Tractor Pull for real!

Hello All,
This week has just flown by!  We were pretty busy but managed to get through without any major incidents.  Jim even had a 1/2 day that he was able to be here at the house by himself!  I am spending more time up at RVA since the contractor has shown up to build the new wood shop and art studio.  They are already about a week behind but they are getting rolling.

Bethany Kids Wing:  Pretty good news this week.  They were able to get more material up the Mai Maihu road.  It is a dirt road that has a few very steep spots.  With one load, they had to send the tractor down to pull as the truck got stuck on the steep.  But they made it and so we are looking at being able to get the material we need without too much increase in cost.  Also, one of the board members from Europe came for an unexpected visit this week.  It was a pleasure to sit and talk with him and see how things are going from "the other side."  Here are a few pictures:

the Quonset Hut door being assembled

long awaited drain pipe

stitched together picture of the retaining wall

 

 

We are getting close to mid term break (next week end).  After that, there are 6 weeks of school left and we fly home for a visit.  It seems impossible that a year has almost gone by already.  The kids are looking forward to it.  It is going to be a crazy busy schedule, but it will be good.  Jim is ready to fly the coop for a bit too.  With so much going on and so many issues that come up all the time and the cultural differences, it takes a toll on one!

 

The owners of our missionary dog, Pepper, will be back soon.  We have had her for almost a year now.  It will be very sad to give her up.

 

Sallie and Timothy washing Pepper

 

I am going on an outreach this morning.  My Mizizi group (10 week christian study group) is heading up the hill to a children's home in Kimende.  We are going to clean, wash clothes, cook and play games with the kids.  I will hopefully have some pictures next week.  Then tonight, we are having 7 RVA students here for dinner and hanging out.  They have what is called Caring Community where the kids go to someones home just for a change of pace.  It is really great getting to know them a bit more.

 

I have read a little this week about forgiveness.  Mark 11:25
 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
NIV

It is such a hard thing to forgive people when they have wronged you.  But, when you don't, it only hurts you and it keeps you in bitterness.  God's peace can come when you forgive.

I sure hope you have a good week.  We will have a busy one I am sure.

Please pray for:
1. clear communications with our Kenyan friends
2. the RVA wood shop project as it gets underway.
3. continued clear weather (although we love the rain for the gardens) for the project and material gathering.
4. the kids as they go into this last 6 weeks of school

In His Hands,
Jullie T.





Birthday X2!

Hello All,
Today is a big day!  My oldest and youngest have birthday's today.  Seventeen and nine.  Can't believe it.  It is amazing how time passes so quickly.

Trevor is such an amazing young man.  God has a purpose for his life!

 

Sallie is such a great kid.  We love her so much and are so glad we waited for "Jack" to join our family!

 

 

We had a lovely breakfast of eggs benedict compliments of Jim and the Limuru Farmer's Choice Bacon!  What a treat!  We are at such a high altitude, that making the blender hollandaise sauce is an issue every time.  But, this time it was lovely (with the help of a little corn starch).

 

 

 

The BK Wing:  We had some good progress this week with the wing because the contractor was able to get a load of ballast (gravel) up the hill!  They started with the truck loaded to about 28 tons and got stuck somewhere on the steep part.  They sent a small truck down to unload some of the weight and were able to succeed with about a 22 ton  load!  This is great news for us as now the contractor can get about 20 ton loads up here and continue the building.  They have actually been making good progress this week even without additional building supplies.

 

the retaining wall covered to keep it moist

 



uncovering another column

 



Last Sunday was Titchie Sunday.  It is the one Sunday of the term where the elementary school puts on a play for the service.  This one was called "Nick at Night."  It is a play about Nicodemus of John chapter 3

John 3:1-8
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.
2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'
8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
NIV

If you read on you will see that Nicodemus was struck with the truth.  He was a member of the Jewish council so he was very important and well thought of.  He finally understood what was staring him in the face:  The truth of Jesus.  Some people say we can create our own truth.  How can that be?  Postmodernism:  A postmodern interpretation of religion emphasizes the key point that religious truth is highly individualistic, subjective and resides within the individual.^[9] (taken from wikipedia).  There are laws of nature that rule.  You can not fly because you think you can.  There are also laws of the spirit.   This assumes that you believe we all have a soul.    Some things cannot be seen but are true.  Look at Justice.  Justice is something but we can’t see it.  Does that mean it doesn’t exist?  The judge follows the law (procedures) but was justice served?  Ideas and thoughts are not physical things, but do they exist?  You are the thinker.  The 2^nd law of thermodynamics governs the physical world – bodies decays over time and then you die.  But what happens to those thoughts, ideas?  The choices you make in life – you are the choice maker and thinker (comes from the soul).  Where is the thinker when the body dies? 

