UPDATE

SATURDAY, 12TH JULY, 2008

WILD weather in many places in Kenya this week.    Even here in Eldoret!    One afternoon I was interrupted from working on accounts by a most unnerving ghostly sound that seemed to surround the Office building - a blinding flash of light, a resounding roar of thunder, and a wind that took hold of the falling torrent like a whirlwind.     The downdraft from a passing cyclone; fortunately brief, although the rain POURED down for hours, forcing everyone indoors.     Well rain is to be expected in July - but cannot remember anything like that wind in forty years.

 

Well it is good to see the Guest house in use.     Just a slight problem with the water supply - the pressure is low due to rationing - yes water is still being rationed due to the low rainfall during the year.    This has meant that the showers only work certain times of the day.     We hope this will right itself when water levels return to normal in our local dams.       The completion of the Guest house was to herald the next step in renewing and expanding Jacaranda Cottage.     We have already had TWO sets of plans drawn up.      One of a revamped and slightly expanded Cottage on the same site, and using part of the existing material, as the current house.   The other of a completely NEW Jacaranda which would be sited opposite the old one, in-between Drakeley and Tyndale, bigger than they are, but otherwise of an exactly similar design.      The cost would be the same for both.  Well we have SOME of the money needed to go ahead, but not all, and we will not start this project until ALL the funds are to hand.    We are not rushing ahead, and this will give us time to further pray and see how the Lord will lead.   Please pray with us.       The New Jacaranda will be able to accommodate a family of 45.

The plan is still to accommodate the Jacaranda Children in the Guest House whilst we are building - and our hope and prayer is that we will be able to go ahead to build soon - much excited speculation amongst the children.......

 

REGION'S BISHOPS SHUN LAMBETH

Anglican bishops from Kenya and four other African countries will not attend the church's biggest meeting, the Lambeth Conference, due to differences over same-sex relationships.

 

Unlike Tanzania's Anglican Church which is against consecration of women as bishops, Archbishop Nzimbi said Kenya had not made a decision on the matter adding 'We need to pray and think about it'.

 

C.S. Lewis wrote about women in the priesthood way back in 1948 printed under the title 'Priestesses in the Church?'     He writes that he came to put pen to paper on this subject 'When I heard that the church of England was being advised to declare women capable of Priest's Orders.    I am indeed informed that such a proposal is very unlikely to be seriously considered by the authorities.   To take such a revolutionary step at the present moment, to cut ourselves off from the Christian past and to widen the divisions between ourselves and other churches by establishing an order of priestesses in our midst, would be an almost wanton degree of impudence.   AND the Church of England herself would be torn to shreds by the operation.'

THAT was sixty years ago.     What would he say now?   You will have to read the whole article ('God in the Dock' - published by COLLINS Fount Paperbacks).  Worth looking into!

 

Naturally I have by own opinion about this too.    But I will not comment at this time.

 

Kenya has a new Law that came into force yesterday.      Anyone found smoking in the street will be fined!     This will be interesting......

 

God be with you all in what seems daily to be a progressively failing world.   We can desperately do with some Good News.        I listen constantly for the sound of the Trumpet.

 

John and Esther