Our 5th mission trip to Kenya is completed and we are in prayer over planning for our 6th trip in August, 2010 and about God providing funds for a number of projects in January, 2010.
PROJECT - New fresh water well: The current well on the orphanage property is not producing. This past January, we dug an additional 7’ down and cleaned the bricks in an effort to improve the water flow into the well. That effort did not bring an improvement. The children currently travel some distance to a neighbors well to obtain water when the stored rainwater is depleted. Although the water is clean (I had a sample tested), the problem is that we are dependent on the kindness of the neighbor and that many people use that well which could lead to problems with supply and sanitation.

Solution: We would like to dig a new well on the farm property, constructed so as to insure healthy sanitation. One goal is to make the well available to the community. To prevent contamination, we would like to fence the area and ideally use a hand pump instead of a bucket drop. The estimated cost to build this is $1,200. God willing we will make these funds available to begin construction in mid-Jan. Please pray about helping us with this.

Project - New Latrine: The current 4 stall pit latrine has become recently not usable due to ground water filling the pits. This requires immediate action since it is a sanitation issue. The local Public Health Officer (PHO) has also cited that the home is required to have separate buildings for boys and girls. The latrine also services the Church and Nursery School next to the orphanage.

Solution: We would like to build latrines that satisfy the capacity of the orphanage at full occupancy and satisfies the PHO. The estimated cost is $1,500. God willing we will make these funds available to begin construction in mid-Jan. Please pray about helping us with this.

Longer Term Project- Dining Hall: Another requirement of the PHO is a separate dining facility for the children, away from their sleeping quarters. We can potentially be shut down if this issue is not resolved long term. Currently the kids eat, play, and do homework on the desks we built outside their rooms. A separate issue involves the kitchen which is currently adequate but could use improvement in space, storage, ventilation, lighting, and convenience. A third need is for a room to assemble as a group as well as space to use for training and community meetings.

Solution: We would like to build a hall adjacent to the dorm that would contain a new kitchen, dining hall, and storage room. This will be brick walls and steel roof construction like the dorms, roughly 30' by 50' in size, and have electric lights hooked to the solar power system. We are still working on the final design and cost but I estimate $20,000. God providing we will begin building in the summer and continue work during the time of our proposed visit in August. This addition will improve the lives of the caretakers and children, allow us to meet PHO standards, and keep a homey atmosphere without overcrowding when we increase the number of children to 40. This building will also be made available to the church and used for community meetings and outreach. Please pray about supporting us with this project.

Our 4th mission trip to Kenya is completed and we are in prayer over planning for our 5th trip and about God providing funds for a number of projects.

If this is something that you feel led to join us in by prayer and support us in please contact me.

What do we think we can get done? This list, subject to God’s perfect will, is some of the items I hope to accomplish. It will require significant funding and work before going and on the ground in Kitale. Prayer, money, planning, involving everyone, and hard work is how we get it done. Money and determination are great tools. A difference can be made in just a short time.

Lord’s Servants Home

Commission a 2nd well to provide a new, clean source of year round water to the orphanage.
Establish tools and skills for better reporting and accountability with the home management.
Increase the capacity of the solar power generation.
Complete governmental certification of the home.
Do activities at the orphanage and just Love on the kids.
Bring roughly 150 pounds of supplies.
Shop locally for basic needs, clothes, shoes, underwear, medicine, and school supplies.
Develop plans and initiate building a utility building for dining, training, visitor housing, and community fellowship. Required for government certification.
Develop plans and initiate building an additional pit latrine. Required for government certification.
Develop plans and initiate building a chicken coop to raise more chickens in order to provide eggs and opportunity to train the children in this skill.
Develop ideas and budget for future facility improvement projects.
Develop ideas for future training projects to give the children life skills when leaving the Home after completing school.

He Is Academy

Provide some school supplies and improve the cooking facility.
Develop ideas and budget for future facility improvement projects.

Other

Visit other local orphanages.
Visit the local school
Audit the immediate community around the orphanage for support needs and potential projects.
Encourage and share with church and fellowship groups.

I estimate that it will take approximately $60,000 to complete the above projects. I feel that this is a bargain for the impact that will be made in the future of our Brothers and Sisters in Kenya and for the Kingdom of God. The happiness, health, and hope that our kids now have is something I wish we could bring to many more children. The need is great and growing exponentially. All honor and glory is God's!!!!

Please help us with this mission as you feel led. Please pray about this and for us. Every dollar is used in Kenya, supporting the economy and working people, for the focused support of Orphans and stricken people. My personal travel expenses are self funded. I promise that the money God brings us to use as a tool in Kenya will be spent well for that purpose.

Thank you and God bless you Big Time (Asante na Mungu Akubariki Sana)

Bob