WELL, here are the LAHOL FAMILY. On the left, in the pink, is Eunice, wife to Francis, and Mum to Ken and Esther. Also Mum to 30 others that share Drakeley Cottage with them. Francis is an Old Boy of Testimony House, and as well as being Housefather to Drakeley Family he is also the senior Chef and Supervisor for the Kitchen providing meals to ALL the four Homes.

There Home is full of young children aged from 4 to 24!! Boys AND Girls of course - NINE girls and twenty-one boys. This photo is taken from in front of Drakeley Cottage, which looks out upon the new Allotment and the Chicken Project.

The chickens continue to thrive. We bought 204 chicks and so far after three weeks have lost only 4, which we hear is something of a record amongst local poultry keepers! So we have 100 broiler chicks which should be ready to eat in between three and four weeks time, and 100 Layer chicks which will take a further five to six months to begin laying eggs! Additionally we have another 28 Layers which are already two months old, and which we hope will commence laying in about another two months. All healthy and contented. We also had 24 Cockerels, and these we have now slaughtered and put into the diet. SO we have now begun to see a return, if only still small, for our labour. We are encouraged.

THE RAINS have tapered off a little, and we have seen none for almost a week. But it is still cloudy and there may be still a little rain to come. But the crops have continued to grow apace, and here in front of Drakeley we can see Maize and Potatoes going on well. Still to plant on this side is Cabbage, Spinach, Beans, Peppers and even more!!

This week we also arranged to start a small FISHERY in JANUARY next year on Jacaranda Cottage Compound. I wonder where all this is leading. We also now have TWO goats instead of one!!.

This all sounds very much as if all our problems are answered. However we are still facing considerable challenges in carrying on the ministry here. We still stand in need of prayer, and this is good for us. We are not our own, and we are no

t able to provide everything for ourselves, but must remember our dependency on our Father in Heaven. And indeed HE is our delight and the encourager of our souls.

FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH THEE

be not dismayed for I AM your God

I will strengthen you - yes I will help you!

I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness

Isaiah 41v19

Well, well I hear the rumbling of Thunder! As I glance up from the computer I am made aware of the dark rain clouds that have quietly covered the sky - RAIN it will - Thank you Lord for ours IS a thirsty land, and every precious drop from Heaven must always be a Blessing to us all.

Our guests from Scotland left us on Wednesday morning for Mombasa. We had a truly lovely time with them and trust that they will now enjoy a further week - this time in the sun!

On MONDAY, this coming week, we shall receive three more friends for a short stay with us. All from Huddersfield - Ian and Diana Hogley, and David Brook, all OLD friends going back a very long way. We feel blessed to have these visitors come to encourage and also enliven our day.

The School teachers' strike ended and all schoolchildren are now returned to School. Good! An answer to prayer. God does answer prayer - no matter what it is about. Nothing is without interest and concern to Him! And although a few have endured colds, the majority of us all are now well and in good health. Esther, my darling wife, has not been feeling too bright of late though. She has been having palpitations and got quite worried about it. I took her off to our local cardiologist yesterday, after a thorough examination, found nothing wrong with her heart or even blood pressure. We have both had a few stressful happenings over the last few weeks, and no doubt the old Enemy made an inroad on her emotions. We often get very much - sometimes too much - involved with the one and another of the children and young people here, and at times even with a staff member. But last night we Praised the Lord with Thanksgiving on our bed as we prepared to sleep. How good He is to us, and how faithful to always hold our hand, and ensure our peace. Already - today - she is a new person!

WHAT a Friend we have in Jesus -

All our sins and griefs to bear;

What a privilege to carry,

everything to God in prayer.

OH what PEACE we often forfeit

oh, what needless pain we bear

all because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer.

Joseph Scriven

We all need to watch our step each day; the Enemy is seeking to upset, destabilise and press us down. We must always be ready to FLEE to Jesus at such times, for HE will always lift us UP, and put the Enemy in his place = DOWN.

God Bless you and keep you all through the coming week.

John and Esther

£40 FOR A GOAT!!? This one cost £30!

Just recently a friend from a Church group in Lancashire, England sent a donation of forty pounds for us to buy a goat with. In fact the goat had been a Birthday present given to the donor! 'Maybe we could add it to the Farm!'

Well, not really, as we do not have a LOT of spare

land, and goats can be quite destructive of anything that grows.

NO we shall not keep it as a long time resident! We shall fatten him up and eat him during Christmas!! The only problem with this is that everyone will get quite fond of him by then, and probably not very keen on eating him... but finally will no doubt be glad and happy to do so. A present of this sort is VERY useful to us, and Christmas is usually a time for us of economic depression. NOT because we spend more money than usual but because funds are more scarce during the month as a whole.

