KANYAWEGI CHILDRENS HOME - NEWSLETER JULY 2001

I have now stopped kidding myself that all the building projects have finished.

While I was in England (April 12th to June 24th) the chicken house was completed and the work on the river bank well advanced. A lot of research was done on the feasibility of another bore hole and two more children were admitted (supposedly temporary).

The committee were greatly encouraged to meet up with my pastor, Mike Howell, when he visited Uganda recently. It helped me also to know that contact was made between them, independently of me, to encourage each other.

I had the joy of another bout of Malaria recently. The doctor decided to give me a Quinine drip, which was also on African time - she said it would take seven hours, but it ended up taking 13 hours!. It worked OK, until she thought it would be good to speed it up-which sent me bananas. It was a novelty for her 9 year old son, who she came with, I think to show that white people have blood as well.

I have settled in my rented accommodation in town once again, although the children complain that I am not around at nights, I think I am less grumpy and much more fresh for sleeping away.

We are all looking forward to Shirley's third visit when she arrives on the 5th of August.

CHILDREN
Our two new children, Perez 11 and Joshua 9, were taken in officially this month. Joshua was born to a prostitute from Uganda who was living (working ?) In Homa Bay She died when Joshua was four, giving him no option but to live on the street. Perez's father had already died when her mother married a polygamous man, before she also died. The man had already taken another wife, who was unable to have children, so this new wife took Joshua from the street as her own. The man, who appears to be dying, has also gone insane- deciding to chase Perez and Joshua from the home because they were not his flesh and blood.
Two of our older children are due to leave us at the end of August. Samuel who has qualified as a motor mechanic, and Lillian who has qualified as a tailor and dressmaker, will be given some help as they start out on there own. Samuel will be put through his driving test, given tools and helped to set up home, while Lillian will be given a new sewing machine and other ' tools of the trade 'to help her begin life on her own.
David, whose computer training is going very well, should complete by the end of the year and be in a position to keep himself. We have found him a small place to live in town, which he enjoys.
Steven should be following in David's footsteps next month when he begins TV and computer maintenance training.
The children start breaking for their holidays on the 27th of July, the rest will finish on the 9th of August.

INCOME GENERATING PROJECTS
Although the now completed chicken house can accommodate around 800 hens, we have decided to start with 240, so we can see what mistakes we make. Our first egg arrived on the 7th and today we are up to 130 a day, still short of the expected 192 a day. If everything goes to plan we should make a profit of 30 pound a week, increasing to 100 pound a week when we are able to buy our full quota of hens.

NEW PROJECTS
We were told we should not produce a yearly report, instead we should report the projects we hope to start.
One new project has already had an answer to prayer- the new bore hole. While I was in England the committee hired a 'expert' who told us the present bore hole of 105 feet deep takes water from the lake, but if we dig another one 50 feet away we will only have to dig 40 feet, as the water there comes from the hills. I told our friends at the Lions club in Kisumu, and they have found a sponsor to cover the 650 pound cost.
Other projects on the drawing board are :-
Completion of the river bank, and farming the land that is recovered.
Purchase of another 500 hens.
Extension to the girl's accommodation (including toilets).
Opening a computer /E-mail training centre.
A feasibility study to use wind power for the remainder of our electricity.

MONEY
A big thank you to all of you, especially you new sponsors who have boosted our regular income, which enables us to plan ahead. Thank you also to those of you who give one-off donations, without, which would make things very difficult.
Independent Christian Workers Trust have told me they are still unable to allocate two gifts, because they do not know who they are for. One is a standing order from the Woolwich, and the other is a standing order from Mr. And Mrs. E. If you are able to help solve the mystery please let ICWT or myself know.

SHOPPING LIST
Another computer, scanner, an electric typewriter, shoes, trainers, T-shirts, shorts,

PRAYER REQUESTS
Thanks for so much, our continued protection, unity, wisdom, our income generating projects-which we hope will be just that, and personal guidance for myself.

REMEMBER I should be home on the 21st of August

REGARDS AND LOVE
JIM DAWE

To subscribe to Newsletter/mailouts list via your e-mail Click Here

previous newsletter< - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ->newsletter index

home