Hello Family and Friends:
A lot happened this week so I’ll review the week in order. To start with production has improved considerably in the new plant. The first few months of the year, the plant struggled to make 500 tons a day. Three of the last four days production has exceeded 950 tons and the fourth day production was 700 tons. So needless to say, things have improved a great deal in the past week. There were some changes made earlier in the month, but there were so many operational problems the process improvements were masked by mechanical problems. So the challenge in keeping production at this level will be to just keep the plant running. With all the financial problems over the past year, spare parts have not been ordered and downtime is often made worse by simply not having the right parts. If the current production rates continue, the plant will be able to catch up on all outstanding debt in six to eight months. So now the pressure is on the marketing people to get out and sell the product. With the world market about sold out that shouldn’t be too difficult. The old plant is now having problems meeting budget and its problems stems back to lack of parts too. So hopefully it will recover quickly The old plant started production in 1911 so it has quite a history and should recover fairly quickly.
The other exciting thing was a trip to the community west of the plant. It’s the one I went to last March and I thought I’d entered the Garden of Eden. There are bananas, mangos, maze, and papaya. It’s not at all like Magadi because it’s right at the base of some mountains so it has all the water that is needed to grow anything; quite the place. We wanted to take Margaret to show here more of Kenya. While visiting we say baboons, zebras, giraffes, monkeys, gazelles, a lot of Maasai people. One of the monkeys we saw was the one that is black with a white beard and a long black tail with a white bushy end. The monkey is rare in this part of Kenya so we were excited to see it. We all looked twice Mom, once for us and the other time for you.
Margaret was complaining all day about how hot it was. She kept wiping her forehead and by the end of the day she was asking how to say “muddy face” in Maasai. We thought it might be nice to say “Margaret” was how to say muddy face in Maasai. I think she is enjoying her time here but she is always complaining about how hard she is working. It’s tough when you have to be up three days a week before eight and the other two before 10. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating a little. She just finished her letter so I’ll let her tell her story. But if you want the straight scoop, call me.
Last of the excitement; I’m now officially the Branch President. Debbie said she wasn’t going to call me President. I didn’t expect she would. A few years ago I came home from work while her dad was visiting. When I walked in the door, he said “Debbie, your lord and master is home”. He didn’t ever dare refer to me as her lord and master again. So it didn’t come as a surprise that my name didn’t change from Paul (or any number of endearing names). With the success the plant has been having, I didn’t think I could decline the call to help in the church.
One of my counselors was been in the branch for a long time and has been a member since 1992. The other one is 23 and been in and out of the country a number of times. He spent a number of years in Canada because his father is a diplomat for Kenya, went on a mission and is now in school. A very bright young man. I will be depending on these two brothers to help me organize the branch. I know most of the Elders after having been the Elders Quorum President but I don’t know many of the sisters. The other branch (Rangai) will continue meeting with us until they find a building and move out. So we have a little while to extend all the callings and organize the branch. It is going to be a real education to help minister and administer in Kenya.
Debi continues to be the driver for Margaret and I along with keeping her following updated with facebook posts. For those of you looking at her facebook page, you’ll see most of the posts from the safari in Tanzania. She has some wonderful pictures of all kinds of animals she has seen.
I’m about talked out for the night so I’ll keep everyone posted on what is going on at work, with Auntie M and the Branch. Life isn’t too boring these days.
Love you all
Dad/paul
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