WHOSE GOD IS THEIR BELLY?

MICHAELMAS, The Feast of St. Michael and all Angels has past. I always come to it full of excitement - to me it seems the likeliest time of year for my Master and Lord to return in the clouds to call for me. Some might say my head is stuck in the clouds, and that I might do better to keep my feet on the ground! Well it is the generation predicted to scoff and to turn their eyes away from spiritual truth to earthly deceptions. But I LOOK for His Coming with all my heart and soul. Michaelmas has gone by and still He has not come. I am disappointed but have no way given up to still LOOK for Him.

Some years ago, here in Eldoret, I used to do the general shopping in an old style General Store - a left over from the Colonial Days. At the cheese counter where the Bacon Machine that sliced the Ham stood, I would always find a Catholic Priest. He was elderly - into his late seventies, portly, with a fresh pink face, boyish and smiling. He had been in Kenya since he was in his early twenties. He was always perched on a high stool in front of the counter - a little glass of 'something' in his hand. He had a halo of silvery hair around an otherwise bald head making him look suitably 'holy'. I knew him well. He always spied me as I entered, and would raise his glass and shout in his rich Irish accent 'Top of the mornin to yu, John, m'boy! ----- Are ye still keepin a watch for The LORD t'come? Are ye READY?'' HE was for ever looking, and never tired to draw attention to it, and thus doing his best to wake folk up in order that they also might LOOK with him. He has passed on now. The General Store has passed on too, to make away for a modern and ugly looking Bank. By the way for all that he liked his 'glass' I have never known him tipsy. His name was Father Murray.

Times change don't they.............

This week, on the 25th, Esther and I, together with Daryl and Carol were invited to join in with our Missionary Fellowship ( a group of some 60 missionaries USA, Canada, UK, Denmark, Holland, Germany, and Kenya that meets regularly for prayer) to celebrate Thanksgiving with our American brethren. It was a good time of REAL Thanksgiving to God for ALL His benefits, and ended in sharing a truly cosmopolitan meal together - turkey being central to everything. It was a great time. I guess it is a time of year in America and Canada that is almost more than Christmas - yet perhaps the real purpose in celebrating - for the majority - has long been lost. Both are now almost totally secular in application - holidays to play and more especially to EAT in. Not many giving Thanks to God, and because of it, to also appreciating each other!

Read somewhere recently that traditionally the first Thanksgiving was supposed to have been held around 1620 by the early Colonialists in the US. They had previously endured a very hard winter, but with the summer had come a bountiful harvest time, made possible ONLY because of the goodwill and assistance given them from the Native Indians they had found there. In fact those first visitors to their land might have DIED if they had not been helped by the Indians. They gave Thanks together - not only for the crops that ensured the continuity of life, but for the brotherhood and friendship that produced it. It was not a holiday, but just a coming together to Thank God, and each other. To Rejoice with each other over a simple feast - none were left out. THREE years later there was another one, but this time the Indians were not invited - the Colonialists were by this time looking for more land - Indian land - and instead of pulling together and appreciating each other - greed and selfish desire had turned friendship to enmity, and a common cause was lost to personal ambition and vain imaginations. Later Abraham Lincoln announced that Thanksgiving would be an official Holiday........ and many people have forgotten what it may originally have signified! Some now refer to it lightly, merely as TURKEY DAY!

TIME changes things. Things get forgotten.

We live in an age and generation when all the old Memorials that were set up to REMIND us of what we NEEDED to remember are being systematically removed, undermined, and even destroyed by a hedonistic and godless world. The GREATEST Landmark being the BIBLE itself. Often flashing across my mind's eye is the sight of an ever increasing mass of pigs running heedlessly down a steep precipice to ......! 'Seas,' of humanity, mindless of God in their hearts and spirits, rushing headlong AWAY from the only good, the only wisdom. Yes we need to consider the words of Provers 22v28 in the Bible -

''Remove not the ancient landmark
which they fathers have set.''

Forget not the standards set up in PAST generations, the lessons of history set upon God's revealed Will and purpose since the world began. Be not so quick to discard the wisdom of those before you, and bring to nothing all that has been learnt and understood.