THUS. to have food on hand is often a great boon and and blessing to us. SO we are very grateful to our Brother for this timely gift which will only grow BIGGER over the coming weeks.

OUR COWS are still growing bigger too! Our Vet says that they may deliver by the END of this month! We had hoped it might be sooner, but well, it seems difficult to be very sure since we are without a clear knowledge as to when they became pregnant in the first place.

24 of our CHICKENS were slaughtered yesterday!! All cockerels!! When we purchased the first batch of Layers the one we were buying from threw in the cockerels as well!! So now they each weigh about three kilograms, and are all frozen down for eating later on. The first batch of layers are almost laying and the 200 chicks all alive and well, thriving and growing. God be Praised in Jesus Name!! AND everything planted growing well, more and more able to be harvested.

IN 1978 a young man from Dumbarton, HARRY SPEEDIE, A STOP Worker with TEAR Fund UK came out to Testimony Faith Homes to head up a new Course we had begun in Automotive.

He remained with us for two years, and the resultant Course continued on until 1981 when we began to implement Nursery School in preparation for a full Primary School that opened in 1983. Almost ALL the youngsters that Harry taught during his time with us found employment and remain therein, many also having found the Lord as their Personal Saviour.

In 1982 Harry married Flora, and it has been a special happiness to have them BOTH here with us this week together with their son Ewan. It has been good to reminisce and to have fellowship after all these many years, although of course we have been in touch by letter.

The 'group photo' shows Harry (standing on the left) with a group of the first students on the Course. The gentleman standing on the right is Jan Bloomhof who also worked with Harry for a short time. It has been good to look back and to see that for all of us God has been Faithful and True to us.

We have just had word from AENON Trust that funds are on the way to us. We do thank all of you who may have contributed at this time, and truly if YOU have sent something to us through the Trust recently then you are indeed the Hand of God to us. Life for us here is quite stringent, but we also know it is stringent for all of you as the world as a whole is moving through dark and scary days. Bless you for your compassion on our children and upon us who live here with them.

BRING BACK CORPORAL PUNISH-MENT!

In the Kenyan Daily Nation today it is reported that 'Students were charged with Torching a Hostel' - ' Four students were yesterday arraigned before a Court and charged with setting fire to a dormitory and destroying property worth Ksh.3 million. The Form 3 students from Lwak Girls High School in Rarieda.'

It is also reported that 91% of all parents in Kenya want corporal punishment restored. Also 47% of all students AGREE, saying that teachers cannot be respected when it is known they cannot mete out punishment and correction of a serious nature. Students feel this is unfair to the teacher and damaging to the general success of the student who needs to be kept in check and also respectful to his or her mentor. It is unlikely that the Government will do much about it due to the fact that they take their orders from the United Nations and not from their own citizens. These days it looks often as if democracy means that the people cannot have much say in government - even a democratic government because even governments are being dictated to. What will become of the world - we have already this year seen a taste of it. We can expect Anarchy to be a soon to be reality. Are you still watching out for His Coming? He is hopefully not too far away from actually arriving.

Love you all in Jesus

John and Jesus

AND AT LAST THE CHICKS HAVE ARRIVED! 204 ALTOGETHER - 100 Layers and 104 Broilers.

They are all snug and growing daily in a special Brooder where they will probably stay for some TWO weeks before being transferred into the main Poultry House. So now all is set up for the FIRST Round.

The NEXT BIG EVENT should be the birth of our expected calves!! Maybe even in the coming week. SO everything is now moving along well and truly, and what was only and 'idea' ten weeks ago has become a working reality.

However, we still have room to EXPAND the whole project, so if the next six months is a success then we may double the input!! Daryl is already planting a small ORCHARD now with Apple. Orange, Paw-paw, and Avocado trees.

=====================

Last week I shared that our School had re-opened for the 3rd Term. BUT for the last week all the Government Schools have been unable to function due to all their Teachers being on strike.

In Kenya the 3rd Term of any year is always the most important, since in October/November the National Final Examinations for both Primary and Secondary are attempted. Students now shut out of class are obviously going to seriously suffer from deprivation. Basically Teachers are complaining about poor conditions - some are forced to take Classes of more than 80 children - and also, of course, inadequate salaries. So far no end in sight. BUT it does seem even more unfair to use the future of children, dependant upon their expertise, as a 'lever' to get what they want, however legitimate it might be. These days it seems that 'the end justifies the means' in any situation!

WE, of course, are NOT on strike since we are a Private Christian School which generally has been successful in providing good working conditions.

