Bungoma, Kenya

RECENT VISIT TO MALAKISI TOWNSHIP PARISH

Rev. Mary Garbutt and her husband Bob have just returned from a visit to Malakisi Township Parish, Bungoma, Western Kenya. Mary writes:

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to visit Malakisi Township and to build on the relationships begun during my last visit. There is a new Vicar in charge, Rev’d Edward Barasa Kunusia. He is married to Emily but, because there is as yet no vicarage, Edward lives in two tiny rooms furnished with only a single bed in one room and a table in the other, no running water, no electricity, and nowhere to cook food, while his wife still lives in Webuye some 3 ½ hours bus ride away. Because of lack of money for bus fares they see each other only infrequently.

Since my last visit Malakisi Township Church has started a tree nursery project. The people collect tree seeds and germinate them, then grow them on in polythene sleeves. When they are well enough established they are sold for a small sum of money and most of the proceeds ploughed back into the further development of the project.

Photo: Edward's home

Picture: the Poultry Project

Khasolo Church has started a poultry project. At the moment they have only six hens, one cockerel and two ducks, but soon that will expand and they will then be able to sell the eggs and expand the project.

Nabukhwe Church has begun to give reading lessons to those adults who have not received an education in the past. They have very little in the way of educational materials but use the two Bibles that I and my fellow curate left with them when we visited in 2003.

On the last day of our visit the money raised by St Giles Church, and that contributed by other churches and groups where I have given talks, arrived in Bungoma. The people were overjoyed and so grateful to receive it and delighted that now the building work can begin, and I look forward to receiving information of their progress, which will then be posted, on this web site.