As I sat with Esther munching MY turkey on Thursday afternoon, American Thanksgiving Day, I wondered if, in England any took their 'harvest' to the Church in Thanksgiving. I wondered if they had forgotten WHO had given them whatever they had. However little it might be. Every breath comes from God. I always associate Michaelmas in England with the Michaelmas Daisy, and Church interiors decorated with their profusion, amidst the fruit and labour of the land, and even symbols of more mechanical benefits. I always FELT the Presence of a Beneficent God during those Harvest Festival Services; Services that seemed to co-incide with the remembrance of the Mighty Archangel Michael, the Victor over Satan and all his horde. Are their still little hamlets of reverent joy and thanksgiving left I wonder? Or has the noise of traffic, t.v. and secular lethargy overwhelmed all awareness, together with the knowledge of God Almighty? We should not forget. We should not be overwhelmed and shouted down. We should stand up and AWAKEN ourselves to proclaim the Day of the Lord.

I have no more today to say to you. Few of you have had anything to say back to me relative to anything I have shared this year gone by. Perhaps it is so many dried up leaves in the wind.

God Bless you none the less, and enliven each one of you to WITNESS to what you know of Jesus, and through Him, of God The Father Almighty.

John and Esther

THE RICHEST MUNICIPALITY IN KENYA?

THIS IS A VIEW OF ELDORET. A Municipality of approximately 600,000 (NOT the official figure) including its surrounding slum areas. We came to live here in December 1972 when the population was only forty thous-and. A great deal of building has been done in the Town centre since then but very little expan-sion of facilities. Although the majority of its roads are mettled, many of them are in bad repair and quite a few are still pure mud! The Town itself is some 6,400ft above sea level, with a good temperate climate, but it is also a malaria area, and not good for asthmatics and those suffering from sinus problems. It is a mixed society of African Tribes plus Asian, with many European and American missionaries and business people. Not an unpleasant Town to live in, but certainly it has problems. For example Electricity goes on and off at the most unexpected times. Water also can suddenly disappear. For example, since last Thursday, we have had NO water at all in any tap. Not too easy with 154 living on the compound, and another 700 when the School is open, as it has been until yesterday. TODAY the Municipal Roads Dept decided to clean the main highway that passes through Town. They had some of the road roped off, whilst labourers chipped away at hardened dust that had collected over years at the curb-sides, and then washed away with precious water. AND whilst all this was going on traffic piled up to such a degree that EVERY town road was jammed packed with vehicles that were unable to move for well over two hours. Unbelievable! Daryl and I were in the midst of it,,,,,, ESTHER was stuck in a Clinic~ she has been unwell with a bacterial infection of her stomach. General chaos. BUT we are not after all here just for comfort, and the majority have NONE at all. We are here to WITNESS to the Good News that He loves and cares for all souls, and seeks their Salvation and their love.

LAST WEEK we said Farewell to our Primary School Graduates, and this week we said the same to our High School Graduates who had completed their four year course of study up to the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. This took place on Tuesday, and teachers students and Esther and I shared a lunch and fellowship together in the School Hall. Very similar to the Primary function but differently arranged. 74 graduating students, boys and girls.

Towards the end of Term this time, we discovered two or three of the boys importing alcohol into the School. One was Expelled. I was asked to speak on this evil for the few minutes usually allotted to me on these occasions as here below.

'WHERE ARE YOU GOING FROM HERE? Will you make it to College, to University? Will you make in LIFE? For four years you have been making the transition from child to adult. Have you managed it? You are older, taller, and perhaps braver than when you commenced Form 1. BUT are you Wiser, have you put a shine on your childhood years in Primary School? OR have you played around?
MY MATHS TEACHER in Secondary School was an elderly man who kept a bottle of whisky in the book cupboard. He was good Math's Teacher, but addicted to whisky. He died of sclerosis of the liver. When he was tipsy with whisky we thought he was a real joke; we laughed at him.

We laughed at his shame.

IT IS EASY TO GET OFF TRACK, and to find yourself on the wrong road, in the wrong company, and heading for disaster. Partying, strong drink entices many. It seems to be the IN thing for an emerging adult. It looks COOL. But where will it all take you in life?

