ODDS AND BODS!!

THESE ARE NOT our children.   They are not part of Testimony Faith Homes - but they ARE orphans and homeless children from Kenya.
According to the Director of Children's Services in Kenya, there are still 2.6 million homeless, and destitute children in Kenya needing help.  Recently  the Department was desperately appealing to Charities to HELP them find places for them all!
The said they were themselves, 'overwhelmed' by the problem.
Just a few months later we have read that the Government (through the Children's Department) has actually CLOSED DOWN more than 40 Children's Homes - ten of them in our own area.    This is NOT encouraging.      The REASON for closure is given as 'having not complied with the Rules and Regulations for running such Homes.'    And these Regulations are reasonable, but also very demanding  in ways that have increased the general overhead costs needed to administer such Homes.    The Government needs help, but wants to ensure charities pay out more in Taxes and other extra fees.

The most pressing problem for the Government has been that of 'Street Children'.    These are children aged between 3 and 17 who are living on and from the streets of the urban towns.   They are not generally 'orphans' but merely runaways from their homes and the poverty in which they live there.     It has been stated very recently that there are more than 2000 in Eldoret!       I cannot confirm this figure, and I believe it to be seriously inflated.

However, it is true that the numbers are increasing nation wide, and that they pose a threat to society.  They are basically not looking for work, but for food to support their lives and habits which include Glue Sniffing (which exposes their brain to damage), sexual promiscuity and prostitution (which increases HIV/AID exposure), and general misdemeanour such as theft, muggings, and vandalism (which removes security for the city dweller).
NOT a group easy to mix up with other children who have not been exposed to such an existence or to such lifestyle.      They ARE needy, and require assistance and serious consideration, but of a very specialised nature when it comes to institutionalism.       THUS the majority of Children's Homes do not open their doors to the 5% that may be orphans amongst them unless they are under 6 years old, and free of the entrenched ani-social habits that might affect the other children that are innocent of them.

The GOVERNMENT see these children as the ones to concentrate on.    So far they have given (or funds from the UN have given) some Ksh.4.4 billion in the current year towards finding foster homes for some of these children - providing 150,000 families with two thousand shillings every two months to care for ONE such child, (not nearly enough).      Regretfully it is still reported that some 30% of those so placed return to the street within one year.
BUT Street Children are not the majority of the 2.6 million cited as being in need.   These are infants and youngster orphaned by AIDS - their parents having died, and their relatives having backed away.    Children who for the most part do not have HIV or AIDS themselves.     These are the ones, together with others, victim of some other calamity, that fill the 500 or so Children's Homes in the Country, and the more  apparently are still awaiting help.......
In the last EIGHTEEN months Testimony Faith Homes have not been ASKED by the Children's Department to take ANY child in to any of its four Homes.     This year we have had available space, but it seems there are no children in need around us.      Other Homes are experiencing the same anomaly.     WHY?   Where have the 2.6 million gone to?    Not to the Government Scheme; not into the 500 already fully Homes.    So where are they.      Is the government lying - or are children now up for sale - are they being trafficked into labour and sex abuse?    OR is it that the Government is so intent on 'clearing the streets' that it is forgetting the others?  Speaking to the newly Appointed Children's Coordinator for this County's Children's Office, he had nothing to say!    Very worrying.
What is going on - what does the future hold.

MEANWHILE Testimony School is on holiday for two weeks.     All the children attending it, apart from our own are away.      But work is continuing on their current project which is to build a Boys Boarding Hostel for the Secondary section of the School.     This is expected to accommodate some 60 boys and to thus encourage external applications for students to attend the School who live at a distance.    The School has been increasingly improving its academic image and reputation,  and it is believed a second stream of secondary could be now put in place.

So far the foundation for the Hostel has been laid and walling will soon commence.    It will initially be a one storey building but with the the provision of adding another floor later if needed for further development.

Last Term the School's Swimming Classes had to be curtailed as the Pool they were using some six kilometres away closed down due to needed repairs.     This made them consider whether or not the School could have its own pool, and we, as the management, were approached by parents about it.

The only available land is within the compound of Testimony House.    The Homes children would of course benefit from a swimming pool, and such a facility could also be rented out to other Schools for their use, thus at least paying for its upkeep and continuance.        We have therefore agreed with the School to go ahead, and see whether or not - by a Bank Loan - they might go ahead and build.    Those who know our compound will notice that the Hostel is situated just above the Basket Ball Court - this in turn would also give way to the proposed Pool, and the Basket-Ball to be re-located elsewhere.

THIS WEEK has seen the Senior Greens celebrate their 41st Wedding Anniversary together, and also Esther's 68th Birthday which was yesterday in fact. (Esther blowing her candles out to the left).    We have yet again looked back with Thankfulness to God for all the good years we have been given together.    And yes they were ALL good years, even those when we had to combat each others character flaws and individualism.   He stood with us and helped to make it a strong, resilient, and profitable marriage - to and for both of us, and our children.

It IS a miracle in our sight.       We are both well, strong and alert.     We are both busy and happy.

ALSO we are still challenged, and often beset by many unexpected problems and situations that come from being involved with more than a hundred staff and 150 children - and this even though 'officially' we are retired and hold no Office.      Just being here within reach of everyone and everything makes us part and parcel of it still - it has been good for us- it has prevented us from both feeling like an elderly pair of horses with nothing to do but eat grass all day.     God is Good.

Joshua (now much better) and Miriam Mbithi came to supper with us at Green Cottage on the 14th which was our Wedding Anniversary.     It was their own 27th Anniversary on the 10th, so it seemed appropriate to get together and celebrate together.    We had a really good time.    They are hoping to go up to Nairobi soon to get their Visas for Australia.      Daryl will be doing the same for himself and Carol.    Then they will be all set to travel together on the 23rd September.

Thank You Notes will soon go out again for the latest Love Gifts received, and we thank you all with all our hearts for each of you that have prayed and supported in any way over these last months. Months that were indeed full of challenge day by day for us.       

God Bless and be with you all

John and Esther