JIM DAWE NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 2001
This is a very different newsletter for me to write for many reasons, the first thing is I am writing from my home in England and as I have always written and sent my letter from a hot climate, it feels very strange.
I returned to the UK on the 21st. of August and I am not due to return to Kenya until the 2nd of January. I have mentioned before that I have felt it right to pull back my personal "Hands on" involvement in Kenya, leaving more and more to the local people. With telephone and email I have been able to keep up to date with all the latest news, plus all the finances which are regularly sent to me for checking.
So far this new system has been working very well and any problems are sorted out in the normal way. The Kenyan committee have mostly worked things out, only contacting me when they have felt it has been necessary.
The saddest item to report is the death of Dan, a 9 year old who had been with us for three years. Dan, who was a great character, was always sickly. He was diagnosed last year as being HIV positive and we always knew that we would need to face this moment sometime. We treated him for as long as we could in the home, but we were eventually forced to take him to the hospital. That experience will stay with me for ever, there were three children to every bed and no one to care for them. We were forced to leave someone with him all the time to feed, clean and buy medicines as they were needed. In one day alone 15 children died and were carted off to a small room at the end of the ward for collection (after the bill was paid). When the hospital were unable to give him anymore medicines, due to both his hands swelling so much a needle could no longer go into Dans's hand, we took him out of the hospital and took him to his grandmother's home to die. We discharged him from the hospital on the 20th August, and supported him at their home until he died on the 26th of September. I already miss Dan immensely, but I think with the amount of AIDS in Kenya, this is a thing we may have to face again.
Dan's three brothers were obviously upset, but they appear to be getting their life back to normal again. The rest of the children had already settled back into school - I think death is accepted so much easier in Africa.
Chris Mathews arrived at Kanyawegi on the 14th of October for a three month visit. Chris, who is from Gunnersbury Baptist Church in West London, stayed with us for one month last year and this time he hopes to be actively involved in the home.
We now have 46 children at the home, one on independence training in town and three learning at the YMCA hostel. The committee has established we have room for a further 15 children, but we are not taking any of the 75 on the waiting list until we have the finances to care for them.
CHILDREN
As I have already said, the death of Dan was a major upset to the entire home, but we believe the children are now through the worst.
We had two of our older children leave us last month, Samuel who had passed all his exams with honours, is now a motor mechanic. Before he left us we put him through his driving test and gave him a complete tool kit. He was also given 3 months rent and things for the home, so we are hoping for his success in a very difficult country. Lillian, who was studying tailoring, also left last month. We provided a sewing machine, three
months rent and some other bits to get her started.
Victor (3) who is said to be six years old, is the most recent addition to our family. He is a very lively boy, full of fun and he joined us in August
All the children seem to be doing well at school and home. There has been some sickness, which in Kenya is expensive, but I think they are OK now.
The children's academic school year finishes at the end of November, so the committee will have to decide what to do with their schooling/training before they begin the new term in January.
Computer training is now part of the home life and as we acquire more computers, we hope to have the children enjoying games also. With one of our boys now almost finished his computer maintenance training, and another halfway through, we are well placed to care for the computers we have.
PROJECTS
The chicken project is now well advanced and although we have encountered many problems, we are hopeful that the next few months will give an accurate picture of it's profitability (hopefully).
The new bore hole has been a problem due to the rain causing part of the wall to collapse (which buried the person digging - and was pulled out just in time), but we hope to have this up and running by Christmas. This project is being funded by our local Lions club in Kisumu.
FINANCE
The latest report is on our website( soon fjg), or from Ruth (my sister). Although the projects have eaten a large chunk of our bank balance, we are still solvent. Can I encourage you to look at our financial reports, so you can see how we are trying to be good stewards of your gifts.
WEBSITE
Frank, my brother-in-law, has been doing a wonderful job setting up the site - it's well worth a visit (over 6000 hits to date). In July the Christian Herald printed an article on the home, and they have given us permission to use it, so I hope Frank is able to find a way of displaying it on our Web site - www.kanyawegichildren.com
STAFF
The staff and committee have been coping very well during my stay in England. It makes me feel more at ease when I know things are going so well. They keep me informed of all the activities at the home, ask advice where needed and send me copies of all the expenditure.
NEWSLETTER
I have up-dated the mailing list, so if you did not receive this newsletter on time, or you would like to be added to our email list, please let Ruth know. kanyawegi@ruthgriffin.com
PERSONAL
Since arriving in England I have had Malaria twice, the second time put me in hospital for a week with cerebral Malaria, after I conveniently collapsed at the doctors surgery, but I am now feeling fine.
Work relating to Kanyawegi still takes most of my time, but I expect that I will soon need another interest/project to fill the remaining hours.
NEEDS
School shoes and boys shorts are still our biggest need. Computer with CD, computer games and programs, more sponsors so we can take more children, and loads of prayer.
REGARDS AND LOVE JIM

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