REFLECTIONS .......

ROBERT EMSLIE, (right) seated with Steven Green in 2009. They grew up together in many respects, and are close today. Nice to see a photo of them both, and good also to be able to say that Robert is progressing well after his road incident.

The amputation of his right leg below the knee went ahead, and all seems to be healing well. We spoke to him on the phone a day or two ago, and he sounded fine. It is also a time that has made it necessary for Robert to look to the future - he is unlikely to continue to drive heavy long distance lorries.. Also it has made him think deeply about his relationship with Jesus which had been weakening. Thank you for praying for him, and please do continue. The hospital bill will be very high finally, but we are believing that God will see it all paid, and again we have to thank SO MANY Testimony Family Members for contributing already, and lending their support to Francina as well. It was this photo that made me look back to our 40th Anniversary in 'o9 when so many of our old boys and girls returned to celebrate with us, and also with our own children who had also joined us for the occasion. SO many photos - like this one above - were taken on that day, and it will be an everlasting joy to have them always to hand. Some of our 'children' are now in their late fifties, married and with children of their own. Others still young, only just left and still building their lives. Each one with memories of their time with us, and of course, many memories of our own about each one. NOW we see our dream of 'family' being manifested. So many have grown up and left us to start their own lives and families, but they have not forgotten the home and family left behind, and we are more and more realising that Testimony IS a great and growing ' Family.

AND then we also remain surrounded by those still with us, more than 140, of all ages and sizes. And we have to Thank God for the wonderful ties that continue to bind us all together and that have given us all that special sense of belonging. I will try to bring a few of these photos together here just to give a little representation of this big 'family' of ours.

FIRST photos of Faith Kavithi, (right) hiding behind the flowers, and training as a Nursery Teacher..
And then on the left, a group of Tyndale girls with our grand-daughter in the pink dress - Ton-ton! These are just handful of random photos of some of our family. The majority are all employed in different fields, and full of dreams for their own futures. Many are engaged full time in God's Service as pastors, accountants, teachers, agriculturalists, electricians and so on. Lastly, this time round, a group photo of some of more elderly family members!!

From the left in a white suit is Mark Owour, now a Primary Headmaster and senior inspector of Schools. Next to him Wyckliffe Ondanga recently retired, and now Chaplain to Testimony School. On the far right is Moses Ongonga, now pastor of one of the largest churches in Eldoret. (his wife Miriam is in the red costume - she also works as School Cateress for Testimony School. Next to her in white is Eunice Lahol, Francis Lahol's wife. She is now Mother in Tyndale Cottage. On Miriam's right is Anthony Bones wife. then Miriam Ondanga, Wyckliffe's wife, and then Emily Stuma, Steven Stuma's wife - he is standing the back next to Moses. Moses Stuma is one of our old boys from Testimony House, and he and Emily have previously been houseparents in Tyndale Cottage.

ON THURSDAY this week we were thrilled to receive to friends from way back when we first arrived in Eldoret in 1972. Gordon and Joyce Lovering from the UK - only they had come from Southern Sudan and not the UK!! In the early 70's Gordon and Joyce both lived in Eldoret. He was a Teacher in Moi Girls High School and she was nursing in the Eldoret Nursing Home. They left in '74 and returned to UK, but last year accepted a call from the Lord to set up a school in a very remote area in the newly created state of Southern Sudan. In their late sixties this was quite a challenge since the area is SO remote as to be almost totally without any modern conveniences and demanding a VERY spartan lifestyle. Their stories and experiences have been pouring forth and kept us both on the edge of our seats. Truly God, our God, is GREAT, and with HIM any of us can do anything. They will be with us for another 8 days and then will return to the UK to consider the next step for Jesus.

It was also THANKSGIVING on 24th November, and Esther and I, and also Carol and Daryl plus their kids were invited to a large gathering of multinational missionaries whose American members hosted a Thanksgiving Feast for us all. It was a VERY blessed occasion, and although we were more than a hundred in number and from many different ministries and denominations, the sense of ONENESS and Love was wonderful to see and experience.

The RAIN has continued - or restarted....? Nobody quite knows what it is doing. Normally the sun should be shining the warmth of the sun increasing daily. BUT it is sodden and COLD still. Good for the gardens, AND for the cows since it assures them of more grass and so on. God is Good to us.

It was also our half yearly medical check for all the children this week and we had our usual team from our doctor's clinic here for two days. All were found well and healthy Thanks be to God. Naturally we try to take good care of each of the children's health as well as our own, but we also are required by government to ensure every child is seen at least ONCE a year.

NOW everything is gearing up for Christmas, and already the children are practicing for the Christmas Play, Carols and the Christmas Services. In between there is soccer and basket ball and general play as well as the daily chores of housecleaning and so on. Busy, busy, busy time for all. We shall be praying and remembering you all and our prayer will be especially that you will know Him even more perfectly during this time of Rejoicing in Him.

God Bless and be with you all

John and Esther