WHO IS GETTING WHAT, out of sight?

EXTINCT BY AGREEMENT ? - Tacitly ?

VERY RECENTLY we were told that the East African Elephant will become EXTINCT in just a few years time - given the increased incident of 'poaching' for IVORY.    In Kenya this is an excessive factor of life - not only relative to the Elephant but also the already seriously endangered Rhinoceros.      Recently, too, the Kenya Government has Agreed an offer by the Chinese Government to rebuild our Railway Services; thousands of Chinese are already flooding the Country in preparation, and alongside this.....but what is the COST going to be.    There IS always a cost to everything - in this case the continuing existence of the Elephant +.      YESTERDAY IN OUR DAILY PRESS, one headline read -

CHINESE INVOLVED IN ALL OF AFRICA'S

IVORY SMUGGLING

The Report based on the findings of a U.S. Charity known as Born Free USA, states that 'Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the Port of Mombasa are major conduits for illegal ivory that drives the multi-million dollar global trade.'    Further on in the Report we read - 'East Asian nationals and in particular, the Chinese, are cited as the masterminds of the modern ivory trade.    The scale of this we found in our investigation was shocking.   Chinese traffickers are present in virtually EVERY single African range state and operate nearly every point along the ivory supply chain.'

It may well be that the Chinese influence on the Kenya economy may well cost the Country even more than was ever extracted by its old colonial exploiters!       We should take stock, and care, about where Kenya is being led.     Our biggest income derives form Tourism which itself is basically dependant on the dwindling Wild Life available.     What will happen when there is none left?     CHINA has long been pushed to exploit others purely and simply because it is a GROWING nation that needs MORE than it has within its own boundaries to support itself and its own national appetites.     One of those 'appetites' as an increasing desire for Ivory and for the Horn of the Rhinoceros!

SO SAD, though.   SO sad!      GOD put Man in Charge of His Creation, NOT to destroy it but to KEEP it safe and stable.     Yes, He also made it clear that Man could USE what God had provided and made for his own NEEDS but not for his own enrichment and aggrandisement.      We are CARETAKERS, and we are supposed to ensure nothing is used or damaged thoughtlessly or selfishly..     We are a LONG way from doing what God wants with our lives, even in this respect..      No longer are we 'miserable offenders'  doing our best to accommodate the God we have offended, but in the main humanity are a  race of 'happy sinners', living just for ourselves.

45 YEARS AGO THIS SATURDAY, Testimony Faith Homes began.
NOT in the house pictured to the right.   Nevertheless in many ways it IS this House known today as Testimony House, that the work really came together and was finally established.    HOME to many, including our very own, that all came to live under its roof and identified as Family.   It was born out of a concept that 'Children who had lost home and family' needed to have them restored.     Thus each of our homes, as they were founded, were based on 'FAMILY'   -  boys and girls together under one roof  with a married couple with them, caring for them as Mother and Father.    It worked out well, and for the most part incoming children seemed to respond fairly well to the idea.  They quickly became absorbed into their 'family'     BUT over the last ten years we have seen changes, both in new children being admitted to the Homes, AND to those already with us.  What initially seemed so easily accepted, has more lately been questioned, and a more 'AWARE' attitude has begun to arise especially where boys and girls no longer accept each other as brother and sister, but realise their individuality and Independence from one another.       This has been due to greater influence from the Media, and even from their progressive mixing with their peers in School, from outside in the neighbourhood.    This has affected discipline in the Homes, and also opened new perspectives in how the children see each other sexually.  
This has been being noticed and considered internally for the last five years in particularly, and at the same time we see that the Children's Department is also taking note generally of this 'change' and encouraging new attitudes relative to caring for boys and girls together.

THUS CURRENTLY  there may be a sense of CHANGE in the air.     We shall be coming together as a Management and Staff to discuss this and other relative aspects in the near future.      One of the immediate things will be to consider separating Boys from Girls in our four Homes.      We shall consider possibly using ONE home for GIRLS only, and putting BOYS into the remaining THREE homes.      This would be quite a BIG change in policy, and would also initially be difficult for the children to adjust to.       We think it could happen even so, and there is no doubt that there will be a change of policy.     This would make a difference to our 'Family' idea.    We would still run each home AS a Family, but no 'brothers and sisters' together in one family entity.
We need you to pray about this with us over the next weeks.      We shall not leave it long to finally ACT.   If not segregation there WILL have to be changes of attitude in discipline and the kind of co-operation we would expect from our houseparents.        Very often petty theft, and instances of immorality and deceit occur in a Home, but the houseparents instead of sharing it with us as management and seeking council, decide to deal with the matter privately within their 'family'.       This has meant that serious neglect of moral behaviour has gone on unnoticed by us as Management, and tacitly undealt with in the Home.      We feel this has to be DEALT with so that REAL supervision and parental care can go hand in hand with what is required of  by the Ministry itself, as it stands on God's Word for Christ.       I am sure you will perceive that this will mean that all aspects of how each Home will now function are in for a careful revision.

ESTHER AND I expect to continue to interact with Daryl, as Director, and with all those sharing the work here in Testimony, and in doing so to assist where we can in council and even practical ways to carry the Ministry forward into a new Chapter.       Otherwise all things continue, and there is no sense of unrest or disturbance in our day to day activities and way of life here.

RECENTLY I came across a book written in the 50's - a Christian Book.    I found it interesting, thought provoking and challenging.       In some ways not an easy 'style' of writing,,,,but nevertheless still VERY relevant for today for any Christian endeavouring to walk more truly with Christ in a very unchristian world.
It is entitled Letters to a Diminished Church     (Passionate Arguments for the Relevance of Christian Doctrine.) by DOROTHY SAYERS.     If you can find it it IS well worth the read.

Most of the Family and Friends recently staying with are back in their own homes, with the exception of our Son Michael and his wife and child.    They are with Janet's Family for a week, and then Mike will join us for a few more days before returning to the UK.     It has been a very wonderful and amazing time.   God truly Blessed us all.

May God be Close and REAL to each one of you, dear and precious as you all, each one, is to us.

John land Esther & Daryl and Carol