Rain

This really isn’t Mavuno business, but it is very exciting: the rains have started. Last Saturday we received a down poor! It rained, and rained and rained. Rain in Africa comes for an hour, so much, so hard, dumping, loud and fast. I ran out the door, rolled up the car windows, and when I got back to the house it looked like I had jumped in the lake. The rain stopped fairly early in the morning, and all the water that couldn’t soak into the mud went running away in little rivers, and the sun came out. Today (Wednesday) everything is green. Mavuno went from a patchwork of black ash, and dusty brown, to beautiful, growing, green. In the last three days it has been amazing to see the change! We are all enjoying it. Praise the Lord.

Saturday morning




Reuben enjoying the rain







Pincushions are all over the hill right now


Everything turning green






Mango tree, covered it fruit

The Chitumbis, our prospective foster family, resigned. Pray for Mavuno as we continue to search for foster families, Off-Campus and On-Campus. Pray that we would continue to trust God for this need, understanding that He will provide what Mavuno needs in His perfect timing.

On October 7th Bianca Mary Joseph, from Forever Angels (http://www.foreverangels.org/) came to Mavuno and joined the Mbugua family. Bianca is five years old, and has been in orphanages ever since she was four days old. Pray for her as she adjusts to living in a family, and that as she becomes part of a loving family she would discover the even greater love of her heavenly Father. Pray that the Mbugua family would continue to grow together and that John and Milka would have the God-given strength to lead their family. Praise the Lord for this awesome chance to impact one of His beautiful creations.

Bianca


Aika, Bianca, John and Milka


Mariamu, Helena, Michael, Bianca sitting on Milka’s lap, Aika, and then Jonathan on John’s lap
(Manyashi and Esta were both at school)

Pray for the Tractor

The tractor is having electrical problems. For the last five months it has not been working. Right now we are waiting for parts and pieces that we think need replaced. Pray that these parts will fix the problem and get here soon. Pray that we would be able to get it running soon. We could definitely use it right now.

We have new cows! Yesterday we brought two new cows and a calf to Mavuno Village. Our dairy program is in its infant stages, and going through “growing pains”. Slowly we are figuring out how to deal with all the aspects of having a dairy. The hope is for this program to become a profitable part of Mavuno. We would love to see our five cows, and two calves, grow into a full size dairy, with enough animals to be exporting milk. But for now we are trying to keeping the Mavuno staff, employees, and families satisfied.

Refined by Fire (we pray and hope)

Last night we had another grass fire at Mavuno. During the dry season it is normal to have a few fires, since all the grass is very dry. The fire came up from the beach, from near one of the fishing camps bellow our property. It burnt mostly grass and mango trees. We had been hoping for a nice mango harvest this year, but we will probably not get very much, sadly. We have a lot of burnt land now.












Thankfully the fire did not cross the road, if it had the whole hill would have burnt down.


Pray: for wisdom and patience as we continue dealing with the fisherman who probably started the fire.

Preschool with Milka Mbugua

Every morning Milka Mbugua does Preschool with her children. They were coloring pictures on this day.


Aika



Michael and Milka



Esta (Esther) concentrates on her art work- she had a small school break two weeks ago



Helena thinking hard



Jonathan



Milka helping Aika



Michael shows his picture to his Mom



Mariamu



Thumbs Up (Mariamu, Milka, Helena, Michael, Aika, Esta, Jonathan)