August 15th, 2009

"Solar" Power and Power Cuts

Sorry for the long silence. Since posting our July “Chronicles” the hospital has been exceedingly busy, Bob has had frequent nights of call and Hope has spent many hours writing up the August AIDS Prayer Guide and starting preparations for the September guide. Even so, we will try to do better. Perhaps shorter postings more frequently. If you haven’t checked our prayer page recently you might want to do that as well.

This week we have been enjoying a much-needed break on Kenya’s north coast near Malindi. Mostly, we’ve just been enjoying sleeping in, dips in the ocean or swimming pool, reading, and sumptuous buffet meals. Yesterday was the highlight so far. We booked a 5-hour glass-bottom boat excursion that featured snorkeling and an “ocean barbecue” on a sand “island” that seemed to rise out of the ocean as the tide receded. Our boat was one of five converging on the “island” for the special meal. As the grills were set up and the fish steaks, lobster tails and prawns began to cast their aroma in the air, we were unprepared for the throng of hawkers who arrived in their dugout canoes, wading through the ebbing saltwater with their loads of carvings, batiques, banana bark pictures, necklaces, etc. all promising “special prices.” We avoided them as best we could (which wasn’t easy as there is literally nowhere to hide on a sandbar surrounded by ocean!) But the seafood lunch was an event to remember! Today we are just resting up, putting lotion on the areas that didn’t get enough sun block yesterday, and coping with the power cuts.

Power cuts? Yes. Because of the drought. (“??,” you ask.) That explanation doesn’t make a lot of sense to us, either. But for almost 3 weeks Kenya has been experiencing frequent power outages. Recently Kenya Power and Lighting announced regularly scheduled power cuts from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. three to four days per week in order to cope with its reduced capacity to produce power. This has something to do with the extended drought in Kenya. As best as we can understand it, Kenya gets much of its power from hydroelectric stations. But because of the drought and the abnormally low water table, KP&L is not able to continue generating power as before. Whether this is due to water conservation efforts limiting the amount of water released over the dams, or having to divert reservoirs of water to other uses, or both, we’re not quite sure. But what we do know is that half-time power will be a way of life in Kenya until the water shortage eases.

At Kijabe, plans are being discussed as to the best way to maintain essential power supplies. There are several generators on site to serve RVA, the hospital, the Bible college, and the many homes around each of the institutions. But diesel is expensive and greater use requires more frequent and vigilant maintenance. We are all being asked to consider ways to limit our use of electricity.

Bob’s lectures at St. Paul’s University originally scheduled for Wednesday have been deferred to Thursday because the university does not have its own generator, and Wednesday is one of the regular power-cut days. His power-point presentations will be pointless without power! (These lectures are for students in St. Paul’s master’s program on Pastoral Community Care and HIV/AIDS.)

We have not heard anything from Kaimosi Hospital yet, but are certain that many there are feeling thankful for those who made it possible to install a new generator to power the wards and operating theatre earlier this year. But we wonder how the hospital will find the funds to buy the diesel that will be required over the coming weeks and months. Meanwhile, we are glad for the chance to enjoy “solar power” here at Malindi on Kenya’s beautiful coast – at least for this week.