ASSURED BUT NOT COMPLACENT

THIS WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, a nine year old Asian girl from Class 3 of the Primary section of Testimony School, was dropped by her mother as usual, early.   She ran into her class to join others, also arrived.   Ten minutes later she was called out by another student (the class did not begin till 7.30a.m.!!)    She returned almost immediately saying she was going home again, but would be back soon - she left her school bag in the care of her friends.    She seemed excited.
Outside some five hundred yards from her classroom in the School car park, in full view of other students and arriving parents, she got into a dark blue car and drove away.      The teacher, knowing nothing of this when she arrived for the Class, marked her absent.      No one took any notice until her mother arrived to take her home at the end of the afternoon lessons.      KIDNAPPED?    YES it certainly seemed that way, and almost as soon as the child's mother arrived home, there was a phone call demanding a million shillings if the child was to be returned safe -  (about £10,000).   Panic.    We have a number of Asian children in the School, and immediately phone calls to the school by many of them saying they would take their children out; the school was not safe any more.        Nothing WE could do about that!    It had been SAFE for more than 25 years!    The Media and the TV took the event up the following day, and the School once more pounced upon as being 'insecure' and our children unsafe.     But during the evening the child vanished, her father and members of his community visited me and Esther, and we sat and discussed every facet of the matter.      We had gleaned a few more pieces of information and together we went over every thing we knew - the result being that, it was realised that the child went willingly, and therefore knew who she was going with.        There were also other clues that suggested that the assailants were themselves Asian, and may have been more than acquainted with the girl's family'

The Police Flying Squad Team were called in.         The next day went by and the child was still not found, and no further news filtered through to us.      However on Friday, just after lunch, we were advised that the girl had been restored to her parents, having been left at a well known location for the parents to pick up.  She was upset, but unharmed.       Yesterday she asked to see some of her teachers and class mates and they all went to her home.     She was anxious to return to school, and it seems she WILL  do so with the full support of her family, on Monday next.!        Was this 'kidnapping' for REAL?    Was a Ransom ever paid?  We do not know.   BUT there is a kind of feeling about it that it was almost a practical joke to provoke the child's family......or maybe to WARN them of what can happened to them..........

On our side we are SO GLAD and relieved the little girl is safe and well.    PRAYER had gone after her from the moment it was known what had happened.    God is Good!      We also appreciate so much the continuing trust and faith the family are showing to the School by being so willing for the child to return.

However we have felt concerned that maybe we COULD have done more, and certainly it is a warning to us.    We are therefore considering putting up some hidden surveillance cameras in the public areas as an added security factor -  not counting possible kidnappings, the crime is rising in  this town, so it will be a useful precaution even against theft for the future.       It is sad that life seems to become more threatening and anti-social as days go by - and not just in Eldoret!!     A sign of the times?   Certainly a sign of progressive deterioration in our world societies as a whole.    As the Word of God tells us - ' things WILL wax (get) worse and worse,'  before the END comes.      Those who trust in GOD can be assured He will watch over them, but none of us should be so complacent as to think that we can never be touched - we are all marked and pursued by the Enemy.
THE SAME DAY that this child disappeared from her classroom, the father of our Primary School Head-teacher (a local businessman) was SHOT DEAD on his way to work!!    As weeks go this one was far from peaceful, or uneventful.      It is not always like this - Thank God.

This looks GOOD !!

