17 June 2000
Subject:
Dearest Friends and Family,
Greetings in the name of our loving God, who is good all the time!
So much has happened in the last 2 weeks since I emailed you, I hardly
know where to begin.
It was recently reported that this year is the poorest year for rain
in Kenya for 40 years. President Moi has made a plea for
international aid and most of it is in the form of emergency food. 1.9
million people are at risk of starvation in Kenya. Only two rivers
are flowing and they are down significantly.
After one week of electricity outages for 12 hours a day, 6 days a
week, the government said it was not enough and created a new
schedule. Our schedule here in Maua is as follows:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and alternate Sundays we have electricity
from 6:30am to 12:30pm (6 hours). Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday we
have electricity from 12:30pm - 11pm (10+ hours) though we have never
had our electricity come on at 12:30pm but rather at 2pm or 4pm or
1:30pm today. The alternate Sundays there is no electricity.
We are adapting, learning, and occasionally struggling. I can't
believe how thankful I am for electricity or how disappointed I am
when they don't follow the schedule. I guess what is hardest is not
being able to use the computer very often and communicate with you.
The first 2 weeks of no electricity I struggled daily with the
inability to correspond personally, but one night this week as I lay
awake in bed I realized that I had to let this go. You would
understand and there is really nothing I can do. Thank you for
understanding.
The hospital is struggling to decide on a schedule for the generator
that is both affordable and will not wear out the generator. As we
improve care and services, we add to the necessity of electricity ---
that's good news, bad news! Please pray for our hospital leadership.
They have so many difficult decisions to make.
Maua has had very cloudy, cool days with some rain but we need much
more for crops and we aren't near a hydro-electric plant! However, we
are very thankful for any drop of water for it adds, if even a little,
to our river and supply of water and to keeping the dust down.
The School of Nursing opened on 5 June 2000. We were in Nairobi at
meetings with our GBGM Area Secretary and picking up a work team from
June 7th until June 10th. We made it back in time to meet with the
students and Presiding Bishop Sat. afternoon. As I sat in that
meeting for the first hour, my heart sank. The students seemed angry
and bitter and it didn't seem the school could stay open for even a
week. However, the Presiding Bishop became very clear and direct
about exactly what he was expecting to take place and what would
happen if it didn't. Suddenly the students began to realize how
serious this was. It appears that the majority of students want to be
back, want to work, study, follow the rules and finish their
education. It is our constant prayer that the majority will be strong
enough to stand up to the vocal minority. Please pray for the
students and the tutors.
There have been Conference meetings in Nairobi all week. The persons
responsible for much of the unrest are at those meetings. Today is a
very important Conference Standing Committee meeting which we have all
been praying about.
Our local Synod, church district, has taken our Presiding Bishop and
Sr. Mubichi to court. The first court date was 9 June 2000. After 3
hours the case was withdrawn. It was refiled and the second court
date was 15 June 2000. The injunctions requested were not permitted
but the case will continue next Wednesday 21 June 2000. Please pray
for the court case. Also pray for next Friday, 23 June 2000 when the
Presiding Bishop will chair a Hospital Management Board meeting. Many
very important issues concerning the running of the school and
hospital are at stake both in the court case and in the board meeting.
We NEED your prayers and support.
Yesterday 8 more street boy's or AIDS orphans went to school. That
makes 25 children in school. We are prayerful that over the next few
weeks six more will be able to start school. Thank you for your
prayers and loving support.
We have had a work team here from the Texas Conference for the last
week. They have done many different projects from screening the
Pediatric unit, helping to renovate 2 houses, and painting the hall in
the administration block. It has been a joy to have them and what a
testimony their coming is to the hospital and community. We have
enjoyed some candle lit dinners and fun times together!
I so appreciate the many birthday greetings I have received. Thank you
for your loving kindnesses. Tomorrow Bill and I celebrate our 29th
anniversary. Our relationship with God and each other is the center
of who we are and what we do. I am so grateful for my loving husband
and our years together.
Please don't stop emailing us. Though I don't have time to write you
personally, we still love to hear how you are and what is happening in
your corner of the world. We look forward to seeing many of you in
Oct., Nov., or Dec. while we are on home assignment. Thank you to all
our supporting churches that have written so quickly with dates. We
are waiting to hear from others and then will begin telling you our
schedule.
In His light,
Jerri and Bill
You can answer this letter at
savuto@MAF.org
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