JOSHUA and Miriam have been through quite a challenge together. Joshua has been under the surgeon's knife - and survived! Both are in their 40s now, and living busy lives as they continue to develop NEEMA Children's Centre which they began in 2004. They were with TFH for nineteen years as houseparents in Jacaranda Cottage, and are still only a few kilometers away, and close in every way. Just a few months back in November, JOSHUA began to experience discomfort in his right shoulder and neck. As the weeks passed it worsened and doctors diagnosed it as a trapped nerve. They gave him oral medication and painkillers - all to no effect and after approaching more doctors Joshua was finally told just a week or so ago that he would need an operation! Alarm bells sounded, and both he and Miriam took their anxieties to the Lord in all seriousness of need. Many of those that know and love them joined in and held up their arms in faith. The pain had now become so unbearable that often Joshua could not contain himself and just cried out in agony. Doctors confirmed that whatever was disturbing the nerve (they thought it to be trapped between discs in his spinal column) was now also affecting his kidney and liver, as well as producing numbness in his right foot! The operation was set for Thursday morning of this week here in Eldoret. It took less than an hour and disclosed a small bony spur that had grown and pushed one disc against another, pinching a nerve as it did so. They removed the spur and all was put right. When Joshua woke up the pain was gone. He has to rest a little to let his body relax but that is all. The operation will cost about £1500 but is well worth it for the removal of all pain and anxiety. A small miracle? Yes we believe so - definitely a wonderful answer to prayer. Joshua is by nature a busy bee of a man, never still, always excited, and always rushing from A to B. The mere sight of him slowing down, giving in to pain, looking worried, were in themselves truly scary. He is BACK to normal now. We thank and praise God together with Miriam for His Mercy.

JAMES 'MANU' our youngest son, (now 25) you will remember recently Graduated from his University, and has been in Nairobi seeking employment. When he left home he took his lap top, and whatever he thought he would need for a couple of weeks away. On Tuesday this week he was on the way home, and at 6.30 a,m, went to seek a BUS at the Nairobi bus-station. There he was jumped by thugs who rendered him unconscious and then dispossessed him of all that he had with him including his computer, clothing and graduation ring. He arrived home very downhearted. There is nothing to be done about it; just a very unpleasant and 'expensive' incident.
However he has now found employment here in Eldoret at least for the time being, and he should commence on Monday. He will be working as a computer technician and programmer in the large and prestigious Moi Referral Teaching Hospital at the amazing salary of Ksh.10,000 per month. (£100 per month). His Degree seems to mean little. Anyway it is better than nothing at all, and of course he will continue to keep his eye open for something better and more encouraging. Good employment opportunites are few and far between these days and very competitive. He can do with your prayers all round just now. Quite a number of our your people in the Homes are job-hunting just now. And a group of Secondary School Leavers seeking Training Courses. All of them could do with your prayers.

We have given heartfelt thanks for having been brought to the beginning of the 2nd month of the year with our monthly expenses for January fully accounted for. Since we started the month with nothing in hand, and with a need of some £8,000 facing us, this was nothing short of a miracle. The major part of our need had not been promised, and with a failing world economy and so on, we had wondered - yes we often DO wonder still - if God could actually come up with the goods. I guess that doesn't sound like living by faith!? But at least its honest, and we CAN say that although we HAVE often wondered, we have always discovered that HE IS increasingly and progressively ABLE to deliver us from all our needs, problems, human fears and anxieties.
HE is Wonderful. He IS Incredible. There is no other GOD that He can be compared successfully to!

Most of you will have been grappling with snow and ice. We should be sweltering in the middle of what ought to be the DRY season. Skies are grey and cloudy. Rain, thunder storms, and chillyness are here instead. Uncertain days. Uncertain nights. BUT it is good to be going on into February in peace and quiet. Pray for us. Pray for Kenya. Pray for TFH.

God Bless you all - keep watching and praying

John and Esther