3rd Post

October 13th

Preparations and celebrations

Guys, sorry for the delay in the blog updates, we’re working on African time.

Today has been a hive of activity. It was day 1 of “The Acorn listening course”, which commenced after much advance preparation, photocopying and perspiration. It was a somewhat difficult start. Sheila and Frances had to adapt to requirements due to lack of understanding initially on the nature of the course. Listening, what’s that all about?

The participants arrived in dribs and drabs and found the interactive style different from the more usual didactic course.

Chris Park took 4 lessons in school. He was amazed at the bible knowledge of the pupils but was saddened when he thought of the contrast to the children at home. Why don’t we value bible teaching more?

He also took a school staff prayer meeting. The very fact that they were having a prayer meeting at all was something that he thought was fantastic.

In the evening it was party time. Ann Lipson reached the big 70. A feast had been prepared but our tummies were rumbling as we waited several hours for the required speeches to be given. The Kenyan people really know the meaning of “it’s good to talk”. It was wonderful to hear of all the tributes to Ann Lipson. She is variably known as Auntie Ann or Grandma to large numbers of Kenya people. On hearing of all that Ann has done during her 34 years in Kenya the parable of the talents came to mind and the words “well done, good and faithful servant”.

October 14th

Big-brother, little brother

Manchester today was notable weather wise. There was no rain.

Everyone has been very busy. Sylvia has been at Dreamland school, teaching all day.
Malcolm was running a session for COREL leaders whilst Helen was working on the management presentation.

Jen was in school teaching poetry. We’re told by those painting the library that the gales of laughter emitting from her classroom could be heard throughout the school.

AP was preaching, again, in the community. The poor man didn’t get his lunch until 4.30pm. It was served up in a mud hut. (For those who are interested there are no further developments, as yet, on his admirer.)

Wherever we go a little voice can be heard saying “hello, how are you?” When you reply in the standard fashion, “fine, how are you?” then you suddenly hear a loud chorus repeating the initial question and become aware of numerous small black faces peering around trees, looking through windows or popping up from the backs of vehicles.

We must make more reference to our evening gatherings. We are continuing to meditate on some of the Psalms. We’re all really enjoying and benefiting from this. After this “quiet” time the evenings tend to degenerate somewhat. We certainly don’t need a tv here. Big brother comes to mind…………….


October 15th
Farewell

Today we are saying goodbye to Sylvia. We will all really miss her. In her usual quiet, unassuming way she has ministered greatly to the people here and also to us, the Didsbury gang.
Sylvia has been teaching bible stories to different classes at Dreamland school along with Chris. She also gave a talk on Sunday morning at the school service. This is usually done completely by the children.


October 16th
Tiredness

Sleep is still not easy for many of us. The cockerel is still alive and well though the cow sounds much less moody.

Today Malcolm and Helen have given a full day management seminar to members of the IcFEM team. They have reported back on some of their observations on the running of IcFEM and have been able to make a number of helpful suggestions and recommendations. The word about the compound following the end of the seminar was very positive. IcFEM members have really valued this input.

Five team members (David, Naomi, Jen, Sheila and Frances) went to a meeting for people with HIV/AIDs. Approximately 60 people attended. The session started with joyous singing and then David spoke from Luke 19 on Zaccheus. The invitation for prayer was well received with many people coming forward. David was glad to have the other team members to help with prayer ministry.

Naomi was especially delighted at the hunger of people to receive God’s grace and felt privileged to be part of ministering to them.

We are all feeling tired as we draw to the end of this week. There is a sense of relief and satisfaction that the IcFEM work has been done and done well.

Other work continues however, a man’s work is never done, so the saying goes. What a sight was before our eyes this evening as we came back to the guest house. Outside under the bright Kenyan sun DH was putting his heart and soul into his hand washing whilst AP was busy pegging out the washing.

Quote of the day from Malcolm “has anyone seen my trousers”.

October 17th

Finished chores

Hurray, hurray, the painting of the library has been completed. It looks fabtastic.

There was an official opening ceremony and the Didsbury gang were made, once again, to feel like very important visitors.
JoF, Deborah and Hannah have done a really great job and despite the somewhat tedious and back-breaking need for 4 layers of undercoat they have thoroughly enjoyed what they have been doing. At break times their work has been coloured by the presence of lots of the school children eager to view the newest additions to the painting. They have asked lots of questions on very diverse topics. Please ask Deborah for a low down when she’s back.
There will probably be some tears when we say goodbye to JoF and Hannah in the next couple of days.

A graduation ceremony was scheduled to commence after the official opening of the school library. This was so that the students on the first aid, knitting and listening courses could receive their certificates of attendance. Certificates are highly valued here.
JoR, having very successfully run the first aid course, presented the certificates to her pupils. (A little update on Ivan: he became redundant half-way through the course). Sharon gave certificates to the knitting ladies, know known as the weaver birds, and Frances and Sheila presented to the listeners. Sharon was slightly bemused and significantly touched to receive an overwhelming display of thanks from her weaver birds. She was presented with a beautiful handbag and then she herself was gift-wrapped in a large piece of material!

Sharon made a thought-provoking observation regarding this trip. Here in Kenya relationships are highly-prized and little value is put on material possessions. At home in Didsbury, Manchester, our clothes and homes and cars are valued greatly and relationships, relatively-speaking, are of much less worth.

We’ve gained greatly from the perspective here. We don’t want to lose it.

There was a feedback session in the afternoon. Everybody was given an opportunity to evaluate both the good and the bad of their time here. The session ended with some powerful prayer and praise. We sang and danced to some Ki-swahili choruses and had a great time. Sian eat your heart out…

October 18th
Electricity!

Dreamland medical centre has electricity from today. This is a massive step forward for the hospital and means that it will know really be “fit for purpose”. (We’ve been learning management speech from Helen and Malcolm).

We’ve split into 2 groups today. Those with adventurous spirits went to Mount Elgon National Park, a smaller group remaining at the guest house to chill-out.
The heavens opened dramatically once more making the roads semi-solid, orange mud.