IN TRANSITION

THIS WEEK WE VISIT JACARANDA COTTAGE. On the right is a recent photo of Beatrice (47) and Joseph Allan (51) ROP who are our latest Mum and Dad there.

Jacaranda was first of all rented, and then purchased in 1975. It is on the same compound as Drakeley Cottage and Tyndale Cottage, and all three are sited opposite to Testimony House, across a 50 ft tarmac road. It was initially bought to house children squatting in the Municipal Rubbish Dump, abandoned by society, drug addicted, sick and very anti-social. Francis and Elain Wainaina were the first to be houseparents there to a family of some 27 boys and girls. One of those girls was from Testimony House where Esther and I were Mum and Dad. She transferred to Jacaranda to help them begin to also assist girls. Her name was Miriam Peter, and later after training as a nurse and marrying Joshua Mbithi, she was to return there as the next Mum after the Wainianas left. Francis is now Vicar of Starbeck Anglican Church near Harrogate. Joshua and Miriam are now directing their own work - Neema Children's Home just a few kilometres away from us. Jacaranda has had the most changes of Houseparents over the years.

1975 to 1981 Francis and Elaine Wainaina

1981 to 1986 Hans and Sonja Jensen / Bob and Joy Grahamslaw

1986 to 2003 Joshua and Miriam Mbithi

2004 to 2008 Phillip and Roseline Nzomo

2009 to ? Joseph and Beatrice Rop

Normally we hope and pray that those that apply to be houseparents will feel it is a long term commitment, and it certainly was with Francis and Elaine, and Joshua and Miriam. But there can be no guarantee how long a couple might feel finally led to stay. With Jacaranda it has proved difficult for the children, and even today it is evident that when parents leave, it churns everything up emotionally in the family. That is another reason why divorce and marital separation of any kind when there are children in the midst is so selfish and imperfect. Of course those who feel the need to go that way in their marriage have their reasons, but Jesus says God permits it ONLY because of the HARDNESS of men's (and women's) HEARTS! I suppose UNBELIEVERS will feel quite free of any constraint presented by such a statement, but the Christian Believer is condemned if he does NOT seriously consider his or her state of heart.

Would Jesus have done such a thing? We - as very affected grandparents - see this just now with Daryl and Carols children caught up in the turmoil of what looks more and more like an immanent separation in their parents relationship. Much prayer needed. WE are not believing for anything but a complete victory in all this.

With the Homes it is a RISK we have had to take, (the turnover of houseparents) and so far, perhaps for just a very tiny reason, things have managed always to hold together. Life gets a bit rough, but at least, so far there has been the small comfort of having me and Esther still here, as an apparently permanent reference point. How it will pan out once our time to go comes we do not know. God will work it out if Testimony Faith Homes is still needed by that time.

The ROPS are older than those usually wanting to be parents in the Homes. Their own children have grown up. They are more mature, and with much experience. We can see that coming into the Jacaranda Family as they have, after two or three others, was quite a challenge, but we also see that the troubled waters are already calming down, and the children do seem to have taken well to them, and they to the children. We thank God for it.

They have 29 children with them in care. Their youngest child is about three years and the eldest in his twenties. The majority are in College with little time left. This means that by the end of this year they will expect to see many leave and others come. Suddenly the average age in the Home will become much younger - between 3 - 10 which is the age we Admit.

We DO pay our houseparents - each of them - a small amount each month, the Lord providing.

This ranges from between 8 and 12 thousand Kenya Shillings each. They live IN the Home of course, and eat together with the children, and so the money is in a sense 'pocket money'. However it is not a fortune and they will not hope to get very rich on it. Esther and I never had such a provision, but even so the Lord kept us well and happy, and satisfied. He has always provided what we needed, and of course He will and is doing the same for our four sets of houseparents.

Our Chaplain - leader of our Fellowship - Christopher Kosgei has moved on to a bigger church. We are glad for him, for we felt that his ministry gifts needed sharing with more than will ever come to our Sunday Fellowship. He will still be in town, and we are sure to have him over to preach, and perhaps conduct baptisms as well. Thus we shall still be in close contact. He has served us well, and the Lord has helped him to grow spiritually in the Ministry of the Word. For the time being I and others here with me will take over once again the responsibility for our weekly meetings. The Lord will provide !

Another busy week has flashed by, and tomorrow I shall again be preaching. Last week it was Benson Laguina one of our old boys recently graduated from University with a BSc in Christian Ministry. Rather an odd sounding degree. He is already working for the Lord, and it was good to have him with us, sharing God's Word. Sunday afternoon our Fellowship Men's Meeting will be meeting in Tyndale Cottage with Micah Yego as our leader. The Ladies will all be meeting in another place. In the evening Esther and I will be attending our weekly Missionary Prayer Fellowship.

THEN, on Monday morning I have to fly up to Nairobi to attend to procedures relative to 'the bestowing of the Presidential Award. Esther is going to come up with me of course, and we hope the Lord will be glorified in whatever happens. Can't be away long - and will return the same day in the afternoon. NO ONE to leave behind still. Rather limited freedom of movement. But we feel fine. We are content, and we feel the Work is secure and blessed.

More next week - God Willing.

God Bless and Satisfy you

John and Esther