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