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
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.
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