead nearby can be harnessed to provide light for the home which currently uses a diesel generator when funds are available. Here, I heard the same cost as we encountered at both Bosto and Umoja for connecting – 35,000\= [~$475.] After that and any local wiring costs, there is a regular monthly bill depending on usage.
Alice now has 80 children under her care. She and her husband both live there now with their three youngest daughters, Dorcas, Zipporah, and Sandra. The older four children live there when not in school as do most of the orphan boarding school students three months each year.
This Saturday morning, about 30 children were around as most were at day school or boarding school. Both Alice’s sisters were there. Sharon is the matron living with the girls in their dorm, and Joyce helps with cooking; she struggles with mental illness but gave me a hug and big smile – she looked very nice and seemed completely appropriate.
Some young men were working there – Cheruiyot has been there for quite awhile, and an accountant, Bernard, was there working with them for a few days – he was helping one of the high school graduates in accounting school.
The home looked very nice with fresh paint, more sidewalks than in the past [very helpful in rainy season], working gutters, a newer permanent water tank as well as some KenTanks [black plastic]. Since I was last there, a semi-permanent girls’ dormitory and remodeling of the boys’ dorm had been added. The cotton soil here does not readily allow construction of permanent stone buildings without very deep foundations. Wooden and iron buildings with concrete floors will last a long time but not a lifetime.
The children were all dressed well and looked healthy. Most were new to me and the older ones I knew best were away in school although a few I could recognize. They greeted us with some songs and told us their names and grades.
After handshakes, we greeted them with short speeches and encouragement from God’s word. The Bemms gave me two soccer balls to present to them; they were gratefully received. We also borrowed some hula hoops and jump ropes from Bemms so that the visitors and the children could play.
Their garden is pretty dry right now. The Napier grass for the cows and goats isn’t growing very much, so the animals have been moved to the other side of the river from Tenwek over seven miles away. The chicken project here, unlike at Umoja, never took off with neither someone or place to market the eggs nor the home withstanding the expenses of raising and feeding the chickens while laying. It definitely takes the right situation for this project to be successful as it has been at Umoja Children’s Home.
Alice gave me some updates on the oldest children whom I know. Peninah, whom I visited at school two years ago, had always been a favorite. Two years ago when I saw her, she had filled out from her skinny childhood frame to an 18-year-old woman. Now she is married with a child and living in Nairobi with her husband, a teacher. She hopes to continue her education when possible. Her situation made me very happy. It is very rewarding to have participated and to have watched an abandoned 10-year-old girl [along with her younger sisters] grow up to complete her high school education, marry a responsible man who values her, begin raising her own child, and, most importantly, continue to love the Lord. Those who prayed for and supported these children over the years must be thanked and encouraged. Thank you!
Other children are continuing in college and university; obviously, this is very expensive and Alice gives thanks to the Lord who has provided the fees year after year [not through our Hope Ministries]. One of the two Mercys of the generation with Peninah is living at home with her old grandmother whom she can help until she has the opportunity to further her post-graduate training after high school. Her sisters and brothers are still in the orphan home and boarding school, but Alice and her sponsors felt this to be the best situation for Mercy – giving back to those who helped you and perhaps witnessing to relatives are part of the reason.
Over the years, Alice and Samuel have treated these orphans as they did their own children, trying to obtain the best education and advantages for them. They must be commended. From the very first children Alice took home from Tenwek who were abandoned at the hospital by relatives, they have continued to take in children. Although Alice continues to work in Tenwek’s office where patients pay their bills, most of the children she is now raising have been brought to her by grandparents in the community who no longer can care for them.
Somehow, Alice has continued working on a theological degree in Nairobi; I’m not sure how much more time she needs to complete her degree, but she perseveres. Living at the home is certainly a harder place to live and commute from [over 5 miles] than Tenwek Hospital staff housing; yet this is where she wants to be – taking care of the children. Last year she lost her mother who had assisted her for several years.
