IN THE NAME OF JESUS

MY FIRST CHRISTMAS IN KENYA was spent in MASENO western Kenya,   During that occasion I experienced a quite disturbing event.   I had not been in the Country many days, and was living in an old and fairly large colonial house with one other person.   Let me include here what I wrote then in 1968.
'It happened that my bedroom in that large house in Maseno, was also the Office for the Mission I  worked for
(Trinity Fellowship).  It was about30 feet square,     with one side given entirely to french windows.  My bed was on the opposite side, cosely set in a corner out of the way of the three desks, where accounts and correspondence was done.  The walls were hung with large sheets of soft -board on which were pasted ordinance survey maps of the immediate district.   They were hung all around the three sides of the room by thick copper wiring, suspended from nails firmly set in the walls.
Every morning I was woken up with a cup of tea by an African servant who just walked in, woke me up, and left the tea by my bedside.     I did not want to be disturbed so early and asked him not to come, and not to knock - as he usually did -.as part of the 'wake-up' procedure my co worker had laid down.      SO on Boxing Day morning (the first day after my instructions) I was not expecting him.
In fact I had even turned the key in my lock so that he could not get in.    We had a busy day and both my friend and I retired to our seperate bedrooms quite early - about 10p.m., and I was soon asleep.  Suddenly I found myself half awake, and with the sure conviction that the door had opened and that someone was in my room.    It was still dark outside, and no light filtered in through the french widows which were of course also shut.     I began to say drowsily that I didn't want any tea......IMMEDIATELY the whole room erupted into frightening noise and activity!   Dull thumps and  LOUD crashes resounded all around the room, and something enormous and heavy seemed to jump upon my bed!~
I remember screaming 'Murder!....MURDER! Oh God help me!  JESUS!    Then I heard myself shouting even more in a language I could not determine - I was shouting out in 'tongues'!     SILENCE!    A stillness so intense and profound that I dared hardly breath.    My heart was pounding, a cold sweat was upon my face!       The light-switch was on the far wall near the door.............'
well, there was no one in the room, the door was still shut and locked!    ALL the Boards with the Maps had fallen down - all at the same time, and one on my bed.    On examination each board's wire seemed to have been CUT in the same placed.    I was still shaking!    I felt if God had not been so quickly there to keep me sane I may well have left Kenya the next day.....Some years later I found out that the previous owners of the house had left it because they believed it had what they called an 'Evil Spirit'.      After I left it became a Night Club and within months burned down.       All this happened before God called me to care for children.   It had its place as part of my preparation for all that has come to pass since.      Had I turned tail and fled from what happened that night Testimony Faith Homes would never have come to pass; I would not have met Esther, or had any of my wonderful family.

WE HAVE HAD A GOOD CHRISTMAS, AND A BLESSED ONE.    Just to see our children happy, fed and entering into this time of Celebration has been a real JOY.        Yes Christmas has come to us here, and now is almost past but for the Christmas Tree.       Our Guests, Ian and Diana

Hogley and Hendrika Natal will be leaving soon - Hendrika on Sunday, and the Hogleys on Tuesday, I think.    It has been good to have them with us, and we hope they will have also enjoyed themselves.       BOXING day we thought the RAIN would come to spoil everything, but no - the LORD held back the clouds and everyone was swimming and pic-nicking as usual - a great day.    Daryl was especially responsible for the success of this day, and put himself into it heart and soul!    Carol and the family also joined with us all.    It was a VERY happy and satisfying time.  Now we have to think of School opening on the 6th January and getting every ready and geared up for the new Term.       A LOT to do, but it WILL all get done, as always.
All by God's Grace.

BUILDING HAS CONTINUED on usual working days.     There has been some rain, but this seems not to upset anything, and now the trenches are finished to hold the foundation work.   THEN the SLAB......Things look good.

The Sun is shining again today, and our children, not tired of water, are again swimming, this time in our own pool.    Still a bit chilly though, with a brisk breeze blowing from the east.   But our pool is sheltered on all sides and is always quite warm - helps keep the water bearable.      And tomorrow is Sunday once more, and this week one of our senior boys from Jacaranda, Mariko Epa will be speaking........

Our very best wishes to you all, in the hope that you will have also been Blessed.      Much love to you all in Jesus Name, and Thanks to all who sent US Greetings, and who helped to make OUR Christmas SO happy.       One dear sister and friends donated almost 200 sausages!        And we also received more than five goats from local friends and well wishers - including TWO from the Vice President!!  The Lord moved hearts to provide great and small needs, and we are all so very grateful.

Always in the Love and Mercy of Jesus Christ



John, Esther, Daryl and all our staff.

LAYING A LEGEND - REMOVING A MYTH?

LAST WEEK, I put up a photo of the cutting down of four trees on this compound, the compound of Jacaranda Cottage.      TODAY (Friday 19th December) the Earth Movers moved in and initialy flattened an area we want to build on.  Yes, this will be the place for the NEW Jacaranda Cottage to be built.   It will be exactly opposite the OLD house.  We can see part of the front of that house.

