THIS IS THE 2ND WEEK OF THE YEAR!

HERE WE GO AGAIN, back on site.    Basically doesn't look much different from last week does it?  But there has been progress, even so and NOW the entire Floor has been covered up so that you can no longer see the internal divisions of the rooms.      The NEXT step will be laying down the SLAB, and we hope this will happen next week.     The Weather has held, and remained hot and dry.   WATER getting more and more scarce.    Very dusty, and a lot of it in the air from time to time.     And, what with piles of building materials, Drums of Water, rubble, sand, and workmen all over the place the whole Compound begins to look rather untidy - part of the cost of building in ones 'garden' so to speak.     The second photo is taken from the driveway, looking down to Tyndale Cottage.
You can just see the edge of the foundation work.       It also gives an idea of the distance there will be between each Cottage.

Not a great deal going on this week.     With the Lord's help we have been able to get all our College and University students (20 in all) back to their various external Schools, with the first Term's Fees ALL paid.  Hallelujah.      ALSO those needing new school or College clothing have also been able to be serviced and provided for .    God is SO good.      OUR School opened on Tuesday morning, and everyone is now back on track - 140 of our our children plus a further 600 from our immediate area outside.
This year the School Administration decided that no student can advance to the NEXT Class unless they attained an expected grade of performance at the end of the year.       This has upset some parents from outside who wanted their C- and below children to continue on, even to High School.    But they HAVE to repeat - usually we have seen students who have been willing to repeat actually go on to perform better.  The School is satisfied that is is for the best.

Eldoret Railway Station in 1975.      I only used the railway ONCE.
we once took ALL the children 3rd Class to Nairobi and back as a Family Treat.      3rd Class was not very comfortable - wooden seats rather like the old park type of seat - we had to book a whole carriage to accommodate us all - the year was about 1975 as well.
But our carriage was still open to be invaded from within and without by other passengers of various kinds.     One man brandishing a knife and looking as wild as can be burst in upon us, look for a toilet!     He finally, with a great deal of noise and shouting from our rather frightened children, departed via the other end of the carriage.      Also whenever we stopped at a station (quite frequently) our windows on the platform side (the glass was usually wound down to provide more air) would suddenly find themselves attacked by various market women together with their wares - sacks of cabbage, potatoes and so on.  The SACK and sometimes even a baby, would come in first, followed by a usually well muscled and voluminous lady.    No matter that we cried the carriage was full and booked for us alone.     Thus with the smell of industrious sweat and strong pervading aromas of Onions, cabbage, and other veg., we would slowly make our way - an average speed of about 20 kilometres per hour.      It took us between 15 and 17 hours to get to Nairobi (approx. 360 kilometres) and the same on the return journey.    It was novel, uncomfortable, and rather adventurous.   The children loved it all - we were fairly worn out.      Since then Railway has slowly deteriorated until now there seems to be only one train in the morning leaving for Nairobi and one at night..     BOTH are Goods Trains.   Passenger service practically defunct.       This has lost a cheap means of transport both for Passengers and also Traders.       TODAY there is continuing talk of revamping the Railway - widening the Track to enable great speed, and provision of new rolling stock.     We are WAITING........perhaps this year something will be accomplished at last.      At present, virtually, Kenya is a Country without a Railway.

And that is all for this week.    As I type clouds have gathered, hiding the sun and sky.   Will it rain?  I do hope so.     If it is only a SHOWER it will relieve many problems.     So continue to pray for us.  The photo to the left is perhaps one of my favourites - it a view of Testimony House taken in the late 70s after we had worked on the drive and gardens.  It remains the same today.     It remains the place where everything else has grown from.   It speaks of Home to so many, and is a symbol and memory for many which remains as a Testimony to God's Love.


Please do have a peaceful and rewarding week where you are, at home, and at work.   Our prayers  are with you all - lovingly in Jesus Name.


John, Esther, and Daryl