homeKanyawegi Newsletter
April 2001
I was always worried that I was going ahead of God, but these days my concern is keeping up with Him.
It is our policy not to ask for anything, it
increase our faith so much when we see how God has touched peoples hearts to
give, not only in Europe – but here in Kenya also. One local trader has
been giving us two sacks of maize flour, and last month another started giving
20 litres of cooking oil. Today another well-wisher
has given us maize flour, baking flour, cooking oil and laundry soap amongst
other things. These regular monthly donations help us so much to plan ahead
to help even more children.
Doreen, from Welton Baptist Church made a visit to Kanyawegi for two weeks at the end of January. All the children, especially the girls, enjoyed her stay with us.
My stay in England in February was cut short to three weeks, but I am due to arrive back in England on April the 12th – hopefully for a longer stay.
Staff: We were all delighted, including the children and staff, to welcome another member of staff – Edward, who until recently was a very successful headmaster at St. Andrews private school. He was the instigator of the school forming projects, and is a very strong Christian with wide ranging knowledge.
It is a real privilege to have Edward join our team, and for him and his family to accept the paltry wage we offered. It may be interesting to know that our entire staff and committee cost each child less than 5 pounds (550 Kshs.) a month! – is this staff commitment, good management or just being mean?
Children: We have admitted four new children,
which brings our number up to the half century (50). Quinter 5, Fred 10, Tobias
11 plus Frank 11 all joined us in March. I have said before that when you think
you have seen the worst situation – you find another more grim. Frank whose
mother died while very young, also lost his father in November last year. Because
of some inter-marriage strife, the uncle had resolved to kill Frank and his
grandmother who was trying (and failing) to care for him. This boy, as well
as trying to cope with his grief, starving on the
little food his grandmother could provide, was also in constant fear for his
life.
When Peter went to collect Fred from Busia,
the border town with Uganda, he found a really grim situation. This boy was
living with his elder brother and sister, with three very small and naked cousins,
all being looked after (?) by a very old grandmother. This frail lady tried
to earn money for food by carrying luggage across the border when she could
hardly carry her own weight. These six children and the lady lived together
in a mud house room 8 feet by 4 feet –
not even big enough to put a bed!
The situation at Maxwell and Victor’s home I wrote about in my last letter, so it was a joy to collect Tobias and Quinter (cousin and sister).
The sadness and fear of these children appear to change within 24 hours at Kanyawegi, after then it is difficult to see any problem in their lives.
The older girls have really taken to Quinter and look after her very well, although she has started being independent and insists to help with the dishes. Quinter goes to Nursery, Tobias and Fred to Standard Four, and Fred will go to Standard Two next term (May).
Projects: A large storehouse has been built at the rear of the compound, and will be used to keep tools and equipment dry and safe.
We have embarked on a plan to reclaim the land
along the river bank. This will involve putting angle iron and wire netting
along the river, filling with rocks, then placing topsoil. This will enable
us to produce an income with onions and tomatoes on the very fertile land. This
new bank will increase security and deter the monitor lizard and black mamba’s
from eating our chickens. The extra protection will help keep our homes foundation
from crumbling. The total
cost will be around 600 pounds.
Now we are enjoying the expertise of Edward
on our team, we have looked again at income generating ideas. We have started
to build a chicken house for 500 laying birds at the rear of our compound. The
whole project will cost around
2,000 pounds up to the time of laying – when we expect an income of 150
pounds a week while the birds continue to lay (about 12-18 months).
New Home: As we received no funding for this project, we are very relaxed that this is either not the right house, or not the right time.
Halfway House: Don’t blink, it is
no more! – well not exactly true. We found this house very expensive, although
very essential for these children’s independence program. We felt that
after 6 months the three boys had learnt what we had hoped, so we still intend
to repeat this program with other boys before they leave
Kanyawegi – with some adjustments.
Samuel and Michael are now at the YMCA Hostel where they are on motor vehicle training, and David is temporary back at Otonglo until we find a suitable room for him in town, where he is continuing with his computer maintenance course. Halfway house should soon be Halfway room!
Money: Thank you for such wonderful support, you can see by this newsletter that we have done much with your gifts. We are however experiencing one or two problems, not with money, but with the admin. of taxable gifts sent to ICWT. Graham Howard at ICWT, who handles other charities as well as Kanyawegi, has told me he has three one off gifts and one standing order for 20 pounds a month that he does not know who to credit as they are not marked Kanyawegi (or nyone else). If you have sent a gift or a standing order for Kanyawegi to ICWT without indicating that it should be credited to Kanyawegi, please inform ICWT.
Also, unless you really want to stay anonymous please let someone (ICWT, Ruth or me) know who the gifts is from, as I do like to say “Thank you” when I see you.
Thank you again for your support to Kanywawegi, I assure you again that every pence goes direct to helping the children of Kenya – none goes to my personal or travel expenses (or anyone else’s).
Web-site: “Due to technical problems”
we have changed our web-site address to
http://www.kanyawegichildren.com,
which has lots more information and will be completed by May (this year , I
promise).
Prayer: Thanksgiving for so much, continued provision and protection. For God’s word to be a reality to our children. God’s guidance as we continue to admit more children.
Shopping List:
Shorts,
T-shirts,
school shoes plus Trainers (5-11 sizes),
Computer with CD Rom (guts only) sound card and memory
(as I write I could personally do with the same – those who have stood next to me in Church or asked me something will know).
Regards
JIM
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KanNews
04/01