STARTING AT 13 AND ENDING AT 2, HAPPILY.

QUITE A BUSY WEEK has gone by, dominated by the 2016 Primary Graduation from the National Exams which commenced on Monday with a full day of Preparation, and then on Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday the actual Examination, culminating in a Graduation Luncheon for those 65 of our students who sat the exam, and who now must prepare for the jump to Secondary School in January 2017.
The Luncheon took place in our School Hall, together with some forty to fifty invited guests from among the teaching staff, and others.   IN THE PHOTO above the invited guests are seated to the left and the students in the middle and to the right.    At the far end is the High Table where Head Teachers, Management are seated, Esther and I part of them.       We began at 1p.m. and concluded at 3.20p.m., having all eaten, and shared Words of Greeting and Congratulation ending in my short message printed last week in the Blog.
Dr. Bwombengi was one of those who Congratulated the Graduates, a parent who has seen all his children pass through Testimony, and thus a friend and supporter of the School over many decades. He is currently Chairman of our Parent / Teachers Association.       Also, The Students Representative of the 8th Primary Grade,   Helen Githambothi, shared a short word, on behalf of her Class, of appreciation and farewell.
Mr. Anthony Ndungu, Principal of Testimony School, (Nursery/Primary/Secondary,) and who has been with us since we started Primary School in 1983, was also on hand to encourage and motivate, as also the new Primary Headmaster, Mr. Benjamin Emojong.     Each contributor took only a few minutes, and were greeted with considerable happiness and excitement.      It is always an occasion looked forward to each year, and marks the end of eight years in Primary School, and the advent of a new chapter in School life.
Daryl was also at the top table with us, and was also one of those who spoke.    below a
photo of the occasion taken from the front of the Hall, looking to the doorway

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DURING the Luncheon we also were blessed to share in the 14th Birthday of one of our Islamic students who was also in the Graduating Class.     His parents had sent a Cake for the occasion for everyone to enjoy.    The cake represented a football set in a field to the glory of Manchester United.   The student, Luqman Shakil, came to the high table, and Esther assisted him to make the first CUT, and then went on to cut it ALL up for everyone to enjoy a small piece, and to wish  Luqman  a very Happy Birthday  -   a very nice and appropriate occasion with all his friends present.

To me this was indeed very special, and I felt also very glad that, as a school, we do not see divisions of any kind spoil the 'family' spirit that has always been in the School since we began.   Each child, and even our staff, is evaluated equally, and we continually teach that we need to love one another without making differences of any kind, no matter what others might say to encourage us to do otherwise.    With more than 66 ethnic groups making up the nation and being multi religious it is no easy challenge, but with the young especially it more who you support in soccer arena than what tribe or religion you are.      I believe the True and Only God LOVES everyone.

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DURING THE WEEK,  our son Steven, who is visiting shortly (he will leave for Nairobi this evening, to fly back to the United Kingdom on Sunday evening)  decided together with assistance from Christopher Kiptisia one of our old boys, to lay a Memorial Slab over the grave of Paul Ngugi another of our old boys who died in 2011.    Paul had been part of the Testimony House family since 1974.  His story is told in total in the Blog of 22nd October 2011.
Steve had been wanting to this for some time, and so as he was HERE he decided to just go ahead.     Paul was very loved and missed by all of the family in Testimony, and many attended his funeral when he died,  testifying to all the many years of his life had meant to them.

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WHILE STEVE HAS BEEN WITH US he has also been taking shots of the School, and many of them have provided new and comprehensive views of the extent of this complex which has been in the building since 1983.  I want to include some here, but FIRST is a final glimpse of our Primary Graduates - only about half of them - taken after the luncheon when a number had already been collected by parents before we could get them together.    They all look a little tired and dishevelled after two and a half days of head work, and a heavy lunch.

Starting off with a view of the Nursery School with Secondary Classes just visible behind.  We started Nursery in 1981 with just a handful.  Today it has a population of 160, and feeds the 1st Grade of Primary which started in 1983,
This view is of the Primary School 1st to 4th Grades.    A Block of 8 class-rooms - two for each Grade.  Average classes take 36 students each.   This was built in 1987.

Again to the left, Part of the Secondary School building which comprises 4 classrooms, library, and dormitory space for 60 boys.   The School as a whole is for boys AND girls, and provides limited boarding space for 100 girls and 100 boys spread over Primary and Secondary independently and specifically for those in the upper grades of both school only.  to the right of this photo is a view o the School Swimming Pool which was installed during 2013, and is sited just to the left of the Secondary School.          It is also open the public at times.

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YESTERDAY,   The Children's Office called Daryl to the County Hospital.    A two year old boy had been taken there some months before, having been badly beaten by his grandmother after her daughter had dumped him on her.      The grandmother said she could not cope with him.      Daryl brought him home, and he is now part of the Jacaranda Cottage family where he has become everyone's darling!   His name is given as 'Sheldon'.      One can wonder where a name like that rises out of a very rural, and slummy area, from uneducated parents.      It just does not seem to FIT the child; it is somehow unlike him, and alien to his situation.   The picture on the left was taken in his hospital bed.   The one on the right was taken on Jacaranda Cottage veranda a few hours later.  

FINALLY,  Esther and I are just back from the Airport once more, Daryl driving us together with Steve and Tonia.    The week has rushed by, and before we got used to having them they are gone. Such is life.    They are now in Nairobi till tomorrow night when they fly home to England.   In between now and then they will be meeting with other members of our family and friends - a very busy evening and day.    We thank our Father in Heaven for letting us have them if ever so shortly just to ourselves.

Please remember us all here in your prayers as we look away to the Author and Finisher of our Faith. It has been quite a difficult month, yet at the same time FULL of victories and advances in the ministry here.     We give him all the Glory.
With Love as always in His Wonderful Name, the Name of Jesus

John, Esther, and Daryl Green