The Bible in Proverbs 20v1 says - 'Wine (strong drink) is a mocker'

It laughs at YOU. It gets you so disorientated that you do not know what you are doing or saying. It makes you a laughing stock, causing hurt and injury that you can even be unaware of. Whilst you laugh and enjoy a 'hyper-moment' you can become hooked by an Enemy that will slowly 'reel you in' for the KILL. I KNOW! I have been there personally. Before I was 20 I drank a lot - often until I was drunk and disorderly. Not a pretty sight! I lost prestige and my job. I finally lost respect even for myself. Yes Wine - strong drink- is a mocker. He who is deceived by it is a fool.

ONE GLASS leads to another and another. Then drunkenness becomes a habit of life. A habit and state that renders us unable to control our own walk, speech or even thought. And from drunkenness we will easily proceed to a habitual habit of over drinking which will eat away at our internal organs and finally destroy us. I KNOW! I watched my father die in a hospital bed after years of alcoholism corroded and ate away his liver. He took a long time to die - painfully, and it hurt him, AND many others. You will say not everyone that drinks ends up a drunkard or dying of liver cancer. You are right. But 6 out of 10 in Kenya DO. You might be 'lucky' you might not. Exciting? - FOOLISH! if you become one of the SIX! Life is NOT given to us to gamble away - to fritter away - in foolishness.

I knew a Pastor long ago. This is a true story. At a Wedding he conducted (in another church) Champagne and other stronger spirits were being handed round at the Reception. Present was a young eighteen year old friend of the bride who had never tasted 'spirits' and he wondered what he should do if he were offered some. He decided to watch his Pastor, the same one that had conducted the Service, and whose church he had recently joined. Glancing across the room he found the Pastor already holding a glass of champagne. This was his cue, and when the waiter came to him with the drink tray he also took one. He liked it, and took another, and another..........He did not look at again at his Pastor. He went home drunk from that Reception.

He did not continue long in his Christianity.

FIFTEEN years later the Pastor was called to a Prison where one of the inmates had requested to see him. He did not recollect the name, and wondered why he should be so called, and how the criminal had got to know his name. He felt very curious. On arrival at the Prison he was taken to a Cell reserved for those awaiting the Death Sentence. The 33 year old man waiting for him inside turned to him and said -

"I am here for murdering my wife and two children!

I did it in a drunken rage."

He continued to explain that his drink problem had begun at the Wedding I have mentioned. He was the 18 year old looking for direction at that Wedding. He had taken it, not looking back, and it had ruined his marriage, and was now about to take his life. He said -

"I followed your example; that's why I'm here!

I wanted you to know."

The Pastor was already retired from his pastorate, but he never recovered from the shock and horror of that confrontation. You see the fact of the matter was he himself had never tasted the drink the young man had seen in his hand. He had accepted it out of politeness, and soon after poured the contents into a flower pot near at hand. He himself never drank anything that was alcoholic. But his careless action caused four people to DIE. How very responsible we are are for one another.......... How very responsible YOU will be for the rest of your life - or maybe just careless and IRRESPONSIBLE. Each one of us IS our brother/sister's keeper!

I ESCAPED. God was merciful to me, and pulled me back from the brink of the abyss. I had begun to drink because by colleagues at work drank. I thought I was clever. Eventually I just drank for the pleasure of it! Life seemed dull without it. One night having gone to bed the worse for drink I awoke suddenly. I felt awful. I got out of bed and vomited over the bed, myself, and the room around me. I fell upon the floor, and from that place of degradation I cried out to God to deliver me. To take the desire and attraction right away, and to give me a CLEAR mind and a HEALTHY body. And He answered my prayer. This happened in 1962, 48 years ago. I have never touched beer or strong spirits since that night. I was Blessed. I left a VICE that was eating my life away, and put myself in front of God. JESUS became my Strength, my Salvation, and my Consolation. I have never regretted it. AND if you also call upon His Name and put your Life in His Hands YOU will never regret it either.

HE KNOWS where you are going - He also knows where you OUGHT to be going, and if you let Him He will make sure you get there - safe and in one piece.

