Electricity to the Village
Electrical power is progressing well into the village. Since last year, when there was nothing, we see poles and lines along the main roads several miles into the village and some homes are able to take advantage of it. The government has made a priority of getting electricity into all of the schools in Kenya. Lwala Secondary School (the high school not far from the farm and right across the road from Restoration Community Church) has recently been connected to the lines. Whenever we have an eye clinic, which is held in the church, children from the local schools come. Because of no light other than from the windows many of the children have poor eye sight (exacerbated by poor, or lack of lighting in their homes). If you look closely you can see electric wires in the background of the photo. We hadn't seen them until the photo was published.
Hooking up to electricity in the village is very expensive, and most won't be able to afford it, although the government has a special short-term program where the cost is dramatically reduced for homes that are close to the road. The Widows' Farm is entirely too far away from the road to consider electrical service; costs would be out of the question,
We were in a home for a cell group meeting ; a typical mud house. They had power into the home. The first one we have ever seen. This home had 3 rooms. It began to rain heavily and the doors and windows needed to be shut – it was dark. That is how we discovered there was electricity in the home. One socket in the wall with a light bulb screwed into it. We didn’t see any plug outlets, but did notice a radio on the table, and deduced there was one. The light bulb was a dim long-life bulb. We think that a solar lamp would give as much or more light and certainly not cost so much.
University Ready
We met a young man named Kevin Ochieng Juma, a graduate of Lwala Secondary School in the village, who is now a student in university. We wanted to let you know that even though the children are receiving their education in the village (there are schools for all age levels in the village, from pre-school all the way to secondary [high] school) the quality of education is qualifying them for university. Admission requirements into institutions of higher education in Kenya are very stringent.
Lorna's Axe
We went to visit Lorna to take a photo to her that was taken last year. During our conversation she told us that she had some wood outside that she needed to split up for firewood, but she didn't have an axe. She said she really needed an axe. Keep in mind that Lorna is in her late 80s and is very frail. We love to help meet Lorna's needs, but we think that she could seriously injure herself if we give her an axe.
Here is the photo we took to her (a framed 8X10); it's now hanging on her wall.
Prayer Requests
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
More reasonably priced, suitable accommodations for us in Kenya;
More reasonably priced and/or efficient means of transportation for us in Kenya.
Blessings & Much Love,
John & Marty
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
More reasonably priced, suitable accommodations for us in Kenya;
More reasonably priced and/or efficient means of transportation for us in Kenya.
Blessings & Much Love,
John & Marty
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