Kindfund

Was it last Thur that I wrote. As we say a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then and we have seen God's favour. Making a way when the way was blocked. First let me tell you in order.

Thur 14th. I left you with third gear out and we had arrived at Marallel. Internet cafe to timber yard where Locham had taken the landrover to remove the gearbox. I met him there at 4pm with the gearbox already out and gears, bolts and nuts seemingly everywhere. We continued and at 16.45 Locham went off up the town to buy no.3 gear, other parts and oil with 4000ks. I rested in the shade on the car seats. Locham was back in 30 min. Not enough money for oil.

Fri 15th. Locham was already working at the landrover at 7am. Spoke to Stephen Cowan to ask if they wanted us to bring anything out to Tuum. There were still some Sec Sch children coming to start school so we should look out for them at the stage. After shopping and picking one passenger we set off North out of Marallel for the 5 hr journey 108kms to Tuum. The climb out of Marrallel was steep. The scenery beautiful as we spent about two hrs through the mountains before descending to Baragoi where we refreshed ourselves with a soda, goat meat stew and japati. Three students here for Tuum and one young Turkana girl going to Lake Turkana. We make room and set off across a dry landscape with mountains around. Not unlike Mayo in West Ireland but parched. We arrive at the oasis of Tuum at 5pm to be greeted by the Cowans and the Mawhinneys(staying with the Cowans for a month). Tuum is a surprise. Backed into a semi circle of mountains it has water and a cooler wind comes down from the mountain. We will enjoy our stay here till Mon am.

Sat/Sun 16th & 17th. We explore the work of the Cowan's at Tuum. They have been here 18yrs. We recognise the Mourne infleunce in some of the stone walls surrounding their compound. Fully self sufficient garage with around 5 vehicles, welding equipment making beds and windows for the public secondary school started last year under their sponsorship. We visited the school to see the
buildings built using the brick making machine. It looks very well. We will send a sample of the soil at Wamba to see if it is suitable for brick making. It is the same red clay.
Sunday morning church was full. Good to see all the girls from the secondary there in uniform.
Stephen continually seeing village and church elders to advise and deal with many matters. Angelina treating us royally.

We joke we will come back to this hotel. The three Cowan and three Mawhinney children have a ball playing together.

Mon 18th: 0800 we sadly take our leave of Tuum and set out for Marallel. A short break for a soda at Baragoi and then on to Marallel. On the way the Pokot have carried out a cattle raid the day before and many Turkana are carrying guns. We pick up three young men 'Home Guards' summoned to a meeting at Marti. Climb, up and up and over the mountain and there is Marallel  below.
Now for the real work. It is 1pm and we decide to call at the Govt offices. No sign of the Physical Planner. We call him. He says he is 'on the way' but still some distance - 3 hrs. We doubt we will see him today. Let us get the letters from the DC and the Child Officer. Nancy obtains a copy of the original letter addressed to them and off we go into town to get photocopies
We pray for success and decide to keep the temperature down and let Nancy do the rounds. We sit in the shade. The DCs Secretary will prepare a letter for his signature and the Child Officer writes out a letter for us to get typed on headed paper. Off to town again and I type letter and print on Govt headed. Back to Govt Offices. Child Officer signs.
Dcs letter is ready and signed. At last minute discover it is written to County Council. Have to ask for it to be changed and this is quickly done. So far so good.
Physical Planner still not arrived. Nancy calls him to see if we can access the last letter we understand is on his desk. he is still 'on the way'. Now a shock. He has not received the letter from the Council. We are shocked and rush to the County Council offices. It is past 5pm and only the watchman. He informs us that the Clerk and Deputy left for Nairobi this morning and are not expected back until Thur. Why had the Planner told us he had this letter. We could have got it on Fri. Now the door seemed closed. We have 4 of the 5 letters but this last one seems impossible.
We meet back at the hotel to pray. Nancy remains confident. I recall Moses advice to the Israelites when they had their backs to the Red Sea. Egyptians in front and mountains on each side. 'Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord'

