CHRISTMAS IS HERE AGAIN - almost!!

I wonder if this tree at the White House will yet again be referred to as the HOLIDAY Tree? I guess it is already there.

WE are a week or two away from even thinking of putting up our usual meagre decorations. No sign at all that Christmas is coming in Eldoret Town. No lights, no sights, nothing at all. A few of the larger Supermarkets will begin to decorate soon, and one might even have in incongruous Father Christmas! Very few, if any, know who Father Christmas was. Every year on our streets in Eldoret one can see a couple of vulgar men dressed up in red and ermine pretending outlandishly, even rudely, to be this Father Christmas, but their display is so ill mannered and course as to be offensive. SO.........

Christmas here is almost naked here, often ignorantly observed, and more often passes unnoticed apart from days off from work, and more drunkness than usual. Sad.

BUT we shall have a good and pleasant time together. For not only will we be making our Homes aware of Christ's Birthday by dressing up the rooms with Cards, and balloons, and even a Tree in each Home, but we shall also be REMEMBERING all that the Birth of Jesus means to each one of us. Yes, by His Grace, we will eat and play games, and enjoy friends visiting with us, AND observe His Presence with us in the midst. There will be carols, prayer, and exhortation. There will be storytelling, laughter, and fun. There will be Thanksgiving, and Joy. Each year it is so for us, and each year the reality of Jesus blesses us all together. Even old boys and girls come to visit, and fellowship, and the sense of home and family once again comes alive for both those who hare here and for those who have left. Already a Christmas

Concert is in preparation and Carol Singers practicing. Now next week we shall be thinking of how to provide against Christmas Services and other annual events. It is a time to be remembered, and I think all those who have left, take a special impression of Christmas with them, and the certain knowledge that God in His Love gave Jesus to be born into this world

to SAVE us from our sins. Praise Him.

The photo on the right is of our daughter Elizabeth and some of the children during the 2007 Christmas time.

This week we have seen two of our children leave us. One was a 13 year old boy called Peter, who had been part of the Jacaranda Family since 2004. He had been picked up on the streets and taken to the Eldoret Rescue Centre. He was supposed to be an orphan and destitute. However the truth was that he had run away from his home three times. Recently his real birth mother had come to visit, looking for Peter. They had a very emotional meeting, and the upshot has been that they have joyfully been repatriated. Peter's mother has a Stall in Eldoret Market, and is a very pleasant and motherly lady. It was very evident that both she and peter were VERY glad to have found each other again.

The other was a girl of 13, Faith, who had been in Tyndale Cottage Family also since 2004. This was a very different case since she had come into the Homes by deceit. The grandmother had come imploring help since her daughter had died leaving a family of three, and she herself was dying. leave us.

The truth was the mother of the children was alive and well, and the plan was just made in order to find a way to get the children a place in Testimony School. Over the last year an 'aunt' had been visiting always giving Faith money or clothing before leaving. Then this year Faith has gone missing only to be found staying with this 'aunt' who now has been proved to be Faith's birth mother. Both cases were taken to the Children's Office, and after verification both cases were dealt with. Peter, as I explained, was allowed to return to live with his Mother, and Faith was also returned to her mother (she is quite financially able to care for her).

NOT EASY for us when this happens, but on the other hand we are not here to care for children who have viable home and family.

On Wednesday I attended a by-monthly meeting of the Eldoret Court Users Committee, which is an opportunity for the Magistrature to meet with heads of District Departments and others that use the Courts. I was there as a Member of the Probation & Community Service Case Committees. Always a good and constructive time, and keeps us in touch with a great deal that is going on within the Municipal and County Administrations.

Gordon and Joyce Lovering left us for Nairobi on the way to UK on Thursday. We had a lovely time with them both.

Everyone is well including Daryl and all our houseparents and the children. The RAINS? Well up to yesterday the rain continued to pour down heavily upon us, and temperature remained COLD as ice! Today the sun is shining - but still cold. Has the rain GONE? I'll tell you next week. God bless you all.

John and Esther