Ongoing work...

I visited Moi-ndabi last week during what was a busy week. Moi-ndabi houses a displaced people from decades ago that have remained upon a flood plain, without being resettled by the government, living in houses built of sticks and mud that look hardly able to withstand a light downpour. Mission Care International helped the area significantly through the refurbishment of a bore hold that had been stagnant for ten years or so. It was opened and in operation in January 2007 and continues to provide water to an area where the nearest other water source involved walking 20km a day.

I watched as the pump was being used - water is such an important source of life that we don't even think twice about. We do have some work to continue in Moi-ndabi though - we need to help develop a more effective filtration system since currently the water carries too much fluoride that is detrimental to dental health. While I was there I experienced first hand the dangers of living in such an area. The floods came, in fact, while I was visiting the local Chief. We became cut off from the road home as torrents of muddy water flushed through a gully which could have swept away homes and livestock had the banks been broken. People's lives are at risk in a serious way. The amazing thing is that it hadn't rained locally - it was dry - but the water comes from nearby mountains with complete unpredictability. When it happens at night I am sure that it is terribly frightening. I contacted the Chief's Assistant the next day to see how things were - this time the flood did not persist.

Another piece of good news this week was that the building work at the new Sunshine Centre was able to continue to progress thanks to the generosity of Mission Care International supporters. By mid-April all of the Sunshine Boys will have moved into their new home - the remaining work will include the dining hall, workers accommodation and, of course, the football pitch!