The BACKDROP to all these goings on remains the daily life of the Homes and School.     The School is more or less unchanging day to day, it's ebb and flow largely budgeted for from the incoming fees from the 400 or so families that send their children to school here.      Our 140 or so in and out of the classroom day by day, and the 550 from outside dropped and picked up - all in between running from class to class to the command of Bells and Buzzers to be taught by some 53 teachers.      Busy!      Not untouched by continually rising costs in relation to school needs such as food, stationary, text books, classroom equipment and son, but still able to to make ends 'just' meet, without having to consider increasing the School Fee yet.        The Homes are unable to budget because they cannot predict income at any time.    The Ebb and Flow can be higher or lower, but never constant.       On Monday of this week we had an empty Bank Account.       We were glad of our chickens, eggs, vegetables and milk.    We were able to still eat.     We had also had a gift locally, from a farmer, of Maize and Beans, so our diet, although rather unexciting, remained nourishing and filling!!    On Wednesday we heard that the Lord had encouraged some to send funds to us, and so although still waiting their arrival we were heartened by knowing that He continued to secure OUR daily lives at home.    The rains are continuing but the SUN is shining as well, and the children are happy AND safe.        This is where I throw in a few photos of EATS times.     We eat three times a day in the Homes.   Each Family enjoys the same dietary components, but please themselves as to how to prepare and present them.    Provisions are bought for a week in advance when funds allow, or a day at a time.

Micah Yego having lunch with Tyndale Family

Each Family Home is given the same items according the number eating in each house.    So Breakfast comes first of course, then Lunch, and then Supper.   Mum or Dad, or both, always sit down to eat with the children.     Not ALL the children re-act with the same delight to see food on the table in front of them as those  above - BUT all do enjoy eating, and nothing is EVER left on the plate!!!!    One of our united rules is that whatever is asked for is put on the plate, and it MUST be ALL eaten - waste not want not!!

It seems to work well.      BREAKFAST is not very heavy.   It consists of Tea or Porridge  with homemade bread, and margarine

LUNCH is always a cooked meal consisting of stewed maize and beans OR Ugali (a kind of stiff pudding made from maize flour) with stew,( or eggs, onions and tomatoes), or cabbage.    Chapatis (a thick pan cake) plus stew can also be served weekends.    SUPPER is the same but usually different to the lunch.    MEAT or CHICKEN is added twice or three times a week.

FRUIT is also bought (oranges, apples, bananas, plumbs, mangoes - whatever is available) and one per person handed out twice a week.      EVENING COCOA also usually provided mid evening before bedtime.        The House Mothers are the Cooks these days, and have their hands full, but the older children chip in at week-ends when they are home from School, and also help washing up and so on.

The menu is plain, but nourishing.       Generally we will hope to be able to spend something in the region of Ksh.400,000 per month on food - (£3,000) or £20 per person per month.  (together with the parents, there will be 150 sitting down to eat daily.  (Before we started the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry this would have cost us another £1,000 - £1500 per month!)

We give our each of our house parents £100 per month.    They have a bedroom of their own, but their children share dormitories with the others.    They are on call 24 hours a day, with one clear day off, when they are free to leave the compound or whatever they feel like doing.    They also have the usual 21 days holiday plus National Holidays, - but this has to be taken outside of school holidays.    They must clothe themselves, see to private family needs, and so on without further help from us.     This salary will be on a par to that  of a 'domestic cleaner'.     Considering that they also have to given up freedom of movement, and family privacy we feel this definitely needs a 'calling' to make it acceptable.    Sometime soon I will publish photos of each 'Dad and Mum'.

Well I am trying to fill in the background for you.     Questions and comments remain welcome.   Week by week I hope to add a little more, and maybe tell a story or two.      Hope this will keep you in the picture, and give you just a little feeling of being IN the work and ministry here together with us.     

FINALLY this week, a few photos of our rather 'rustic' green house - busily growing tomatoes.   We hope for a really good yield,  and eventually, perhaps, one day a bigger and stronger Green House to grow even MORE for us to eat.

The last of our College students have managed to go off to their respective Colleges as from yesterday.    Always feels good to know they are going on towards their final goal of being independent and able to take their own place in society.  Two teachers, one nurse, four accountants, two chefs, an electrician, and four computer technicians.   Wow.

God Bless you real good this coming week, and undertake for all your own needs, and anxieties.     We are so glad to have you with us as we pray together.    

John and Esther