Nyeri Kenya May 2010 Notes

This year a group of 10 people set out on a mission trip to Kenya with several task to complete. The main task was to install a water purification system near Nyeri, Kenya at the Tumaini Children Home. Along with the installation of the system there was a very detailed education and training program on how to use the purified water. The education was handled by Mary and assisted by Katie, Lee, Diane, and Nancy. They trained the trainers from the children's home plus the schools and community. While the educators were working Jim, Lee and Harold along with Don, Francis and Moses were busy putting the system together. At times we struggled with shortage of parts but in the end it came together and works great. Jim and Chris were always busy working with Elizabeth and Bernard and visiting the schools and hospitals in the area. Chris, Jim and Nancy also coordinated several events at Tumtuma Hospital.

Each night we went to a different church or community for dinner and worship. It was such a pleasure to be with these friends and share their life, food and love. The experiences gained will always be remembered. One night we stayed at the children's home and had dinner with the 134 children that lived there plus the staff. The food was good and the children were great. There was just a great sense of togetherness and love among all the children. No fussing or attitudes just happiness. We put on a play were many of the children took part and we also showed how the water purification system works using people as the components of the system. We had water that had trash, and bacteria in it before it went through the trash filter. At the trash filter the trash was picked off her outfit leaving different size bacteria and items then it was off to the 5 micron filter that removed much more of the larger particles and most of the larger bacteria, then onto the .5 micron filter that basically removed all the bacteria from the water's outfit then to the ozonator were the remaining few bacteria were killed, the water was now clean and clear and ready to drink. The children loved the illustration and on Sunday when we had Water System Commissioning they knew how the system worked and drank a lot of the cleaned safe water.

Thanks to the members of the Tumaini Children Home Staff: THEY ARE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The water system worked great and we are looking forward to returning next year, working with our friends at Tumaini and checking on the system.

Visiting Simon at Monyu, Kenya (38 photos), by Harold Deason

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Nyeri, Kenya May 2010 (126 photos), by Harold Deason

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Visit to Njoro Friends

We are in Njoro, Kenya visiting friends and working on the water purification system that was installed in 2008. It has been a pleasure to work with Francis Kimunya who will be operating the system for the church and community. I have worked with Francis for 3 years and he is very capable to get the system fully operational for the church.

The system was installed in a partnership between Living Waters for the World, PCEA Njoro, and South Highland Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, AL.

Today I troubleshot the system with the help of Jim Price, Lee Cleveland and Francis. The problems were identified and corrected and we immediately began producing high quality clean, clear water. To vertify the quality of the water we conducted 7 test on the water and was totally amazed with the results of the test that showed a high quality water. We were all very happy to identifed the problem and with minor effort were able to correct the
situation and produce water.

Here are some of the team members enjoying the bottling of the water. Here Harold Deason, Lee Cleveland and Francis Kimunya are filling 10 liter bottles for use.

Nyeri Kenya 27 May 2010

Another beautiful and warm day in Nyeri, Kenya. While it got rather warm today there was a very pleasant breeze most of the day. The water project is coming along very well and if nothing happens we should be able to pressurize and test the system on Friday morning. We have had some challenges but hopefully we are past those at this time. The water building is very nice with plenty of room for expansion. The people have been very nice and so appreciative of the new system. We had a blast tonight having dinner with all the children here at the home and presenting a skit about the water system. I will continue to put pictures online and I will hopefully have a little more time on the computer when i have the system operating.

Greetings from Nyeri, Kenya

It has been another beautiful day here in Nyeri. It came a very light drizzle here this morning but the moisture was gone by 8:30 and it did not effect any of planned activities. The water purification installation is a little behind my schedule due to some parts not being available locally so two members of the team went to Nairobi to purchase the parts today.

Nancy has been working with some of the other team members in training the staff in proper health and use of clean water. Today she visited the Sugarbaker Clinic here close to Tumaini School and very impressed with facility and staff. She will be looking at working with the clinic staff plus visiting Tumatuma Hospital on a kidney dialias system. Nancy carried the knitting needles from Carol and the the teachers and students could not believe it. Nancy has been doing some kniting lessons when time premitts.

Katie has been working with me and I have really enjoyed having the great help and her smiling face. She has had a wonderful time and she loves the people and customs as much as they love her.

This is the first time since Thrusday that I have been online and there has been so much happening and we are going from can to cann't it seems. Breakfast is at 7:30 am and then we got back to school around 8:30 pm tonight from visiting another church. We had dinner and fellowship at the Kiawauge Presbyterian Church tonight. Nancy, our daughter Katie and I also attend services there this past Sunday. The people are great and the food is wonderful. I have never had such great, sweet pineapples anywhere. The area grows both coffee and tea and the they are outstanding.

We have not seen any animals yet but should see some on Monday. There have been many new birds to photograph and Mt Kenya was beautiful. I have been to Kenya two prior years and this is the first time I have seen the mountain.

We are around 7000' altitude but there no problems associated with altitude in team.

It is getting late and I have to be up early again tomorrow and have another wonderful full flavor cut of Kenyan Coffee.

Keep in touch

Knit-Wits Contribute to Kenya Trip

Special thanks to the Knit-Wits of Grace Presbyterian Church, Trussville, AL for their contributions to the mission trip to Kenya. This is the second year that the Knit-Wits have made items for the people of Kenya.

This year the Knit-Wits lovingly handcrafted the following items:

59 pair of booties

93 baby hats of various sizes and styles

6 small child ponchos

5 baby blankets of various sizes

17 baby burp pads

The Knit-Wits is an organization of women from Grace Presbyterian Church that meet and create handcrafted items that can be used by members of the church and others. In addition to the items listed above they also make Prayer Shawls for the sick and home bound members and friends.

The Knit-Wits are guided by their creed:

"When the strings of our lives begin to unravel, only prayer can weave them together with strength of faith. As knit-wits, we lovely handcraft tangible items that represent our prayers for those in need. May they wrap the wearer in God's love and fill them with strength in troublesome times."

Shown above clockswise from bottom left is Amy Owens, Roseann Trimble, Nicola Howard, Laura Reichert, Cynthia Sartin, Carol Goodwin, Anne Thomas and Jean Camp. Members not shown: Louise Summers, Mary Hammett, Liz Hughins, Tracy Parsons, Mary Parsons, Betty Jolly and Linda Wanninger.

Nancy and I join the Knit-Wits for a group picture. We have know most of the group for over 25 years and went to church with them about that long. What a great group of ladies that will contribute their time and resources to make items for someone they do not know, but know that their items will improve their survival and quality of life. They are missionaries contributing what they can for God's children.

Laura Reichert presents Harold with a contribution from the Fellowship Sunday School Class, Grace Presbyterian Church of $150.00 to offset any expense of getting the items to Kenya and to use as needed to support the water purification project at the Orphanage in Nyeri.

There are many needs and we are going to setup a water purification system for the water that is collected off the roof, from a well and the local streams. Along with the installation of the water purification system some of the 10 that are going will be doing classes on use of clean water, conservation of water, cleaniness and sanitation, personal hygiene and training the leaders of the school and community on how to utilize the clean water. This will be a hands on with the children and staff at the school.

We will be staying on campus in provided rooms during the installation of the system. Many thanks for all your contributions and I ask always for the continued prayers that we will be able to complete the mission and provide clean, clear, and safe water for all God's Children.