A VIEW of Drakeley Cottage Family, circa 2007 with Stephan and Emily Situma. They have all grown up a lot since then, but nice to look back.
Just a few photos randomly from the past this time round. The Situmas are still working with children, but in another part of Kenya. We were recently very glad to hear from them, and to know they are well and happy, and that the Lord continues to watch over them. Stephen is of course one of our old boys and came to stay with us in Testimony House in 1981 when he was ten. When he and his wife left us Francis and Eunice Lahol came to be parents there, where they still remain.
The photo opposite is of some of the children in school uniform ready for school one morning. Now I cannot be sure which year this was taken or even to which Family they belonged to!! Just shows how good my memory is, but I think they may be Jacaranda children! O.K. if I am wrong forgive me and put it down to rusty marbles. They look a bright and happy lot though, and I would be proud of them anywhere, and it is a real joy to know they found peace and security with us enough to enjoy happiness, and to GROW.
Quite a while back indeed. And since then the whole family has moved out of the house, and travelled fifty metres to a completely NEW Jacaranda Cottage. And so life goes on.
Testimony, like almost any family, is always changing, like the shifting sand. But we can look back and trace our past here, and so also the children who have lived here, and been part of us all - they also can come and remember their time here, and find history and even continuance.
Opposite is a group from Testimony House who later found themselves in other houses.A happy group. Dennis - on the left - is now in College and Mariko next to him is in Form 4 of Secondary. We feel we have not a great deal to share with you at times, since things are never moving quickly, but day by day over many years. It is only when we look back that we see CHANGE and Progress. But nothing is ever static or at a standstill with us - we are all moving, ageing, learning, and just living!
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Our testimony of life remains the same, and all is well with us. The road we all tread is often bumpy, but always straight. He holds our hands even in those times when times might be difficult. Last week we were in some difficulty and need. On Friday we ran out of cash. It was not an immediate problem since we had food in the larders, and we knew we could eat until Tuesday of this week. All spending stopped, and we waited. Then on Saturday evening I checked my e-mail to find a letter from some dear and long time friends from Denmark. They had sent five thousand Danish Kroner to us on the previous Thursday - it arrived at our Bank this last Tuesday, the day our food ran out!! Blessed be the name of the LORD! It also happened that I found myself reading another of John Newton's hymns written two hundred or so years ago - No.385 in the Redemption Hymnal -
Why should I fear the darkest hour? Or tremble at the tempters' power?
Jesus vouchsafes to be my Tower!
Though hot the fight, why quit the field? Why must I either flee or yield,
Since Jesus is my mighty Shield?
When creature comforts fade and die, worldlings may weep but why should I?
Jesus still lives, and still is nigh.
Though all the flocks and herds were dead, my soul a famine need not dread
For Jesus is my Living Bread
Against me earth and hell combine; but on my side is power Divine;
Jesus is all, and He is mine.
Look up dear friends, and with lively faith expect to receive the answer to all your need for this coming week, as we also will be doing with you. And He never disappoints us or shames us of that Faith, even when unexpected jolts us out of our complacence.
God Bless and keep you safe always from all the fiery darts of that defeated foe.
John, Esther and Daryl.
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