Lime or Lime??

Hello All,
It has been a week!  We are packing and sorting and working and (sometimes) feeding kids (and not just our own)!  We had a garage sale the Kenyan way this morning.  You have to picture the doors opening, the people rushing in, the pulling and arguing and mad rush to get stuff and the bargaining.  And then there is the "picking" that goes on.  We are sure many things walked away, but we are glad it is over and there is something left in the pocket!  I wish I had a picture but it was too crazy to stop and take one!

We started emptying septic tanks according to the new plan this week up at the school.  The plan was to add lime to the septage in the truck to get the pH up in order to "kill" it enough so that it is not attractive to vectors that would come and carry it away.  So, when we ordered 1800 kg (over a ton) of lime we thought that would do it.  I didn't realize that we had to specify that we wanted calcium hydroxide with a pH of about 14!  What we got was crushed limestone (at a pH of about 8).  When we added twice the amount figured, and still didn't raise the pH much, we started to question it.  I took a sample to our science lab and (thank goodness for chemistry teachers!) was able to determine that what we had was not what we wanted. 

We contacted the supplier and were able to change it for what we needed (at a higher cost of course)! But, we now have real lime and will start again on Monday.  This is just one more thing that needs to get done in the next week.

We poured the 3rd deck on the Art Center building this week.  It is great to see it done and the columns going up for the roof!  

 How we haul the concrete up

After the first day

The second day

 We are starting on the walling for the ground floor too.  It looks so good!

Looks like our relief person will show up this week.  Just glad we have tickets that don't let us leave till the 22nd so that Jim doesn't just say, "Tag, your it" and go!  We are so grateful for Tony and his wife Judith that are coming to finish up things here.  We will look forward to seeing them this week and starting the hand over process.

Jim went out to Thika this week to see a place called Joy town.  I mentioned it a few weeks ago when the RVA band went there for a concert.  Bethany Kids is connected with them because of their surgical needs.  They are one of 3 schools for the disabled here in Kenya.  Jim was reviewing the new bathroom design to better help these kids of which most are in a wheelchair. 

Jim Greeting the kids with Francesco in the background

Jim meeting Virginia and Rose

A typical girls bathroom which supports a girl with spina bifida or other condition that requires catheterization

A typical boarding room for the kids in Joy Town.  The staff at joy town, in concert with Bethany Kids, is doing a great job of SIGNIFICANTLY improving the lives of these kids.

They had a great visit and were able to stop by another potential supporter's house and encourage him with what Bethany Kid's is doing.

Kijabe Hospital is doing a great job with the little that they have.  They have been working like this for many years.  We talk to short term doctors or nurses that come and they are always amazed at how things get done without all the modern equipment.  But, they are really striving to give the best care they can.  The resource mobilization department has come such a long way.  They have a web site where they list the needs and how much they cost.  You can see what the most urgent needs are and donate to a specific thing (and the money really goes to that item).  You can access their list here:  Kijabe Hospital Urgent Needs

It is great how they are breaking it down now to individual items and the specifics for them.  I know this month the need is for

• 2 X Electrocautery Machines: Total Cost: US$9,800 ($4,900 each)

• 2 X LED Surgery Lights: Total Cost: US$17,400 ($8,700 each)

You can read about these on that link above and if you feel led to donate, they now have a paypal account that makes it very easy.  The needs are never ending, we just do what we can as we feel led!

There has been more violence in Kenya this week at the coastal areas.  Please know that we are OK and we are praying for the people affected.  It is horrendous what is happening (people being dragged from their homes), and we need to pray that they will get the security that they need and soon.

We bought a truck this past week!  Jim continues to think of home and "nesting" to get things ready for us.  We were able to find a nice used, inexpensive truck that my father in law tried out for us and bought.  "Check," one more thing off of Jim's list!

As we roll into July, and realize that our time is very short, we have mixed feelings (as with every move).  Feelings of sadness at leaving good friends and feelings of joy at returning to good friends!  Please continue to pray for our transition and for the patients that are being served here in Kijabe.

Timothy with a cat!  We call her an opportunist extraordinaire!

Thank you all for sticking with us!

In His Hands,

Jullie T