A New Gazebo
Hello from Mago. It has been awhile since I have written. The last I wrote was that Janet cut open my hand and stitched it back up. Well, I took the stitches out the following Sunday, but it was still hurting quite bad. Janet and I both felt something may still be in there; so on Monday she took me to the hospital. We weren’t there long when she saw someone she knew and they talked and they got me in right a way to get an x-ray done on my hand. We needed to ask the right questions (which we didn’t) and we wouldn’t have needed the x-ray. Wood does not show up on x-ray, but we didn’t know that until after the x-ray was done. Anyway, that left minor surgery again. They scheduled me for surgery real quick. Janet had gone to town to find veggies and also to eat lunch. She was going to come back and check on me and if I still wasn’t done she would come back some time later to get me. Well, when she got back, I was in getting prepped for surgery. I had an infection in two spots but they found no splinter. So I have an incision of about 1 ½” long. The Dr gave me only 3 stitches because he wanted it to drain so no infection would develop. I took the stitches out this morning and praise the Lord no infection. They were going to give me antibiotics, but I declined and claimed the promises from the Lord about using natural remedies for healing. I took garlic for breakfast and lunch along with my Epicor; I also took 3 capsules of Echinacea at each of those meals. I claimed His promises every day for healing and the Lord is so good, He answered my prayers.
Back to work – we have started on our third building in just over a month; actually our 4th if you want to include the Gazebo; more on that a little later. We have our purlins up on our carpentry/mechanic classes waiting for our roofing (which will get finished at the manufacturing plant on Wednesday), we have our kitchen/cafeteria floor poured and waiting for more material on it, we are going to be pouring the floor tomorrow on our building that is housing our four classrooms; that building is 86 feet long. The classrooms and the kitchen buildings (as are the remaining of our buildings) are going to be built out of the “one-day-church” buildings that have been donated to us for this purpose. Janet and I will be laying out another building, probably a house either today or tomorrow. She also wants to lay out a site for her garage up here near the house.
The children’s department in Sabbath School has been meeting outside on either chairs they carry out or boards laid on top of bricks. Janet got the idea of making a Gazebo for the children to meet in. Janet and I laid out the floor plan and some of the fundis have gotten the floor poured. So they had the wall up on Friday and today are building the seat for the kids to sit on. I have pictures that I will show later. Next year upon returning we will be putting a thatch roof over it. It will even be nice during the week just to sit under and enjoy the weather when we are not working (when ever that is).
Work continues to keep us busy. We are still waiting for our 2” pipe to finish our water project. The ditch has been completely filled in as far as possible at this point and we have a lot of water coming from our dam. The roll of pipe should be coming with the roofing material which we are waiting to get done by Wednesday.
Good to read your comments, hope all is well with each one of you.
God bless and good bye for now from Mago….
Deniece
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Ring of Fire
This month, October, is preparation month for the people to be able to plant next month. One of the ways they prepare their fields is to burn them. So October is burn month. October is also one of the windiest months of the year. Wind and fire do not go together, if you know what I mean. Anyway, Wednesday there was a “controlled” fire that got out of control up on the other side of the mountain from Mago. Janet and I drove to it and it was quite a distance from our property. By Friday it was on this side of the mountain and moving down. We kept an eye on it but did nothing else. Sabbath morning when the people went to church Janet told me to get walking shoes on, we were going for a walk. What started to be a walk to view where the fire was came very close to a disaster. We watched it as it moved into the valley close to the school. Janet and I knelt for prayer and put the fire into His hands. We watched as tall pine trees flared up in a huge flame. We could feel the heat although it was at least 100 yards away. It was so devastating to watch. We were standing in a field of tall dry grass and I told Janet if it comes into the field it will move fast and not to get down in the field too low. A little while later, I think she knelt and prayed again while I was down standing by a small tree. There were others standing around watching and talking with some people who had just came out of the forest that were fighting the fire. All of a sudden I see it hit the grass. I took off running up hill yelling to Janet that it had hit the grass. She repeated it as a question and I yelled yes as I kept running. Running up hill is very hard, but when you have fire chasing you, you need to run faster than you thought you ever could. We got to the group of people who were standing around talking and when they saw it, they started to run. I was scared, I don’t know about the rest of them. I ended up standing in a garden area that had been dug up and was taking pictures. Janet, in the mean time had gotten a blanket, got it wet and was trying to beat down the fire in the grassy field. She and some of the guys around there were trying to save a couple of houses that the fire was heading towards. Part of the time she was by herself fighting the fire and then some men and ladies came to help put out the fire. They got some of the fire and started another section of the field to burn itself up to the other fire so that it will burn itself out. It worked. The fire was out there, but raging other places. We came back home to get our fundis to help fight the fire. We were busy most of the day fighting fires. We were able to help save a few more homes and the people were very thankful. The last fire we fought was purposely started and the 2 men were caught and taken down to the authorities. The mindset of some people – they had lost their home and felt others should to.