Here is another view showing, on the mid right, the breeze block end of the house built in 1979.   We may keep this area comprising about a third of the old house - maybe to build on later.    The left hand part of the house, with pointed corrugated roofing is expected to come down completely, and the ground it covers grassed over.      The driveway is between the old and new, and is also due for re-siting, in order not to crowd the fronts of either side. The two small photos show Tyndale Cottage,  and also the side of Drakeley Cottage.  Both cottages are on the same side of the Compound, with the New Jacaranda in the middle.
The three houses will bring a total population of 140 children plus six resident staff.
BUT WHY are we wanting to pull the old house down?   And why have we consistantly prayed that the Lord would help us to do so?    Many reasons -
First the house is very dark and gloomy.    Built in the early part of the 20th Century of sun-baked mud brick and wattle, it was badly planned and resulted in an inconvenient arrangement of rooms not easy to keep track of.   The widows are few and small.
Secondly the roof leaks is and not well put together, with too many gullies, joints, and precipices which induce the rain to gain pressure ant put strain everywhere.    Constant repair and redecoration is needed. 
The THIRD reason is rather tenuous, but perhaps the most important one.     Someone may have been murdered, even buried somewhere under the floor of the mud-brick part of the house comprising most of the bedrooms, and sitting room of the house.      The original owner's husband suddenly disappeared - and strong rumour had it that in a furious quarrel the wife killed her husband and buried him in the house.
Certainly there has been a lot of unrest in the house between houseparents and children over the years, and on many occasions we had to enlist pastoral help to come in and pray seriously in each room in an effort to bring peace to the house.     Miriam and Joshua who were the longest to stay (19 years) felt there was some evil influence in the house.      We can PROVE nothing factually, but we have to accept that something -  circumstantially - is not quite right about the place both before and since we bought in 1975.
        We hope that in LEAVING it and ceasing to live in it, peace will come to it, and the gloom will lift from the family for ever.  

AND TODAY, SATURDAY, 20TH December 2014, our friends, Ian and Diana Hogley having arrived yesterday, we held a 'Ground Breaking' and  Dedication Ceremony' on the site of the new building.   Almost ALL the children from the four homes were present, together with houseparents.    Daryl was also there as Director of TFH, myself,
Esther and Ian and Diana.     We crowded at the edge of the site, as we sang two hymns and then opened with Prayer.      Then it was for me to introduce Ian to tell us a little about how the Funds to build the new house had come about.     Just a year before he and Diana had brought friends with them on their visit to us.     They were Stuart and Janet Brown.   They stayed for a few days with us, and walk around TFH missing nothing, and somehow impressed by all they saw.     They are also involved in a Charitable Trust Fund in the UK,,,,,,,and the result was that we received an offer of help to provide us with a NEW Jacaranda Cottage.       Today we all Thanked you, Stuart and Janet AND all those involved with the Trust who together have felt led to answer a long time Prayer.
Ian gave a short word based on Luke 6v46-49 and then Diana read a Blessing for the NEW House -

'THIS is a place of New Beginnings!

Let us acknowledge the past with thankful hearts.

The home is a place of welcome,celebration, meeting, joy and sorrow;

a place of rest and peace & a place of work.

WE ask Your Blessing

on everyone and everything that passes through this home.

THEN Ian and Diana, on behalf of the Kirby Trust and Stuart and Janet Brown stepped onto the site, to break the ground!      They had not realized that they would do this whilst occupying an Earth Shifter!!   It really delighted us all, especially the children, to see them accomplishing this feat.        AND so the real WORK has begun, the work of building.        All GLORY be to God.

Right now the weather is VERY HOT and DRY, with a lot of dust in the air.     The TOWN is choc a block with people and traffic and not a place any might choose to be.       But all is peaceful and full of good cheer. 

An unexpected posse of Esther's cousins and aunts arrived last night at 11.15p.m  - on the way to a Wedding and needing overnight accommodation.    Finally all got to bed at 1.15a.m.     They suggested, whilst saying goodbye this morning, that we might see them again this evening!!    Thus is our relaxed way of life.   People coming and going all the time.       House Decorations also going up slowly since yesterday - we try not to commence Christmas BEFORE the 18th December as the commercial and media worlds try to encourage us.      Christmas is about JESUS, and the DAY he was born.       Not about months of trade, ending in 'Black Fridays'.

