The which we were hardly able to do, when the truck with the forty foot container inched its way through our red oxide gate. It was like a relative…one you like…showing up just before grace at Thanksgiving dinner, whom you believed still to be in Suriname. The long, tortuous bureaucratic swamp and the Oakland, CA to Shanghai to Port Kelang Malaysia to Durban South Africa to Mombasa Kenya to Lukenya Daystar Red Rhino Orphange Project site journey are behind now. It is home, just in time for turkey.
.
And like a good relative, it brought presents. Lots of them. Like…
– tractor with frontloader
– John Deere Gator
– trailer with 350 gal water tank
– 2 welders
– huge generator – Â 12 KVA
– 5 hp Honda generator
– 3 water pumps
– laser site level
– chop saw
– Saws All
– 7″ grinder
– compressor
– battery charger
– floor jack
– weed eaters
– Skill saw
– compound miter saw
– drill press
– drill bits
– 4 wheel barows
– masonary tools
– wood working hand tools
– wrenches and sockets
– shovels, mattocks, pry bars, sledge hammers
– 3 aluminium ladders
– screw drivers, pliers, snips, hack saws, hand saws
– rolling Craftsman tool box
– smaller tool boxes
– concrete tools, and 20′ leveling bar
– heavy duty metal shelving
– a ton of rebar
– plywood, lumber
– uncountable hand tools
– nuts and bolts – innumerable
– solar panels
– two way radios
– solid core doors
– windows
– heavy duty steel I beams
– 1000′ of pvc pipe
– an incubator for Springs of Hope
– a jaundice light
– a baby scale
– 5 bikes
– 2 basketball hoops
– soccer balls and nets
– toys and stuffed animals
– books
– many many clothes
– 40 sets of sheets and blankets
And other stuff I’m forgetting. But will not forget to use or be thankful for.
.
Here’s the pictorial version.
.
Getting the forty foot tractor-trailer through our gate was a breeze, at least an inch and a half clearance on both sides.
He had driven all night from Mombasa and arrived in the morning with only two of his tires flat.
He had time to take some tea before the crane came. We had arranged for one last night, and then at 7am when he was supposed be on his way I called and the owner told me the crane was broken.
After some scrambling and horse trading we found this beauty. Fifty tons of why not.
This is the machine you want on your side when you get in a fight.
With Julius at the controls
and Pappa hook and Baby hook for good measure.
You just sit back and let mechanical nature take its course.
Just like this...
And before you're ready for it to be, it's over.
And the container is heavy again.
.
If the Egyptians had had a few of these there would be a pyramid on every corner.
We hacksawed through the seal, cracked it open
and posed like the founding fathers of something,
then got to work unpacking.
3/4" plywood.
Flat, strong sheets of goodness.
Joel's wood burning stove.
Mary's incubator.
A serious welding machine.
A 12 KVA generator. We'll need a fork lift to move this power plant.
Murafu got a new hat.
And everybody got new gloves.
.
Many, many people worked very hard to get our jumbo present filled and here. So thank you for all your, in some cases, overwhelming generosity. And accept, when you can, our invitation to come, and see your stuff in use, here, in its new home. There are two people without whom the six stone and concrete pedestals would be forever vacant. Gary Guthrie worked tenaciously and tirelessly to gather so many of the things that came. Thank you, Gary. I know it wasn’t always easy, but we’re all here deeply grateful. And Pat Shepherd. Pat you endured more headaches and put in more, often very frustrating hours, to “make it happen” than anyone will ever know. But now it’s here, and the kids, will know when they sleep on the sheets and read the books and wear the clothes and live in the place kept in good trim with our new tools. Thank you both.
.
I’m still on a borrowed laptop, and it’s worth remembering we’re all still on borrowed time. Let’s live it up.
.
In praise of the Loaner of our time,
.
David
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Martin says
July 5, 2010 at 7:27 amGood platz, container. Good platz.
We talked about how everything is steadily falling into place… or, in this case, being lowered by crane.
Joys at seeing these photos — but pangs at having missed the big arrival…
Martin
Tiffany says
July 5, 2010 at 8:34 amLooks great! Sorry we left before we could help out more.
Hope to see you soon!
Tiffany
Peggy Traverso says
July 5, 2010 at 3:07 pmWhat a long time coming and a short time settling in. “Whewww” is all I can say. So many gave in good faith, and it took a lot of faith to believe it would ever get there with all of the complications.
I trust that the lives of the children and staff, as well as yours David, will be more comfortable and secure with all the container contents bring.
Thanks to all!!
Peggy
Lucy Hamer says
July 6, 2010 at 10:24 amCan’t wait to share this good news with our community! God is good!
Lucy
Chris L says
July 6, 2010 at 10:48 amWow, what an arrival. Gives me a new appreciation for the voodoo of cargo cults. And that container represents quite a domicile itself. What are your plans for it—storage, I’d guess? It’s probably hard getting enough ventilation for that container in Lukenya, but there are lots of folks now, as you probably know, jerry-rigging container boxes into living space, too—often very ingeniously.
And I’m taking the under on bets about how long Murafu wears that hat.
Debi L says
July 6, 2010 at 12:08 pmAnd the gloves look like they are Photoshopped onto those hard working hands. That otta take some gettin used to, as well, I suppose. What a thrilling day at RRO and a beautiful sign of the love and support for RROP. Hope I can tuck one of the kids into the those sheets one day.
Keep on, David!
Debi
david says
July 16, 2010 at 2:52 amDear Martin,
You were here in the curtains, now hung, and the Mango furniture, now in place, and the smiles of the heart bandits who were here too. All here send their love…”too much love.”
David
david says
July 16, 2010 at 2:54 amThanks Tiffany. It was great to have you and Jeff and Mary here. Folks have a way of finding the path back here. See you in CA and then who knows? Please send my greetings.
David
david says
July 16, 2010 at 2:58 amHi Peggy,
Whew is right. A big relief to have it here and a bigger relief to have all the great stuff in it. Unpacking (for several days!) was a long Christmas morning. We will be unwrapping for a long, happy time.
Love,
David
david says
July 16, 2010 at 3:00 amHi Lucy!
I’m looking forward to seeing you when I get back in August. You all have been good partners with us in this journey. The one given us by the Good God. Very best regards to all.
David
david says
July 16, 2010 at 3:09 amHi Chris,
Yes, we’ll use the container for storage and it will also form, with the existing container, the two side walls of the workshop. A back stone wall and a good mbati roof and we’re in business. Lots more water collection capacity as well.
Murafu is likely to wear that hat out. He puts me in mind of Ahab.
David
david says
July 16, 2010 at 3:14 amHi Debi,
The gloves were a big hit. I have some photos of those “Hard working hands” I’ll show you when I get back.
There will be a lot of tucking in going on for a long time. I’m certain you will do your share.
see you soon ,
David
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Your ticket for the: 3 July 2010 – Contain Yourself!
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