jjoj8

Dinner is served!

The long awaited day is here!

Hands down, it's the best

playground around!

NICARAGUA

SWAZILAND

SWAZILAND

PART 1 PART 2 PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4

DEC 05 - 13 DEC 14 - 21 DEC 22 - 29 Dec 30 - Jan 13 JAN 14 - 20 JAN 21 - 27 Jan 28 - Feb 8

Dow's KENYA

Dow's KENYA

Dow's Kenya

Project E.A.R.T.H. Interational

(Part 4)

ONLINE JOURNAL

It's time for us to get this "show on the road!"

Monday, February 9 ~ It's a game called "BEAT THE CLOCK" all week!

The clock began ticking at 11pm on Friday night when Pastor Lamb walked through the doors at the airport. We didn't waste any time getting back to Boito and jumping right into a very busy week. Sunday was filled with activity and by evening we were laying out a plan for a playground for the Dow's 25 children! Swings, seesaws, a climbing net, and a small basketball court are on the agenda. This is KENYA! There is no Home Depot or Lowes. Selecting the wood for the project was interesting since there isn't much available. Obtaining the other materials needed is a difficult task as well. Two local guys are really a help in getting this all going. (John & Sammy). Sammy's crew will take care of the whole basketball area and a side-walk while Pastor Doug, Greg, John and possibly Davis will work on the playground. It's exciting. A two trips to Litein and a trip to Kericho behind us, we now have almost all the supplies.

It's ten minutes till 5:00pm and they have dug the holes for the posts of the swings that they are building from scratch. No kit or prefinished parts with instructions. It's threatening to rain. In the meantime, three loads of sand have been delivered by a tractor with a dump wagon. Now stone will be brought and also cement. The cement slab for the basketball court will all take place tomorrow and Wed.

What an exciting time around here. The kids that are not in school are having a great time watching and wondering what all this building will mean for them. We want to thank everyone who has supported PEI and also Pastor Doug that is making all this possible. They are using the new power tools Pastor Doug brought from the crew at Doug Lamb Construction. Today the Pastor also presented Greg with a heavy duty weed wacker, chain saw and another thing that looks like a little chain saw on a pole. All these things will be such a blessing here.

With all these things happening it complicates things for Mary Rose and Greg that have to keep some kind of schedule going with the kids. PLEASE PRAY for all of us this week. I am so exhausted and starting my debrief from this two month journey and working on the schedule and communications relating to upcoming ministry in the USA .

So thanks for your prayers this week and don't stop writing emails. I'm lovin' those!

Pastor Doug and Greg select lumber

Time's running out!

Sign Guest Book here

I leave Nairobi 7:30 a.m. Feb 16 arrive Washington/Dulles Feb 17 6:30 a.m.

Recipe for

Playground in Kenya

Add 15 TONS of sand

15 TONS of rock

30 BAGS of cement

131 USD of hardware

50 USD of lumber

200 USD in labor

Now add a lot of love for The DOW FAMILY CHILDREN'S HOME. Mix carefully. Add sweat, knowledge, and prayer. Add power tools donated by the employees of DOUG LAMB CONSTRUCTION. Finally add one generous, loving pastor from the USA and in thee days youwill have a nice play-

ground and basketball court for all to enjoy!

It's not a big deal to do something like this in the USA because of all the big building supply stores where you can find what you need, but WOW, in Kenya it sure is different. Not to mention many many trips with a tractor and wagon bringing the sand and rock.

The playground is on it's way to being a real blessing to these child- ren and it's exciting to be a part of it.

Thanks for praying!

Tomorrow morning the crew that will be doing the cement work for the basketball court and sidewalk. They should arrive early and accomplish much. It will take another trip to Kericho tomorrow to get the final things we need. With only a few days for this project it's "GO" time. I know it will all be done by the end of the week so we can see the children enjoy it before we leave on Sunday.

Our refuge in a time of storm!

Jesus is seen in the life of our Pastor! He's a blessing!

There is no one like

JESUS!

Tuesday - February 10

Thanks Pastor Doug! We love you!

It's so good to have Pastor Lamb with us.

He is such an encouragement and his life is a testimony to us of GOD's love & grace. The children are enjoying this "gentle giant" who is always ready to play the next game or teach them how to do something they've never done before. It's exciting to see GOD working though him in many ways.

