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During our time in Kenya we have come to appreciate the importance of clean water. For so many people in Kenya, clean water is not a reality for them. The search for water is often a daily struggle for survival.
At Heart Lodge there is bottled water available to drink. When we are out we ask for bottled water or sodas. We have never had so many bottled cokes or stoneys. We just can't trust the water in many places. Even salads can be a problem if they are washed in tap water. Fortunately Erica and Aaron have come to know where it is okay for us to eat.
After dinner last night we spent a good hour talking with Joseph, our chef for the evening. Joseph is usually in charge of housekeeping but will often spell off one of the other two chefs from time to time. Joseph went to college to become a chef so enjoys this occasional opportunity to cook. Last night he shared with us his story and his dream to bring clean water to his village.
Joseph's wife and young daughter live with him in Nairobi. His two sons live with their grandmother in his home village. This village is some 90 kilometres north east of Nairobi. It takes about 6 hours to travel there by bus. He and his wife alternately visit to see their sons. It is too costly to travel together. Their village is in a very dry and dusty region of Kenya. This year has been particularly dry. During the recent rainy season, it only rained once. Families are daily searching for water from a local spring. This spring is so small that they use a cup to scoop the water into their containers. It is found between two rocks so it is also an excellent place for deadly snakes to live. There are only a few cows and goats in their village because there is not enough water to support the animals. It's a constant struggle to survive. What water is available is often dirty and polluted. Sickness from drinking the water is a common occurrence. Typhoid and intestinal diseases are well known to the village.
Ever since Joseph was a small boy he remembers getting up at 3:00am and going out to search for water with a flashlight. To this day he continues do this for his mother when he visits. (Recently a regular visitor to Heart House brought some crank flashlights from Costco for Joseph and some of the staff.) Joseph is determined to make things better for his village. He has told the elders in his village that they must change. While working at Heart Lodge he has come to meet a number of people, who are in Kenya working on water projects. Recently, he took Don and Pat, from the Rotary club, to visit with the village elders. A surveyor was hired to assess their situation. The recommendation was to build a catch basin for the water with a purification system. The cost is about $100,000 U.S. Unfortunately the Rotary club can't justify that cost because the system will only benefit a few hundred people. Joseph is not deterred. He put together a very well written proposal which he has sent to a number of organizations and foundations. He is working with his village elders to determine what they can do themselves to lessen the costs. He has met with government officials but reports that the politicians make lots of promises during the lead up to elections but never follow through. Joseph will not give up until his dream is realized.
Unfortunately there are hundreds if not thousands of little villages in Kenya, just like Joseph's, that are in dire need of clean water.
We must continue to keep Joseph and his village in prayer as he seeks God's lead in how to provide water for his village. Joseph strongly believes that God will open the doors for him to succeed.
At Heart Lodge there is bottled water available to drink. When we are out we ask for bottled water or sodas. We have never had so many bottled cokes or stoneys. We just can't trust the water in many places. Even salads can be a problem if they are washed in tap water. Fortunately Erica and Aaron have come to know where it is okay for us to eat.
After dinner last night we spent a good hour talking with Joseph, our chef for the evening. Joseph is usually in charge of housekeeping but will often spell off one of the other two chefs from time to time. Joseph went to college to become a chef so enjoys this occasional opportunity to cook. Last night he shared with us his story and his dream to bring clean water to his village.
Joseph's wife and young daughter live with him in Nairobi. His two sons live with their grandmother in his home village. This village is some 90 kilometres north east of Nairobi. It takes about 6 hours to travel there by bus. He and his wife alternately visit to see their sons. It is too costly to travel together. Their village is in a very dry and dusty region of Kenya. This year has been particularly dry. During the recent rainy season, it only rained once. Families are daily searching for water from a local spring. This spring is so small that they use a cup to scoop the water into their containers. It is found between two rocks so it is also an excellent place for deadly snakes to live. There are only a few cows and goats in their village because there is not enough water to support the animals. It's a constant struggle to survive. What water is available is often dirty and polluted. Sickness from drinking the water is a common occurrence. Typhoid and intestinal diseases are well known to the village.
Ever since Joseph was a small boy he remembers getting up at 3:00am and going out to search for water with a flashlight. To this day he continues do this for his mother when he visits. (Recently a regular visitor to Heart House brought some crank flashlights from Costco for Joseph and some of the staff.) Joseph is determined to make things better for his village. He has told the elders in his village that they must change. While working at Heart Lodge he has come to meet a number of people, who are in Kenya working on water projects. Recently, he took Don and Pat, from the Rotary club, to visit with the village elders. A surveyor was hired to assess their situation. The recommendation was to build a catch basin for the water with a purification system. The cost is about $100,000 U.S. Unfortunately the Rotary club can't justify that cost because the system will only benefit a few hundred people. Joseph is not deterred. He put together a very well written proposal which he has sent to a number of organizations and foundations. He is working with his village elders to determine what they can do themselves to lessen the costs. He has met with government officials but reports that the politicians make lots of promises during the lead up to elections but never follow through. Joseph will not give up until his dream is realized.
Unfortunately there are hundreds if not thousands of little villages in Kenya, just like Joseph's, that are in dire need of clean water.
We must continue to keep Joseph and his village in prayer as he seeks God's lead in how to provide water for his village. Joseph strongly believes that God will open the doors for him to succeed.
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