Later that evening it started back up again and Janet and I both thought it would reach our property before morning. So we took turns staying up most of the night. It slowed down after 1:00 so that Janet slept on the sofa and I slept on my bed with my work clothes on. The Lord blessed and we were safe. She hired 2 men to go and put out the fires that seem to be threatening us so that we could sleep better the next night.
The fires kept raging on the other side of the mountain. It ended up at the top of the tall mountain like 2 arches. Then the arches joined together and ended up as a huge ring of fire about a mile wide. My camera could not pick it up but we had some visitors from Kibidula that took some pictures and I am hoping they will turn out.
It was exciting to say the least and we all gave up a prayer of thanks for our safety and the safety of the village people.
Today Janet had to do minor surgery on my hand. I thought and she thought that I had a huge splinter a little over 1” long in the palm of my left hand just below my fingers. She gave me a shot of Lanicane and froze the area. Then she probed and cut and couldn’t find anything. Still not 100% sure she stitched me up (3 stitches) and bandaged it up. We will watch it for a few days and see how it feels. Right now I am typing with my two middle fingers numb. They feel funny.
Well we are pouring the footings to our second building today and we have Bill and his family here for a few days from Kibidula. Bill is building our rafters for our first building. Things are happening fast.
Well so long for now from Mago,
Deniece
This month, October, is preparation month for the people to be able to plant next month. One of the ways they prepare their fields is to burn them. So October is burn month. October is also one of the windiest months of the year. Wind and fire do not go together, if you know what I mean. Anyway, Wednesday there was a “controlled” fire that got out of control up on the other side of the mountain from Mago. Janet and I drove to it and it was quite a distance from our property. By Friday it was on this side of the mountain and moving down. We kept an eye on it but did nothing else. Sabbath morning when the people went to church Janet told me to get walking shoes on, we were going for a walk. What started to be a walk to view where the fire was came very close to a disaster. We watched it as it moved into the valley close to the school. Janet and I knelt for prayer and put the fire into His hands. We watched as tall pine trees flared up in a huge flame. We could feel the heat although it was at least 100 yards away. It was so devastating to watch. We were standing in a field of tall dry grass and I told Janet if it comes into the field it will move fast and not to get down in the field too low. A little while later, I think she knelt and prayed again while I was down standing by a small tree. There were others standing around watching and talking with some people who had just came out of the forest that were fighting the fire. All of a sudden I see it hit the grass. I took off running up hill yelling to Janet that it had hit the grass. She repeated it as a question and I yelled yes as I kept running. Running up hill is very hard, but when you have fire chasing you, you need to run faster than you thought you ever could. We got to the group of people who were standing around talking and when they saw it, they started to run. I was scared, I don’t know about the rest of them. I ended up standing in a garden area that had been dug up and was taking pictures. Janet, in the mean time had gotten a blanket, got it wet and was trying to beat down the fire in the grassy field. She and some of the guys around there were trying to save a couple of houses that the fire was heading towards. Part of the time she was by herself fighting the fire and then some men and ladies came to help put out the fire. They got some of the fire and started another section of the field to burn itself up to the other fire so that it will burn itself out. It worked. The fire was out there, but raging other places. We came back home to get our fundis to help fight the fire. We were busy most of the day fighting fires. We were able to help save a few more homes and the people were very thankful. The last fire we fought was purposely started and the 2 men were caught and taken down to the authorities. The mindset of some people – they had lost their home and felt others should to.