SO don't make your life to be a JOKE, but secure yourself and let Jesus Lead and Guide you."

And now they have left and gone their way..................

And the week has gone. Esther is just here with me as I write. She is lying on the settee covered with a blanket watching TV. She is now recovering. She really has had an uncomfortable few days, but she looks and sound a little better now. God Bless you all, and keep on praying for us, and for the children and all those working with us. We need you to do just that.

Lovingly in our Master

JOHN AND ESTHER

REJOICING WITH OTHERS 2

THIS WEEK I CONTINUED TO VISIT, and on the 10th went with Daryl and Esther to the Opening and Dedication of a NEW Home for infants called TUMAINI CHILDREN'S CENTRE. It actually began in 2007, but only recently been registered after all the initial building and ground work had been completed. Horace and Phyllis Leister from USA are the ones to have initiated, built and been parents here. They have twenty children (boys and girls) between the ages of just a few months to about 5 years. Their vision is to find adoptive parents to take them by the time they are 6, replacing each one adopted with another child. I cannot begin to tell you the histories of all the little children that are here in this Home - but I suspect that the majority could be called Outcasts. They have been cast out upon the world around them for one reason or another. Some abandoned - some the victim of AIDS that carried away their parents. Others unwanted, thrown away! All born into risk, danger, and to some extent plain rejection. Very much as Ezekiel 16v5 puts it. - 'Thrown out into the open field (the world) when you yourself were loathed (unwanted) on the day that you were born.' But the narrative in Ezekiel does not STOP there. In verse 6 of the same chapter the Lord God comments and says - 'When I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood (life) I said to you LIVE!' How truly Wonderful it is that God wants us all to LIVE; to grow and to prosper. Especially those of us who found themselves alone and homeless. The unwanteds!
He says in Isaiah 16v4 - 'Let my outcasts dwell with you! Be a shelter to them and the face of the spoiler.' Of course, it is the People of God that are being referred to in this Scripture. And to some extent it might STILL APPLY, at least to the Jewish Race, - AND perhaps to US, the Christian? Think about it. But anyway it may also be said that God's intention is that NO ONE however stigmatized or diminished should be just left to DIE, and so we might NOW say 'Let the abandoned and undesired LIVE with you!' HORACE AND PHYLLIS have done exactly that.
At the back of them of course is THE LORD, and also Children of Hope which is the NGO in the USA that sponsors them.
I personally have known the Leisters since 2007 and I personally have been so Blessed by their undaunted effort to reach the lost children here. They have not only built a beautiful shelter for them, (Horace has been the physical builder and designer of the new Home) but given themselves totally to loving them and caring for them. Beautiful people.
SO on the 10th many friends gathered to see for themselves the lovingly built Home and the children and to pray together for its onward blessing and usefulness. A great Testimony.

ON THURSDAY, the Graduating Primary Class of Testimony School celebrated the end of their final three days of National Examinations, and the end of their Primary School experience by attending a Luncheon in the School Hall. Teachers and invited guest also attended. I was also there and gave a short address, as were Esther, Daryl, and some of our Houseparents, and support Staff. A very stimulating occasion, and also a little emotional for some who had attended the School since they were in Nursery. Now many of them will find High School opportunities in other towns and areas whilst some (especially our own) will continue on in our High School section for a further four years.
One of our girl students from outside of the Homes lost her Mother during the Examination. It was the second death during the week - another being the husband of a very dear sister of ours in the Lord. He had been ill with throat cancer for several months and in intensive care in Nairobi Hospital. The cost of his hospitalisation amounts to more than one hundred and twenty five thousand pounds sterling. A truly crippling amount of money for the average person to find. No National Health Scheme of any worth here!! Please pray for the family. They are holding a fund raising to day in order to try to help at least a little.
The Mother of the Class 8 student is also to be buried today, and a bus load of students has just driven off to the funeral, together with Daryl and Carol and other staff members. The ebb and flow of life!

