Hello, Everyone,
We arrived back in Tana River around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night (22nd). It is normally about a 4-4 1/2 hour trip; but because of the load of lumber and the potholes, it was an 8 1/2 hour trip. I believe a turtle could have moved faster than we were driving on the last half of the trip. The top of the van was loaded with lumber, as was an 8 foot trailer so had to drive pole pole (slowy slowy).
Ken and I were in Pastor David Mwakesi's car; he was driving the van. We arrived at the last police check before our turn to World Vision around 8:30 p.m. After sitting for what seemed like an eternity while they checked both vehicles out, they pulled the spiked bar out of the way for us to pass through. As we followed the van and trailer through, I said to Ken . . . "It sounds like we have a flat tire." As we passed through, they pulled the spiked bar back into place. The soldier began to yell . . ."Stop! Stop!" He then told us we had a flat tire. By this time, the van and trailer had already turned the corner. Immediately, I called Sharon. She said they were just pulling into World Vision and wanted to unhook the trailer and then would be back to help us.
So, we stood outside the car with a Kenyan policeman and an army soldier in the pitch black of night. We all introduced ourselves. When the subject of governments and politics came up, I said . . . "I just love the night sky in Africa. We cannot see this many stars where we live!" Nice segway to changing the subject, don't you think. We told them about the project and the ministry and feeding programs taking place in Tana River until David and Sam and another man came back to change our tire.
The policeman and soldier both confirmed lion activity in the area. Ken and I have been to Tana River 5 times and have not seen or heard of lions being in the area or hyenas or zebras. Don't know why I thought they wouldn't be here! :-)
Work continues at the site of the Basket of Hope Conference Center. I'll try and get pictures posted yet tonight.
We arrived back in Mombasa today around 10:30 a.m. The van needed to have the timing belt replaced. The mechanic started on it this afternoon and at 6 p.m., they were putting the van back together. It's to be ready around 10 a.m. tomorrow. Then it's on to Nairobi tomorrow, where we will stay at Kings Kids Village with Jon & Molly.
The long rains will begin the end of March, or before, cooling down the Tana River area. The rains will continue through April/May, refilling the Tana River.
This month has gone quickly; we leave for America Wednesday night. It's always bitter sweet . . . leaving the wonderful people here in Tana River yet looking forward to being home with family and friends.
Thank you for your continued prayer support.
Love,
Arlene & Ken
Friday, February 25, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
HOT, HOTTER, HOTTEST
Greetings from Tana River, the land of HOT, HOTTER, HOTTEST temperatures!
Thursday last week, the temperature reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit by 10:30 a.m.!!! Each day’s high temp has been around 127 degrees . . . with humidity to match! Even the Kenyans are saying it is hot! Now that’s hot!
Our trip to Kenya began at 1:15 p.m. on Friday, February 4th in Omaha with arrival in Mombasa at midnight on Saturday, February 5th. Kenya is 9 hours ahead of Nebraska, but it was still a loooooong trip!!! In Detroit, we met up with the 3-member team from Jackson, Michigan. From Detroit, the 5 of us flew to Amsterdam then to Nairobi then to Mombasa!
Sunday (6th) was spent in Mombasa, where we attended church at 9 a.m. Monday morning was spent running errands . . . left in the afternoon for Tana River, about a 5-hour van drive. Basket of Hope purchased a 9 passenger, air conditioned van in January.
On the property, an outhouse was built – thank you, Louis! – and a banda (the first building on the property) was built around a big tree. Not only does the banda house our kitchen, but it provides MUCH relief from the sun and heat!
Between February 8-16 . . .
Kenyan men dug the footings for the pole shed, 30 feet x 80 feet. The men were paid by each 10 foot long, 4 foot deep, 2 foot wide section they dug. All the footings were completed in 2 days and concrete poured on Thursday and Friday!
Digging of the pit latrine began. The finished hole will be 25-30 feet deep and 6 feet across. The hole was about 15 feet deep when we left Tana River on the 16th but heard today it is at 20 feet.
The team from Michigan dug red soil at an off-site location. The red soil was moved by truck to the church in Itsowe, where they sifted the red soil, black soil, and sand in preparation for block making.
Women from a near-by village cleared the remaining small brush. A couple of days later, the Michigan team raked the area and burned the debris.
Ken and Louis worked on a variety of projects, along with the Kenyan laborers.
Arlene cooked breakfast for the team 4 mornings – French toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs – and washed dishes! She watched and “learned” how to cook some of the Kenyan foods!
Sunday the 13th, the team divided up and spoke at 4 area churches. It’s wonderful to worship with the body of Christ in another part of the world.