Later that evening it started back up again and Janet and I both thought it would reach our property before morning. So we took turns staying up most of the night. It slowed down after 1:00 so that Janet slept on the sofa and I slept on my bed with my work clothes on. The Lord blessed and we were safe. She hired 2 men to go and put out the fires that seem to be threatening us so that we could sleep better the next night.
The fires kept raging on the other side of the mountain. It ended up at the top of the tall mountain like 2 arches. Then the arches joined together and ended up as a huge ring of fire about a mile wide. My camera could not pick it up but we had some visitors from Kibidula that took some pictures and I am hoping they will turn out.
It was exciting to say the least and we all gave up a prayer of thanks for our safety and the safety of the village people.
Today Janet had to do minor surgery on my hand. I thought and she thought that I had a huge splinter a little over 1” long in the palm of my left hand just below my fingers. She gave me a shot of Lanicane and froze the area. Then she probed and cut and couldn’t find anything. Still not 100% sure she stitched me up (3 stitches) and bandaged it up. We will watch it for a few days and see how it feels. Right now I am typing with my two middle fingers numb. They feel funny.
Well we are pouring the footings to our second building today and we have Bill and his family here for a few days from Kibidula. Bill is building our rafters for our first building. Things are happening fast.
Well so long for now from Mago,
Deniece
Friday, October 9, 2009
Be Content in All Things
Well, today is Friday and Sabbath is drawing nigh and is promising a good Sabbath rest. We have been busy this week with the going up of our first building. The carpentry and mechanic building is waiting on rafters which Bill from Kibidula will be here on Sunday to work on those and Jason will be here a couple days later with the roofing. Right now they are digging the footers for our second building which will house our cafeteria, kitchen and wash area. When you drive into the area you see the first building. You would have to be here to experience the excitement of seeing a building where there used to be nothing.
Also, this week I went down and connect our 2” pipes together, altered the water to go towards the dam which was recently built and to fix the settling tank to receive and send out water both into our 2” pipe and also into the overflow so that extra water will continue to flow. I prayed prior to working on it so that there would be no issues. The Lord came through and success was gained. An abundance of water was coming out the end of our 2” pipe by the time I got to i 600 meters later. I gave out a yell that the neighbors probably wondered what was going on. But again, you would have to be there through all the digging, measuring, laying down of pipes, etc. It was exciting to say the least.
My cold is for the most part over; just a little cough now and then. One of our cooks has it (which she had it before I did and never really got over it) and is out of commission. I guess a lot from Kibidula has had it also. Glad to be feeling better
The Lord has taught me this week through my studies (children of Israel going through the wilderness in Numbers) and my work that we need to be content and not complain where He has us. And it is easy to abide when blessings are received like we have this week, but we also need to be aware of the good even if it is hard to find. Keep looking up and He will be there for each of us.
Bye for now from Mago….
Deniece
Well, today is Friday and Sabbath is drawing nigh and is promising a good Sabbath rest. We have been busy this week with the going up of our first building. The carpentry and mechanic building is waiting on rafters which Bill from Kibidula will be here on Sunday to work on those and Jason will be here a couple days later with the roofing. Right now they are digging the footers for our second building which will house our cafeteria, kitchen and wash area. When you drive into the area you see the first building. You would have to be here to experience the excitement of seeing a building where there used to be nothing.
Also, this week I went down and connect our 2” pipes together, altered the water to go towards the dam which was recently built and to fix the settling tank to receive and send out water both into our 2” pipe and also into the overflow so that extra water will continue to flow. I prayed prior to working on it so that there would be no issues. The Lord came through and success was gained. An abundance of water was coming out the end of our 2” pipe by the time I got to i 600 meters later. I gave out a yell that the neighbors probably wondered what was going on. But again, you would have to be there through all the digging, measuring, laying down of pipes, etc. It was exciting to say the least.