God Bless you all as you go about your business and family arrangements through the coming Week.   We shall be thinking of you all,     Our sitting room wall are decorated with your Cards,  and our Tree is in place.
Just TWELVE DAYS and it will all be past.       School will almost be opening, and a NEW year will begin.
Be all at Peace, and full of calm contemplation as you enter this time of rejoicing for Jesus Sake

Lovingly to you all,

John, Esther and Daryl Green

KEEP BUSY FOR ME - TILL I COME

WORK HAS BEGUN making ready for the building of the NEW Jacaranda Cottage.   The house on the right is Tyndale Cottage; the new house will be just halfway between Tyndale and Drakelely which is out of sight to the left of the photograph.    The picture was taken from just in front of the existing Jacaranda Cottage.     FOUR tree have had to be cut down, and the hard job of getting their ROOTS up and out of the ground will commence next week.     Their felling has left the compound looking bare and barren.      Three Jacaranda trees and one Fir, had to give way to the building plan as otherwise - if left standing - they would have been in danger of falling on the house.     Always sad to see them go, non the less, but we shall be replanting.         The Foundation is already marked out, and soon as our guests arrive from Huddersfield in the UK we shall have a short Ground Breaking Ceremony after which serious building works will commence.      Everyone very excited and the children wanting to see some new development now every day.

IN September 1985 we started to build Testimony School, the other side of the road in Testimony House Compound.    There was a stand of giant Blue-gum Trees, more than a dozen standing just where we proposed to build.      My Diary records the day they came down.
"CRASH.     A slow tormented creaking, and rending filled the air.
WHOOSH!   A hundred foot Blue-gum tree crashed unwillingly to the ground, and the ground grunted at the impact, a hollow THUD stopping the heart for a moment of time.   That tree I reckoned had stood for a good seventy years, one of a family of maybe twenty or so.   Great GIANTS that watched over the house and gardens protecting them from the prevailing wind.    But they stood in the path of progress, and exactly where we proposed to build the Primary School God had put on our minds.      I felt a tremor of sorrow as I watched that first tree fall, and surveyed its broken glory, inert and grounded in front of me.   Only minutes before it had stood majestically, almost indestructibly permanent in its image, and so proudly anchored in the earth, head in the heavens, confident of wind and birds.   History was in every inch of their growth; beauty in every curve of branch and trunk.   I felt an almost guilty pity for the tree and its fellows.      But the School had to be built.    And all the trees were sacrificed for it." 

Alfred Joice Kilmer 1886-1918

               TREES           

I think that I shall never see 
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast.

A tree that looks at God all day
A lifts her leafy arms to pray.

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of Robins in her hair.

Upon whose bosom snow has lain
Who ultimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me;
But only God can make a TREE

And yes you are right - I do have a great love of Trees.     Joyce Kilmer, which name he wrote under, was a Catholic, and a great love of all that God made and created.    He was killed by a snipers bullet in the last year of the 1st Great War.   He has a beautiful face I think.     A young man of talent much loved by his wife, also a poet, and their 5 children!!

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

Rev Moses and Miriam Ongonga

YESTERDAY one of our Old Boys, who was brought up in Testimony House with me and Esther since he was about 8, had a close shave with DEATH.    And not him only, but in fact his own immediate family as well as three other other families connected to himself and wife Miriam.

Moses Ongong'a is a senior Pastor in the Africa Inland Church, ministering at the AIC Fellowship Church here in Eldoret.     It was a Public Holiday yesterday, and they thought to take a day off from their busy schedules and go for a trip down into the Kerio Valley.    They travelled in a small bus together belonging to the Church.     The road down into the Valley is steep and treacherous, chiseled into the face of the escarpment.   It zigzags downwards with many sharp bends, dropping at least two thousand feet. On the way down a small vehicle overtook them and then cut in close in front of them. The bus driver endeavoured to avoid any hurt, braking and steering to the escarpment wall, but the other vehicle then blocked his path so that he had no alternative but to change course,and swerve to the right - to the precipitous edge of the road.    The bus skidded and fell upon its side, tipping down and sliding helplessly.     A small child of 12 years, the son of one of the passengers, was flung out of the bus as it fell, but then somehow feel underneath, and was killed outright, the bus careering on downwards to what must have seemed certain doom.     BUT, as they all were screaming and crying out in their terror, calling on the Name of Jesus, the bus suddenly STOPPED.      In the downward fall beneath them two small trees were growing, sticking out from the side of the valley wall about 100 metres or more from the road above, and caught the bus and held it in its headlong descent.        Pastor Moses had two very deep cuts on his head, and was hospitalised for a few days, but otherwise apart from a few others with cuts from broken glad, all remained safe.       Knowing the road well, as I do, and listening to the account first hand from Moses, there is no doubt the Hand of God delivered them.     Not just their 12 year old nephew but ALL of them might be DEAD!        And the small vehicle   ?     It did not stop, did not pause but pressed on and away.     Was the driver drunk, incapable, or vindictively wanting to cause horror?  We do not know.  

