THE PLANS OF MICE AND MEN GO OFT ASTRAY

HERE WE ARE ONCE MORE! So sorry I was unable to put anything up last week, but time and people just prevented it.    NOT A LOT OF PROGRESS since the previous blog.
Work has continued to go on, but the weather took a sudden turn for the worse a week ago. and we have been unable to complete outside jobs - like painting the roof of the Girls Hostel.   The photo is a close up of one a put up two weeks back.  BUT the interiors have continued to be worked on, and we now only await some of the furnishings to arrive.     NEXT WEEK I will hope to bring photos of the inside apace.
The Bakery is likewise finished as far as redecoration is concerned, but the new cookers and the proover are still awaiting - sometime next week we hope.

OTHER NEWS -  Generally all is well with us.  
Miriam Ondanga our pastor's wife is still recovering.    However, she remains quite unwell at home. This is now her second month.   Doctors still unable to properly diagnose her problem.
Joseph Githinji, one of the Testimony House boys, who suffered a small Depression that caused him to experiment with Marijuana, has now greatly improved and seems to have found strength to keep away from the drug.  He is now hoping to join his training course.   He is Praising the Lord for this.
Our daughter, Elisabeth, will be visiting us as from next Thursday for a fortnight, from the UK.  We have not seen her for five years, so we are looking forward very much to her arrival.   She will be coming alone, her husband Prem and the children left behind in England.
Our Annual General Meeting of the Board for TFH will take place on 1st July,
Tyndale Christian School Team will arrive from Australia on the 6th July until the 26th.
The 35th School Parents and Prize Giving will take place on Saturday 30th July.    It will also be the 47th Anniversary of the start of TFH way back in 1969.

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I WAS THINKING TODAY, listening to all the sudden confusion, over England leaving the European Union,  (the excitement, apprehension, and general mish-mash of joy and gloom),  that it has some similarity with Israel leaving Egypt behind on it's way to being a NATION at last.     They had gone to Egypt in need of economic safety and security when times were bad.     They stayed on until eventually they became slaves to Egypt.  Fed, secure and not too badly treated, but still SLAVES.

Eventually, realising how their taskmaster was sucking them dry for their own wealth, they cried out in protest.      And God in Heaven heard them and brought them OUT.      They were so dazzled by the thought of being FREE, and their own masters once more that they failed to realise there might be a COST to it.         As soon as the Day came, and they walked out of Egypt - a place, for all it's faults, that they were used to and had found protection and safety in - they began to regret what they had left behind - forgetting their slavery.     They were a mixed multitude, not even all Jews; a multitude of people with very different hopes and views for the future.     They were soon regretting their departure, and grumbling about their new situation.        And EGYPT?    Well Egypt was regretting letting them GO, since now they would be the losers, and with that realisation came a bitterness that looked for revenge.    Yes Israel, in LEAVING Egypt faced a hard road, and humanly impossible challenges.      BUT as they went forward GOD OPENED THE WAY before them.      The problem facing the United Kingdom is not the hardship of the way, but the fact that the majority seem unaware of God in it with them!   Watching and listening to the avalanche of comment following the Announcement that the U.K is leaving the Union, I have heard no mention of GOD; none at all.       But for all that I personally feel that the RIGHT thing has been done - even if everyone feels a mistake has been made.    The real mistake was in getting involved with the Union in the first place, and selling our Birthright (our Sovereignty) for an untasted bowl of questionable soup.

