ROBBERY WITH EXTORTION

THIS IS A RENDITION OF THE NOTORIOUS 'DICK TURPIN' a Highwayman of the 19th Century who used to hold up at gunpoint those travelling at night on the roads.      He was not the only one of his day, and indeed we have 'Highwaymen' even today.     Those who will stop you, and give you a choice - Your Money or your Life - which will it be.     It can be a HARD choice to ,make at times, since either way your LIFE may be at stake.

THIS WEEK, in Kenya, the Government has passed a Bill raising the VAT on essential items, and even on basic commodities never before taxed, by 16%, thus in a moment raising the basic cost of living at a time of chronic economic depression.     For the MAJORITY already living below the .Bread-line' this is as good as a modern 'Hold-up' by a modern day Highwayman.      The leader of the Opposition Party CORD, Mr. Raila Odinga, has expressed considerable concern about this action.  He is recorded in Thursday's DAILY NATION as saying -   'This tax would lead to a chain reaction in price increases.   "There is no doubt that the cost of transport will go up, farm inputs will increase and those who offer services to make the economy run will put up their costs as well.   Soon Schools will raise their fees because of the growing cost of food and other consumables, students in collages"

Mr. Oginga also critisized the move by Banis to charge Kenyans a 10% tax each time they withdraw money from their bank accounts.   This, he said had also pushed up the cost of withdrawals up.   KENYANS MAY HAVE TO KEEP THEIR MONEY UNDER THEIR MATTRESSES!!

WE certainly feel doing exactly that!   Times are TIGHT and as long as the Government pursues this kind of action then times will have get TIGHTER.      A loaf of bread is already selling in town at 85/= per loaf.  It costs US currently 55/- but FLOUR will now cost more and the spiral upwards will continue upwards and upwards until the 60% unemployable mass will be able to eat less, drink less, and clothe themselves with less.     PAY or DIE seems to be the order of the day.

BUT in reality it may well be people will DIE even if they PAY.   

This is not a policy confined to Kenya.    Governments around the world are more and more holding financial guns to the heads of their citizens in a demand for more and more money to provide less and less service.   AND as I have had to say before even CHARITIES are feeling the pinch since none of us are permitted to BE here, or provide SERVICES here unless WE pay TAXES - for everything, AND are also CHARGED for every thing as well in an effort to diminish what WE have for the poor.       More and more missionaries and other charitable bodies are leaving Kenya in order to reduce overheads paid out to the Government which could be used more effectively, and directly given, straight to the ministries the funds were originally given for.

Kenya is poorer materially than ever - and perhaps morally and spiritually as well.     BUT PRAY for the WORLD.

======================================= 

TODAY THE SUN IS SHINING,   All the windows are open, and I can hear one of the gardeners clipping away at the hedges below the window near my desk, just out of my line of vision.    The air is warm and light is everywhere of a fresh golden quality. 

A welcome change to the continuing heavy rains and lowering skies.

 

ON THURSDAY, the Area Advisory Council for Children's Inspection Team arrived to look around the Homes to see if they would recommend our Re-registration for a further three years.    There were only four of them; one from the Probation Service, one from Public Health, one from the Registry of Births and Deaths, and also the District Children's Officer for our particularly area.      It took us almost three hours to go round each of the houses and compounds.     They were all very pleasant and very appreciative of what they saw, and assured us that we would have their approval.    This, in addition to the bound 140 page Application which cost us more than forty thousand Kenya Shillings to put together and print, will be sent to Nairobi for a final decision.    Probably another month or so before we get the final Answer to say whether or not we can continue operating for a further three years.       In its own way this just another stone put in our way since it prevents us from feeling secure, and this insecurity is also passed on to the children in our care who also know that we must be reviewed every three years.     Such a procedure has only been going on for the last six years - before that we had lived in the belief that our Original Registration obtained in 1969 was a once and for all matter that could be upset only by us not keeping the laid down Regulations.

WE QUIETLY continue our daily task.    We are grateful for the PEACE of our days, and for sense of security we DO enjoy.     GOD is with us.

AND THE SYRIAN AFFAIR, hovers in the background of our thoughts.     Is THIS going to be the beginning of a wider war, a world war, THE prelude to the END?   Whilst 'prophets' worldwide are as usual predicting 'almost' certainties, we wait on God.      It seems now that the American Congress will be the factor to decide an 'attack' or not.       BUT, consider the time gone by, the lives expended, tormented, dispossessed and even KILLED.     And the more one reads the more one wonders - in all the world IS there ONE righteous man, a righteous Judge who will rule in Righteousness.      NO ONE SHINES OUT in the surrounding darkness of violence, famine, disease and other ecological disaster.     Perhaps that is because SOON the blinding LIGHT of TRUTH shall come in the Person of the ONE MAN who has all the Answers and Who alone is FIT to Govern ALL the Earth,  The One who MADE it, even Jesus.  

Be calm and be assured, He Who IS to come, WILL Come, and we who know and love Him will be found standing with him.    WHAT a DAY that will be!!

Love you all

John and Esther.