The SUN is shining  brilliantly from a clear blue sky.      But there is a chill in the air,    Looks as if the weather here may be set for the next few weeks - although apparently in Nairobi it is raining cats and dogs.      Recently my attention caught by a sudden and amazingly detailed scientific claim that the SUN, our Sun, is COOLING!     Apparently it has come to the end of what is said to be a 250 year cycle.      For the next 30 years it will turn its attention inwards, during which time it will not give out the heat we are accustomed to.      Global Warning is seemingly now on the junk heap, and we have Global cooling.      I am intrigued because the weather this year here in Kenya has been much cooler than usual generally speaking.      Well it IS amazing, and also UNHEALTHY that the world media not having enough crime, perversion, corruption and unpleasantness generally must also serve up various Doomsday Prospects to keep everyone on edge - regretfully without any encouragement for any of us to put our house in Order.      The FACT that Jesus is on the way BACK to finish what had begun when He left is ignored by the Media.           THEY will not regard HIM.       Might even be the fault of the Church.       Still my bet is on HIM to here with us before the Great Freeze or the Great Melt Down, or anything else.

God Bless you all, and keep you sane and solvent during the run up to the Commercial Climax of the Year.      Yield not to Temptation, no matter what.      Keep sober in all that you contemplate, and BE filled with the Spirit of God.      Hopefully we will then all be Blessed in the days ahead no matter what is happening in the world around us.

Sincerely as ever in His Great Love

John Esther, and Daryl Green

   

MEMORY LANE IN THE HERE AND NOW.

GLIMPSES of us at home in TFH.
This photo was taken last Christmas at the conclusion of our Concert Night.     Just a few days before Christmas the children usually put on a Nativity Play, Carols and so on. It lasts about two hours and starts about 7.30p.m.    All the children attend and support it, and it is open for the general public to also come and enjoy - all quite FREE.
I am not too sure how we will proceed from here - but probably it will be a bit 'higglety-pigglety'.    Just wanted to create a sense of being here with us, although this is almost impossible......
The first few are from the Commencement - circa 1970.   We were living in Maseno when this was taken - I had 28 boys then and had only just met Esther.   They were a mixed bag of urchins aged between 8 and 15.     They led me a real dance, some of them, but it was a learning process, and although a good many of them were to find alternatives to staying with me, a good many also went on to move to Eldoret with us in 1972.    Being unmarried I had two young men to assist me, and yes, that white blob on the back line is me.    The veranda to the back was that of the home of the then Anglican Archbishop of Kenya, The Rt. Rev Festo Olang - we actually rented his family home in those days to live in.    He was a very generous hearted man, full of charity and faith.    The NEXT photo is of a group of the younger ones, one of whom actually did move from Maseno with us to Eldoret on Boxing Day 1972.      I had married Esther in 1971, and our own firstborn son was about six months old at this time.     Most of the boys in this photo we found on Eldoret Municipal Rubbish Dump in 1974/5.   They actually LIVED there from off the rubbish and refuse.     The two on the right grew up to be well known Soccer Players, one actually playing for Kenya.     We had not built the School, but we had begun to rent what we later purchased and named Jacaranda Cottage.            From here on we might go to anywhere or anyone. I will try to make sure you do not get too lost.     I find setting photos and matching them to the text is a problem for me, and it does not always work out.    We have so far had photos 1 - 3.      I will refer to all others by the order in which they appear - the next will be the 4th. and 5th.

 The one with the red furnishings is Testimony House sitting room, and the other is of the dining room.    The house was built about 1910 of mud brick and timber.   It has no foundation, but is large and comfortable. Homely!
The large sitting room, 900 sq ft is at the heart of the house and is the centre of all family life.     Our other three homes also have the same, though not 'quite' so roomy. The other photo is of the sitting room of Jacaranda Cottage - they are having a 'Sing-song' one evening.  Jacaranda is not quite so old as Testimony House, but probably built of similar material in the 1920s.       It is this house we hope to replace, in the coming months, with a more modern house - this one is not well designed for a big family, and also is very dark and rather gloomy due to small window space.      Since moving into it in 1975 we also got to hear of a rather unfortunate story - that the previous owner may have murdered her husband and buried him under the floor of one of the rooms.     Still we have seen no ghosts - but it has not had a good 'feeling' about it.  
Photo 6 is taken from inside the sitting room of Tyndale Cottage. Tyndale and Drakeley Cottages have both been built since 2007 and are light and airy; pleasant to live in, and very easy to keep clean.  Each Home has boys AND girls.    This came about because we often find ourselves taking in 'families of children' brothers and sisters.    We do not like to separate them but keep them together when we can.     It works very well, and helps in keeping the sense of REAL family.
I must say Esther and I have been glad to have an opportunity to be Mum and Dad to so many.   Both of us had stormy beginnings.  I myself only recently have been able to trace my birth parents who rejected me.    Wonderfully I was also able to find my Sister, a sister I knew nothing about, and who knew nothing about me. Blood is thicker than water.    It is I think instinctive.   But I believe that we are able to love those that are not family, and actually bring them into our Family - God does!    Thank you Father for all the wonderful BEAUTY that is IN you and that exudes FROM you to us.    It is all around us in the beauty of your Creation,  and it is for ever reflected in all that you do, and most of all in loving us; in loving me, and bring me into your family - into your heart.