The Maarstricht Treaty was signed in Maarstricht in 1992   by John Major (the then UK Prime Minister).   This brought the U.K. into the Common Market, and was achieved with haste and without any real national support. In signing it the U.K. effectively ceded its Sovereignty to the Union - it was in many ways tantamount to an act of Treason against the Crown and Government - no one was called 'over the coals' for it though.    The United Kingdom, since then, has more and more been handcuffed to the European Union who have demanded more and more money, whilst at the same time interfering with our Justice System, and Government Policy making.   We became less and less in charge of our own affairs.     Nevertheless in many ways it seemed a good thing to be part of the Union, even if unable to direct our own affairs without their permission.
As I have said, from the beginning I have not been in favour of our Membership to the E.U.   It is not so much a political policy of mine -  I am no politician.    Purely a 'gut' feeling - or maybe even a spiritual intuitiveness.    I think it is a good thing to leave.     It might be only just in time to avoid much worse than we might be aware of.     Better late than never - ALTHOUGH it seems that the REGRETTERS may demand another 'Referendum' to overturn the first!?    Why?  Purely and simply because they had not realised their action would COST.      But NOTHING good comes without cost. Freedom does not come without cost.      It cost Christ His Life to free ME, and give me a hope and a future.
Yes tomorrow might call for sacrifice........even here the value of the Pound had gone down in its Exchange value with the Kenya Shilling; it has already dropped 11 shillings in the pound since Thursday this week.    Kenya is is also complaining that leaving the E.U. will affect its trade with the UK, and in many other ways diminish its economy.    Yes it may be so.  It will affect us also!!  Things will be unsettled for a while.     Life will go on.     Jesus, our Lord and King, has promised to be WITH US no matter where we are, and no matter WHERE, or  what situation, we are experiencing. And HE will bring us through, and make us to be victorious.     Read 1 John 5v5

The weather continues to be WET and cold again.    Temperatures of 64f described as 'freezing' by those of us who live here!    And truly it IS cold, and we feel as if it IS freezing.     In between we do see the sun, in clear blue skies, but heavy, voluminous clouds regularly role up during the day, and the icy rain comes down.

Our Prayers are for you all, wherever you may be.     He is holding all of our hands, and He will also communicate with us and give us confidence for the days ahead - because He loves us.

God Bless you all

John, Esther and Daryl.

HERE IN ELDORET

AN ELDORET STREET SCENE, taken yesterday, following a Street Parade of the Africa Israel Nineveh Church.    Founded by a Kenyan, David Z. Kivuli it perhaps one of the fastest growing Kenyan Denominations, reaching into many surrounding Countries, with branches in America and the United Kingdom.     They are a part of our Christian scene.   On Parade, they can block traffic and everything else for a long time, dancing and singing as they go.     The Holy Spirit has a very central place in their worship and daily life, and their attractiveness lies in the simplicity of their faith and life style.   I will include one more photo here - both taken by Daryl when driving in town yesterday.

THE FLAG represents the Trinity, their 'Banner' under which they live and witness.   NOT in any way a 'national' flag.    Members all dress very plainly, the men in long linen gowns.     They can be very noisily and exuberant in their worship and outward display of discipleship.
Although the Gospel of Jesus, and the Work of the Cross is clearly upheld,  the laws of the Old Testament of the Bible are often also given a lot of importance and observation.
I personally always have a sense of JOY when coming across them - a sense of simple Gladness of heart.   Fridays, are usually their Day of Witness - a day in which to Witness publicly, and to win others to their side, and to Christ.       Sunday's is their Day to Confess their errors and mistakes, and to seek forgiveness and a fresh infilling of God's Spirit.   They may 'look' a little out of the ordinary, even cultish - but within themselves is a very real and lively faith that has to be noticed and even admired.

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CONTINUING PROGRESS in Testimony Faith Homes finds the New Jean Potts Hostel almost ready for habitation   The roof is yet to be painted, and interior furnishing to be done but otherwise all is complete.   From the photo opposite you can now see more clearly where it fits in to the OLD Jacaranda Cottage.    A better photo next week hopefully.

DRAKELEY COTTAGE built in 2007/8 has had quite a lot of problem due to the shoddy work of the contractor, causing one end of the house to subside.    We have recently been able to relay the kitchen floor, AND also the central passageway between the dormitories and the sitting room.    Still a little more to do, but it is beginning to look a little better - including a new carpet in the sitting room, and soon new table tops for the Dining room.    

