Day 10 Touring Rice Fields
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Ugwe (village outside of Kisumu), Kenya
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Fred told us that the main rice scheme is even larger--2400 acres of land of which 700 acres is now planted with rice. These rice projects are HUGE for the community. Not only does it provide work for people, but the food and water it is brining into the surrounding villages has a huge impact. Farmers sign documents regarding the land they are using and seed they are planting and must "pay back" into the funds when they harvest. They can keep 10 bags of rice for their families and then start over again. This is good.
One problem is that the government doesn't always provide the water they have agreed to provide. Also, now that these fields (which were dormant for 8 years or so) have become "profitable", there is renewed interest by the government to "get their share". Fred is working hard to make sure it is the poor people here who are doing the work that benefit...not the government. This is a big prayer concern.
Later today we will go to the village of Kapiyo where the church dedication is being held tomorrow. With any luck on Barbara's part, cows 1 and 2, and sheeps 1,2and 3 will already have been slaughtered and the cooking process well under way. Her greatest hope is that she doesn't recognize any body parts in the stew!!
People are already arriving and there will be lots of dancing and eating and singing in kapiyo tonight. We're getting ready to don our pants and long sleeves and bug spray in anticipation of the mosquitoes (prounounced "moskwitoes" if you are Fred)that will be dancing with us tonight.
Tomorrow we have the dedication of St. Esther Church of Christ in Africa and the groundbreaking for the additional classroom space. (Recall that we've not been able to work on that project this week due to rains. Although it has been hot and dry a lot this week, the one big truck that came earlier in the week to deliver sand for plastering left HUGE ruts that almost made the road impassable for our car!) So even thought the ground looks dry and is ok for a smaller car, it's clear the weight of the big delivery trucks is way too much for these "roads"...ie dirt tracks.
We will fly back to Kisumu tomorrow evening after a day of celebration so we don't know when the next email opportunity will be. But we'll try!!
We ask for prayers for Fred and Rosie Outa, the village people who so heartily greet us each time we come, and for saftey for the three of us as we move through the country!
Blessings abound...team kenya 2005.