My cold is for the most part over; just a little cough now and then. One of our cooks has it (which she had it before I did and never really got over it) and is out of commission. I guess a lot from Kibidula has had it also. Glad to be feeling better
The Lord has taught me this week through my studies (children of Israel going through the wilderness in Numbers) and my work that we need to be content and not complain where He has us. And it is easy to abide when blessings are received like we have this week, but we also need to be aware of the good even if it is hard to find. Keep looking up and He will be there for each of us.
Bye for now from Mago….
Deniece
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Epicor Just Wasn’t Enough
I have come down with a cold from all the dust I have inhaled while working in the ditches and other places. It isn’t too bad. Yesterday, Thursday, was the worst. I started coming down with it on Wednesday, didn’t sleep real well Wednesday night and was in bed most of the day on Thursday. Thursday night I slept better but I was still in and out of sleep. Today, Friday, I am feeling better yet still not quite over it. I have been taking Epicor faithfully. I think I missed one day early on when I first got here. Other than that, I have taken it every morning at breakfast. Janet took one of the fundis back home to Kibidula today. His wife is due to deliver if she hasn’t already. So now, Janet can pick up some of our plumbing items that Jason got in Dar. She will be coming back early Sunday morning. Janet told me that she would have taken me with if I didn’t have a cold; which I understood because I wouldn’t want to give this cold to her grandkids. They evidently just got over having a cold. Anyway, today and Sabbath will be extra days to get over this thing so that I will be ready to work again next week when she gets back.
The days here have been hot. I think, the way Janet talks, that we got into the low 80’s last Sunday and possibly Monday. She says this is the hottest time of the year and as we near the end of October and on into November the temperatures will be dropping some. Then the rains start in mid to late November and continue most of the time through April into May. This is why we will be leaving in mid December to come home. We will then leave in May to come back. I have been thinking about it and am looking forward to coming home, but I am also thinking about coming back and am anticipation the return trip. There is so much going on that will keep one busy for a long time.
Our cooks are adjusting to using our wood burning stove in our kitchen. Their outside kitchen was not available to be used because of the work being done on our septic. The gravel, sand and cement were mixed right by the entrance to their kitchen so they had to make other arrangements. They both say that they like the wood burning stove and we are teaching them how to use the controls on the side. We are also teaching them how to do dishes with two wash basins and hot water. We are also working with them to keep the kitchen nice and clean unlike where they used to cook and do dishes. It’s new for them, but I think they will like it once they have gotten used to it; especially once we get the cupboards and kitchen sink installed with running hot and cold water. I know I am looking forward to it.
I guess that is all for now. Bye from Mago….
Deniece
I have come down with a cold from all the dust I have inhaled while working in the ditches and other places. It isn’t too bad. Yesterday, Thursday, was the worst. I started coming down with it on Wednesday, didn’t sleep real well Wednesday night and was in bed most of the day on Thursday. Thursday night I slept better but I was still in and out of sleep. Today, Friday, I am feeling better yet still not quite over it. I have been taking Epicor faithfully. I think I missed one day early on when I first got here. Other than that, I have taken it every morning at breakfast. Janet took one of the fundis back home to Kibidula today. His wife is due to deliver if she hasn’t already. So now, Janet can pick up some of our plumbing items that Jason got in Dar. She will be coming back early Sunday morning. Janet told me that she would have taken me with if I didn’t have a cold; which I understood because I wouldn’t want to give this cold to her grandkids. They evidently just got over having a cold. Anyway, today and Sabbath will be extra days to get over this thing so that I will be ready to work again next week when she gets back.
The days here have been hot. I think, the way Janet talks, that we got into the low 80’s last Sunday and possibly Monday. She says this is the hottest time of the year and as we near the end of October and on into November the temperatures will be dropping some. Then the rains start in mid to late November and continue most of the time through April into May. This is why we will be leaving in mid December to come home. We will then leave in May to come back. I have been thinking about it and am looking forward to coming home, but I am also thinking about coming back and am anticipation the return trip. There is so much going on that will keep one busy for a long time.