WELL I think I have come to the end of this edition.   I may consider going on putting up a photo here and there more than usual.     There are so many.     But as the days continue to go by I am sure you are also being carried along by Commercial Xmas.
Here - apart from the BIG supermarkets, there is little sign of   Christmas of ANY kind.     There will be a TREE raised in front of the Governor's Office soon.    Not attractive, or artistically decorated. No special street lighting, no commercial displays in shop windows, just normal, almost unchanging, dullness.   We shall be decorating our sitting rooms about the 18th December.   BUT our thoughts as usual are upon the Birth of Jesus (not because he was born in December) but because it is a traditional time to do so, and why not indeed?     He WAS born sometime - why not remember?      IT WAS A SPECIAL MOMENT for our Father in Heaven.      A heart-rending moment I think - and He let it happen for me, for you, for EVERYONE who might believe.    Yes I want to dwell upon it.     I want it to make a difference in my life, my surroundings, and my family.     God Bless you all, as we WAIT for Him.

Love to you all,      John, Esther, and Daryl

SUPPORTING OURSELVES

THIS IS TESTIMONY HOUSE, as viewed from Green Cottage, just fifty feet or so away, where Esther and I now live.    It was here in 2011 that we got together to consider ways and means that TFH could help itself.   The Kenya Government is very keen to get Non Governmental Organisations obtaining their support from within the Country rather than from abroad.   Sounds a good idea until you examine it more carefully. BUT at least it is true that we CAN do something to help ourselves rather than just lean back and trust God. SO we decided to at least put down part of our grounds to grow needed vegetables.     We managed to isolate about half an acre within Testimony House compound, and another half acre within Jacaranda Cottage compound across the road.      At the same time we decided to seek for a cow to give us milk, chickens to provide meat, and a bakery to give us bread.      The Lord provided the means to START, and soon we had all these innovations alive and running.    And they are still running.........
The Garden Plots were ploughed up, planted and carefully tended.    We even put up a rough Greenhouse made of plastic and timber - we have since been blessed with excellent crops of Tomatoes.      In the Gardens we planted Maize, Kale, Spinach, Carrots, Onions, Cabbage and Potatoes,   Within three months our Vegetable bill was decreasing!!     We chided ourselves for not thinking of this before.    
A small Dairy was built for the cows - we currently have ONE good milker providing milk for us all. She has just delivered a bull calf.    We hope to have a further milker soon.     We actually started with THREE cows, but regretfully two died.     We learn from errors.   The Dairy also originally commenced in Testimony House compound, but this year moved to Jacaranda compound.   Again a very great saving on the Milk Bill!!

The Chickens, with the kind help of Tyndale School who put up the 'House', also commenced and still continues producing meat for us all AND and additionally allowing us to SELL some of our Broilers to local clientele, providing a little income to offset the cost of production.  At present we have 400 growing well.   The Poultry Unit is sited just Above Jacaranda Cottage and opposite Drakeley Cottage.      We are intending to increase the numbers catered for during the coming year, as we still have plenty of space.   We began with Layers, but since 2011 prices of Feed have gone up and it is now CHEAPER to buy the eggs from the Trade.

AND, finally we opened a Bakery in Testimony House in what used to be known as 'The New Room' which was a utility room.     We are currently baking about 200 loaves a day, and are planning to obtain a Public License to SELL to the general public.        All this in a year or so.     AND it HAS assisted us to reduce our housekeeping costs.     HOWEVER,    This would still be considered just a 'drop in a bucket' when taking into account our Annual Expenditure.      WE would be unable to find this from within Kenya easily.      We have been here now almost 50 years and local interest and provision has improved very little.   Averagely we might receive approximately 1.2% of our total need from inside Kenya.     CHARITY may begin at home, but NOT in Kenya.    The ethic still seems to be receive rather than give - but it WILL change with time, hopefully.      
When we first came here in 1972 we were on the very edge of an old colonial residential area.  Beyond us was open countryside with not a house in sight.      NOW building continues to encircle us so that we are practically 'inside' the town.      We have used the land available to us - some ELEVEN acres - as economically as we could but now we have reached our capacity and there is no further room to expand here.    PROGRESS?    Yes in a way, but in another way it has taken away our original privacy and we are now encroached upon by town life and what goes with it.  

THUS we have discovered everything that has been slowly growing here in this rather hidden corner of Eldoret in East Africa.     And tomorrow will be the last Sunday in November.   This week on Thursday Esther, Daryl and Carol and I joined many other Europeans in celebrating Thanksgiving with some of our American brethren.    It was good to find ourselves ALL Thankful, for oh, SO MUCH.     On the 26th DECEMBER we shall have occupied this compound for forty-two years.   The day we arrived the compound had been unused for three years.   The grass surrounding the only house was as high as an elephants eye, infested with snakes of many varieties, the whole compound of only 5 acres visited by monkeys, gazelle, and many other wild animals.     Our increasing occupation and neighbourhood development has chased all the wild life away, leaving us still with pleasant lawns and stately trees to attract a multiplicity of bird life, adding to a God given peace and tranquillity.    A SAFE harbour to the many adrift and away from home.

