WHAT ARE OUR AIMS IN LIFE?

BRONZE,SILVER, and GOLD MEDALS, being presented Daryl Green, as CEO of Testimony Faith Homes who were hosting the Swimming Event for the East African Secondary School Games.     The Finals for all the Swimming Events were held yesterday, and were just completed before it poured down with RAIN!   Otherwise the weather had been good throughout.    I cannot at present give an account of the numbers of students competing from the more than six East African Countries taking part in the Games.    A good number, and those in the Swimming Event filled the pool so that not many spectators were able, or even allowed, to watch.   The area is enclosed and small, but well equipped and clean.    The Games Authority were impressed and pleased with it.    Their President and Vice President attended and also presented Medals with Daryl, and seemed quite delighted with everything.    The Table Tennis Event was also held on our compound in the School Hall ( one of the tables used was one presented to us some years back by the Westhoughton Pentecostal Assemblies of God - still in good condition and regularly used by our own children.

Our middle aged housemaid, Alice, plus our son James, also attended to the supply of Refreshments during the actual competitions.   In the photo you can see them with Esther in the FOOD Tent - right.
THEN below various views commencing with the Starting end and spectators pavilion.   This gives a little idea of the venue as it was.
These photos will have to do for the time being.   Swimming Events are not easy to photo in a way that proves visually exciting, and in our case there was more Splash than splendour.   Nevertheless it was a great opportunity to declare the Goodness of God for US, and to open up chances to point to God's reality and faithfulness as we shared with our visitors.

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Last February we were approached by a 'lady' who is a member of our County Legislature.     She also runs a private school some kilometres out of town.    She told of a family of four children living not far from her School whose mother had deserted leaving the children without food or aid of any kind.    We talked some time with her, and said that although some of the children were older than we would usually take, we would be prepared to take all four provided, she approached the Children's Office, and permitted them to visit the 'family' and then provide us with a Case History confirming her story.    The 'lady' assured us she had already done this, and that a history would be given to us.   We then stated that all we would then need was a Court Order for each child, and a copy of their Birth Certificates.      She left us full of grateful thank, and not long afterwards the children and all the papers we requested (except for the Case History) arrived, and the children were Admitted.    The Children's Office assured us a Case History would follow.

BUT RECENTLY, some of the children Admitted began to share their own version of their history. They said that their mother was still at home, and that she was the sister of the woman who had brought them to us.........and on further investigation this proved to be the truth.    They were not in need (the mother still at home and with many well off brothers and other family).- it was pure and simply an attempt to get them into FREE care and education.      When we shared this with the Children's Office and they faced the woman, she denied everything.   But she lied.     Thus is the average level of our national honesty and integrity.      The fact that we, as a Charity have housed, fed, clothed and educated four children at our own expense when we had no need or reason to do so seems of no consequence, even to the Children's Office, who now say it was OUR fault for not making our own investigation before the children arrived.       Very disappointing.      The matter is still going on and the Children's Office think it may be another two months before we will know their recommendations - whilst we continue to pay the piper!        Both the woman and the Children's Office seemed to have co-operated to 'push' the children into the Homes.      We trusted them, and were misled.       The children have been happy enough with us, but the youngest who is about 7 has been very unhappy, and is missing his mother seriously.      

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TO THE RIGHT is a recent photo of FRANCIS and his wife Eunice.   It was taken recently at a supper party arranged for us all by Sammy Kirui.

Francis is the younger brother of Simeon Olumzee.    Simeon collapsed almost a year ago and has been unconscious for most of the time until about a month ago.  ( I had mentioned this in previous Blogs).  He remained still unable to move.  A blood clot had entered the brain causing what doctors think was a Stroke.    Simeon then suddenly died in early August.  He was 51. The Hospital Bill had become very high, into millions of Kenya Shillings, and the Hospital Management were very anxious to be paid.     The Kenya Army stepped in on behalf of their deceased member, and paid a big chunk of what was owed, but still leaving a lot to be found.     All this was upon Francis' head since none of the remaining family, including Simeon's wife, could afford to pay anything.      Then last week an arrangement was made so that the body could be buried, but the eldest sister to Simeon and Francis took the body from the Mortuary and buried it secretly at night in the public cemetery without even a Service.      Now the wife, who also wants the body to be buried elsewhere, has reported the body to have been stolen!      It has been a very unpleasant and unfortunate saga.      No one is sure what will happen now.     Francis has felt really stressed about it all.     Please spare him a prayer, and for the whole matter to be straightened out properly with agreement on all sides.        The Enemy really knows how to disturb our peace.

TODAY IT IS STILL RAINING AND COLD.    The Primary School Standard V111 students and their parents were called together with the Staff to pray for the National Examinations which are to be held in November.     Normally this event happens nearer the Day, but this year the Government has banned all public Meetings within the School precincts (nationwide) in order to prevent importation of drugs AND also advance copies of the Examination Papers.    Our Meeting this morning starting at 9.30a.m. was very well attended by the parents, and ended at 12.p.m.     

SO that is about all for this week once more.      School begins on Monday for the 3rd Term of the year and this time will be quite short - two months.    Thus the Christmas Holiday will be VERY long indeed.       God Bless you, every one.      Keep looking UP!

John, Esther, and Daryl Green