Construction began in August

Construction began in August, 2004

With God's bounty of blessings a new, more permanent school was built. Its construction began in August of 2004 before my arrival in Nairobi in September. Since there was no electricity in the slum, everything was done manually, even the carving of stone blocks into 12"x 9" squares. A water line had to be installed so they could mix cement. My plan was to have 9 classrooms, a dormitory for orphaned girls, a training center, an office, the director's living area, and indoor bathrooms. When faced with problems of construction, Pastor John, who is also the school director and my friend, told me, "God didn't promise that His work would be easy, only worthy." From His Word comes my strength.

This is the plot of land before construction began.	The trench for the foundation was dug by hand.	Our first school is the blue iron sheets in the back.	Pastor John is standing in the trench.
Pastor John shows the newly-installed water line.	Bags were filled with sand and carried by workers several yards to the site.	Laborers carried everything over a footbridge	that spanned a small river filled with trash and sewage washed down from the slum above the school.

When money ran short, I had to eliminate the construction of the training center and 2 classrooms. The girls' dormitory then had to be used as a classroom during the week and as Pastor John's church on Sunday's.

Then I visited the school in September, 2004.

This is my first look at the school.	A couple of days later, trusses were up for additional classrooms.	A few days later, the roof was nearly completed	Raising the trusses was done by hand.
Jacklyne cooks ugali (maize meal) on a jiko and serves it out of a sufuria. She's also a teacher in the school.	One day the children received a hard-boiled egg with their rice - a rare treat.	Lunch time. This is the only meal some of these children will get for the day.	After a child eats, the bowl must be washed for the next child. Each child, no matter the age, washes his own.
The white plastic water jug is a jerrican which residents of the slum use to carry water from the school since there's no running water in their homes.	I met with members of the PTA.	All 300 children received a piece of clothing donated by friends and family.	The smallest children were last to choose. They took what was left over. Notice the new desks.
Teachers also received clothing. Their pay of $20/month hardly permits the purchase of something new to wear.	All students were given a piece of jewelry; these kids were thrilled to get Mardi Gras beads.	Children also received a new pencil and eraser cap. Older students received a pen and other school supplies too.	The paddleball was a new experience for them.

Pastor John poses with the tribal elder Hezekiah.	One look at those precious faces makes it all worthwhile.	Doors and windows were installed and painted after my return to the States.	A treat for the children was bread and butter. We didn't have a table so we used a tarp and laid it on the ground.
Pastor is demonstrating that the shower works in one of the school's 3 bathrooms.	This is a delightful meal in Kenya - rice, fried bananas, chicken, and beans. It was served to me by my dear friends Pastor Afwai and his wife Alice. They too have started a school for the poor.	I'm holding Janice Hinkle Andirah, my namesake. Her mother Jacklyne holds Melvin. Collins and Purity complete Pastor John's family.	The trench on the right used to be filled with sewage from the upper slum but has been re-routed so it no longer passes through the school yard.
Goats roam the school yard and the new trash pile that has sprung up behind the school.	To make the wall more attractive, the mason puts in some extra mortar.