Day 7: Wednesday, January 18, 2006
This morning at the work site, volunteers focused on finishing the prime coat on all of the walls;
chipping away the top layer of the slab along the front of the library so that a top slab can be poured; digging a trench along the front edge of the library so that a base coat of vertical concrete “plaster” can be applied to the rock to prevent moisture from getting under the foundation and working on the window installation.
The team was able to visit a couple of classrooms this morning; it was very enlightening to watch the younger children being taught. The children are not divided by age; instead they are divided by their ability to sign. For example, one class had students who were aged 7 – 11 years, but they were only on their second year of sign language.
In the first (“nursery”) class, the children were learning the alphabet. The instructor had the letters written on the board and would ask the students which one knew how to make one of the letters from “a” through “j”. After signing all of the letters, the teacher than had a series of blocks on a table with letters on them. The teacher then asked the students to go and pick up a particular letter when she signed them. In the second (“primary”) class, the children were studying mathematics; it was interesting to watch the students count.
The team learned some of the basics at well. Kathy H. was able to participate in a classroom with older children studying algebra. She was more of a guest than a guest lecturer, but she had a wonderful time with the students and the students were glad that she took time to come to their class.
The Bishop of the Kaaga Synod, Rev. ______, also came to the site with the Superintendent and visited with the team.
At tea time, Kellye, Katie, and Kerry went to the internet place in an attempt to send e-mails since the service had been down for 2 days and to allow Kellye to post an assignment. What an experience that was! Two hours and 500 Schillings ($7), they had managed to send the minimal amounts of e-mails and do the minimal amount of posting because of issues like:
Kellye could not send e-mails from either of her addresses (it could not find sbcglobal.net and it wanted to load some version of Microsoft Office on the machine). Katie’s service “timed-out” on her after taking over 10 minutes just to get it. We assumed that everyone was trying to use the service since it had been down for so long.
For lunch, our team went to the site of the Michigan team and had lunch with them at the high school where they are working. Sandwiches were provided; a highlight was samosas which were brought by us for the other team to try. The team leader for the other group is Marilyn Brenchley.
During our lunch there, we learned a bit more of the history as to how the Methodists came to the Meru area and established the Kaaga church:
They first came in 1912 – 1913; they were sent to the area of the “medicine men” with the thought that if they could withstand them (and their curses), then they could stay and would be okay. The land on which the Methodists first settled contains the School for the Deaf as well as a Boy’s School.
Bishop Imathiu was the presiding bishop for 20 years +/- and has been very instrumental in the development of many of the schools. Some were actually developed prior to him becoming bishop; however, it was he who brought them along to where they are today.
Kenya Methodist University (KMU) began as a dream for Bishop Imathiu back in the 1980’s; much of the physical development of this campus may be attributed directly to him.
Only 20 – 40% of the kids make it to high school because of the fees; it is the current desire to make it possible to provide high school education for more students despite the fees. The high school that the Michigan team is working on has its first class of juniors who would not otherwise be in a high school in Kenya.
After lunch, we went to Kenya Methodist University (KMU), the only Methodist University in Kenya. This was begun in the 1980’s under the previous bishop (Stephen Mubichi’s brother). We had a quick tour and enjoyed seeing the campus. There is still a considerable amount of construction going on there, and they offer a limited number of degrees (but they will have more as they build more).
Then, the team went back to the site to do some more of the same work that occurred during the morning hours before having afternoon tea / devotional time with the staff and then leaving.
Over the course of the day, beginning very early and completing very late, Drew worked hard to secure the correct painting supplies for the walls and mural that is to be done tomorrow.
Submitted by Kellye J
chipping away the top layer of the slab along the front of the library so that a top slab can be poured; digging a trench along the front edge of the library so that a base coat of vertical concrete “plaster” can be applied to the rock to prevent moisture from getting under the foundation and working on the window installation.
The team was able to visit a couple of classrooms this morning; it was very enlightening to watch the younger children being taught. The children are not divided by age; instead they are divided by their ability to sign. For example, one class had students who were aged 7 – 11 years, but they were only on their second year of sign language.
In the first (“nursery”) class, the children were learning the alphabet. The instructor had the letters written on the board and would ask the students which one knew how to make one of the letters from “a” through “j”. After signing all of the letters, the teacher than had a series of blocks on a table with letters on them. The teacher then asked the students to go and pick up a particular letter when she signed them. In the second (“primary”) class, the children were studying mathematics; it was interesting to watch the students count.
The team learned some of the basics at well. Kathy H. was able to participate in a classroom with older children studying algebra. She was more of a guest than a guest lecturer, but she had a wonderful time with the students and the students were glad that she took time to come to their class.
The Bishop of the Kaaga Synod, Rev. ______, also came to the site with the Superintendent and visited with the team.
At tea time, Kellye, Katie, and Kerry went to the internet place in an attempt to send e-mails since the service had been down for 2 days and to allow Kellye to post an assignment. What an experience that was! Two hours and 500 Schillings ($7), they had managed to send the minimal amounts of e-mails and do the minimal amount of posting because of issues like:
Kellye could not send e-mails from either of her addresses (it could not find sbcglobal.net and it wanted to load some version of Microsoft Office on the machine). Katie’s service “timed-out” on her after taking over 10 minutes just to get it. We assumed that everyone was trying to use the service since it had been down for so long.
For lunch, our team went to the site of the Michigan team and had lunch with them at the high school where they are working. Sandwiches were provided; a highlight was samosas which were brought by us for the other team to try. The team leader for the other group is Marilyn Brenchley.
During our lunch there, we learned a bit more of the history as to how the Methodists came to the Meru area and established the Kaaga church:
They first came in 1912 – 1913; they were sent to the area of the “medicine men” with the thought that if they could withstand them (and their curses), then they could stay and would be okay. The land on which the Methodists first settled contains the School for the Deaf as well as a Boy’s School.
Bishop Imathiu was the presiding bishop for 20 years +/- and has been very instrumental in the development of many of the schools. Some were actually developed prior to him becoming bishop; however, it was he who brought them along to where they are today.
Kenya Methodist University (KMU) began as a dream for Bishop Imathiu back in the 1980’s; much of the physical development of this campus may be attributed directly to him.
Only 20 – 40% of the kids make it to high school because of the fees; it is the current desire to make it possible to provide high school education for more students despite the fees. The high school that the Michigan team is working on has its first class of juniors who would not otherwise be in a high school in Kenya.
After lunch, we went to Kenya Methodist University (KMU), the only Methodist University in Kenya. This was begun in the 1980’s under the previous bishop (Stephen Mubichi’s brother). We had a quick tour and enjoyed seeing the campus. There is still a considerable amount of construction going on there, and they offer a limited number of degrees (but they will have more as they build more).
Then, the team went back to the site to do some more of the same work that occurred during the morning hours before having afternoon tea / devotional time with the staff and then leaving.
Over the course of the day, beginning very early and completing very late, Drew worked hard to secure the correct painting supplies for the walls and mural that is to be done tomorrow.
Submitted by Kellye J
posted by Jean Warner at 11:28 PM
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