EXTRA / EXTRA / EXTRA

We currently have some 350 names on our Address List. Approximately half of those are able to connect to E-mail and the rest on normal postal service. Those on E-mail we have hoped would be able to catch up with our ongoing news via our BLOG - this blog - and the others we try to service with a Quarterly Update sent by Airmail Post. The next will be sent at the end of November.
Very few are in fact in DIRECT contact with us - about 15%. So we are not sure if the rest ARE in fact receiving or if so if they want to continue to do so. We also have some who from time to time seem to get lost.....? We would be glad to here from any of you who do not usually correspond, and to know you would still like to hear from us. We do not wish to force our attention on any, and we do not want to be a contribute to what some might feel is purely 'junk mail'.

++++ TO John and Alison ATKINS - We Do hear from you via AENON Trust but it seems that neither they nor us have your current physical or E-mail address. If you should read this PLEASE do get back in touch with us.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

For any who may feel led to send a financial donation to us - to the ministry here - we suggest the best way for those living in the UK is as follows -

1. To send a CHEQUE addressed to

THE AENON TRUST,

c/o Mr. A.E. Nicholls, MBE, FRGS., Secretary

137 Belvedere Road, Bexleyheath, Kent., DA7 4PA

E-mail nicholls_allan@hotmail.com

Tel: 020-8303-5216

NB - please enclose a note with the cheque stating that the donation is to be forwarded to

TESTIMONY FAITH HOMES. The Trust endeavours to forward funds they may have received once a month direct to our Bank, and so far no funds have been lost.

2. To send by DIRECT BANK transfer to our Account here in Eldoret, Kenya at the address here given..............................................

KENYA COMMERCIAL BANK LTD.

Eldoret West Branch, Box 5197 ELDORET, Kenya 30100

To the A/c of Testimony Faith Homes

A/c No.110-346-9592

Bank Swift Code - KCBLKENXO22

FOR THOSE living in locations other than the UK it is best to use the 2nd of the TWO methods of sending to the UK.

NB - Donations sent by POST are subject to possible theft or re-direction. They will not be safe. and we do not recommend that you try.

CORRESPONDENCE - The AENON TRUST will acknowledge all gifts received.
WE will also acknowledge safe receipt of same once arrived here.
We will also do our best ALWAYS to eventually reply to ANY letter written to us either via normal post or E-mail. You letters are always an encourage to us as not only do they cheer us up, they also help to feel you have us in prayer and at heart. Thank you for that.

Our sincere love and affection to you all, always, in Jesus our Lord and King.

John and Esther

REJOICING WITH OTHERS - 1

DO YOU REMEMBER? Probably not! However on 27th February 2009 I told of a visit I made with Desmond and Virginia Hales, our friends from Northern Ireland, to a 'slum' area of Eldoret. There a brother and sister in Christ lived with AIDS, and had begun to reach out to others, both children and adults, in an effort to help. The pictures I put up did not really convey the hopeless squaller we found there. Yet these two Kenyans were in no way cast down or defeated for Christ had come in and made them more than conquerors. I Titled the Blog for that week 'A MAN RECLAIMED'. Since then Obadiah and his wife Margaret have reclaimed a great many more. BUT, during that first visit to his dilapidated dwelling - the floors were underwater, the walls crumbling and covered with newspaper, whilst the rusting roof of galvanised sheets was rusty and leaking - hearts were touched, and help began to come into their lives. Not riches you understand - but help. Help enough to improve their living conditions, and lift up their hearts. Two of those hearts that were moved run a small charity in the USA - Discover the World

ON THURSDAY 4th OCTOBER THIS YEAR, I went again, with Esther and Daryl, to witness the Dedication of their recently refurbished kitchen - the latest 'help' from DTW!! Their little home had also been given a mild 'make-over' with a new roof, new walls, and floor, plus some simple redecoration. What a difference. And as we sat together (there were about were about 12 of this time) we marvelled how different a quite modest amount of financial aid and voluntary help had made.