Many people make up their own truths – take the example of the Scapular – Whoever wears this will not burn in the everlasting fire.  This was a promise from an apparition of Mary given St Simon Stock.   This promise was based on the Carmelite tradition that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock at Cambridge, England in 1251 in answer to his appeal for help for his oppressed order and recommended the Brown Scapular of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel to him and promised salvation for the faithful who wore it piously.  Does it make sense that one would be with God forever just because he/she wore something?  Sounds like another way to sell lots of things!  Truth is real and solid whether you choose to believe it or not, just as the ocean is a large body of water whether you choose to swim in it or not.   John 8:31-32
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
NIV

All this to say I am struck this week with how I see the Bible as truth and as such will use that as my guide.  We will all serve a master, you just have to choose it.  Is the master something you make up on your own (work, material things, inner peace, looks, nature, etc) or is it the words of God?  Coming to believe that the bible is truly the words of God is another thing altogether.  It takes many of us many years to see this, but once you do and receive Christ then you have the spirit of the truth = it grips your heart and changes your life!  John 14:6 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
NIV
I will stop preaching now - thanks for putting up with me!

Timothy did an amazing job as Nicodemus.  He was so proud when he got the part and he worked hard these many months to do it right.  Here are a few still pictures and also a link to see a short video:
Click here to see a video

Our roads here are better then they were but there are problems waiting in the future.  We went up this week to look at some of the potential problems.  This one section of road will be the biggest headache and if it is not fixed, most likely, will eventually fall.
 

section above the tunnel that really needs a retaining wall

section below the tunnel that will slip down the hill someday

 

 

I will end here with a few more pictures.  Thank you all for what you do for us.  Please don't forget about us even though we are many miles away!

 



Timothy having a run in with a dressing bottle!

 

My beautiful sister Angie and her fiance George - Can't wait to see you this summer!

 

In His Hands - Always,

Jullie T.

 

So Many Donuts!

Picture of the sky here I borrowed from Dr Myrhe.  He takes wonderful photos.

Hello All,
We managed to make and sell about 2706 donuts from cream filled to apple fritters to just plain, we had them all!  This was an event that RVA calls "store."  We (the Junior Class) just took it over from the Seniors and made it through our first one.  We make and sell American style donuts on Friday night and then again on Saturday morning along with egg Mac muffins, crepes, passion juice and later in the day, bacon cheese burgers, pizza, chicken tikka sandwiches, chicken fingers and more.  We made about 1000 food items and sold almost all of it.  This is the first of 9 events like this we will do to raise money to go on Senior Safari next year just before graduation.  It is fun but exhausting.  The kids did a great job and I am sure will get better and better at it before we are finished!

making 2706 donuts!

The roads are still a problem since the flooding/mud slides.  Our main route into town for materials for the project has been taken away with the bridge.  Here is a picture of the temporary foot (and piki - motorcycle) bridge that the local people built.

They used 2 felled trees and some lumber and it really is sturdy.  We have not heard when the new bridge will be built.  Our contractor has essentially taken some time off to evaluate the situation and see what they can do.  Our only option is to carry about 1/4 loads of material up the steep road from Mai Maihu.  Here are some pictures of the site this week:

We are hoping the new bridge will be built in the next few weeks (please pray for that) and that the project will get moving again.  It is now about the middle of May and that is when the rains are supposed to stop.  I just heard some thunder and we have had rains almost every night for the last week.  We are grateful for the rain, but we also need to dry out for a while!

We went down to the town of Mai Maihu last Saturday to visit a man and his family (Joseph, Dorcas and their daughter Lucy).  Lucy was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.  That was almost 3 years ago.   She now has a new wheelchair (thanks to some friends in the states) and she is starting pre school this week!  She is such a lively little girl and her parents are very nice.  Dorcus cooked us a wonderful meal.  They live in a very tough situation.  They have a small apartment on a second floor with a bathroom down the way.  The wheel chair doesn't even have room to move in the living room as it only about 14' x 14'.  That serves as the dining room and sleeping room too.  Joseph has been out of work for a long time as there is very little prospect where they are.  They came up with the idea of selling popcorn in small bags to the ducas (stores).  They flavor it a bit with honey to make it sweet and sell a small bag for 5 shillings (about 6cents).  He is trying to get this business off the ground, but they are struggling.  They were going about 20 miles down the road to another town to get the popcorn popped for them!  I showed Dorcus how she can do it on her little charcoal stove (or jiko as it is called here).   She was so excited to know she can pop it at home.  Here are a few pictures:

Joseph and Lucy

 Lucy loved to be next to Sallie

 

Lucy

Showing Dorcus how to pop corn on her jiko.

 

The whole gang!

 

We are almost ready to finish a small project.  It is the remodel of a house that will function as a dorm for some students from South Sudan.  They were selected to be here by their government to train as anesthesiologists.  Their program is about 18 months long.  They have been moving from place to place since finding space here is difficult to say the least, but their house will be finished this week!  Here is a picture of the bathroom remodel:

This will give them 3 showers, 3 sinks and 3 toilets along with another laundry style sink to wash clothes in.  They will be so happy to finally settle in one place!  Please pray for these 14 women and 1 man, that they will complete the program here in a place far from home (where most have left families) and they will be able to go back and serve their people well.