God bless you all, and add to you greater likeness day by day to the Master.

Much love in Him,

John, Esther, and Daryl 

FROM HOME TO SCHOOL

THIS A DIAGRAM of Testimony Faith Homes & School,  is situated in Elgonview Road, Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County in Kenya, East Africa.   It is not quite up to date as (l) labelled 'Basket Ball' is now the Swimming Pool, and the Dairy just below that has now been transferred to the Jacaranda Compound to the right.

We began our ongoing Tour with a look into
Jacaranda Cottage - (bottom right) on the diagram.
THEN back across the road to the left marked (n),
to Testimony House.
After that we returned to the Jacaranda side, and looked at Tyndale and Drakeley Cottages before crossing Elgonview Road once again, THIS WEEK,  facing the School Hall (marked (b) just on the other side of the School's Main Gate.

The School began in 1981 with the commence-ment of a small private Nursery School for our own youngest children.   Local Nursery Schools at the time tended to be more like Play Schools without ANY kind of equipment or facility provided.   Teacher mainly untrained ladies who sat and knitted or dozed.    We wanted to give our children a better entry into Primary School.    It was an immediate success, and soon parents from around us began to request we opened it up for their own children.  BUT we had not at that time considered advancing further into education (or perhaps I should say that I had actually lost sight of that part of the 'vision' God had given me in in 1969.)     When we arrived here in Eldoret in 1972 we found plenty of schools around us, and it seemed natural to let our children attend them.   However, as time went by we found a problem arising.
It culminated   'ONE AFTERNOON in November 1983 when the Headmaster of one of our local Primary Schools rang me up.   "Please come to my officer right away; there is a serious problem facing us." he said.    I went immediately, and settling myself into one of rather battered chairs, I asked him what the problem was..   He looked most upset and worried.  "It is a very heavy matter, and I shall need your help and co-operation."    I began to wonder if he had a 'personal' worry.    But he continued on, saying , " You see your boys Daniel and Joseph have been found smoking cigarettes int he school field.    I shall have to suspend them of course, from all classes."

During the previous month I had to deal with cases of theft, and even drug taking amongst some of our teenage boys;  I am sure that I almost laughed with relief.   Smoking cigarettes!  Why that was the least of the current big time temptations overwhelming our national schools.  The next morning I took the two boys, both 16 years old, to school.       (Primary Schooling is supposed to begin when one is SIX and continue EIGHT years.   But some children start late, as some of ours did, due to some problem or other.  A number of ours came to us up to ten years old with NO Schooling at all.)
Once arrived back at the School (the boys were returning their Text Books whilst on suspension) the Headmaster grabbed them both, and had them taken to the School Parade Ground.    There, in front of 700 students, they were made to lay face down in the dirt.   THEN they were given a homily on 'ungrateful orphans' who having no parents, miss spent public money.   They then received six strokes of the cane each.     Suspended, socially stigmatised, and publicly caned - for smoking a cigarette.  
There were, at the time, and continued to be, students who were known to be taking Marijuana who 
remained untouched.        This incident was one of many others.     The real crime, it seemed to us, was not what our children did or did not do, but simply that they were orphans who were cared for.'
((extracted from my Diary for that year))
AND so in 1983 we commenced Primary Standard 1 - 3.     THEN in 1986 with the unexpected and unsought assistance of TEAR FUND we went ahead and built new classrooms for Standards1-8 inclusive, moving out of where we had begun, and handing over the space to Nursery School (i) on the Diagram.    The NEW Primary double story block plus Staff rooms and Toilets are sited as (c to e) on the Diagram.   From there we have, with God's Providence, been able to continue on so that now we have space in the School for approximately 120 Nursery students, 500 Primary and 240 Secondary students - a School population in total of 860 in all.       Our own 140 or so orphans are provided for in the Public Fee structure  for those attending school from the locality, and thus attend school FREE.     The School does not generate further income for the running of the HOMES.   The incoming fees provide additionally only for the Salaries of Government Teachers, text books, and other consumables. It is not run for profit.

