JUST A GLIMPSE into Green 
Cottage, dressed for Christmas.  We did this on the 16th, and the rest of our four family homes also began to notice Christmas on that day.
On the 18th we had our usual Christmas Concert in the evening; a good hour's entertainment that drew attention to the reason behind the Birth of Jesus.    Francis Lahol, who together with his wife Eunice care for the Drakeley Cottage Family, was the one who produced and directed the Drama and also set up some really good Choir pieces and Dances.    As usual members of the public attended, and it was chalked up as one of the very best concerts we have ever put on - all due to the very committed an dedicated effort of more than forty of our children and young people from the four Homes.    We were Blessed, and Christ was Uplifted.  During the day we welcomed Tammy from Tyndale School in South Australia (here for Purity's Wedding, and also Hendrika and her friend Terry from Denver in the U.S..    During the evening Concert we also welcomed home for Christmas Helen (Tweety-pie) and baby Abigail.  

TO DAY was also the Wedding Day of Purity from Testimony House, and now teaching in our Nursery School.    Purity is marrying John.     Practically the whole of the Homes attended (children and staff) and of course Esther and I were there to see it all Esther and I had been Mum and Dad in Testimony House when Purity and other of her family were admitted to our care in the 1990s.   Purity was only five years old when she joined us; the baby of the family. So, of course, she wanted us to 'Giver her Away', and we did so with much joy and thanksgiving for her life and Testimony in Christ,    Purity has two brothers (Ignatius and Masmandus) and also one sister (Shiela).  


AND TODAY Purity married John in Grace Church, Eldoret.     A love match indeed, and with all her Testimony Family around her she was a radiant bride.
It has been a good day for everyone,.  BUT we are all tired now.    Thus I shall close up for this week, and turn in.      Last night I was woken at 2.30p.m. to minister to a young man who wanted to finish his life.     I finally got to bed about 4p.m.    All in a days work.   Tomorrow is Church.

God BLESS you all in Jesus Name, and keep you safe in busy days ahead.     Will send Christmas Greetings and Thanksgiving.

Very sleepily

John, Esther and Daryl.
.

THESE THREE KINGS!      Yes, I suppose I like to think of them as the Carol pictures them, and without endeavouring to prove their authenticity, or number, or even their nationality. To me it doesn't really matter.    What matters, I think, is that they GOT UP to look for the True King, the King of all the Earth, as soon as He was born.  They followed the Star until they found HIM, and they did not leave home empty handed. They took with them Gifts out of a WILLING heart.  There is such a simple and honest humility about them, as they laid aside their power, position and lives, just to cast themselves at the Saviour's feet.

IT IS 39 Christmases ago.     In 1974 we had been in Testimony House for two years, here in Eldoret.     We had arrived on Boxing Day 1972 with 12 steel bunk beds, and some rickety cow hide chairs.   Twenty eight boys and girls, me and Esther and baby Steven just six months old.  We arrived with virtually nothing except the JOY of the house itself - a Gift from God for Christmas.
Writing in in January 1975, I shared -
'CHRISTMAS this year past has been so FULL of good things; such a Blessed time.   The house was full of joy and happiness, and more than at any previous time we felt like a FAMILY at last.   And the Lord provided in such a wonderful way for our peace and comfort!   A little before Christmas we were quite without money, and were wondering how we should manage, but on the 23rd December a dear sister came to my office and left a 1975 Calender for us.   I was too busy to attend to it at the time, and for the whole day it was left lying on top of my desk. In the evening I noticed it to be still there, and taking it up I unrolled it, only to find a cheque fall to the ground from within.   Stooping to pick it up I found it was made out to Testimony Faith Homes for 250 pounds sterling.    And suddenly, from the thought of a rather materially poor Christmas we suddenly found warmth and colour flood in upon us.'

That Christmas morning, the children all excited and full of fun and laughter, and we ourselves joined together for our Christmas Service.      Halfway through, Wilson, the boy we had first brought into our home in 1969 in Maseno, now 17 stood up among us and gave his Testimony for Christ.   For four years he had pulled away from Jesus, but on THAT day he fully committed himself.    In the afternoon, after lunch, we all congregated in the huge sitting room of Testimony House, and enjoyed the Christmas Tree and the fellowship.    But OUR joy was to see Wilson in the Kingdom of Heaven. He had given himself to Jesus in 1969, when he was 12, but a year later had begun to slip away again.    
Wonderful to see that Jesus ever loses HIS grip.    This was our Christmas Present for that year and our JOY was full indeed.

We have, of course, grown since then!    more than three hundred have come and gone, and our current family number (for those under 18) is 96  PLUS 42 who are eighteen and over now staying in Testimony House as I shared last week, making a total of 138.     Quite a crowd.  

Last night we held our last Board Meeting for the year.      Our treasurer noted that over the last three years our income has dropped by some three million Kenya shillings (20,000 pounds) per annum.   I pointed out that although this was certainly noticeable and had made a difference, YET we were still alive, and managing.     We had from our beginning never been a 'well healed' ministry, and had much in common with the Israelites in their desert wanderings.    Yet we had been kept.    We were not alarmed by the drop.   Happiness and Well being, were not dependant on bread alone.   Too much bread might even tend to satisfaction leading to laziness of life, and an even worse poverty.   Riches, were not known to produce much FINE gold in humanity.      What is it the Scripture says in Proverbs 30v8 -

'Give me neither poverty nor riches;

feed me with the food that is needful for me'

Interesting to notice, there, that RICHES are as undesirable as poverty!!     In this world, where money seems to count for everything, one would not think so!!     Philippians 4v11-12 is also very applicable reading - especially in the Amplified Bible.

