A chorus of birds woke me up at sunrise as usual, announcing the dawning of a new day as the first rays of sunlight illuminated the Cherangani hills on the eastern horizon. Soon mount Elgon to the west became a glow as if reaching up through the shrouding mist to soak in the orange warmth. The lush fertile highlands of Kenya disguise the fact that we’re living well over a mile above sea level and almost on the equator but the chilly night air gives need for the extra blanket at this time of year and I chose to drag mine over my head for an extra couple of minutes this morning while contemplating the day ahead.

Schools in Kenya reopened last week after a four week holiday and the early morning is now once again alive with the sounds of children making their way to school along the dirt roads. The hustle and bustle of crowded market streets full of bikes, barrows and pushcarts ferrying merchandise back and forth comes to life and the fleets of matatus and old trucks once again weave along the crowded roads kicking up dust and billowing out fumes.

Kipsongo Spring Before Tapping

Kipsongo Spring After Tapping

Runo school in west Pokot where much of my work is focused also came back to session so earlier this week I trekked the 100 miles or so to visit the campus, trying to stay alert to the streams of boda bodas (taxi bicycles), stray donkeys, giant pot holes and unmarked speed bumps in the road. These obstacles soon gave way to the more curious sights of the aftermath of runaway trucks, especially the petrol tankers, which while on their way to Sudan, often fall pray to the steep road as they snake their way down the escarpment of the great Rift Valley. Fallen trees, a boulder in the road the size of a bus and washed out gullies where the road disappears completely at times added to the adventure. A couple of young visitors from Florida were with me and as is usually the case the children assembled at the headmasters prompting and burst into song as we finally arrived at Runo. It was a warm pleasant day, good progress has been made with the buildings, and plans to break ground on a dormitory building next week for the 108 orphans at Runo were made now that all the materials have been gathered. In spite of the challenges of famine, malaria and disease there was good reason for the sense of anticipation and hope I felt there but nobody could have anticipated the setback we were about to face.

The next day a tremendous thunder storm formed over the Cherangani Hills, passed over Kitale and headed towards the north. Apparently as it approached the hot, arid lowlands of Pokot fierce winds were generated and a mini tornado formed. One of the structures at Runo was in its path and the roof section of the new classroom block was completely demolished. The people who saw it told me it was ‘very strong and spinning’.

Multipurpose building Sept13th

Multipurpose Building Sept14th

As it happened, only 171 of the 366 kids enrolled were in attendance, (the others will make their way back soon having wandered far distances with the herds of their nomadic families). This turned out to be a blessing in disguise since none of the kids were under the roof section and therefore no one was hurt. I assigned a team of people to dismantle the tangled wreckage of steel and sheet metal and we’ll salvage what we can then rebuild although perhaps there will be 4 classrooms for a while rather than 6.

The feeding program at Runo came to a halt just prior to the school holiday due to the cease of supply of maize from the UN’s World Food Program. We were fortunate enough to be able to purchase a couple of sacks of maize in a local village however, enough to get the feeding program at the school underway again. This will accelerate the return of the student body once the word gets out. Elsewhere, another fresh water spring has been tapped, this time in the slum known as Kipsongo on the outskirts of Kitale. The spring is used by the men and has become a place of social gathering while they bathe. The women have a differant spring where they meet in a similar way to do laundry while they bathe their kids as well as themselves. Since all for the most part own only the clothes they wear the job can take the whole day.

A house for Samuel, the head teacher at Runo, and his family is under construction and 10000 tree seedlings are germinating ready to plant next year. The planting for this year is complete with over 15000 growing now.

At Brittany’s House we’ve had a busy few weeks with lots of folks coming to stay from all walks of life from doctors to politicians.   I enrolled young Amos, who now stays with me, in a local private school where he’s flourishing and although he has to travel to Kisumu for chemotherapy next week he’s a tough little guy and will bounce right back. He faces chemo for cancer next week while all I face is the task of straightening out some bits of twisted steel yet he’s always smiling and I’m not. He helps me maintain perspective, God knows I need that and perhaps that’s one of the reasons we met.

It’s been four months now since I arrived back in Kenya and the time has passed by so quickly. More and more opportunities are developing and the remainder of the trip will no doubt flash by. First though, God willing, I’ll take a few days and adventure north to Lake Turkana up towards Sudan and perhaps back south to see the snow capped peak of Mount Kenya or even into Tanzania to see Kilamanjaro. The destination is not really important for there was great news this week when I learned my son Shawn will come out to visit next month. In spite of the challenges living here can present it is an adventure and I know I’m blessed. I also remain in His grasp.