SO here we are - at the FRONT Entrance.    The Building up front (LEFT) is the School Hall.    This can seat approximately 400.    It is used for P.E.,  School Meetings such as Parent/Teacher,  Concerts, and also serves as our Church Hall for Sunday Services. To the right of the photo, as we are looking, there is a new block that serves as a Primary Boarding Hostel for 112 external students.     The Hall is also used for serving School Lunches, parties, and even Seminars.
As you pass on, along the drive, past the Hall you come to the School Reception and Staff Offices, and the Parade Ground.   Then the FIRST of our four double story tuition blocks.  Front view right hand side.
The Driveway carries on past this block, turning to the left to arrive at TESTIMONY HOUSE, and on to the second Gate.       However, the drive, after making that left bend actually carries on making a U turn round a Round-a-bout in order to permit traffic to return the
way it came.    The photo to the right is the School Parade Ground with some of the students on Parade and with a group of our Scouts in the foreground.
The School continues on into the distance with further Classrooms, and also additional laboratories for Computer (we teach computer from Nursery School upwards to Form 4 of Secondary), Home Science, Chemistry, and Biology.     The latter are to the LEFT of the first photo on the above line.     And it is in that area that Nursery School is also sited just to the left of the WHITE building on the left which is currently a Primary Computer Classroom,  and also the NEW Secondary School building and Swimming Pool. In the beginning all the buildings that form a line on the left of the School entrance was once home to a stand of very old Blue Gum trees. -- The had formed the boundary of our property at the time.    Beyond them was open countryside - now our School Field, and thereafter slowly being built upon.  
The  photo to the left above is a view of the School taken from the school field, the Main Gate being to the left of picture.   Then the School Hall, Reception and Staff Offices, and First double story Tuition Block of eight classrooms.    Our land ends just beyond the Tuition Block and turns to the left as the Diagram shows.  
The School has done well academically and also spiritually.   One might say it is well known.   SO well known that it has served almost as a camouflage that hides the existence of the the four Children's Homes.     It has given our children a great opportunity to being seen and treated as children from ordinary family homes.    They have not been known as 'orphans' and have at the same time profited from an upgraded standard of education that has come from our ability to choose our own teachers, provide equipment needed for teaching, and a steady, disciplined, and morally cared for society based on faith in Jesus Christ which is open to all of any colour, nation or religious persuasion.      Here are a few more photos to finish off with.

To the left a group of Nursery children in the School Hall practising for Parents Day. Then to the right a group of Primary Children coming out of Class.
Finally to the left a group of Secondary boys doing private study in the School Hall Foyer.   I would like to have put more but it just seems there is not time or space to do so.      Placing photos has never been my best ability!!!

And , of course, I must add at lease one photo of the NEW Secondary Tuition and Dormitory Block plus the Swimming Pool.
Regretfully ALL these photos are old ones.    We are presently without a camera of any kind between us all just now.   So have to make do with old shots.    Hope to rectify this very soon, and then, at last will be able to refresh ourselves.      The month has almost ended, and then the last month of the Year will rush by, as always with fun and gladness.      You, we hope, will be glad to see, and maybe even remember your part, in lifting these children that live and learn in TFH, from utmost poverty, abuse and hopelessness.      From hopelessness to HOPE.  Do not just see what may seem to be prosperity and ease in your eyes - but see the Mighty Hand of God who is able to save to the uttermost.        Not one of US could have achieved this for the many hundreds that have come and gone, but in joining hands and hearts together with HIM Who Loves us all, we see the IMPOSSIBLE to be possible indeed.

God Bless and be with you all.

CAN YOU FEEL THE HEARTBEAT?

THIS IS FAMILY!!   A photo taken on Esther's 70th Birthday.  John is centre with Michael Green, and Esther to his right, and all around us are Old Boys and Girls, friends and other relatives.     All gathered not just to honour Esther's Birthday but also to remember their Mum.    A BIG extended 'Family'.     THIS is what Testimony Faith Homes is all about, and after 45 years of growth and togetherness we are glad to say THIS Orphanage has become a true HOME for children and adults from all over the State.     A very DIVERSE Family proving that people of very different culture, tribe, and background CAN live very happily together as a family, to become well established members of a multi racial state.     We are GLAD to see them, and to remember and honour them - as they also continually demonstrate their own gladness to BE part of our Family.   Please note that we did not pay, cajole or in any way force anyone to be in this photo or to attend this event.    Not BAD?    Yes we think it is not a bad picture, and not a bad testimony of how even an Orphanage can achieve wonders in child care and reclamation - when God's Love is the foundation and common sense prevails.

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YES this week, as I promised, we are continuing to explore Testimony Faith Homes.    We have previously taken a look at two of our four Family Homes, Testimony House, and Jacaranda Cottage, and I promised to cross the road to Tyndale Cottage and Drakeley Cottage this week.      EACH family home is an entity, but in the broader sense each one is part of the other, making ONE big Family.     None are in competition with the other though, but all rejoice in being part of the other as brothers and sisters.

In 2007, thirty three years after starting Jacaranda Cottage, we felt God prompting us to expand the family, and receiving funds unexpectedly, we laid the foundation for Tyndale Cottage.      We named the home, Tyndale after the School in Adelaide, South Australia,  and indeed they assisted a great deal in helping us to complete this house.      It was built at the lower end of the Jacaranda Cottage Compound, and was planned to accommodate 40 children.      In 2008 we also were able (through a Legacy) to continue on and build a second, sister cottage at the UPPER end of the same compound - giving us THREE homes out of the four on just ONE compound.    We were taken for a 'ride' quite badly by the Contractor, who build the two homes, and after a year we were to discover major defects that forced us to find a lot more money in order to put right.    We learnt from the experience, but it was expensive learning that HURT!     It will no doubt help all concerned to REMEMBER to be more careful in future.