(Photo1) Pastor is giving Elkannah some batting practice. (Photo 2) It began to rain and he brought the children to a dry place on the porch. (Photo 3) The children sit quietly with the pastor on the porch. You would never know Doug is enjoying this.

(8:00 a.m.) I was up at 4:30 a.m. cleaning my room, salvaging some bubble wrap from the Pastor's bags from his trip and studying. The moon was so bright I almost didn't bother turning the lights on in my room. The closer it gets to the end of the trip the more I shift gears from this mission to the next one (which is ministry in the USA). It's still up in the air where I am headed when I get there next week. My calendar says: Bradenton, FL then New England but I am still talking with GOD about whose plans those are. Somewhere in there is a trip to DE. So pray for me.

Before 7:00 a.m. the first load of stones arrived. So a couple more loads of stone and two more loads of sand and we'll be almost ready. We need our 30 bags of cement today too.

(Entry 6:00 p.m.) It's been a very productive day. We went to Litein to get a few more supplies and then back to Kericho to get a few more items for the "Jungle Gym". When we got back the digging for the cement slab was underway, more stones and sand arrived and also the cement. The posts for the "Jungle Gym" were treated and cemented in so they will be building tomorrow. Pastor Doug took time to play with the kids while some digging continued. Then the rain came. I haven't been feeling well so I rested for a couple hours this afternoon. Al killed two chickens this morning so there's famous chicken stew for dinner. You know I must be sick because that is my favorite and at the moment I have no interest in it.

Get ready for Mary Rose's fire cooked chicken stew

This stew reminds me of Cracker Barrel's chicken n'dumplins. It's a very hearty stew that fills you up quickly but you can't help but try to eat more. She's put a lot of time and love into this stew and I can't wait to feel better so I can have it. Even as I'm writing I am thinking - this might just be "what the doctor ordered", so I'll finish this up and head down there for some.

Thanks for your interest in The DOW FAMILY CHILDREN'S HOME here in Boito. The children know you are praying and they are so blessed. Greg had a meeting with the folks at SOMA Academy today about how they are dealing with the children when it comes to discipline. In Africa they have some strange ideas and Greg is trying to help them see that it's time for a change in how they do that.

Thanks for the EMAILS! I am really enjoying them.

When you have home improvement projects you probably

can't finish ~ we're the place!

When you have home improvement projects you probably

can't finish ~ we're the place!

When you have home improvement projects you probably

can't finish ~ we're the place!

How do you like

your power tools?

Scrambled or Fried?

Yes . . . . THE DEVIL! I try not to give him credit for any more than I have to but, with such a short time to accomplish this - I can't help but think the enemy had something to do with this. We are not discourged, nor do we plan to stop. We'll find a way to finish it. I have some great pictures I'll share with you tomorrow. The leveling of the ground is a big job to do by hand. It is taking a lot of work. It's looking like we'll be able to start pouring tomorrow. Keep praying!.

Wednesday - February 11

Doin' whatever it takes to get the job done!

There's quite a crew working around here to make the vision for the playground a reality. Things were clicking right along until the brand new (double) battery charger for the power tools got fried! Now there's no way to use those amazing tools. WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS! Shipping a new one wouldn't answer the problem. What we were using to convert power should not have allowed this to happen. Those of you who know me know where I am going next!

I've just come from a session where Greg and Pastor Doug went to great lengths to examine the problem with the charger and test it and it looks like we won't be charging the batteries for the power tools unless GOD works a miracle or we find someone who can fix the charger (which are one in the same). The good news is, we had most of the work done that really required those tools. Of course the object in bringing them was for Greg to have them for working around here when we go home. The weed whacker was brought out for it's first use today and the men

were quite interested in it since they have not seen one. I was surprised since they are widely used in Swaziland and South Africa. I did see a lawn mower here one day. The swings came together nicely and the see saws too. The climbing net will be put together tomorrow.

The children are really interested in

what is going on and now that they

can see things taking shape they are

aware that this has a lot to do with

them. They know for sure that this is

not a new set of beds or simply a

sidewalk.