One last picture:  Mom this is for you!

This is a picture of a horned viper that Mr. Hovingh took near their place in Naivasha (right where we stayed Mom)!  He apparently killed it soon after this so no worries for the future, right??

In His Hands,
Jullie T.

The Big Cleanup

Hello All,
We have had a busy week here cleaning up from the mud slides.  What a mess! The hill near RVA came sliding down into the street with massive logs and boulders.  There were other slides all over the area.  Some people speculate that there was a small tremor that started it all but we can not confirm that.  Three children were killed when their home collapsed on them up in a town on the hill.  This all took place at around midnight or shortly after in the morning of Saturday the 27th of April.  It was a blessing that no one was in the street as they would have surely been washed away.  The water supply has been mostly restored and we have had water since Wednesday.  The water supply line that is now our main supply is the one we set up about 3 weeks ago!  God knows so much more then we do!  We are getting about 16m3 per hour from that line and for now we have enough for the hospital and the housing units.  Our electricity was never affected.  Thank God for that one too!  The roads were pretty bad but the main road up the hill was cleared by Monday.  The road that runs out by the Kijabe Girl's School is still closed due to a bridge that was washed away.  That is our main supply route for materials for the Bethany Kids Wing.  The government officials were here making assessments and have it on the list to be repaired.  Hopefully, it will be soon.  We have 3 main routes into town.  The upper road is now open but there is a tunnel under the railroad that is too narrow for trucks.  Even the RVA school bus was specially designed to fit in this tunnel.  The lower road to MaiMaihu is very steep and rocky.  Most large trucks would not be able to pass.  The road out by the Girl's School is fairly flat but has a place where there is a large "S" curve.  This is where cars have been hijacked by a gang of people.  We don't use this road on a normal basis and even when the contractor goes that way, we have them pick up a policeman for company.  So, you can see there are many challenges just to getting here.  Below are a few pictures from this week:

The slip by the tunnel near the upper road.

The main slip up by RVA

Water supply pipe over the stream where the bridge was wash out

Home that was recently built that is now in danger

the Crew assessing the damage

 

 

As we continue to clean up, we are looking at God and thanking him for all He has done.  What a wonderful God we serve!  Trials in our life a really a blessing in disguise.  It is hard to see it in the mists of it all, but it is true. 

 

Ps 46:1-7
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
NIV

 

Rose harvested her potatoes this past week.  They are the ones she planted after taking the Farming God's Way class in December.  She is so happy with the results!  And many of her neighbors are just amazed and now want to learn how she did it.  Farming God's Way teaches not to use a jembe (hoe) to dig up the earth.  They plant in the natural ground by just clearing a small place near the seed and then cover with taka taka (leaves and such).  This keeps the moisture in the soil and weeds out.  Many of the farmers are the women in the communities and are amazed that you can grow such nice food without having the hard work of a jembe.  I can see Rose having a following of FGW farmers in her area!  I am so proud of her!

 

Beautiful!



 

I have told you about the Sorley's building project and here is an update.  Craig is the one who teaches the Farming God's Way class.  Below are a few pictures of the house.  It is coming along nicely.  There have been a few hick ups along the way but nothing unexpected.  It is so much fun to see something that you helped design come up in 3D!

 

the round septic tank area

the main entrance side of the house

 

 

I mentioned above about the water supply problems.  The kids have questioned this week about taking showers.  They say they shouldn't take a shower because the water that they are showering with is dirtier then they are!  I think they might have a point!

 

on the left = filtered water, on the right = out of the tap!

 

 

Next week end is our first Junior Store with Trevor's class.  It is a year long event that the Seniors do to raise money for their Senior Safari (in June of next year).  We make typical American style food for all who are at RVA to purchase.  We make things like donuts (the apple fritters are the best), hamburgers, bacon cheese burgers, chicken tikka burgers, taco salads and chicken fingers.  We also have crepes and egg McMuffins in the morning.  Life is good!  I have been working on the purchasing for this first store and it is a massive list.  A friend and I (thanks shopping buddy!) went to Nairobi last week to buy 50 kg of chicken (about 110 lbs) and many other things.  I worry that we will get to Friday and not have everything that we need.  We are feeding over 900 people that day.  Please pray that all will go well.

 

Another big change:  I (Jullie) am going to started helping RVA with a big building project that they have starting next week.  They are building a wood shop and craft/classroom center.  I will work up there part time for the next few weeks and then transition into full time staff.  I am sad to be leaving the hospital but it is time to move to something new for me and I think it will be a good end to our year and a bit that we have left here.

 

I will end here with a few random pictures. 

 

 

Kitties are very content in their little box, although when it was raining heavily last week they both wanted to come inside for some reason!

LP kitty

Timothy, Jullie and Sallie





 

 

We are heading down the Maimaihu road in a few hours to visit a family that has a little girl (3) with spina bifida.  A family in Florida recently helped her get a wheelchair.  This has changed this family's life and it was only about $200! 

 

Hope you all have a blessed week!

 

In His Hands,

Jullie T.