NEW LIFE !

THIS IS THE SITTING ROOM of Testimony House, as it is today.   The Upholsterer is in to commence giving New Life chairs.    The RED ones in the picture are old.   We bought them in 1973 for Ksh.100/= each from Eldoret Club.   They must have been there at least twenty if not thirty years!  They have WORN well
but they have long needed attention,
including the many other lighter chairs around the perimeter. MANY now need attention, and by God's Grace we are now able to spare funds to take the matter in hand.
Daily wear and tear in a home for some 40 people is considerable, and at times it is too much for us to take care of out of meagre housekeeping needs.    We get shabby at times, but not uncomfortable and it may be that we are happy when shabby since we have kind of aged with our surroundings, and feel at home with them.       I am sure that these well known furnishings, once renewed and recovered, will take getting used to in a way.    But hopefully they will still be with us for another forty years or so with this injection of loving care.    
MOSTLY we either buy second hand or receive furniture no longer needed by others.   However, there are times when we find other things come in with the furniture - wood worm for example!   Jacaranda Cottage discovered they were being host to a suite of arm chairs all being devoured by wood room.   It is now far gone, and so we hope to buy a NEW suite for then this coming week.
AND in Drakeley Cottage a NEW carpet is also hoped for next week.   The one they have in their sitting room is full of holes and frayed edges after almost seven years of continuous wear.    Yes, things are always wearing away.     It is always a great JOY to find ourselves able to have enough in hand to 'replace' or 'renew' what has come to the brink of extinction!  Additionally we have also been able to replace    And thus we DO thank God for an opportunity to take care of a few of these needs due to the loving legacy left to us by a dear sister in Christ, who lived and worked not far from us as a Teacher for some time in A.I.C. Kessup Girls School.     We did not see each other often, but she knew the work here well, and prayed for us earnestly and fervently,  long after she retired to England. - I know she would well understand and approve of us putting part of her Love Gift to work in this way.

==================================== 

DURING APRIL / MAY we have been receiving more children; five in all.
JOHN arrived on the 11th April.     He is not exactly an orphan.    His Father died of an heart attack, He had already deserted the family after his wife became blind after
contracting Meningitis in 2006.
Neighbours have been helping to feed the family since the Mother became blind, but her relatives, have backed away from her since she became blind.    A lot of sorrow and sadness in the home.  John is 12 years, and his Mother and the Children's Department approached us to help give the boy a hope
for the future.     We agreed, and so he has now become part of the Drakeley Cottage family.   He has already taken on a new lease of life, and seems quite settled and at home already.      We have allowed his mother and older siblings opportunity to visit from time to time.

DOMINIC, 15, CLARE, 9, STELLA, 6, AND ALLOYSIOUS, 4 were all admitted on 2nd May, the Girls with Tyndale Cottage and the boys with Drakeley Cottage.   Dominic is HIV positive.    These children's Father is in prison for brewing illicit liquor.    He is an habitual drunkard.  The Mother deserted the home a while back, and so far has been unable to be traced.   Since it is unlikely that the Father will now be given custody of the children once he is out of Prison, the Children's Department (who have been following the case) have brought them to us.     During the interim, before coming to us, neighbours and well wishers near by had helped and even fed the children.      They have all settled very quickly and happily.    Dominic was in his final Primary Year, but having missed a lot of Schooling he will not enter Class 7 in Testimony School, and attempt his final year in 2017.   His younger brother, Aloysious has been the one to take time settling.    This is the 5th day for him to be with us - he is beginning to smile and play.
                                                       
IT IS RAINING AGAIN.    Pouring down in buckets of ,Cats and Dogs,!!    Still it is so GOOD to see what was once 'normal' weather once again.

FINALLY, JUST A FEW OF OUR CHILDREN who have been growing up day by day with us - just to enjoy their faces, and their happiness !

When I see the faces of each one of them my heart takes a little leap up-wards, and I thank God for all His Love and his Mercy in allowing even these few to find happiness, and what is more, an opportunity to KNOW Him, who has each one of them in His eye.   Oh Bless the Name of JESUS.

Our love to you all, and we do hope that more and more may have the chance to rejoice with us to see the unloved LOVED, and the uncared for CARED for, as we, all together, LABOUR in Jesus to make it happen,

Lovingly

John, Esther and Daryl.