TYNDALE - An Eye-opener!

THIS WEEK IS DEVOTED TO THE VISIT OF TYNDALE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL .......I have been putting up photos for the last few weeks, but now that they have reached the Half-way point in their Visit, I just wanted to give an overview of what they are doing, and how they are assisting us.       Each student, AND their teachers, come prepared to work at whatever might be needed to be done at the time - cleaning, painting, carpentry work, road works - whatever we might put in their way.    They usually find this needing all their energy and sometimes endurance.    They also come with a CASH donation to the needs of the Homes.    To achieve all this, AND fly themselves to and fro they take on jobs in out of school time to provide their individual expected expenditure inclusive of travel, board and lodging and everything else along the way.   No mean feat or accomplishment.     Over their twelve or so visits to us they have contributed a lot financially, and in labour, and often material improvements.  In regard to the latter for example they have at one time or another, put down a Basketball Court, equipped and converted a room in the School as a First Aid Clinic to serve the children in the School and the Homes, provided Baking Equipment for our Bakery, and built both a new Milking Station for our cows, and set up a Poultry Centre ....... to name but a few endeavours to improve our lives here.     Indeed Tyndale School have done more than adopt us, they have become one family with us.

THIS year is achieving no less in such encouragement and real help.      One member of their staff alone has through her own endeavour been able to provide a Gift of 137 mattresses to replace our own worn out ones (last year she purchased about 17 new wooden bunk beds + mattresses.)    She roped in a lot of friends to make this possible back in Australia before she came of course - but what a tremendous God-send it has been for us.       Things like bedding tend to wear away almost unnoticed at times.       And for the most of this past week each one has been engaged once more in painting, cleaning, and repair and reclamation, generally, in every one of the FOUR HOMES,    BUT, in addition some have been busy building a stand of seating for spectators attending the Pool.   Others have been at NEEMA helping to erect a Milking Station for them.     A face lift, and something new!
AND before they leave this time they want us to sit down with them and work a strategic plan for the next four or five years!!     Surely their enthusiasm must come from God alone.


TO THE LEFT is part of the NEW Dairy that Tyndale erected last year (2013).   It is situated opposite Tyndale Cottage, our of the photo, on the left of the driveway.
When it was built we had three milkers and two calves.
But in September one of the milkers died and our milkman was found to be both dishonest and careless. We thought it wise to close the Dairy until we could find a reliable and more qualified man to be care for the cows.
SO we sold off the remaining animals.     It has laid dormant until now.     BUT once more, and with the help of the Tyndale Team, we are again opening it up.  Just yesterday we received TWO good milkers and they seem to have settled quickly in.     We have a new Dairyman, and we have this time provided a nice house for him so that he can ever be close by.

Both our new cows are in calf - one expecting in September and the other in November,   They had just arrived yesterday when this photo was taken. Please do pray with us that the LORD will take good care of them through our newly appointed and recommended Dairyman,     They are expected to provide some 27 litres each daily, and this will let ALL our children have plenty of milk.
They DO NOW, but we have to pay some 90 shillings a litre which is a heavy daily cost.  We also have a good stand of Napier Grass planted and doing well which will help with feeding.

The Dairyman's house was originally on the Testimony House side, on the other side of the main road behind it.    It was first of all provided by Miss Dorothy Wild from Edmonton, Canada, years ago in  1978.     There was a second house exactly the same which she also provided and we called the site where they were 'Wild End'.    That 2nd house is now moved to the School and is used as a Workshop for the Maintenance Team.    They have served us well, and will continue to do so God Willing.      Daryl has worked on the Dairyman's House recently, and had it repainted and provided with indoor toilet/shower, with running waster, and electricity.  The two rooms will be used as one bedroom / sitting and dining, and kitchen.    Small but accommodating.
The BAKERY and the POULTRY are both doing well, and we are planning to expand both projects before the end of the year.     AND the vegetable gardens continue to yield a good supply of fresh greens every day.

THE RAINS HAVE come at last! Very Late, but in some respects still welcome.    The temperature has also dropped - but our Visitors still in good spirits and indomitably continuing to work most of every day.      A party of them have been touching up the paintwork on the exterior of Drakely Cottage    It looks VERY nice now.    This house is at the top end of the Jacaranda Compound.
AND, OF COURSE they also spend a good amount of time with the children, playing and interacting in many different ways - perhaps next Saturday I will include more photos to round off their Trip for this year,      Esther and I have not been very involved in all that is going on.    Daryl has on the other hand been responsible for making sure everything goes as smoothly as possible, and has been up and down to town and in and out, here and there throughout the week.     He is a very pragmatic and active person, so it suits him well to be up and doing rather than desk bound.       I am the more desk bound as I continue to shoulder the duties of general secretary, and Esther is up and abounding in keep a check on teaching standards and classroom discipline in her official current duty within the School as Standards Officer.
TONIGHT eleven staff and other adults that are part of the Tyndale School Team will be having a buffet supper with us in Green Cottage.     We look forward to good fellowship,    

God Bless you all.     We do hope you do not tire of hearing our small happenings.     YOU are, in our own minds and hearts, truly so bound up in all that happens that we could not think of not trying to share as much as we can with you.       Every Blessing for this coming week.

John and Esther & Daryl and Carol.