August 23, 2008

Dear Friends,

     Bright Star School is doing well as it heads into September, the last term of 2008.  In January we will open a new class, Form IV (12^th grade), and will celebrate the graduation of our first class in December, 2009.  A group of us is planning to go to Kenya at that time to organize a proper graduation ceremony for these students.
     Major construction at the school is finished!  Notice I said “major.”  Bill Kring funded the building of the Science lab and three high school classrooms.  Betty Campbell and her family provided the funds for the sewing center/clinic.  Since windows were inadvertently omitted in the estimate, the Ortman family stepped up and bought the windows for the new classrooms.  I soon discovered that glass is not included in the price of windows, so additional money was raised to buy the window panes.
     Do you wonder why I’m glad the construction is finished?
     We are now doing concrete work around the school.  With the addition of eleven new boarders in May came more daily laundry and the need for more clotheslines.  So we are pouring concrete and installing clotheslines in our garden area behind the kitchen.
     It bothered me to see the boarders do their laundry over small pails - back-breaking work – and it has to be done several times a week.  So Greta Roberts’ P.E.O. group and I bought two washing machines for the kids.  Pastor John said it was the first washing machine he’d ever seen.
     Kenyan dust from the slum blows into the new classrooms through the open rafters, so Robert, our carpenter, is putting plywood over the openings.  He’ll also build shelving in the Science lab for equipment purchased with funds from Linda and Liz, retired Taylor H. S. teachers.
    I knew the time would come when the roof would need to be sealed and painted, and the time has come.  Pastor John wanted the roof painted blue but I swiftly e-mailed him that blue wasn’t going to happen.  I suggested gray or silver, but those colors cost $128 more.  So we’re going orange to match the roof on the boys’ dormitory.  I may live to regret that choice.
     When Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer generously provided the funds to build the boys’ dormitory, I emphasized to Pastor John the importance of getting a professional to lay the vinyl floor tiles.  Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.  When tiles didn’t fit, the installer simply overlapped the tiles.  Not only do you stub your toe on the raised tiles, wash water got under the tiles and rotted the sub-flooring.  It’s now like walking on sponges.  The floor has to be replaced at a cost of thirteen hundred dollars.
     Do you wonder why I’m glad construction is finished?
     Concrete steps need to be built and walkways poured around the new classrooms.  The floor in the girls’ dormitory has been crumbling for a couple of years and is going to be replaced at the same time as the walkways.  It saves money to have all the materials delivered to the school and transported across the bridge at the same time.
     Speaking of the bridge, the Area Chief gave us permission to build steps to the bridge.  For years I’ve provided the money to add sandbags at the base of the bridge because the torrential rains wash the soil away.  I’d appreciate any donation to help pay the $272 needed to build these concrete steps.  If you’ve been to the school and have had to struggle to get up and down from the bridge, you understand the problem.  My concern is that not only is it difficult for children and older people to climb up and down from the bridge, our laborers must transport heavy bags down the perilous decline.
     Those of you who have visited the school in 2008 remember the stairs to the boys’ dormitory.  These steep and dangerous stairs are being rebuilt.
     Will construction ever be finished?
     We have a day-schooler named Jescah who needs surgery costing $225.  Her mother sells vegetables and her father is unemployed so there’s no money for the hospital expenses.  Some money has been donated by the Propes’ for medical needs but additional money is needed for this surgery.  We could use some help with this expense also.  Pastor and his wife have taken Jescah into their home until time for the surgery so she will get better meals to build up her strength for the surgery.
     It saddens me to tell you that Gladys, our school secretary, has lost her unborn child in the seventh month of her pregnancy.  She’s in poor health at this time.  Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
     Our principal, Obed, has found a better paying job in the eastern part of Kenya and is leaving Bright Star.  His wife Sarah, one of our teachers, is going with him.  Those of us who know Obed will miss him and his professionalism.
     I’m taking a small group of friends to visit the school in November.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to get some of the donated microscopes and school uniforms over on this trip.  If you want to add a letter to your sponsored child, send it to me and I’ll deliver it personally.
     Thank you for your prayers and for caring about the children at Bright Star.  They are worthy.

 With love,
Jan