The usual distant sound of some of Kitale's pastors, bellowing their message through amplified speakers seemingly to compete for the congregations of the town is something I've grown used to on Sunday mornings over the three years I've lived here. Intermittently their message is interrupted only when someone on a cheap keyboard takes a que and sadly proceeds to drown the harmony of African voices singing wonderful, worshipful melodies as only the African people can. It has always seemed so ironic to me, even tragic, that one of the most harmonious and touching sounds, that of an African congregation in worship, should be destroyed by the squeal of electronic feedback and blown out speakers. I'm grateful to be spared the earsplitting pain of being in one of these mud and metal buildings during these occasions but once in a while, especially when there is a timely power failure, that wonderful sound of voices in praise fills the air. I stop and listen and take my fill when afforded the opportunity. But now the blare coming from large trumpet shaped speakers, tied atop of cars and pickup trucks, all laden well beyond the capacity of their suspension by the number of occupants, is competing even with the normal sounds of Sunday services. Lest anyone forget that political elections in Kenya loom close at hand he is jolted into realization by a sudden shrill from such vehicles meandering through every dusty street in town, spreading its campaign message.

Karen holds Chipkite

The beating of a 5 hour round trip drive on the brutal A1 road which took me to Pokot this week seemed like a fair reprieve from the noise and pollution of the dusty town, (it always does). So even though my own vehicle was heavily laden with myself and eight passengers and dragging a trailer filled with steel window and doorframes, destined for the orphanage under construction at Runo, we drove out from Kitale town with the air of expectancy of a great day. I had arranged to make the trip with a couple I've become friends with who stay with us at Brittany's House and who sponsor an orphanage, a feeding program and also work with children in a slum called Kipsongu located on the outskirts of Kitale. The great majority of the children living in the slum make their way there from Turkana and Pokot to the north, and more often than not wind up as street kids addicted to sniffing glue. My friends Opp and Karen wanted to see the area where these kids originate from so we made the drive together so they could see for themselves. The scenery offered by the mountains more than compensated for the treacherous road conditions as we wove our way down the escarpment of the great rift valley.

River crossing

We crossed rivers and fallen boulders in the road but mount Koe soon appeared in the distance, with its gorilla like features, indicating we were nearing our destination of Runo. The vast expanse of acacia tree tops on the plains of the desert came into view and I was reminded by listening to the comments of my passengers, exploring and experiencing this for the first time, of the rugged beauty.

Mount Koe looms

I have made this journey well over a hundred times by now I suppose and although it has become familiar it is never routine. I was expecting the temperature to become quite warm in Pokot since the dry season is almost upon us now, but a weather front brought in a belt of rain so heavy that it appeared like fog as it swept down from the mountains and literally rolled toward us. It was an awesome sight.

Storm front approaching

We took temporary shelter in a tin roofed staff house awaiting the onslaught but somehow missed the brunt of it. We toured the area with our visitors and checked the progress of the projects. Currently the completion of the children's home heads the list of priorities and the crew of workers we had brought with us soon unloaded the supplies and got to work setting up camp. Their job is to install the window and doorframes we had carried, build a veranda then plaster the brick walls. Once the finish work is done the building will be ready to house the 156 orphans of Runo. God willing this will become a place where these kids can seek refuge rather making their way the streets of Kitale and the inevitable road to a desperate attempt to numb their physical and emotional pain by sniffing glue. Preparation is underway for the construction of a clinic building as well water storage tanks and additional staff housing is planned. Twentyfour new pit latrines are now almost complete also. Samuel and I have discussed building another small school in a community about ten miles away hopefully next year.

Children's home under construction

It's easy to get focused on these projects and miss the miracles but I was about to witness one before we departed Runo that day. To explain, I have to rewind to March 2004. That was the day I observed a small child at the school who, being just a toddler appeared far too young to be there. When I inquired about her I was informed that she was a year and a half old but came to school with her seven year old sister who took care of her as their mother had just died and left them orphaned. Some good friends offered to house the sisters, and the older girl named Celestine was sponsored to attend boarding school in Lodwar while her younger sister Chipkite was cared for in the home of my friends David and Hidat Roden. Tragically David was killed in a traffic accident in March this year and Chipkite, who is now 4 years old, with her world once again shattered and turned upside down took to the streets. Somehow she had made her way back to Runo over 14 kilometers away and taken refuge with a family there. It was the mother of that family who this week had come to fetch water from Runo on the day we visited. I noticed the familiar face and she asked me if I recognized the frail child by her side. It was of course Chipkite. As I picked her up I heard her barking cough and realized how sick she was. I began to explain to my visiting friends Opp and Karen that this is a prime example of how kids wind up on the streets of Kitale. They were immediately stirred into action and with the permission of the local community we brought the child with us back to Kitale and she has been placed in an orphanage Opp and Karen support. She has been given medical attention and is being treated for pneumonia. She will survive against the odds.

Chipkite found

I've seen God's timing in working out events such as this before and although I'm still amazed each time I'm no longer surprised. I have no idea what will become of Chipkite in the long run but obviously God has a plan. I'm privileged to see these small miracles happen time and again here, and to think, all I have to do is remain in His grasp.