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HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH'S LATEST STAMP IMAGE..    One British Newspaper comment was to the effect that it was 'hideous', and resembles a 'bloke wearing a wig'.   Rather cruel, and quite uncalled for I feel.       Always a little difficult for an Artist to paint the truth of what he actually sees, whereas a camera, they say, never lies.     Not a 'bad' rendering though, to my way of thinking - thought not exactly her.      
SIMILARLY a new photo of Her Majesty dressed up in the Highlands did her (or the Highlands) little justice.     She looked rather as if she had been taken and placed - almost pressed - upon the scene behind her.  Her tiara or crown also seems awkwardly placed - more like a cake perhaps.   Her face also appeared to me bloated, and more like one of her ancient Hanoverian ancestors - heavy in the jowl!      I mean no disrespect to the Queen - it will have been the fault of 'light' and 'esposure' used by the photographer.        I did not like this photo.    To me it was just not Queen Elisabeth, and not her way.     But she must have agreed to it........     As a photo it seemed a bit pompous and outdated, and rather an 'imposition' on the landscape -  some 'nationalistic' Scot might say on the Nation as well, though quite unnecessarily so.       As a boy, and long before I could lay any claim to being in any way Scottish, I was on the side of the Jacobites, and would undoubtedly have followed Bonny Prince Charlie........yes and probably would still - though without any real rancour or bitterness against Her Majesty.      ANYWAY this particular photo -in all its scenic grandeur and histrionic import just did not ring true to me.       I AM a monarchist, and I respect the Crown of England AND of Scotland, but this was not, as a photo in my opinion, either inspiring or encouraging to my pride or gladness in my Head of State.     Too bad - BUT there are really great pictures to be found that reveal a Woman of strength of character, Christian tenacity and a kind heart.      Not sensational pictures but REAL.

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A WEEK HAS PASSED  here in Kenya.       On Monday Daryl and I met with the School Administration, and also with the students involved in the 'Testi-Leak' story I regaled you all about last Saturday.      The parents of those students were also with us.    It took some time to unravel everything,but finally the culprits were identified and confessed their faults.   Two were exonerated by any real evil and permitted to return to School.        The prime culprit refused to apologize for any of his actions and was duly asked to leave the School.      His friend and assistant was one of our own boys from Jacaranda Cottage.     He apologized very fully and sincerely, but was also expelled from the School.    BOTH are in their final High School Year, and both will be permitted to return and sit the National Certificate of Secondary Education later in November.      All the Course Work has been completed and so the remaining months will be REVISION.      They have been permitted the use of their text books, since both are very bright academically we feel they still have a chance to perform well in the Examination.      We also hope they will consider their actions and to learn from them.

The School together with ourselves felt that we had to send these two out of School since they had been so injurious in their actions towards two members of the teaching staff - to remain in class even with apology would have only caused further discomfort and even disruption.      The parents concerned agreed and supported the outcome.

Micah and Senge Yego

THREE weeks ago one of our 14 year old girls - part of the Tyndale Cottage Family - ran away on a Saturday afternoon.     We reported the matter to the Police.      After a week we were tipped off by an employee of a friends of ours that she had been seen in a 'slummy' area of town, and that he thought we could be shown the very house where she was staying.       That evening we sent a vehicle and a small team and she was in fact found and brought back to us.      She was discovered alone in a dirty room in the midst of drug addicts and alcoholics.      She was dirty and had lost a lot of weight.   She seemed almost in a hypnotic state and all she wanted was to be taken BACK where we had found her.

The following day we took her to the Children's Office - she had broken her Court Order by running away, and she was now Arrested and Remanded whilst an ongoing investigation continued to look into the matter of exactly WHO had stolen her away.  The young man (21) was found and is also arrested.     Mercy spent a fortnight in Remand.      She spent it very uncomfortably.      She finally came to Court once more on Friday, and although she had stubbornly requested to return to where she had been found, she NOW pleaded to return home to us and to School.     The Magistrate therefore has returned her to us conditionally.    If she runs again she will be transferred to Approved School or Corrective Detention.       Much Prayer has gone up and is continuing to go up for her.

Poor Micah and Senge have really suffered,worrying about her, and all the family with them.   They are glad to see her home, but obviously her coming home is also fraught with risks.    

We see CHANGES in the society around us; changes in the attitudes of children sent to us, AND in those that attend the School.    Children's Rights as being presented by the UN and our Social Services are now reaping their reward - it is not in the best interest of our world society.   Taken with the changes in family life and in ex education and values there is little doubt things will worsen.  What WILL the next generation be like?

NEXT WEEK we hope to have progress on the Task Force for Street Children, AND the opening of the new Swimming pool.       There is progress.     There are inroads being made against the Enemy here, BUT he is VERY busy it seems, and we would ask you to join us in Rebuking the Devil in his efforts to affect the work here in every way.       Esther and I both feel, looking back, that we now are facing the worst opposition and challenge to this ministry in all previous years, both internally and externally.        We are not alarmed - but we have now come to the place of STANDING our ground immovably, refusing to giving to ANY of the Enemies Fiery Darts.

We are praying as I always tell you - for YOU.

Lovingly in the Lord Jesus Christ
 

John and Esther & Daryl and Carol.