This week was busier than some and slower than others. Slower because all the teams that were here last week have gone back home (the film crew and a team from the UK). We started out the week returning some equipment that was utilized by the film crew, and while Levi and Matt were driving around Eldoret, a large grey monkey ran across the road, a rare sight for this part of Kenya. Birds are plentiful here in Eldoret (I think I mentioned that in a previous blog), but land mammals (other than the human type), are more common down in the Rift Valley or further South where we will be going hopefully to visit sometime in the next 4 to 6 months. However, one new mammal arrived at the OAI village last Saturday, a brand new baby cow (the village now has four dairy cows to provide milk for the orphans and the surrounding villagers.
Matt spent the rest of the week working at the village and keeping an eye on new activities related to the construction of the village. The most significant activity this week is the arrival of the well drilling company to repair a well they had dug over a year ago which has never properly worked. The drilling company is still at the property as of the writing of this blog, but hopefully they will be done in the next day or two so that a clean, fresh, and reliable source of water will be available to the village for years to come. Progress on the rest of the village is moving along
nicely. One of the orphanage homes should be done in the next few days, and three others should be completed in the next month or two.
Cheryl has been working at the office training to be the interim operations director for OAI Kenya, coordinating teams, the budget for the Kenyan staff, and a variety of other duties. In addition, both Matt and Cheryl have occasionally and eagerly been assigned baby duty, and they will be taking care of Belle for the next several weeks while David and Rachel Gallagher are in the U.S. for several OAI functions including the OAI fundraising banquet next weekend. (Which reminds me, if you are in the Portland area, and you haven't purchased a ticket for the OAI fundraising banquet at the Portland Zoo, feel free to call the Portland office at 503-296-9989 - the banquet is on Saturday, October 10).
While out at the village this week, Matt has been able to enjoy a little more of the local cuisine. He had roasted maize, a much better delicasy than goat intestines. You cook ears of corn over a fire and it tastes a lot like popcorn and it is very filling. However, the favorite Kenyan food for both Matt and Cheryl has been chipote, a flat bread cooked over a hot griddle. It goes well with everything. I need to sign off now, but I'll try and add a few photos and videos to the blog later. We'll keep you updated about the village and the adventures of Matt and Cheryl.
Matt spent the rest of the week working at the village and keeping an eye on new activities related to the construction of the village. The most significant activity this week is the arrival of the well drilling company to repair a well they had dug over a year ago which has never properly worked. The drilling company is still at the property as of the writing of this blog, but hopefully they will be done in the next day or two so that a clean, fresh, and reliable source of water will be available to the village for years to come. Progress on the rest of the village is moving along
nicely. One of the orphanage homes should be done in the next few days, and three others should be completed in the next month or two.Cheryl has been working at the office training to be the interim operations director for OAI Kenya, coordinating teams, the budget for the Kenyan staff, and a variety of other duties. In addition, both Matt and Cheryl have occasionally and eagerly been assigned baby duty, and they will be taking care of Belle for the next several weeks while David and Rachel Gallagher are in the U.S. for several OAI functions including the OAI fundraising banquet next weekend. (Which reminds me, if you are in the Portland area, and you haven't purchased a ticket for the OAI fundraising banquet at the Portland Zoo, feel free to call the Portland office at 503-296-9989 - the banquet is on Saturday, October 10).
While out at the village this week, Matt has been able to enjoy a little more of the local cuisine. He had roasted maize, a much better delicasy than goat intestines. You cook ears of corn over a fire and it tastes a lot like popcorn and it is very filling. However, the favorite Kenyan food for both Matt and Cheryl has been chipote, a flat bread cooked over a hot griddle. It goes well with everything. I need to sign off now, but I'll try and add a few photos and videos to the blog later. We'll keep you updated about the village and the adventures of Matt and Cheryl.
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