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