Pastor Doug decided to add a new

driveway into the project so that it's

a bit easier coming and going. So,

the men dug most of that today. We

have only a couple days left and we

really want to see this project com-

pleted before we leave. Thursday

and Friday are very important days.

That will leave Saturday to pack up.

Mary Rose with kids during the project Greg is getting the swings in place

There's nothing like a little taste of Lancaster County

From the moment Davis harvested the red beets out of the garden I've been thinking about making "red beet eggs" (or pickled eggs and beets as they were called when I was growing up). I've always enjoyed making them. YES, they taste exactly the same as the ones I make at home. It was like taking a step back to the USA when I was eating them. I closed my eyes and for a moment I was home.

Another thing I enjoy here but rarely make it the USA is: grilled cheese sandwiches. I don't really enjoy the cheese that's available here but in the grilled cheese sandwiches it's nice. I am sure you might wonder what this talk about food has to do with this mission? Well, I get asked many questions in e-mail and one that is often asked is: "what do you like to eat while you are there?" I wish I was more into the traditional food in the cultures where I serve (and if I 'have to' eat it I will but I really enjoy things that remind me of home.

Doug Lamb

Construction

WARNING: Please don't try this at home!

Our foreman says:

"We're right on schedule"

80% Completed!

Thursday, February 12 - The project is going to be completed on time - thanks to your prayers!

I must admit, 24 hours ago I had some doubt that this project could be finished by the weekend. The playground was on target but, the concrete work is a lot to do by hand. With the heat and very hard work it just didn't seem possible but, today I am confident that it will be done. The guys doing the concrete really impressed me with their ability to keep going after such hard work mixing, pouring (with wheel-barrows) and finishing. The sidewalk and half of the slab are completed leaving the other part of the slab for tomorrow and there is only a little work to be done on the playground. Pastor Lamb is a working fool! He is like the energizer bunny - he keeps going, and going and going. The yellow paint we got for the project is not as good as the blue paint we had so it's taking a few coats of paint to make it look nice.

Your prayers have brought us a special blessing!

I reported yesterday that we had "fried" the NEW battery charger for the cordless power tools and I asked you to pray that we could get it fixed. Well, this morning Greg brought it to someone we were told could fix it. (Oh me of little faith). I prayed but I wasn't sure that we would get it back repaired but, by mid-afternoon it was fixed! Hallelujah.

PEI has sponsored the cost of getting Davis running water to his home and much of that work took place today as well. They had to dig a trench a long way for the pipe. The water company is due to come tomorrow for the official hook up! This is something Davis wouldn't have been able to do for years but, PEI felt lead to help this dear brother who works hard and serves the LORD in many ways. He a good investment. His wife is pregnant and due the beginning of April. She just can't keep carrying water from the stream (far away).

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WHAT AM I DOING DURING THE FINAL DAYS?

With only a couple days left I am "debriefing". For me that is a process of shifting gears from life with a total focus on KENYA (The Dows) to preparing for re-entry into the USA and ministry that is waiting for me there. I'm working on scheduling, preparing for events and emotionally preparing myself for depart- ure. I was up very early this morning packing all non-essential items for the journey home. (At this time that amounts to about 90% of what I have with me.)

I'm working on some last minute projects, taking pictures, keeping the ONLINE JOURNAL up to date and doing my best to spend some time with the kids while maintaining my "safe distance" with them. As I've mentioned a few times - that is quite a challenge for me.

Tonight I spent a couple hours with Davis, Emily and their two children. They wanted to see the web- site and ONLINE JOURNAL and I shared some other video clips with them and had a nice visit. We had a time of prayer together and it was really a blessing.

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Pastor Lamb is not doing any of this for publicity or a thank you!

He has not come because of "obligation" or "loyalty" to the Dows.

He has come to serve the LORD and be obedient to what GOD has told him to do. PEI is so blessed to partner with him here in Kenya. To all who made donations to help him

come and be a blessing: GOD bless you! You've done well and blessed GOD!

With sincere thanks from all of us!

Getting a handle on my curiosity

For weeks I've been disturbed at night while working on the computer in my room, by the sound of what I thought were "small" beetles banging into the window as they approached the light. Since the curtains are closed I've never seen them, nor did I really want to. I am happy I was not that curious because had I known the size of these things I wouldn't have slept a wink. I haven't seen beetles this big since John, Paul, George and Ringo. Good thing I don't know a famous group called the spiders - I'd leave today! Please don't write and tell me about them!