THE NUMBERS of children now on Eldoret Streets are increasing. Since Esther and I returned from UK we have noted a worsening situation on our Streets. Children of ALL ages and sexes seem to be coming in every day. Also the majority seem to be in poorer circumstances and also already clutching 'sniffing' bottles of glue. There seems no official reason or comment on this from the Local Authorities. This is quite worrying - mainly since it seems the Children's Department in our area has become inactive. Early in the year I would have known a little more through the Uasin Gishu Children's Services Forum, but this body has somehow become less well informed and also less involved in current trends. Also I have in fact resigned as its General Secretary due to the fact that generally the Body has become more moribund with a more academic approach to children's social services, and also a concern amongst its members on how to raise funds. However, I remain connected to the State Probation Service, and also to the Juvenile Court. In the next weeks I hope to poke my private nose into some of these matters and find out exactly what is happening.

In my opinion we still need our local Children's Service contributors to come together in order to monitor what is going on in our immediate area and locality, and to become a VOICE that will be able to bring attention to bare wherever it is necessary on behalf of Children. We still have more than 2.8 million homeless children in this Country.

Generally in Testimony Faith Home, we are all well. Even with increasing bad weather, which has now extended beyond the normal seasonable limit, we have experienced less illness than usual. Rain is still visiting us daily, and the days are almost continuously cloudy, with temperatures of 18C on an average - not too cold by UK standards, but VERY cold for us in Eldoret and Nairobi where we live about 6.500 ft above sea level, and perhaps the thinner air makes us all feel chillier! Hoping warmer weather is on the way by the end of this month.

The general material fabric of the Homes (two of our Homes are between 60 and 100 years old) and the School (some of the buildings first built in 1986) still looks fair from the outside, but they ARE ageing and needing repair and renovation in many places. Things like bedding - again especially in the two first implemented Homes - long overdue in provision of replacement of components. But we are still functional and able to continue onwards. We remain a secure, homely environment with added ability to offer above average educational facilities.

MORE THAN THIS we are seeing a move of the Spirit of God amongst the children both at home and at school. Since our new Chaplain, Wykliffe Ondanga, arrived last year we see Decisions for Christ almost every Sunday. This has been the most significant and wonderful factor to note - and even at such times; times of material want and challenge. Truly God has been and IS good to us. And in saying this I must also recognise that all of His Goodness and Care was expressed to us through your own fellowship and support. A verse of Scripture I have often quoted in past years remains very close to our hearts because of its truth and relativity, daily, to our ongoing lives together. It does not describe our permanent situation, but it certainly can be found to apply many times in our ongoing experience. Let be quote it again now from the Amplified Bible Translation -

'For we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about the affliction

and oppressing distress that befell us --- and how we were so utterly and unbearably

weighed down and crushed that we despaired even of life itself.

Indeed, we felt within ourselves

that we had received the very sentence of death,

but that was to keep us from trusting in and depending on ourselves instead of on God

Who raises the dead.

For it is He Who rescued and saved us from such a perilous death,

and He will still rescue and save us:

in and on Him we have set our hope( our joyful and confident expectation

that He will again deliver us from danger and destruction and draw us to Himself.

While you also cooperate by your prayers for us (helping and labouring together with us).

Thus (the lips of) many persons

(turned toward God will eventually)

give thanks on our behalf for the grace

(the blessing of deliverance)

granted us at the request of the many who have prayed.

2. Corinthians 1v8-11

And this brings to a close this week's update. We pray and trust that you are yourselves all well and blessed. Receive of our love always in Jesus our Saviour.

John and Esther

HE GIVETH THE INCREASE!!

HARVEST TIME!! 40 days after planting we have begun plucking Spinach and Sukuma-wiki

from the Testimony Plot. As we see in this photo a SACK has quickly been filled. This will now continue on progressively. We have been very thrilled and encouraged to see how well things have grown. We have not had a lot of sunshine in the month but a lot of rain, and it seems the

ground is fertile and healthy. NOW we know that we are on the right track. Beyond the sack to the fence (top right)are growing a second crop of vegetables, to be followed by a third, so that we should be able to keep a constant supply of fresh vegetables the year round. Wonderful.

The drip-feed piping has not been laid down yet but will be there very soon. Right now it has not been so 'urgent' to put in place due to the prolonged rains. We look and see the crops coming to fruition with Great Thanksgiving to God. It is a daily delight to the eyes to see how well things are coming on.