One end of the Cottage may in a couple of years, have to be partially taken down in order to compensate for severe subsidence.    The original Contractor truly cheated us whilst at the same time witnessing to a very sincere Christianity.     He went on from us, and has enriched himself.  He seems to be successful.       Just recently I heard of one man who always insists he is a Born Again Believer in Christ, yet who is rarely sober, but rather totally drunken throughout the day.     He says he cannot avoid strong drink, but he 'knows' Christ has and does forgive him.     He 'knows' the Word of God, and perhaps he is putting a little too much hope in 1. Corinthians 3v10-15, and is setting too much aside in Hebrews 19v26-27.

TESTIMONY HOUSE sitting room chairs have almost ALL been recovered.     One small man whom we employed from outside on this monumental job charged only 70 pounds for repair and re-upholstering of 28 chairs.    Well we had to also buy the material used, but all in all he did a good job mainly on his own,    It took three weeks though, and the sitting room was a real tip during the period.

THE BAKERY expansion, hit a set back in that the plan had to be a little revised.    The five charcoal ovens will now be ,moved from one end of the area to the other.     The actual redecoration of the room has been completed, a wall knocked down, and wash-room added.    We now wait for the two new cookers, a proover, and another mixer to arrive, and THEN we shall hope to re-open.

FINALLY THE SWIMMING POOL.    We had to replace an Engine recently, TWO in fact. Then one of the two broke down.    We returned it to the maker, and were given a new one which so far is working well.    We had also found the Engine Room door had been vandalised, so we have had to increase security at the pool day and night as it was assumed we may have suffered an attempt to sabotage the Pool.      It is now back to all its original glory, and we continue to host national and international Swimming Events.  The next will be in August with some TEN Countries participating - our own little Team also taking part.     Looking at this photo you might never know that for thirty years this spot looked like a dumping yard for scrap and rubbish.

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ON MONDAY this week, I was alone drinking a cup of coffee in our sitting room.   I had just set the cup down having finished the coffee, and was leaning back in my armchair, ready to doze off; I had been quite busy and felt a little tired.      Just then Esther came in.  I knew it was her without looking and said 'Hi there!'.      I could see her by then just walking out of the room into the passage.  She stopped and asked if I was OK.     But I could not answer her.   She asked again.   I could not speak.   I could hear her, and see her.    She came across the room then toward me.  She said I had not moved, but my eyes were open, and my lips moved, though without making a sound.   She shook me, and I became irritated.     What was she making so much fuss about; I had told her I was OK!  Then I heard myself telling her tersely, that of course I was OK.     I seemed to be conscious all through this incident which only took a minute or so, and I was quite fine afterwards with no further trouble.   Was it a mini-stroke - or was I just so sleepy I could not make the physical effort to say more than I had.     Poor Esther thought I had died!     I thought she had gone potty!    We both had a good laugh.

ON TUESDAY this week, Miriam Ondanga,  our Pastor's dear wife, was to be released from the Hospital in which she had been for almost three weeks battling with some unknown chest infection first thought to be Pneumonia.    She was on Oxygen for two of these weeks, and then developed Malaria.    The hospital she attended is run by our Medical Officer for TFH, in town.    He also attended Miriam.     On the day she was to be released her husband, Wycliffe, was advised that he would have to pay the Bill in full or else she could not be released.    The Bill was for Ksh. 349,000/- (about 2,465 sterling pounds.     He did not have the money, and the hospital refused to negotiate in any way.   I think Wycliffe was then on the way to a nervous breakdown, and Miriam also (they were both broke, with no hope of immediate help.)   The Lord just that morning brought a Gift from many via AENON for our housekeeping this month.     We had nothing else in hand, but the Holy Spirit clearly indicated that we should put our brethren's situation in front of our own, and I immediately paid the hospital Bill so that Miriam could return home, and the anxiety and burden could be removed.     SO she has been slowly recuperating at home, and she is almost her old self.     Thank you all for praying for them both.     They are a very dear couple.