The BEATLES

The BEATLE

The "Original"

DOUG LAMB

" Kenya Fun Fort"

The "Original"

DOUG LAMB

" Kenya Fun Fort"

Mbongeni with his

birthday cake last

year at home in Ephrata!

Mbongeni with his

birthday cake last

year at home in Ephrata!

Happy Birthday Mbongwa!

Happy Birthday Mbongwa!

Hands down, it's the best

playground around!

Friday - February 13 - "Can it really happen?"

One day not long after I arrived here I was thinking about a nice playgroud for the children. It's a nice idea but, I wondered: "Can it really happen?" Is there enough time? Money? Manpower? What about the availability of materials? Where do we start? That's when I realized that GOD was sending us someone who could make it happen. Doug Lamb is a "go getter". So is Greg Dow. Between the two of them with a little help from their friends and the grace of GOD anything can happen!

The next thing I knew the "KENYA Fun Fort" was being built. You know I had nothing to do with the basketball court idea. And I'm too cautious for the sliding board to be one of my thoughts. But I am glad that Pastor Doug is daring enough to include the slide as I am sure it will be one of the kid's favorite parts of the "Fun Fort" I'm excited to think that it's almost finished!

With tomorrow being the last full day here - what's left on our agenda?

There is a little concrete finishing and landscaping to do around the basketball court. A little more work on the climbing web, sand will be added to the "Fun Fort" area, and a few other odds and ends. The ext- ended driveway and new gate will be finished after we leave. What a great day to give this gift of love to

the children. VALENTINE'S DAY! The climbing web/deck, see saws, swings and slide will give the kids hours and hours of enjoyment while I'm sure it opens up a whole new can of worms for the Dows as they help the children learn how to use it and as they fix a scraped knee here and there and adjust to challenges this presents. Pray for safety as the children embark on this new adventure that will be a great blessing.

The basketball court will double as a good place to park in the really wet weather. It will also be a great place to play a variety of other games. What a wonderful additon! Thanks Pastor!

The long awaited day is here!

For my dear brother Davis and his wife it's a very exciting day. It's the day the folks from the water company officially hook up the water for their home. PEI is really happy about being a part of this special project that means so much to

these people who have prayed for a long time for "running water".

Beatrice & family come with Tea leaves

While I was at Davis'

house checking into

the water situation I

had the opportunity to

meet many friends and

neighbors who were

passing that way. I

then went to say my

farewell to Beatrice

and her family who

had come with a

gift for me.

Water company comes to connect water meter for Davis

HALLELUJAH!

I can't believe you're having another

birthday SON! I am wishing today that I

could be in Pretoria, South Africa to

celebrate with you.

It's been hard getting used to the idea of

not having Bo and Fika with me after three

years. I was thinking by now it would be a bit

easier. Seeing them for Christmas was really

a blessing. For a week I've been praying I

would at least be able to wish Bo a Happy

Birthday and sing to him on the phone. I'm

so blessed to tell you that my prayer was not

in vain. It was so good to hear his voice and

to know he's doing well. He was also happy to

get the phone call. Now I would ask you to pray

that GOD would continue to bless Bo and Fika as

they continue down the road to their futures.

Mbongeni with his

birthday cake last

year at home in Ephrata!

Another one of my crazy ideas: The children's handprints at the edge of cement.

The Dow Family Children's Home

Kenya "Fun Fort" Now Open!

Saturday, February 14 - Excitement fills the air today!

Less that one week ago, this place didn't have a hint of a playground. We did not ever talk about it until Sunday evening. But on Monday we were out get- ting the supplies and getting a crew together. Cement slab for a basketball court was a big item on the agenda. Then the "FUN FORT" designed by Doug Lamb which includes: 4 swings, 3 see saws, a climbing net/deck and slide. It's so amazing.

There are still a few finishing touches. The pole and basketball hoop will be in place sometime next week and some landscaping around the basketball court will also be completed. The anticipation for the opening was intense. In the morning the children were all watching carefully as they added sand to the FUN FORT and made some final adjustments.

