THE COST OF LOVING AND CARING

LAST NIGHT, Friday, we welcomed the Tyndale School Team from South Australia. They arrived about 4.30p.m.    SO good to see both Old and New faces.       This time round our friend MIKE Potter was unable to come, but his wife Dani IS here together with other old hands. The School sends a Team each year at present, and half work and spend time with US, and half with Neema Children's Homes just a few kilometres away with Joshua and Miriam Mbithi.
This Team is comprised of many of girls this time, and we think most of them will be painting, and perhaps a little work for us in transforming part of the Old Jacaranda into a Day Care Centre!!   We shall no doubt be posting various photos over the two week period of their stay with us.    Always a happy time for all our children, and one that remains with us long after they return to Australia.

THIS IS THE FIRST blog into the 2nd half of the year, and, as has been our habit over recent years, we will now publish our Accounts for the First Six Months.     This is to give an idea of what we do with the Funds God Brings to us month by month.       The figures we show will be in Kenya Shillings.     This 'shilling' compares to between 135 and 150 such shillings to the Pound Sterling depending on the Exchange Value which is very variable.       Income comes mainly from the U.K. with a little from Denmark, and  Australia,      Currently some 16% of our needed income is sent to us on a regular basis, and the rest comes as and when God provides in answer to our prayers.    We do not Appeal for Funds, or Fund-raise in any way, seeking to demonstrate clearly by our manner of life that God is there, and that He hears and answers our prayers faithfully according to His Grace and Mercy.    

TESTIMONY FAITH HOMES, Income & Expenditure for First Half Year ending on 30//6/2015

INCOME - Opening Balances Cash & Bank    383,001. 20
                      Foreign Donations                       7,475,520. 90
                      Local Donations                              415,600.
                      Farm Income                                     151,335.               Ksh. 8,425,457. 10

EXPENDITURE
                     Audit Fees for 2014                           20,300.
                     Bank Charges                                        3,300.
                     Clothing & Footwear             181,279.
                     External Aid                                      335,350.
                     Farm Expenses                                       5,430.
                     Festivals & Sports                      32,178.
                     Provisions (Groceries Etc)           1,917,792.   
                     Fuel and Gas                                      269,510.
                     Legal Charges                                        7,000.
                     Medical Expenses                            199,189.
                     Motor Vehicle Expenses                 166,434.
                     Printing  & Stationary               13,141.
                     Repairs & Maintenance          254,870.
                     College Fees                                      512,560.
                     Salaries                                             3,241,308.
                     Sundry Expenses                                 78,530.
                     Transport                                             113,837.
                     Utilities                                                740,675.
                     Closing Balances                               332,774. 10         Ksh.8,425,457. 10

                     Liabilities Outstanding   for the Period  = ( Ksh.1,599,418 ) 


We carry a Staff to serve our FOUR Children's Homes of TEN residential and 22 non residential men and women, including 8 House-parents, 4 chefs, 4 groundsmen, 1 Registered Nurse, 1 Social Worker,
2 Security Guards,  4 Office Staff, 4 maintenance staff,

Testimony School, from Nursery to Secondary Form 1V is financially catered for separately from the incoming Fees of external children living at home with the their parents.    However the School provides FREE places for all the 140 odd children residing in the Children's Homes at a cost to themselves of approximately Ksh.8 million which sum is in the FEE structure, with the full knowledge and acceptance of the the parents of all our external students.    Testimony School, as a School, provides no other Income in cash or kind in any way to the running of the Children's Homes.

The Children's Homes otherwise must pay for all other running costs for the FOUR Homes as stated below.   This includes about Ksh.1 million per Annam that is spent on College Students continuing with high education after Form 1V resident in the Homes.- Averagely 20 students a year.    Right now we have 19 in College and 1 in University. The current cost of daily care, inclusive of food, clothing, Medicare, etcetera is running at approximately  (for 137 children + 8 residential staff and their own 7 children)  Ksh,44,555/=. OR Ksh.2,923/= per person.    Current approximate exchange rate with the Pound Sterling is Ksh.150/=.


THE WEEK HAS BEEN RELATIVELY UNEVENTFUL.   The Weather COLD but the rain has held off a little, so the grass has at last managed to be cut, and not so much mud carried about into the School and Homes.      In Kenya - in Eldoret at least - we have only one alternative at any time as far as daily trial is concerned - either MUD when it rains, or DUST when it doesn't!!
DARYL has lost his voice today - a sudden turn of events which is quite rare for him.    We are praying for him that this may not advent a heavy cold or Tonsillitis - especially now with extra work and activity being thrust upon him with the Ozzy Team being with us and so one.   But he is a strong and dogged guy, so he will probably be OK.
We are all pressing on regardless of the weather or anything else the Enemy might care to throw at us, and we REJOICE in seeing him thwarted.     GLORY be to God.

Our Father in Heaven Bless you and Assure your hearts.    


Sincerely in His Great Love and Mercy.


John. Esther, and Daryl Green