Tue 19th: Again we decide to let Nancy go on her own. She leaves at 8am. At 9am a text message - no yet arrived - 10 min later another - in his office. Later another - am at Council Offices getting letter typed. The Planner had spoken to the County Clerk in Nairobi and he agreed letter could be typed and signed on his behalf - praise God. We have them the 5 letters which we need to take to Nairobi Lands Office for the Wamba Site. We did not know it but Satan had one last blast to come. At 9am we receive a message from Stephen Cowan. He has arrived in Marallel having left Tuum at 4 am. He will await the soil  sample if we can despatch it to \marallel as soon as we arrive in Wamba.
11am I visit the internet cafe while some final shopping done for our trip to Wamba and Ngaremara - 200+ kms. Electricity  goes off in middle of uploading blog. Will have to wait.

 Arrive Wamba at 2pm and meet Margaret and team. Locham and I visit site and fill a sack with soil to send to Tuum for testing.    Locham takes it to Matatu while Pamela and I present Wamba boys Sec football team with football shirts donated by Kesh FC. Photographs we need to press on. A quick meeting with the Chief and then to Wamba Boys school to pay some support for a boy there. On now to Ngaremara by Landrover express. Locham has us there in 1hr 40 min. Shaken but not stirred. Some light left to get organised. Solar lighting a great boon now but a good moon to night. We are happy. We can get ready to move on the
Wamba building. Lillian has our dinner ready.
Pamela in bed I call over with Nancy and family. Nancy sorting letters. I spot the 4 copies of the map the Planner has provided Something doesnt look quite right. The position of our site is wrong. It is on the wrong side of a new road. After everything we are stuck. Marallel is 200+ kms away over rough road. We have so many other committments ahead. What can we do.
Again we pray. I will call Planner in the morning. Amazing my fuse has not blown. Call from Stephen confirming he has received soil sample. They will be in touch with result.
 
Wed 20th: The local community know we are back. The seats under the tree are full even before we go to morning worship. The early tree watering team have been going since 6.30 am. 9am I call the planner. He is 'on the way' Yes this is very  i important and needs to be addressed.Call him in 1 hr. Later he is in the office. I remain calm. I describe the mistake.  He will redo the map but he has to go to Nakuru to get it printed - 3 hrs away. We agree he will go next Tue and despatch the maps by Securicor direct to the Lands Office in Nairobi where I will meet them on Fri. We agree I will pay additional costs either when I am next in Marallel or by the new method of using mobile phone. He will contact me next week. I note my diary
to call him. Pray he keeps his word.

Pm Nancy Locham and I set off for Isiolo with 4 Sec Sch kids. As usual we fail to get everything done so back again Thur. this evening we sit outside. Pamela tunes the guitar and fits capo to play in 'c' I accompany her on the mouthorgan. The moon is full and it is absolutely beautiful. God is good. The men building the shower block have made good progress.
Pamela retires. I send some messages and then relax pumping water into our two 500 litre tanks helping the night watchman.
We give the early morning team a good start.

Thur 21st: We meet for worship and read Ps 34. Some of the team are going through a rough time in their families. We allow God's word to be as medicine poured forth. More kids for school. We take one more and we are now closed.
Many requests for Pamela to handle while I admin. Time to go now to Isiolo. Lots to do. Food for Laisamis where we hope to go tomorrow to visit the Rendille for a couple of days.
The pm in Isiolo. Visit 3 banks to pay school fees. Gen Engineering to see if curtain poles ready for Blind Unit, collect and deliver, Visit Childrens Home to check solar. OK but 2 beds need repaired and only 2 days maize. On way back to town call headmaster of Deaf School and arrange to meet him at hotel to pay school fees. Stop at posho mill to get 5 bags maize and 2 of maize flour. Call Nancy and pick her on way to hotel. She has almost finished with two boys for Secondary. Meet headmaster and write cheque. Two quick sodas to keep going and then all off in different directions to try to complete tasks before dark.

Continue to hold us before our mighty God. He is able.

Greet all

Ken and Pamela