A HUNDRED YEARS ON - or back?

WOMEN seemed quite prepared to be confrontational, even 100 years ago! This one had even, seemingly, been before her time in getting acquainted with 'martial arts'. The rather embarrassed heavyweight constable was obviously totally flummoxed by the comparatively midget, yet mighty suffragette. In those days such women chained themselves to the railings of Parliament and 10 Downing Street in order to get noticed and promote their cause for equal Voting Rights. To day they are able to actually be allowed in - but some do not seem to stay long .... have women gained much I wonder - do they 'really' have equal rights in practice - and perhaps what is more important are they supposed to have them in the ways they want them? Kenya's many cultures generally believed the women's place was in the home, and that men were the prime movers and superior sex. It is STILL so in many places, but obviously Colonisation did make a difference, and Independence has brought about progressive equality for women. BUT with equality has come about a disparity in roles and achievement - especially in marriage and the family. I guess we cannot have it all ways.

The 'grandeur' of those days has also reduced. The British Monarchy remains, but perhaps not so GRANDLY as before. More watered down to fit in the modern vogue and to prevent them being held in too much awe. In the painting of King Edward Vll and his wife, Queen Alexandra we see that equality seemed to be with them in their situation - but HE is the one standing whilst she sits back and lets him lead. NOT so today. In fact it is becoming hard to find men with Leadership qualities. There ARE, of course MORE women than men in our present era. And MORE of them are being found in Leadership positions as Heads of State, Universities and Schools, and almost every other institution. Even Family heads.......are the angels confused ? Yes, I am sure they are, and I feel often confused myself. BUT then I am one of those oddities in the world that sees things from the point of view of the Word of God. Regretfully even the Church is slowly departing from this Guide Book and becoming increasingly compromised by worldly standards.

BUT Esther was Headmistress of our Primary School for many years! Was she good for the School? Yes, she was, and achieved progress and acclaim. However, she was not Head of the School overall. The Overall Principal has remained a man. Am I being 'chauvinistic'? I hope not! But some principles need to be observed, considered, and even practised with the Word of God in mind. Esther has now been replaced with a male member of staff as Head of Primary, but a Woman has taken over as Head of Secondary from Zacariah Mbatia who has retired - but still under the Overall School Principal, Anthony Ndungu.

I am currently prayerfully considering the eventual replacement for me, if the Lord tarries. Will it be a woman? Am I looking for a woman? No I am not consciously looking for a woman to take over from me ....... I would be surprised if it were to be a woman who does so.

OH DEAR.......what AM I saying? I believe that God has planned for the MAN to be seen as top dog in the order of things. The woman may sit with him in his throne, but never take his place or even worse, obscure him or usurp his authority. The man may delegate his authority but not be robbed of it. Her real and true purpose is to bring honour and enhancement to the man at all levels without being seen as inferior to him or set aside by him as having lesser worth. A hundred years of 'progress' has not seemed to see the Bible view of men and women adopted - but perhaps the more discarded. This will bring its own rewards and regretfully perhaps also a great deal of dissatisfaction.

AND SCHOOL HAS BEGUN AGAIN. We opened on Monday with a full house -540 students; a hundred and twenty of them boarding. Everyone of them glad to be back after the long holiday. Parents all bubbling over with excitement and joy because of the good National Exam Result the School attained. The new Primary and High School Heads seem to meet the approval of the students as well, and all seems set for a good year of academic progress. BUT it is raining when it should be hot and dry. Part of us rejoices to receive RAIN, and part of us looks at the leaden skies and shivers in unaccustomed low temperatures.

TWENTY TWO of our older youngsters have also re-commenced their College and University courses as well, the Lord wonderfully providing the Fees for each one of them. We have been so amazed and thrilled - and each one doing well.

TO-DAY sent off my Application for Re-newel of my Work Permit to Nairobi. My current one expires in March, and it will take at least that long to get a new one! Thankfully my dear brother in law, Joe Kibe, will take it in to the Immigration Office and keep an eye on it - he lives in Ngong and works in Nairobi City. Also concluded the Annual preparation for our financial Audit and sent everything to the Auditor. Also completed Annual Returns to the Children's Office and the Non Governmental Bureau with whom we are registered. A LOT of work but it is VERY relieving to know it is done, and that I did it all on my own - though I confess that I have truly missed Daryl, and feel just a little jealous of the Yorkshire Cheese-maker that he is now working for.

That is about all the news for now. I have been writing this in Green Cottage, with the rain pattering upon the tin roof and against the window pains. Esther has been with me sewing and making P.E. shorts for some of the children - very busy, but it is nice to be able to be more together since she 'retired' from administering the Primary. We plan to do a whole lot more together.......

LASTLY we have realised that out of an Address List of more than 300 we are in touch with only a handful, and are unsure who still wants to be in contact with us and the work of the Homes. We see that about 100 read the Blog weekly. But we have no idea what effect it is having, or how many feel benefit from it. We have ceased to send E-mails on a regular basis for the same reason, and had ceased to circulate everyone on the List by normal post again for the same reason - no acknowledgement from the majority. HOWEVER, as a letter writer, I also know how easy it is to misplace letters and circulars and just 'forget' to write back. We do not want to discourage anyone from praying for us. SO sometime soon you will receive a CIRCULAR through the normal post - if I have a physical address. This Circular will be a questionnaire to determine how many of you want to stay in touch and by what means. We hope all will be able to give a reply to this circular either by Airmail, or E-mail, so that we can know how to organise our correspondence for the rest of 2010 and onwards.

Our affectionate love to you each and every one, in Jesus Name. I AM very behind with letters and acknowledgements and do apologise if you have not heard personally from me for a while. I WILL be writing. This is ALWAYS a very busy and demanding season for me administratively, and I just HAVE to attend to necessities myself since at this time there is no one else here with me to actually do it.

God Bless and keep you

John and Esther