Summer Happenings (October – December)

Things are going well here but busy as well.   Somedays we just feel swamped with all that needs to get done but God is always good to give us the strength that we need for every day. 

Right now we are focused on getting things in order for the rainy season that is fast approaching;  plowing and preparing several fields for planting (much easier with the new tractor but still not easy ; ) building new cattle and goat shelters, making sure that all the roofs on the houses and storage sheds are still water proof, and making runs to town to make sure that the orphanage is in order for all that it needs during the rainy season while we are gone and local transport is sporadic at best.

Apart from those big tasks we still have the normal tasks of weekly bible studies, house mother trainings, over the counter medicine distributing, bible distribution, discipling, paper work, admin duties such as distribution of orphanage supplies, logistics of overseeing garden management and use/maintenance of the pump, taking people to the hospitals, getting the babies to their vaccination appointments, and just general tasks that come with life in the bush. And then things pop up at the craziest times.

One good example of a typical day here in the bush comes from an e-mail that Amber wrote her brother. 

Oct 30 –2010 “Crazy times here at the camp.  After a full day of work we had just gotten to sleep when Jakob woke up (we think his ears are still hurting him)  then after nursing him the delivery truck came with the tin roof sheets, which is when you called.  One of the guys on the truck was very drunk (and yet still asking for a Bible) and in the process of off loading managed to slice Charles' knee all up wide open and Jako cut himself on his finger pretty bad.  Jako is now busy giving Charles about 10 or so stiches and then still needs to tend to his finger.  and This all after he barely got any sleep last night from driving a 15 year old girl to the clinic who was having difficulty delivering.  They came knocking on our door about 12:30 am and Jako didn't get home until after 4:30 The baby was turned sideways and was 3 months early.  They got her to the clinic to deliver but the baby died about an hour or 2 later.  At least the young lady is doing okay.  And then he drove to town today for supplies so it's been a long crazy day and few nights here in our little corner of Africa : ) .  Hopefully Jako will finish up here in another half hour or so and then we can both get to sleep.  “

Can you tell it had been a very long day when she wrote that?

The good news

The good news is that there is several pieces of good news to report.  Praise God for Charles and his family because they have been a God send.  They really sacrifice of themselves to make the project run well and go above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis.  Charles has taken on the three boys at the orphanage as his own and often brags of them being “his kids” and Brenda is always so great to lead a hand to either me or the house moms when they get overwhelmed.  We are happy to report that Charles’ house is now finished, complete with roof, and the family is thoroughly enjoying their new place.  Progress on the chicken mansion is progressing as well.

The kids continue to do well and their   behaviors and attitudes are getting better.  Unfortunately from only half of them passed their school grade this year but the neat this is that God seems to have provided a new member to our team, Alyssa Boles (from the U.S.) who will be joining us in April 2011 to help with the children’s education.  Apart from that we also hope to get some of them into the government school once we have the funds for some bicycles for them (the government school is too far away for them to walk)

Esther’s father seems to be fulfilling his commitment to volunteer once a week in exchange for his daughters care (formula is expensive!) and he has been sending his 2nd wife to all of the doctors appointment.  This has been good because she really seems to be taking to Esther and continue to bond well, she will e instrumental when she goes back to live with them.

Meeting with the chief

Due to a community difficulties and a few people trying to cause trouble for us (see previous blog) it was arranged for the chief to come and visit us here, to see what was going on, and give a few wise words to the community.  After two missed scheduled appointment (the chief is a busy guy) we were blessed by his presence and even more so when he publically set things straight at a community meeting, telling them that their behavior was unacceptable and that they needed to work together with us for the benefit of everyone.  That really boosted the morale of the do gooders and those for the project while putting some appropriate “fear” into those who thought if they could get rid of us they would automatically inherit all that belonged to the orphanage and project (vehicles, tools, etc) to do with whatever they wanted.  God’s grace and his faithfulness never cease to amaze us.  How he provides not only physical relief and resources at the right time but encouragement as well.