Earlier this week, I met with Pastor David Kilel and our three directors. We had two major purposes – to appoint the directors of the three children’s homes, Umoja, Kenduiwo, and Bosto also as directors of our AGC Tenwek Area Education Fund and as signatories — as well as letting them talk about some of their concerns.
When we set up the fund many years ago, there were three other AGC pastors besides David Kilel as directors. To avoid any difficulties with too much control over the fund by one person, three signatories were required including one major one like David or the pastor of the big church down the hill, Ruben Koech. The other two pastors have since retired and whose absence is creating some current difficulty with finding signatories.
The first issue was handled easily enough as they were willing to be signatories and members of the steering committee. The second was helpful in having them bring up some issues at the homes.
They had some concerns about continuation. They wanted me to set up someone who would continue if I were unable to do so; someone just like me was their preference. I was thankful for their vote of confidence in my ability even if not in my ability to continue forever. But they are right. They also didn’t mention Pastor Kilel who actually retires next year, and he is very much the main person on this end keeping things together. For the most part, the former directors were “yes” men for decisions and with whom I rarely talked. Granted, it was important for the AGC [the large denomination Africa Gospel Church] to have these individuals associated with the whole project.
Each of the homes has significant bills at Tenwek for the children in their care; we haven’t paid for them, and the homes certainly don’t have money. In the past, we’ve had some assistance from the “Tenwek needy patients’ fund” which missionaries and hospital administration committee members oversee. We need to apply to them as we don’t have funds to pay them without additional donations. I think it’s over $3,000 total. At this point, the children aren’t often turned away but the caretakers usually get comments from those in registration regarding their balance. I will talk with Amy Bemm who has been on the committee. Please pray for God to give us wisdom and favor in this situation.
Each home has a handful of HIV+ children who must be taken to the hospital for regular check-ups as well as occasional illnesses at the home for which there are no designated funds. Transportation costs are significant particularly for the two distant homes – Umoja, the closest one, has a vehicle, Bosto’s vehicle is personally owned, and Kenduiwo must always hire. It seems like each needs a regular budget for transportation. There is always concern among donors in Africa about giving funds directly and funds not being utilized for a designated purpose, but these pastors have been our directors for over 7 years. They give their heart and souls to the children day and night. Is this a time to have a fund? – Pastor Kilel always stresses their need for accountability in all situations. I am proposing giving each home 5,000\= [~$70] as a trial. Please pray for the provision for this amount from our donors.
A situation came up with a high school girl who requested school fees to resume school as a Form 3 [Junior in High School]. Two years ago, she left Umoja and lived with a grandmother in Londiani, a long distance away. She was enrolled at Aisaik Secondary School which is near Umoja. She got pregnant and had the baby which the grandmother is taking care of at home. Should we resume sponsorship? — which we hadn’t done the past year or two – so far, I have no positive answer to that one from God. We agreed to pray about it, but I have not been led to pick her up again as she has been taken out of our care and supervision and gotten herself into big trouble. There are others who have behaved themselves whom we can’t yet pick up for lack of funds.
Future plans for the children must be discussed as well. Not only additional polytechnic training but also university training may be considered as it has not been in the past, although funds for even one student are prohibitive. Where these children will go after finishing high school is a concern for the directors. Will you pray for the committee for wisdom? Please continue to pray for God to provide funds for caring for these children whom we see as potential leaders in their generation.
One other prayer request is for our director at Umoja Children’s Home, Joseph Chepkwony. His oldest son, Bernard, age 23 was injured in an accident when he was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle which collided at an intersection with another motorcycle. They brought him to Tenwek where he was admitted in a coma to the ICU with a serious head injury, but he died shortly afterward. Please pray for comfort for this family as well as the children at Umoja where he has helped the past nine years.
Thank you for your prayers and assistance with the orphan programs. If I had known all the issues involved with caring for more than 150 children, I’m not sure I would have signed on, but the children are growing as the directors, Bemms, and I have as well – along with the other missionaries who participate in various ways. No one person can do anything, but God has brought together a team of His people who have made a difference in the lives of many people who are learning of the love of our Heavenly Father.
Serving Jesus with you,
Paul, for the Jarretts in Kenya