The Chicken-House has also now been finished and painte and is 50% inhabited with chickens. Next week we shall be taking another brood of chicks which will eventually join the layers. So far everything has gone well with the poultry, and we are looking forward to that first EGG as much as we did to the first Sukuma-wiki. Wonderful. I am a frequent visitor to the chickens and have long conversations with them - kind of encouragement to them. They certainly make a lot more cluckings when they see

me than when left to themselves - mightbe due to thinking I am bringing more to eat. Animal Greed! As you see from

the latest photo today we have named the chicken house TYNDALE POULTRY PROJECT

to remind us that it was Tyndale Christian School that helped us initiate and set up the whole thing. We owe you guys and dolls so much in Jesus. May He Bless and Shine upon you- each one. All around about we have the Garden, or second plot. Nothing much

coming up yet except weeds (they are forever pushing their way up) but we have sown MAIZE, POTATOES and more beans.

We have been talking so much about our agricultural endeavour that you might think we have changed our ministry and that we no longer have children being cared for here?

But indeed the ministry amongst children continues. In the Day School (Nursery to Secondary) we now have a regular 800 boys and girls attending - 138 of them from the four Children's Homes, and the rest from private families in the locality. As a School it has a high academic standard and is well known and sought after. It survives from incoming Fees paid by parents, and this enables us to send OUR children free throughout. This is a very GREAT help to us educationally therefore, but otherwise the School does not financially benefit the Children's Homes.

On the HOME'S side we have currently 138 children aged between 0 and 20+, with ten

resident staff. As you know we have four Homes each run as a family with a Mum and a Dad

each.

They make and partake of their breakfasts in their own individual kitchen but otherwise lunches and suppers are pre

pared centrally and then distributed to the 4 dining-rooms. This works very well and the children think the food is even better than before, when it was all cooked separately in each Home kitchen! LAUNDRY has also been centralised. Basically this consists of the clothing for ages 0 - 12 years. The Children from 12 upwards wash their own clothes. Staff clothing is also washed centrally. This has been a tremendous improvement in keeping track of dirty clothings and the difference can be SEEN in greater brightness and good repair. The change in system has also enabled us to reduce our salary bill considerably.

We still have about TWENTY over 18 year old attending College. TWO of them will be leaving us in the next week or so to start out on life. One is taking a position as a Chef with a high class and busy household, and the other as an Assistant Manager in a Chinese Restaurant. During the year we shall probably lose a further TEN. So we shall expect to admit a group of about 14 new small

kids during they year. Not a very big turnover. The demand for places far exceeds what we are able to offer.

The MIRACLE is that we are able to continue to offer ANY places, or even provide for those already here. School opened this week and many were facing inability to attend due to the fact that they had no shoes to wear. Then the Bank rang up to say that a

Gift of money had arrived right out of the blue and unannounced! So suddenly, out of nowhere, funds just arrived and with them we have been able to purchase shoes for the worst of the poor and need amongst us. JOY all around!! AND Thanksgiving to God, and to the hearts He moved to remember us. Other gifts arriving over the last month also answered prayers just as desperate

and so each day emphasised that for the most part thatwe LIVE by faith and NOT by sight. Our 'Substance' seldom able to be SEEN as a tangible asset, but rather HOPED for, and obtained later on. Praise the Lord indeed. In the photos to the left of the page you can see some of those needy shoes actually being received by the children - these pictures taken by Daryl on Friday of this week.

2,8 million children remain uncared for in Kenya. Many of these children 50 years ago would have been absorbed into the local community as a matter of course as they traditionally observed what was called 'extended family'. This was often as good if not better than the modeern idea of 'adoption'. Many families today would still be willing and

interested to adopt, but feel unable due to the cost of actually legally doing so. Esther and I have adopted FOUR children and young people over the years. It cost us little compared with today's inflated prices. None one of ours cost us more than $100. This included two or

three days in Court, all legal and other fees. TODAY it can cost as much as $20,000. The actual and REAL cost is still no more than a hundred dollars. This is no less than making merchandise out of the plight of the innocent and defenceless child, and may only be identified with a greedy godlessness. Governments should be making it easy for willing families to take in homeless children. I think some charge for an official adoption is good and right. Better in fact that giving money to people as an inducement to help a child It is a topic that needs co

nsideration. But the current trends are unforgivable. I may well endeavour to stir up some discussion on the issue as a whole.

WELL, it is almost lunch-time. I am typing in Green Cottage sitting room almost in the dark apart from one table lamp just near me. Outside the day is overcast, gloomy even. No sign of blue sky or sun. It is 65f and to me it feels definitely cold and chill. BUT by now, into September, the SUN should be shining and the rains stopped. Summer should have dawned.

Visitors expected next week - all hoping for this tropical climate to warm and delight them -

right now it looks like gum boots and brollies, with a heavy coat. Hope its better where you are. God Bless and be with you in a BIG way. We love you and thank you truly for just being there, our friend and family.

Affectionately,

John and Esther