Let the story begin with a hero. Meet Ken the driller. Ken is a Kenyan educated in the US (earning both bachelors and masters degrees). After working in the US for ten years, he sold everything, cashed in his 401’s, bought the best drill rig he could find and has been drilling wells in Kenya ever since. Says it was the best decision he ever made. Oh yes, he loves the Lord.
Children. Everywhere giggling children having fun, children wanting to touch our hands–a sign of respect.
The next generation. Watching the mzungus (white people).
A straight back and water. Water, it’s all about water.
Well no, not always about water. Life and death. Birth–nothing can compare to the joy.
A fist full of bread and a sister who feeds you first.
The end of the rainy season afternoon downpour. I remember walking in the gutters back home as they flooded down the street. We are not so different after all.
Children caring for children–it is not burdensome to them, it’s just what needs to be done. We passed out bread to the children. this little girl tore hers in half, passing back to her sister the larger porton.
School costs money. They proudly wear uniforms. More boys than girls finish school.
It is an honor and privilege to go to school.
Grace. Grace lost her husband, Willis, about a month ago to long term malarial complications. Daniel (6) and Emmanuel (3) are fatherless now. Grace is David’s go-to person in Homa Bay near Adiedo. Tirelessly working for Spring of Hope as well as working as a social worker, Grace is Grace embodied. A living definition of the word.
David’s father. The one person I most wanted to see the well. Thank you, Lord.
Adiedo Village. They want to talk to us, but don’t know English. They all know the words, AMEN and HALLELUIA. The essentials. We have a rival of smiles.
One of the old “mamas” in the village. Mama is the word they use for any woman past adolescence.
David Opap’s sister Esther. Oh, we love that lady from the last trip to Africa. She has a small shop in Nairobi. Esther travels to Adiedo and makes sure that the food they prepare for us in the village won’t make us sick. So much more than a cook, she is one of the essential people that David counts on to do what he can’t do from America. Like David, when she laughs she laughs until she cries, wiping the tears with a corner of her collar.
The teacher tells a student to recite for us. Fear locks eyes with duty.
Stunning. A face. Suddenly my apathy is so ugly. Tell me more that my faith might unfurl.
Very lovely photos
Thank you for allowing us a peek into this sacred journey…
Thank you.
wonderful and moving pictures. when i saw the picture of David's dad, the water issued forth from my eye corners. a man who has lost much because of water – the sparse dirty kind. a man who is proud of a son who decided to do something about it.
staggeringly and crushingly awesome
WOW, those pictures are AWESOME. It is amazing how much more we hear and understand with visuals.
Love you!
Cerissa
That picture of the mother and child took my breath away. Just gorgeous! I'm looking forward to learning more about your trip!
Ya! Now we are talkin. I am so glad you kept a hold of your camera this time. Awesome photos! Awesome people! Keep'em comin.