ON WEDNESDAY,  late in the afternoon, Bishop Moses Otunga walked into the Office!     We had not actually SEEN him face to face for about 20 or more years!      Moses came to stay with Esther and me, in late 1969.  He was then about 16 years old, and his younger brother Jacob Otundu was already with us.      Moses completed his Secondary Schooling and went on to study painting decorating at C.I.T.C. where he did very well, and eventually became a well known artisan and lecturer.      But the Lord had more than that for him, and he and his wife Queen eventually found themselves called into full time ministry.      He is now well known interdemonationally both in areas of Children's welfare (he has a children's home of his own, and training centre) and also that of bringing Christians of all persuasions together in fellowship and love.      Well it was a great joy to suddenly SEE him right there in front of me, and to be able to have him with us overnight.    He travels a lot and was in fact just on his way back to Nairobi from ministering in Uganda.We had a wonderful time and as parents we could not have been more overjoyed to see one of our sons back home, eating at our table.
Thank you Mose!  Come again soon.

I must conclude here for this week.      Keep us in mind dear friends.  Pray for us.    He who is King of All is not long to come.     Even so COME Lord Jesus.

Lovingly - John, Esther and Daryl

COWS FROM HEAVEN!

ANOTHER PEEK INTO GREEN COTTAGE!    This time Esther and I are entertaining Salome with her husband Amos and some of his family.    You will remember, perhaps, their marriage on 28th November last year?   And on Wednesday THIS week they both came to visit with Amos' Father, and brothers, in 'Family' accord, and with a gift to the Homes of a COW, and a BULLOCK!     We had a very glad and happy time together sharing good memories and TEA!

Actually we had not seen any of them since the Wedding, so it was especially good to have them visit and to see their continuing happiness together as man and wife.   To the left we managed a good photo together with them.   We also had Hesketh and Alice Muli,  Mica Yego, and Francis Lahol plus Daryl Green all with us as well - quite a party.
We hope to visit them in their home in the not too distant future.     Testimony is an ever growing family.    It is a always a special joy to see and hear of the children moving on, and making their own lives and families.    May God Bless them all, always, in Jesus Name.

SO, now we have a herd of Two milking cows, one bull, and one calf.     We would have had more but regretfully one other cow who was in calf, passed away due to 'Bloat'  a few months back.   This was so sad, and really the result of an accident since our little herd is very well managed by our Dairy Manager, Joseph.     The cow was five months pregnant and overly large.    When she began to give signs of distress Joseph did not immediately suspect she had over eaten since all our cows are rationed in what they eat.     Somehow she had managed to get out and get a little more than she should.    The Vet was called in and he came immediately, but it was too late.  We all wept.     But the Lord has given them back to us with interest.  
Some improvements are also on the way for the Dairy, and new flooring is being laid down for the whole unit.   ADDITIONALLY Daryl and I were in Eldoret yesterday and came across a new and relatively cheap Milking Unit that milks two cows at a time.   Picture opposite.    We had been thinking about looking out for one for some time, and now suddenly they are right here in town!

WORK continues on our new Girls Hostel, and the Bakery.   Probably some up to date photos next week.    We thank God for making these improvements and repairs and even expansions.     It is ALL of Him       We all remain well, apart from our dear sister Miriam, our Pastor's wife.   She has for some years suffered from a form of Arthritis, but has for all that continued to Head our Nursery Department in Testimony School. But just recently she fell ill and was hospitalised.    She is still, after two weeks, in hospital, and the doctors still uncertain as to WHY?      Wycliffe, her husband, has been beside himself with worry.   Please remember them both in prayer.

God Bless you all

John, Esther, and Daryl