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
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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
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