On Wednesday, the 16th, the team left Tana River for Mombasa and drove in rain nearly the entire way. This was the first rain in the area for 2 or 3 months.
We are 5 now . . . Ken & Arlene, Howard & Sharon, and Louis. We will return to Tana River tomorrow, Monday, February 21st for 5 or 6 days. The Michigan team flew out of Mombasa on Friday evening (18th) for their journey back to America.
We’ve heard that Nebraska has been enjoying warm temps, melting the snow! When we return on March 3rd, the crocus could be up and blooming declaring it will soon be Spring!
Hope you enjoy the pictures. Will post again soon. Would love to hear from you.
Thank you for your prayer support during our time in Kenya!
P.S. Will post pics later this evening.
Thursday last week, the temperature reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit by 10:30 a.m.!!! Each day’s high temp has been around 127 degrees . . . with humidity to match! Even the Kenyans are saying it is hot! Now that’s hot!
Our trip to Kenya began at 1:15 p.m. on Friday, February 4th in Omaha with arrival in Mombasa at midnight on Saturday, February 5th. Kenya is 9 hours ahead of Nebraska, but it was still a loooooong trip!!! In Detroit, we met up with the 3-member team from Jackson, Michigan. From Detroit, the 5 of us flew to Amsterdam then to Nairobi then to Mombasa!
Sunday (6th) was spent in Mombasa, where we attended church at 9 a.m. Monday morning was spent running errands . . . left in the afternoon for Tana River, about a 5-hour van drive. Basket of Hope purchased a 9 passenger, air conditioned van in January.
On the property, an outhouse was built – thank you, Louis! – and a banda (the first building on the property) was built around a big tree. Not only does the banda house our kitchen, but it provides MUCH relief from the sun and heat!
Between February 8-16 . . .
Kenyan men dug the footings for the pole shed, 30 feet x 80 feet. The men were paid by each 10 foot long, 4 foot deep, 2 foot wide section they dug. All the footings were completed in 2 days and concrete poured on Thursday and Friday!
Digging of the pit latrine began. The finished hole will be 25-30 feet deep and 6 feet across. The hole was about 15 feet deep when we left Tana River on the 16th but heard today it is at 20 feet.
The team from Michigan dug red soil at an off-site location. The red soil was moved by truck to the church in Itsowe, where they sifted the red soil, black soil, and sand in preparation for block making.
Women from a near-by village cleared the remaining small brush. A couple of days later, the Michigan team raked the area and burned the debris.
Ken and Louis worked on a variety of projects, along with the Kenyan laborers.
Arlene cooked breakfast for the team 4 mornings – French toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs – and washed dishes! She watched and “learned” how to cook some of the Kenyan foods!
Sunday the 13th, the team divided up and spoke at 4 area churches. It’s wonderful to worship with the body of Christ in another part of the world.
On Wednesday, the 16th, the team left Tana River for Mombasa and drove in rain nearly the entire way. This was the first rain in the area for 2 or 3 months.
We are 5 now . . . Ken & Arlene, Howard & Sharon, and Louis. We will return to Tana River tomorrow, Monday, February 21st for 5 or 6 days. The Michigan team flew out of Mombasa on Friday evening (18th) for their journey back to America.
We’ve heard that Nebraska has been enjoying warm temps, melting the snow! When we return on March 3rd, the crocus could be up and blooming declaring it will soon be Spring!
Hope you enjoy the pictures. Will post again soon. Would love to hear from you.
Thank you for your prayer support during our time in Kenya!
P.S. Will post pics later this evening.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Safe Arrival
Over the weekend, we arrived safely in Kenya! Saturday night we landed in Nairobi, and before the night was over, boarded another plane to fly directly to Mombassa,Kenya, where we spent the next two nights, along with a rather large cockroach.
Today, Monday 2/7, we arrived in Garsen, Kenya, and will be spending the next week and a half working at the Basket of Hope Conference Center in the Tana River area.
We will post updates and photo's as we have internet access, and we hope to skype with our church family on an upcoming Sunday morning. In the meantime, we make the occasional phone call to our kids and grandkids during our free time in the hot, starry summer evenings.
Thank you for your prayers as we continue on this trip! We pray all is well with you and yours! Stay warm!
Today, Monday 2/7, we arrived in Garsen, Kenya, and will be spending the next week and a half working at the Basket of Hope Conference Center in the Tana River area.
We will post updates and photo's as we have internet access, and we hope to skype with our church family on an upcoming Sunday morning. In the meantime, we make the occasional phone call to our kids and grandkids during our free time in the hot, starry summer evenings.
Thank you for your prayers as we continue on this trip! We pray all is well with you and yours! Stay warm!
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