EACH Cottage can, as I mentioned, accommodate up to 40 children   -    even the NEW Jacaranda Cottage, once built will be the same.         Each Cottage also accommodates a married couple and if necessary their own children, completely integrated, as part of the Family.      Each cottage has a Cook coming in five and half days a week.       The children and parents cook week-ends, and do all the housework.    No other staff, although maybe there may be one or two coming in from time to time to play with the children, friends of the family.       Of course, taken as a UNITY, Testimony Faith Homes has a Registered Nurse serving the four Homes AND the School, and also a Social Worker.       A recognised Medical Doctor sits on the Board and is responsible to keep an eye on all the children's / and staff's health.

IN TYNDALE COTTAGE,   Catherine and Mica YEGO are current parents.      Catherine grew up herself in Testimony House.     She and Mica have two small children - a boy and a girl.    They have now been parents in the Home since it began (in rented premises initially) in  2003.   Currently they have the youngest group of children, but of course they all grow bigger every day.   It is a happy home and family.   Mica has trained as a carpenter, and Catherine has a degree in Christian Ministries.

SO far 63 children have lived in the Family, including the current 39.   Boys and Girls with ages ranging from 2 to 20.     One or two, having completed their education, will be leaving this year.

ALL the children, of course, attend our School, Testimony School - we shall eventually arrive there on our tour, and more will be shared at that time.      Clothing is one of our recurring needs. We used to be able to receive 'used clothes' from overseas but then the Government disallowed them to be imported by anyone except themselves. We now have to BUY what we need from town.

Some of the older children in the photos will have either completed or be in the process of completing their Secondary Education, and some will be going on to College in the New Year. They will continue to live in the Home until they eventually find employment.

Walking in at the main gate, Tyndale Cottage is immediately on the right of the driveway.    Going on up, Jacaranda Cottage is currently on the left  ( it will be move across to the right later)  and then at the far end of the compound is DRAKELEY Cottage on the right.       You will envisage from this that by next year the THREE cottages will be all on the right in a line.     There will still be enough space for play.         On the left of the main gate, opposite Tyndale is the Dairy, and opposite Drakeley is the Poultry Project.

WE WILL NOW MOVE ON to DRAKELEY COTTAGE,  right at the top of the compound as I have described.      We have 2.8 acres within this compound, and it is quite roomy and spacious.   DRAKELEY was built in 2008,   partly with the the assistance of a Legacy, from a very dear friend in Nairobi.   It was named Drakeley in memory of another dear friend of the TFH, Miss. C.M. Drakeley, M.B.E. who died in 2002.     The Drakeley Family had actually begun earlier in La Chacra and another rented property in the locality in September 2001 and only finally moved to the NEW house in March 2008.     Within a year one end of the new house began to SINK and we had to do major works to support the foundation and save the building.  Friends in Northern Ireland were led to offer help to us at this time, quite inspirationally.  Everything is fine now.

FRANCIS AND EUNICE LAHOL are parents in Drakeley Cottage.    Both are in fact trained Chefs, so you can be sure they make sure the food is well cooked and the daily menu well balanced.     Francis also grew up with us in Testimony House, from when he was about 10.   The have two children of their own, a boy and and a girl, and together with the current 33 children with them in the Home, make a very happy and well run family.  Many in their family are quite young still, but there is also a good number in College, and expecting to new join College next year.   Altogether, since the Home began a total of 38 

have been par of the family, including the current 33.     You will see that turnover in any one home is not very high.    This is basically due to the fact that we have taken quite young children - 0 -10 - so that in most cases they stay for up to 18 or more years before having any chance to leave securely and able to earn their own living.

It demands considerable commitment on the part of houseparents and others to provide the security these youngster need in order to feel safe, at least until they are able to find employment.       We also find it impossible, for this reason, to obey Government directives to terminate a child's stay in any one of our homes after they attain the age of 18.      We let them stay until College/University has been concluded, and they have found a job.     They are then able to step out with some confidence..        BUT of course home is always home, and they do, so many of them, often revisit us, even involve us in choosing a partner, and in their Wedding plans.     We are family, and families continue..........

I regret that recently I misplaced my camera, and this has meant I have been unable to take more photos.     As soon as I have rectified this situation I will also put up some INSIDE photos of how our homes look on the inside, and also up to date photos of the Dairy and Poultry Projects.     But NEXT week we will cross back to Testimony House Compound, and take a look at Testimony School which began way back in 1981 as a small private nursery school.


May God richly Bless each one of you as you pray for us in Jesus Name.    Our Father does still hear and answer prayer - it is the ONLY reason why we have continued on for these 45 years, and WILL continue on till He comes.  


John and Esther / Daryl and Carol