ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL, ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL.

THIS IS A KENYAN STRIPED SKINK! Some people might run from them, others might go further and seek to even kill them.   Others, like me, will enjoy their quiet presence, and learn to appreciate their work in keeping the garden free of pests, such as slugs, snails, Beatles and flies.
There is a fairly large colony of Skinks living on the north east side of Green Cottage.    They love to sun themselves on the rough cut volcanic blocks of the wall.     If disturbed suddenly they will make a dive for the metre high hedge below.
They probably live in small burrows or tunnels below the hedge, making themselves fairly safe from predators.    They also like our front, east facing veranda, which they patrol quite frequently, looking for insects as they enjoy the warm and sheltered sun during early mornings.   Our largest are about eight inches long, and although still quick of movement, are much slower than the younger ones.    They are not poisonous, and in no way dangerous.      Their bold presence with me as, I sit and read on the veranda, gives ME a sense of peace and safety.      Generally mid brown in colour with two light vertical stripes running to the base of their tails, they are in their own way quite attractive and admirable.       One or two manage to find their way through the front door into our sitting room, but I have not found them further inside the house.     They are of course related to the LIZARD family.     As a small boy in southern England I used to play with the English species, and had one or two regular pets among them as well.

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IT HAS BEEN RAINING quite a lot this week.   TORRENTIALLY at times!     A few LEAKS here and there in various roof spots relative to at least TWO of our Homes, but so far nothing too serious.

The lawns have grown apace, and so today they are being MOWED even though everywhere is still quite wet.      Some months ago the Kenya Meteorological Office warned the nation it would experience a in inverted El Nino, which would produce heavy rains through to December!!   Very unseasonable.      YESTERDAY the Met toned down their Warning.    They are now talking about 

'flash floods and disease outbreaks'  to say the least.  Their full Report amplifies this to -

'Flash floods, lightning strikes, 

disease outbreaks, water scarcity, poor pasture

and slippery roads are some of the problems Kenyans will grapple with

.......together with the likelihood of a 'weak' El Nino.'

Sounds rather unsavoury altogether

An eventful week?

Well it began with a visit from Pastor and Mrs. SPEED from Westhoughton Pentecostal Church in the U.K.    It was a very brief visit ending on Monday when they were to fly down to Nairobi Bible College.    We had a good time of fellowship with them.     Their flight from Eldoret was timed for 7.40p.m. but the plane was delayed twice until it was finally CANCELLED at 10.30p.m.    They had been, by then, at the Airport for four hours.    Apparently the Flight had gone first to Kisumu from Nairobi.   Once there it was first said to be 'delayed' then in 'need of repair' and finally immobilised! More then ten people waiting in Eldoret missed their onward flights from Nairobi.   Well, rather chilled and tired they returned to us for the night, and finally left the following morning. This time they did finally arrive and seem to be going on well.       We have about three different Airlines serving our "INTERNATIONAL" mini airport.      TWO of them do circular services from Nairobi to Kisumu, on to Eldoret, and back to Nairobi.    BOTH have become VERY unreliable, and thus rather frustrating.       Certainly Eldoret's Airport is very undeserving of the title INTERNATIONAL,   It remains a very 'domestic' and rather 'uncertain service'.

THE HOMES TOYOTA VOXY, our only truly serviceable vehicle, was also off the road this week.

This was mentioned two Saturdays back.    Wonderfully the needed funds to repair everything were donated by an old member of Testimony House who has been visiting us and others during the last week and a half.     Hendrika came to us in 1975, when she was about five years old.    She is now a Business Woman in Colarado, U.S.A.      The engine is now back in the Voxy, but it is still being tested over the week-end to ensure all is well.      Thank you Hendrika for your loving heart.

ANTHONY NDUNGU, who has been Director for Testimony School, upon the resignation of our Primary Head, is leaving his office to take over, at least for the immediate future, the post of Primary Headmaster.      Standards have not been what we have wanted over the last eighteen months and we all feel that Anthony is the one who can reverse this effectively.        I shall be moving into HIS old Office next door to Daryl's, as General Secretary (Acting).      Daryl has agreed that all this is for the good, and is himself talking about a visit to friends in Germany, and maybe a trip to the U.K. next year in the Autumn.      SO life here continues, and a lot of possibilities for the future - IF THE LORD DELAYS..........I so wish He would COME right now.

OUR SON Michael, wife Janet and son Liam arrived to be with us on Thursday of this week.  They had gone down to Nairobi to visit with Jan's parents for a few days.  Great to have them with us again.    Liam at one year is crawling well, and almost to walk.    Big privilege to have him, and them all,     Should be with us for about a week before Mike flies back to UK.    Janet may stay with her folks a little, and perhaps also have another visit with us, before SHE also flies back to UK. with Liam.     Liam is a BIG boy, and very noisy and active.     Mike is flying home to commence WORK, but it may also be a kind of rest - without Liam - if only for a short time!!!        All the rest of the family, AND Hendrika, that were visiting with us have returned safely to their homes.   We have missed them already.

WELL, suddenly the sky is pure BLUE once more, and the rain has receded.    What a difference the SUN makes.      Continue to pray on for us all here, dear friends.    Every day is, for all of us, wherever we are, a new day of adventure and challenge.     Thank God for His unspeakable GIFT to us all - the GIFT of Confidence and Assurance that walks on with us in CHRIST JESUS.

God Bless and be with you always

John and Esther. Daryl and Carol.