HOME AND FAMILY MATTERS

I REALLY LIKE THIS PHOTO!  If you enlarge it you will see a LOT of people indeed.
In actual fact I published it before, just recently toward the end of 2014.   It is a photo taken at Esther's 70th Birthday!    WHY do I enjoy looking at it?  BECAUSE it's one of the few with so many of our family members crowded into it.   They are not ALL there by any means, but just seeing these enlarges our hearts. Memories begin to flood in, and suddenly who ever came to live in our Home, and even the others, somehow become ONE with us.    So proud of them all, even the ones who may not have done so well at school...... each one was special, and each had special talent and character that we could enjoy and be happy for. They may not always have been 'angles' - some acted like the devil at times - but each was able to be appreciated and loved.  
Just this last week-end Thomas Kioko and his wife and two little daughters suddenly arrived, to delight and surprise us, and our hearts jumped for joy.    It IS always just so good to see one that grew up here, and especially those who grew up in our own Testimony House, no matter how they may have left us - and some did leave joyfully, leaving us low in spirit, and in heart.     Never mind, it is such a reward when they 'come back'!!!  - if only briefly - to let us know they are alive and well.    Faces, voices, and memories from the past suddenly with us again, reviving our faith and our confidence.
Yes each one is precious to us still.      And so much has changed since many of them were here.   The place where they slept, and the chair they relaxed upon may still be in the same place, and the walls may still be adorned with the same photos and wall hangings......but!    Buildings have been torn down and new ones built - the School is always changing its look and fabric.    Even the Homes with Jacaranda now forsaken as a family house, and a NEW one built opposite with NEW parents...NO !! Things are not always the same - except Esther and me, for the time being, who are still here, and able to sit and remember the past, and also to BE remembered.      A privilege for us, Truly - AND a reason for not wanting to LEAVE.

Recently Esther and I were asked to consider retiring a little further - to the U.K. in fact.      Well it would be good to be closer to Steve, Mike and Lizzy with their families; we have missed, and do miss them a lot, and it would especially be so enjoyable to see our grandchildren growing up; we are almost strangers to them.
BUT the truth is we have made Testimony to be our home, and we are parents and grandparents to all that have come and gone.   We are not lonely; we are, even here, surrounded by 'Family' even here Our Father in Heaven provided this house to be ours for the rest of our life if needed.    And it has space for visitors including our overseas family when they are able to come.      We would miss a whole heap of people, and I think we also might BE missed by those calling in to remember the days we all lived together here.      AND the climate here is better!        SO we seem to be persuaded of just being where we are till He comes or Calls, to all those who know Him, to COME TOGETHER to be with HIM.    As I am always saying - 'It could be quite soon.'

TO, DAY, Saturday the 9th August, one of our Girls, Purity Abwona, who came to stay in Testimony House with her two brothers and two sisters, is coming home to Testimony House.     Her Fiancee is also visiting with his parents.   They want to Marry in December, and according to culture the Man has to visit the parents of the girl with his parents so that they know each other.   Quite an occasion.    Purity came to us when she was a very little girl.  Now she is about 28 and working as a Nursery School Teacher with a Diploma in Early Childhood Development.
When Purity came first we were Parents in Testimony House.  The year was 1993.   Then in 1998 we left the house and Daryl and his wife Carol became houseparents there; they became Purity's parents. THEN in 2006 Daryl and Carol moved out to attend to other matters within the Ministry here, and a NEW set of parents moved in - Hesketh and Alice Muli, who are still with us    SO, Purity has three sets of parents!!   She is really looking forward to showing us all off!  Her fiancee  is an I.T Technician working in Eldoret.   She was a sweet child, and a very lovable young lady for whom I have a very soft spot.

SO life goes on for us - even whilst we might be in the Wilderness and Straightened, yet does He watch over and KEEP us, and give us JOYS along the way.     We can only Give Thanks.

God Bless you all and make you precious to one another in each of your family circles.

Lovingly in Jesus

John, Esther and Daryl