THUS our journey in life together here in TFH has never been always comfortable, it has been bearable, and we have endured, and grown, and been productive.     Yes, we need everything every day, and this is not a secret, but we leave to our Father to communicate this need by His Spirit and to provide for it as He sees fit.       We have walked and talked with Him for 46 years.    Some have got lost along the way, but the rest of us are well and pressing on, inspired by hope and faith in His Watchful Goodness and Mercy.    It has been a testimony, and a statement concerning the Faithfulness and Reality of the Living God.       It has not been a demonstration of sensational power, but an emphasis and evidence that GOD is there for whosoever will trust Him for their need, whatever it is may be, great or small.     We are not many, not well known - but we are HERE, and can be seen, experienced, and proved.   A very little thing - just like the 'grain of mustard seed' but potentially reproductive anywhere, with anyone.

TODAY, in Kenya it is JAMHURI  DAY - our Independence Day.     Tonight the children will Celebrate with 'pop' and Queen Cakes!      Not highly political or Nationalistic, but just a marker as to how Kenya came to be a Nation rather than merely a Colony.

God be with you all.     May He Bless you all progressively day by day.

Lovingly in Him,

John, Esther, and Daryl

MOVING UP AND ON

FOR US, THIS PHOTO IS QUITE HISTORIC!
For the first time since we moved to this house - Testimony House - in December 1972, there are no girls in it -  except for Mother Alice Muli.     The house is also no longer a Children's Charitable Institution or Home according to the Kenya Children' Act.       Testimony House is now, as from Monday this week, a HOSTEL for 18 year old BOYS only!!     This is a very significant CHANGE.

For some time now I have been sharing the new Climate that has been sweeping through the Kenya Children's Department (the Dept of Children's Services).     More than three years ago they began saying they wanted all 18 and above children out of Children's Homes.   WE argued that children who had grown up in a family situation together, since they were practically born. needed to still feel the security of the care of that home until they had finished College and were ready to earn their own living.    Our stand was not appreciated, and although nothing happened, and we continued to keep young people of eighteen and above in our four Homes, the Department ceased applying to us to take further children into TFH.     The total number of boys AND girls in the Homes who are, by age, now adult has grown to more than 40 out of the 140 children we actually have had in care.   32 of these are boys; some in the last year of Secondary, and College/University, and others waiting to find employment, and to leave us for their own digs.    A big number.     SOOOO!  It occurred to that we might indeed remove these heavyweights  from three of the Cottage Homes, and transfer them ALL to one house - Testimony House- transformed into a HOSTEL.     This has now been effected and is working VERY well indeed.    

This leaves some ten our of 40 girls that are eighteen and over still living in the Children's Homes.   The Children's Department have already expressed their relief at our change of attitude, and applauded our answer to both their own, and our, difficulty in the matter by avoiding sending our children away at a crucial time in their development, and instead merely keeping them near us without being completely AWAY from home.      BUT we do not have another house to use as a Hostel for Girls just at present, and so the girls have been given leave to remain in their houses where they were until we CAN move them on.     We are praying much about this right now so that we might quickly provide a comparable facility for the Girls to that of the Boys.      In the photo opposite you can see SIX of our nine girls who have now crossed the line from childhood to adulthood.  The others are away in University.      

So NOW we have a Hostel of 32 boys over the age of 18, PLUS nine girls over eighteen still living in our three Family Homes of Drakeley, Jacaranda, and Tyndale together with 92 other young children.    We also have space for about 10 more making a grand total of young people cared for of 131 with expectation of ten more joining us soon = 140 odd.      No great change in our numbers therefore, just a change in where and how they are being cared for.    Below is another photo - this time of the CHILDREN under 18 plus their houseparents, and ourselves.     This was taken in the garden between Green Cottage and Testimony House.

LAST SATURDAY Esther and I were attending yet another Wedding.    This time for Salome, brother to Edwin who was also married a few weeks ago.     Salome is marrying a local young man called Amos, and they will be living locally.    I had the privilege of walking Salome down the isle; she had come to us when she was tiny tot, and grew up with us, training as a nurse.     She and her brother Edwin had both lived in Testimony House with Esther and me.       We had also assisted their two elder sisters to train as teachers whilst living externally from the Homes.    They have all done well and we feel glad for them to now be independent and able to take care of themselves.     Salome's Wedding was at a local Church and was  well attended - by dozens of our current children from the Homes, and also a good number of Old Boys and Girls many of whom grew up with her and Edwin those years back.   The photo above shows Salome with bridegroom Amos and her Bridesmaids.
AND ON THE 19TH  another of our many daughters  -Purity- will also be getting Married.   I might even have to Walk her up to the alter!!      AND Christmas still to come!!   WOW quite a busy and demanding time one way and another.     We enjoy it all together.  

Daryl is away next week attending a special Seminar on Children's Affairs in Nairobi.    Should return on Thursday or Friday and then he is supposed to take his Annual Leave.     I say ' supposed ' as since it is Christmas, and he will probably be at home with his family, there is every likelihood that he will be dropping in quite frequently from time to time.     He only lives a kilometre or so away!!

May the Lord be with you all, and help you as you plan your own Christmas and Family times.   Keep the Saviour in view as you go, and let his Presence flood your lives and homes in such a way that the world's Lights and Glamour will not be noticed by comparison.     HE is the Centre of this Season - the true iridescence breaking in on the world's NIGHT.      We love you all, and pray for you

John, Esther and Daryl