IN ADDITION to the family home, another building which had only managed to flaunt foundations had also been built up and made into a dormitory for the 12 boys that currently make up the extended family tacked on to Obadiah, Margaret and their five children (the third still to be born .....) These Children (apart from Obadiah's own five) all have HIV!!?? ALL of this forms the nucleus of an outreach into the local community running in to dozens of families. It is amazing to consider that SIN brought Obadiah face to face with death - his first wife died as a result - and initially embittered and stigmatized him. A great VICTORY for Satan.......BUT in the midst of this overwhelming DEFEAT for Obadiah, Jesus Christ stepped in and turned him and the DEFEAT right around. Out of what first off seemed certain DEATH has come LIFE. Life for Obadiah, and for the community around him. They call it KIMPLWAS CHILDREN'S CENTRE. Such are the Miracles of God.

Thus I include a few NEW pictures. The rest can be found on my Face Book page if you have access to it. The first is taken in front of the newly renovated home of Obadiah and his wife.

The second two of his kids holding the new sign.

ON THE SAME DAY we also visited other friends of ours who run another Children's Home. Patrick and Ruth Chege (you can find them on Face Book as well) live in and care for this Home, which is only about 4 kilometres from us in a large rented house. They call their project CARE 4 KIDS. They care for about 20 kids (boys and girls) and also babies. In fact they felt led to open a special section of their work just for Babies. They have gone about converting the garage adjacent to their Home, (pictured here)and on Thursday they were welcoming friends to visit and share in Dedicating it. A whole crowd of us were there. The Chege's - just like us in Testimony and the Mbithi's in Neema, - trust in the Lord for all their need. They are not rich - the same as the rest of us including Obadiah and his family. BUT as we have all prayed and waited the LORD our God has heard and has supplied our NEED. Wonderful.

The Chege's have room for about 10 babies. Dozens of babies are being abandoned in Eldoret every week! Heritage Baby Reception Centre will now take in ten or so at a time, and care for them with a view to eventually having them adopted. These are not HIV babies. You have to have a special heart to do this - to give your all for a babe in arms to grow to childhood, and then be

willing to let go of it - again and again and again. As we walked around and SAW what has been done - again with the minimum of financial outlay - we marvelled. What they have is not palatial by any standard. But it is homely, clean, well ordered, and ENOUGH to give a comfortable and safe shelter for the unwanted. We were very much thrilled and our hearts yet again touched by the wondrous Love and Mercy of our God - the ONLY God - well the only ONE that is truly ALIVE and able to demonstrate it in and around each one of our lives if we just BELIEVE in, and reach out to Him. Discover the World has also had a big hand in being a Channel of our Father's Love.

AND TODAY, we visited a third endeavour. OPEN ARMS MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL is something that has come in from outside. It is a Charity based in the United States but with offices also in the United Kingdom. It was founded by David and Rachel GALLAGHER, and it is they who came to Kenya about two years back and initiated a vision they had to provide for a model village to cater for orphaned and destitute children from across Kenya. They are about 12 kilometres from Testimony, and we have come to know and love David and Rachel for their total dedication and love for God and for children everywhere.
They have 70 acres of land plus, and have already built some half dozen 'family' children's homes AND a Baby Centre. Today the Baby Centre was to be opened officially. It was a fine day, and crowds were there from all around. This is not just a Children's Home, but a reaching out, in a very depressed area, to countless poor families in an effort to encourage, provide and draw to Christ the surrounding communities. Walking around with the Guests today it was easy to see that THEY are not living from hand to mouth - there is an obvious prosperity behind the whole enterprise. But then their approach to funding is very different to those I have talked of previously. NO MATTER it is also obvious that from this 'international appeal' has come a magnificent response - and there is also no doubt that it has come due to Faith and Dependence on God to move hearts and lives. STILL a miraculous demonstration of God's Love and Mercy. We REJOICE at all we have seen of His Ways this week. We REJOICE for all the dear dedicated brethren we have shared with this week. AND we REJOICE at the many, many others who could repeat the testimony and re-enforce with proof the knowledge that God is VERY real. The complete set of photos for each of these Ministries will eventually be found on my Face Book page as the week goes by.

We have just got home, and we both feel a little tired. I will select some photos and then I will probably go to bed.

GOD is doing wonderfully. May He join hands with you, and each one of us, through this coming week, to display clearly that He is ALIVE and able to do wonders.

Much Love to you all in His Name

John and Esther