We made a trip to Kericho to the bank and to get some supplies and when we returned we were ready for the ribbon cutting ceremony. I made a ribbon for the ceremony and Greg cut the ribbon with the first kids the Dows accepted. It was really exciting and within seconds of the cermony the kids were having a great time playing! It's GREAT! Thanks Pastor Doug and friends who made this

possible. So, our final day here is filled with joy, laughter and children at play.

I went to Davis' house for the excitement of seeing them get water at their house for the first time. What a moment that was. His sister Emily is visiting from Eldoret. She did not plan to come but, when she heard the good news that Davis has been blessed with running water at his home she wanted to come and meet me and thank PEI for what was done for her brother. While visiting at the Dow's she was so moved by what is happening here that she is paying for two more beds for the kids here! It's a day of blessing for all of us! We are thanking GOD for all the good things HE has done for us.

Without you and your prayers none of this would be a reality! Thank you.

To take their minds off the wait for the fort to be finished I had the guys climb into a pair of my pants and PEI shirt for a picture. This is Calvin, Bud and Dennis having a good time. Sharon is in the background.

To the right you will see me with Davis and his sister Emily. Emily is holding one of our youngest children (Abigail). It was nice to get a visit from Emily.

JESUS is the "living water!"

Though having running water at Davis' house is something new "living water" has been flowing through his place for many years. JESUS lives there with Davis, Emily and their children. They now have both running water, and "living water" overflowing in their daily lives and they are so grateful. There is one more part of the project that needs to be taken care of. The "running" water goes through a meter and is paid for

according to the amount used. Another way

for Davis' to have water for his plants and for

washing clothes is to collect rain water off

his roof, so PEI will invest in a tank for him

to be able to store that water. The one in

the picture to the right is one of the tanks at

the Dow Family Children's Home. This will

be a great blessing and over time it will pay

for itself and save Davis a lot of money.

As you can see in the photo to the left, we

have made this family in KENYA very happy

and I know it will mean great things in the

future GOD bless you. Davis, Emily and

his family are so grateful.

My final moment in Kenya ~ Stressful ones

Sunday, February 15 - "Parting is such sweet sorrow" would be an understatement today!

If you have been keeping up with the online journal you know that I have had this - "Safe distance" policy with regard to my time with the children at the Dows. I have stayed true to that during my whole journey but, safe distance or no safe distance, you can't help but get close to them and for the children to also make you a part of their lives.

For the older children: Judith, Faith, Mercy 1 and a few others I knew it would not be an easy farewell. Judith just couldn't say goodbye. She was crying and holding her hands over her face and just couldn't speak. It was hard for me too. What was harder for me was saying goodbye to the little guys: Elkannah, Emmanuel, Dennis, Bud and Calvin. I think Calvin is the only one of the boys that knew

what "I'm going home" means. So there were tears in his eyes when he said: "I love you Mandazi. I'll miss you Man-dazi." The others were smiling and laughing and saying goodbye as though we were just making another brief trip to Kericho. WOW, this is hard.

Once we were on our way to Nairobi I was ok. The trip to Nairobi wasn't bad (the third time around). We got there about 5pm. I called my mom and then Fika and Bo to let them know we got there ok.

Pastor Doug treated us to a nice dinner at our favorite place in Nairobi: JAVA HOUSE! It was awesome (again). I had two bacon cheesburgers, fries and a vanilla milkshake. We then took Pastor Doug to the airport and got a ticket for staying parked in the "drop off zone" when I flipped out look-

ing for an envelope that contained my passport, plane ticket and some money. Pastor Doug was planning to take one of my carry-ons with him so I wouldn't be over limit when I flew but, I couldn't let him take it because it might be somehow misplaced inside that bag. Needless to say this all very much stressed me out. Greg got to see a new side of Chris Cote back at the guesthouse while I looked for the envelope, found it and then realized my stubborness and stupidity would now cause me to have to almost totally repack and leave a lot of things behind to insure I wouldn't have to pay excess baggage since I have no money for that. What an experience. It has all worked out.

It's 1:00 pm is South Africa as I write this looking out at the airport with planes coming and going. All is well and tomorrow at this time, I'll be home! It's been an amazing journey and I thank you for coming with me. Don't stop praying. There are some huge complications that I can't tell you about right now. Have a great day.