Our cooks are adjusting to using our wood burning stove in our kitchen. Their outside kitchen was not available to be used because of the work being done on our septic. The gravel, sand and cement were mixed right by the entrance to their kitchen so they had to make other arrangements. They both say that they like the wood burning stove and we are teaching them how to use the controls on the side. We are also teaching them how to do dishes with two wash basins and hot water. We are also working with them to keep the kitchen nice and clean unlike where they used to cook and do dishes. It’s new for them, but I think they will like it once they have gotten used to it; especially once we get the cupboards and kitchen sink installed with running hot and cold water. I know I am looking forward to it.
I guess that is all for now. Bye from Mago….
Deniece
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Floor is Poured
Today was a big day for the industrial school. The floor was being poured. We didn’t get the pipe to work to assure the fundis of enough water to pour a 4” thick 23’x71’ floor so we had to haul water. We had some 40 gallon drums (5 of them I think) and some tubs along with some 5 gallon buckets. We went down to the river and I stood on some rocks in the river filling the 5 gallon buckets and handing them to one of our men who in turn handed it to another man up the hill a ways and he took it to Janet who was standing in the back of her truck emptying them into the 40 gallon drums. We did this 4-5 times yesterday and twice today. The work was being done this morning and so we started hauling water yesterday. The water was enough and they finished this afternoon; looks good – now tomorrow they start laying bricks.
Yesterday I went out to the springs with 3 of our regular fundis and buried most of the 2” pipe. So all we have left to bury is about 50 meters on the end closest to the house and about 30 – 50 feet on the other end. These ends have to be connected to another end of a pipe and we are waiting for pipe or connectors to be able to complete the task.
The septic tank has about 6 more layers of bricks to go up and then they will finish plastering inside and out and fill in dirt on the outside. We also have to install the intake and output pipes in the septic at that time. Then the task of making the lid will be the next job. We are keeping busy with the jobs we have going.
Since I have been here I am amazed at the different bird calls I hear. I would like to get a bird book for this area (if they have one) and try to identify some of them. I would almost bet that one night I heard a whip-o-will. I only heard it once, but it sure sounded like it. Stan and I used to lie in bed and listen to them on into the night when we lived in Tennessee. It sounded so peaceful. The Lord is so good to give us things like that to enjoy and that will direct us to Him. If you haven’t experienced it lately, listening to the sound of the bird calls, try it some time soon; if you are sitting/lying and see if it doesn’t direct you to Him. My prayer is that it will and will bring you peace.
That’s it for now… Bye from Mago…
Deniece
Today was a big day for the industrial school. The floor was being poured. We didn’t get the pipe to work to assure the fundis of enough water to pour a 4” thick 23’x71’ floor so we had to haul water. We had some 40 gallon drums (5 of them I think) and some tubs along with some 5 gallon buckets. We went down to the river and I stood on some rocks in the river filling the 5 gallon buckets and handing them to one of our men who in turn handed it to another man up the hill a ways and he took it to Janet who was standing in the back of her truck emptying them into the 40 gallon drums. We did this 4-5 times yesterday and twice today. The work was being done this morning and so we started hauling water yesterday. The water was enough and they finished this afternoon; looks good – now tomorrow they start laying bricks.
Yesterday I went out to the springs with 3 of our regular fundis and buried most of the 2” pipe. So all we have left to bury is about 50 meters on the end closest to the house and about 30 – 50 feet on the other end. These ends have to be connected to another end of a pipe and we are waiting for pipe or connectors to be able to complete the task.
The septic tank has about 6 more layers of bricks to go up and then they will finish plastering inside and out and fill in dirt on the outside. We also have to install the intake and output pipes in the septic at that time. Then the task of making the lid will be the next job. We are keeping busy with the jobs we have going.
Since I have been here I am amazed at the different bird calls I hear. I would like to get a bird book for this area (if they have one) and try to identify some of them. I would almost bet that one night I heard a whip-o-will. I only heard it once, but it sure sounded like it. Stan and I used to lie in bed and listen to them on into the night when we lived in Tennessee. It sounded so peaceful. The Lord is so good to give us things like that to enjoy and that will direct us to Him. If you haven’t experienced it lately, listening to the sound of the bird calls, try it some time soon; if you are sitting/lying and see if it doesn’t direct you to Him. My prayer is that it will and will bring you peace.
That’s it for now… Bye from Mago…
Deniece
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