Kenya, Africa.
Jambo, Mama!
Hamjambo, y’all!
It’s been too long since I wrote last! I’ve really been busy, busy, busy. At the beginning of March, The pump down in our well stopped working. Tobias was watering the plants in the morning, and the water just ran out. That meant we didn’t have any water in the house! Wonderful!
We were able to get water from the neighbors, and filled our tanks with a water hose. The plumbers finally came in the afternoon, dug and cleaned the sand out of the bottom and brought the pump to the top to inspect. The sand had covered the intake pipe, so the pump worked hard at getting nothing. Whatever was plastic melted, and the motor was seized so tight, they couldn’t turn it with a pipe wrench. The business day was spent, so there was nothing we could do until the next day.
I bought a new pump. They installed it, and got it running. That cost $300. I’m starting to think like an African, because that sounds really expensive, but I’m sure the same job in the U.S. would have cost a bit more.
Next problem: The radiator on my bike started leaking. Wonderful! This has to be some sort of test or punishment, because now God is hitting me where it hurts. I had a mechanic pick it up to have it patched – which is not easy, since its aluminium (that’s British/Kenyan for aluminum). It came back with clumps of welding or soldering covering what used to be holes, and freshly painted black.
I installed it, and it ran great for about ten days, and then started leaking, again. Michelle knows a lady in her Bible study group. who works at a radiator repair shop. I’m giving her business a shot at fixing the thing. It should be back Wednesday. I’ve been travelling by matatu (public transportation vans) for the past three weeks, and I’m really ready to have my bike running.
Good news: We have finished the first school term of 2010. Two of our students at Crossroads Baptist Bible Institute have finished their course. I’ve also been teaching courses at the Lighthouse for Christ Bible School, and this was the final term for their one year program. Saturday, I went to the graduation. It’s a blessing to see students reach the finish line.
The Saturday class I‘ve been teaching at a church in Shimanzi, a subdivision of Mombasa, is going well. There are only four or five that are faithful to the class, but that’s better than what I expected. I’ve been teaching about salvation using soteriology notes from theology. I read a little and explain a little. It takes three hours to go through three or four pages, because they always start asking questions about everything. All the questions make the class fun, and I think they are really learning something.
Michelle has been busy with homeschooling, ladies Bible studies and helping the children’s cancer ward at Coast General Hospital in Mombasa. The organization is called PACK, and they are making a real difference with kids who have treatable cancer.
Simone has become a leader in her youth group. It’s amazing how she has taken responsibility for several projects. She has helped with camps for children and teens. The teens held a fundraising car wash last Saturday, and Simone made posters and organized teens to work. Even using sun block, she came home a bit roasted. We’re not pushing her to do any of this. She wants to make a difference. Wow!
The weather has been a bit strange. Normally, March is just miserable. Only miserable! The grass and bushes turn brown. The trees droop in the heat. The breeze carries the scent of roasted vegetation. It’s been hot and miserable, but it has rained three times, which doesn’t happen in March. El Nino seems to be mixing things up, again. Today, the sun is back to the merciless heating of our house. Every once in a while, I can smell something cooking, and it’s me!
I love and miss you, Mom!
We love and miss you all!
greg