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Generations Childrens Home (Taken 2/23/2008) |
Good News From Kenya, Sunday, March 2, 2008: See the pictures!
Dear All,
GD and I got up this morning and decided to take a trip to the airport and see if we could find the missing suitcase. They let GD in , and after walking by his bag (it was wrapped), the helper stopped and said "Let's open this one." Everything was there. We'll now pack a box and send the gifts to Benson. Eight children had their gifts in that bag.
Came back to the Methodist Guest House and then we took a bus, with Sandra, to the YaYa Center where the Massai had their open air market. After about an hour and a half of haggleing, we got everything we wanted. Then another bus ride back to the Guest House. Now for a nap.
We were so sorry to hear about Rick. He was in our prayers during the entire trip. The weather continues to be exceptional. The entire country is excited about the peace treaty. By the time Parliment meets to work out the details, we'll be home, so we expect no further problems during our stay.
Robert, I had a good deal going for your mother. I was offered 68 goats, three cows, and some sugar. When I tried to include a bag of salt, the deal fell through. The chief said something about a family member who wasn't worth his salt. Those being his exact words, do you know what he was getting at? Maybe we can sort it out next Sunday.
We head to the airport in a little over 24 hours. Then home Tuesday evening. Patty, Tell Jessa to have a good, and safe time in Washington D.C. We're all feeling great. Bill |
A Word From Kenya, Saturday, March 1, 2008:
We just completed the four and a half hour drive from Meru to Nairobi. Knowing that a peace deal was signed made it a much better drive. The weather was great and the driver was good. Benson picked another good one. We've checked into the Methodist Guest House, and have already had lunch by the pool. It's 2:30pm and we have a car booked to take us to the Carnivour Restaurant at 6:30. Then tomorrow morning we'll somehow get to church, and then it's off to the Massai market. Also have to find time to see if our missing suitcase can be found. There were probably 7 or 8 of the children who had gifts in that bag. We also bought all the sponsored children drinking cups, so that they don't have to share the few throw-away cups we've had. And we got all of the resident children foot lockers for their rooms. And mosquito nets. Did a little shopping for Ruth and her father Joseph. And Donna, Laura and Deb will be happy (but not surprised) to know that Phatous and Donner's grandmother took-in an orphaned girl. She was also sponsored by one us. Her name was Gladys. Just before she died, she asked GoGo to watch over her daughter, and she did. That's a first, that I know of. So we got grandma quite a bit of food .
Benjamin and the other high school grads got their grades yesterday. He's the only one to tell us yet. His math score was weak, so as we left this morning, he was checking with Methodist University on taking a make-up test. Well we leave Monday evening. I've got a sore throat, and a lingering cough. But see you soon. Robert, I continue to take great care of your mother!
Bill, et others |
A Word From Kenya, Friday, February 29, 2008:
Well, one more night in Meru and we're off to Nairobi. Today we tried to get GD's cellphone to charge, but apparently we did something to it. Finally got mine to allow calls, but won't let me connect to U.S. Sandra's phone is working. After trying for over an hour at the cell phone shop, we went to the Chemist, and got something for GD's runney nose, and my sour throat. I think the dust on the road from Tharaka got to us. Yesterday we spent 12 hours going on the safari. Saw lots of animals. Even two cheetahs. Saw more than we expected. Then on the way back to Meru, the vehicle had a flat. The spare was also flat, so we gave some local guy some money to take the tire into town and get it inflated. After about an hour we were on our way. Made it home in a rain shower. Slept good last night, except for the coughing.
We visited the old children's orphanage, and it's still in deplorable condition. Then we visited a new Children's village, where each mamma has up to 10 children in one real house. What a great facility. Then went about 45 minutes out of town to visit David, our only blind student. For a kid in Standard one, (first grade), he read his 'brail card" from his sponsor very quickly. What a neat school. There is currently only one secondary school in Kenya for the visually impaired.
Yesterday the conflicting elements in Kenya signed an agreement to form a coalition government. So until the details are worked out (if they can be), there will be peace in Kenya. In the meantime, there are not many visitors here. We have had absolutely no problems, anywhere.
We leave out of Meru at 0800 Saturday morning. Benson is out finding us a vehicle right now. We have letters from all the sponsored children. After he translates several of them, he should be able to return to Tharaka, We'll travel back to Nairobi on our own. Then Sunday we'll go to a local church, and then to the Massai market. Haven't really had any time to just rest, the the next couple of hours (after I send this) we'll nap. Leave Monday night for Entebbe, Uganda, and then on to Brussells, and then the U.S. Should have lots of good photos, and good stories. GD and Sandra have had a good visit.
See everyone in a few days. Bill and Team |
A Word From Kenya, Friday, February 22, 2008: Well, after four cancelled flights out of London, we arrived in Kenya 36 hours late. As expected though, Benson was waiting for us. We went from the Airport to the Methodist Guest house, where we left some auto parts for Godfrey, the manager. Then we got a taxi for the five hour drive to Meru. It was cramped, and we were tired. So it was a rough drive. After a two hour shower/rest in the hotel in Meru, we went to Martin's house for a birthday dinner for his 1 year-old daughter. We gave Martin the new laptop, and several other items. Natacha also got some things from the team. By 9:00 we were back at the hotel, and we crashed. It even got cold about 4:00 this morning. But did we sleep well. Benson is supposed to pick us up at any time now, for a trip to the super market. There we will get the food for our lunch tomorrow in Tharaka, with our sponsored children. We lost one bag between Amsterdam and Nairobi. Hope it's found, as it has stuff for the kids.
Oh, yes, Amsterdam. We were flown out of London on a domestic airline to Amsterdam, as the international terminal in London was basically shut down. People could get out, but not luggage. At least the airline accommodated this change. But we had to stay the night in London. Sort of shot our budget. So GD and Sandra will have to forego several meals and other luxury benefits to off-set this expense. I'm treating each of them like they were family.
Now we have a two hour drive to Tharaka. Bumpy and dusty, but it will be worth it. We saw no problems in Nairobi and nothing between there and here. GD has been sending emails from his cell phone, but my thumbs don't work that fast, so I've gone to the Internet cafe. Don't know what the cell phone range will be in Tharaka, so we might be out of contact for four days. But if anything happens, there are a million ways to get word out. We will have no problems. I'm typing fast, expecting the power to go out at any minute. Bill and team. |
324 Pictures from the Trip to Africa September 2007
(or double-click on the slideshow to go the web album.)
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All though not an official mission project of the United Methodist Church, Bill Lester, a member of St. Andrew's UMC is a full-time missionary at Leadership For Life (formerly Medics Int'l). Bill Lester journeys often to Africa and has many interesting and amazing true stories he can relate about his travels. Bill is always interested in having you and your group accompany him on one of his trips.
Due to the high incidence of aids in Africa, there are many aids orphans living alone in mud shelters. Bill is now working to find "grandmothers" who will take in the orphans. In return they build the grandmother a stone shelter or house. It is a new program that has worked well. Please pray for Bill and God's work in Africa. For more information please visit the Leadership For Life website or contact Bill Lester or David Johnson to schedule your group's trip to Africa with Bill!
How you can help: sponsor a student to attend school for a year. It is only $125 for the entire year but without it they cannot go to school. Please help Bill help these children. Pray for Bill and his next scheduled trip.
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Trip to Kenya August 2006
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