NEWS

WEDNESDAY 30TH JANUARY

 

TODAY there was a Meeting of the Uasin Gishu Children's Services FORUM, a body formed a year ago by Moi University and The University of Southern California to assist in the development and encouragement of Children's Services.     I am the General Secretary and the monthly Meeting takes place in Testimony Faith Homes.     It has been a successful body and is comprised of Kenyan Managers and expatriate missionaries concerned with running Children's Homes as well as local government departmental representatives also involved in Children's Services.     Very representative, and having a membership of some 70 people who attend regularly.    We are probably the largest such Meeting in the Province.      As Secretary of this Forum I also represent it at the Area Advisory Council for Children's Affairs at District level.

 

TODAY those attending - including ourselves - jointly offered to assist some THIRTY or so orphans amongst many more holed up in a CAMP within Town.  We will take in about SIX swelling our resident number to 141.    Most of these children have lost their parents and homes in the recent conflict.    They are currently cared for by the RED CROSS in what is usually Eldoret Show Ground with they share with some 13,000 others young and old - whole families as well.      The majority all misplaced from their normal homes and land with nowhere to go.

ALL of us of course could be said to be FULL in respect of having vacancies in our Homes, but it was very pleasing to see so many willing to stretch themselves and take a few extra in - and this across all tribal and ethnic considerations!!     People CAN work together when God is in their heart.

 

The FORUM have also decided to look into the possibility of renting a large double story house originally build as a hotel not far from TFH.    It went into receivership some decade and a half ago, and has remained derelict and empty every since.    It needs work done on it as it was not a completed building needing inside plumbing/fittings, and interior doors and windows.  It could take up to 100 souls.     

We ascertained that the current owner might rent with a view to purchase at a later date.     I have been given the job of finding out in detail.     The idea is that the Forum initially RENT and use as a halfway house for displaced families presently camping in the open air in the Show Ground with a view to helping them on to a new life.       Once the current crisis ends and this need becomes a thing of the past we would then use it to assist Street Children.

 

A SECOND house was also brought to the Forum's notice, and this one which is a six bedroom house TFH might be interested to RENT as a Reception Centre for Street Children as we have been hoping to do for some while now.   Hoping to see one or the other or both later this afternoon ----------

...........Have just now 4.55p.m. come from seeing it.    It is an ideal place but not too close to us - about three kilometers, and the rent is a bit over what we expected - about $290 / £153 per month which we think is too much.    We are not likely to consider it.      BUT we are still looking and hope to find something nearer a fair price as the Lord leads us.

 

Only about two thirds of the Forum's Membership turned up for the meeting, many others prevented by reaching here because of Road Blocks and general danger on the town's perimeters - one area had all the electricity poles chopped down last night!    No electricity in that part of town now.      We are a town under siege.      NO Daily Paper today either!

 

Well but here we all are still - the School still attended to capacity.....

 

Continue to pray for us all.    We love you too

 

John and Esther