It's Dry

Steeves' Summary # 26: It's Dry! January 2006

Every day the "Daily Nation" newspaper is screaming about people in need of relief food and livestock dying as the owners seek new pasture. The latest figures show that 3.5 million people are in need of immediate assistance.

Everyone was expecting rain in November, but after many cloudy days, we only had a couple good rain showers. The sun has been out for a couple months, and things are getting very dry. We received an unexpected good rain one night this week. I was talking to John and Sarah about it. "I expect it is too late for the crops," I said. "Yes, but the grass will grow for the animals," Sarah replied. People live and die by the weather here, and Kijabe is well off compared to the more arid regions of Kenya. As it is relatively stable in Kenya, the government can get food to the affected regions.Things move slowly here and deliveries of maize are just getting started. Although RVA has a good water supply, we are being asked to conserve water by taking short showers and reusing as much water as possible.

Blankets!

The 1200 home-made blankets have arrived! All thirty-six boxes of blankets were delivered to our house yesterday. The total shipping and customs charges came to about $3 per blanket from our house in Canada to here. Thanks to everyone who contributed blankets and funds to make this project possible.

We have been talking to friends and have heard of various people and institutions that could really benefit from these gifts. We anticipate delivering some in the near future.

Outreach Day

Last Saturday was Outreach Day, where many of the students and staff volunteered to go out into the community to help with

different projects. The RVA bus dropped me and a group of about 20 students at the top of the hill, 4 kilometers and 350 vertical metres above RVA. We walked down the hill, picking up garbage every few steps. Lots of local children came out to see what what going on, and many of them joined in with the "fun". There is no official garbage pick-up in Kenya, so roadsides tend to collect lots of trash. There were no Tim Horton's cups, but lots of plastic bags.

The Dorm

Second term has started a little easier. We have a better idea of what is expected of us, we know the girls, and we are getting into the rhythm of RVA. The girls returned from vacation an inch taller, with different hairstyles, and with a more positive outlook towards seventh grade. This was a week of moaning, groaning, Ace bandages and bags of frozen peas. Soccer tryouts have started! Ten of the twelve girls have been complaining of sore feet and knees. To save herself some time, the school physiotherapist is coming to the dorm next week to show the girls some helpful stretching exercises. There is never a dull moment as a dorm parent!

Thank you for your continuing support. Because of you, a dozen missionary families in Africa and the Middle East can minister while their daughters get a quality education.

Michael, Bernadine, Julianne and Evan

You can see our previous newsletters on our website at www.kijabe.org/mission2005

	Michael and Bernadine Steeves P.O. Box 80 Kijabe, Kenya 00220 phone: 011-254-20-32046-101 cell phone: 011-254-735-317094 steeves@kijabe.org www.kijabe.org
	Africa Inland Mission 1641 Victoria Park Ave. Scarborough, ON M1R 1P8 (877) 407-6077 (Toll Free) www.aimcanada.org