THIS IS A PHOTO TAKEN ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO!
It is a photo of the Drakeley Cottage family shortly after Steven Situma and his wife left,
and Francis and Eunice Lahol stepped in as House parents.
Francis was only ten years old when he arrived to stay with me and Esther in Testimony House. It was the 3rd May 1984, and he was still in the 3rd Grade of Primary School. He had already two brothers with us. Simeon Olumuzee, 12, and Charles Kauka 7. Their mother was an unmarried woman who brewed liquor for a living. She had a large family of three girls, and four boys. They lived in extreme poverty as squatters. We could not help them all, and only managed to assist three of the boys including Francis, and one of the girls. The change in their lives was quite amazing for them; from near starvation to regular meals, a safe and weatherproof home, and the chance to go to school.
FRANCIS stayed on in Testimony House with us all the way to College - almost fifteen years. He was a bright boy, handsome and outgoing. He had a passion for cooking! And finally chose to train as a Chef, joining The Kenya Hotel Institute in Nakuru, and thereafter working with The Sirikwa Hotel in Eldoret as an assistant Chef. During this period he met Eunice, and they became man and wife. THEN in 2002 they came to join Testimony Faith Homes, both as Chefs (Eunice had also trained for this). And in 2011 we invited them to become parents in Drakeley Cottage, where they have both been ever since..... Well until August this year when it was decided they should move the Drakeley Family from Drakeley Cottage to Testimony House.
That House had always been a Home until it was made a Hostel for over 18 year old boys in 2014. Some of our Old boys and Girls felt saddened by this change, and petitioned for it to return to its original use. SO the change was made and for the moment the Boys Hostel has not removed to what was Drakely Cottage. And so Francis found himself at 'home' again. He was so happy about this. He was always so proud of the Homes, generally, and for him it WAS home, and he and Eunice, his wife threw all that they had into being parents themselves, and in upholding the ways things were done. They earned the love and respect of everyone that has known and lived with them. A very well ordered, and happy family in front of God and all of us.
BUT during 2017 Francis began to be troubled with a blockage in his right Sinus. He was in and out of the Doctors for some months, and finally he was advised to have an operation to remove the blockage. He was not too glad about it, but his condition was becoming worse, and his doctor had declared that there was no 'cancer' to be seen and that it would be a simple operation. He went ahead, but although the doctors declared it went well, they also stated that they had not been able to gather all of the 'growth' which was behind his right eye. For a month things seemed to be well, and he felt well, and without any of the old problem, but then all the old problems began to return, and he was told he had cancer, and would need Chemotherapy and possibly even Radiological Treatment. We were ALL stunned. But Francis and Eunice were not to be moved, and they and the rest of us stood strongly for his Healing, in the Name of Jesus. He went through six sessions of Chemotherapy, which slowly sapped his strength until he was almost too weak to stand. He began to lose weight. His right eye sank into its socket, and his nose began to rot away. His face became almost unrecognisable. Prayer continued, but it was clear that his condition was worsening. On Friday Lunch time on the 20th October Esther and I were with him on the Veranda of Testimony House. The sun was shining. Francis was sitting in a light arm chair, shaded a little by the porch.
THUS I personally have felt today, that as the hymn-writer - A.H, Ackley - wrote -
'All the darkness of the night,
FRANCIS stayed on in Testimony House with us all the way to College - almost fifteen years. He was a bright boy, handsome and outgoing. He had a passion for cooking! And finally chose to train as a Chef, joining The Kenya Hotel Institute in Nakuru, and thereafter working with The Sirikwa Hotel in Eldoret as an assistant Chef. During this period he met Eunice, and they became man and wife. THEN in 2002 they came to join Testimony Faith Homes, both as Chefs (Eunice had also trained for this). And in 2011 we invited them to become parents in Drakeley Cottage, where they have both been ever since..... Well until August this year when it was decided they should move the Drakeley Family from Drakeley Cottage to Testimony House.
That House had always been a Home until it was made a Hostel for over 18 year old boys in 2014. Some of our Old boys and Girls felt saddened by this change, and petitioned for it to return to its original use. SO the change was made and for the moment the Boys Hostel has not removed to what was Drakely Cottage. And so Francis found himself at 'home' again. He was so happy about this. He was always so proud of the Homes, generally, and for him it WAS home, and he and Eunice, his wife threw all that they had into being parents themselves, and in upholding the ways things were done. They earned the love and respect of everyone that has known and lived with them. A very well ordered, and happy family in front of God and all of us.BUT during 2017 Francis began to be troubled with a blockage in his right Sinus. He was in and out of the Doctors for some months, and finally he was advised to have an operation to remove the blockage. He was not too glad about it, but his condition was becoming worse, and his doctor had declared that there was no 'cancer' to be seen and that it would be a simple operation. He went ahead, but although the doctors declared it went well, they also stated that they had not been able to gather all of the 'growth' which was behind his right eye. For a month things seemed to be well, and he felt well, and without any of the old problem, but then all the old problems began to return, and he was told he had cancer, and would need Chemotherapy and possibly even Radiological Treatment. We were ALL stunned. But Francis and Eunice were not to be moved, and they and the rest of us stood strongly for his Healing, in the Name of Jesus. He went through six sessions of Chemotherapy, which slowly sapped his strength until he was almost too weak to stand. He began to lose weight. His right eye sank into its socket, and his nose began to rot away. His face became almost unrecognisable. Prayer continued, but it was clear that his condition was worsening. On Friday Lunch time on the 20th October Esther and I were with him on the Veranda of Testimony House. The sun was shining. Francis was sitting in a light arm chair, shaded a little by the porch.
He could barely speak audibly, or coherently. He could not move his legs, and was constantly troubled by a heavy cough that wracked his chest painfully. He looked like death. He passed away that evening at 11a.m. A HUGE blow to us all. Quite devastating to his wife, son and daughter (both in school facing crucial Examinations this term), and indeed to all of us who had been so sure that the Lord would intervene. But He did not. No, but I think He did. I think disease could have continued to eat him away, and then kill him, BUT the Father In Heaven saw that this could not be allowed, and snatched him away. And we know Frances did not die, and will not see corruption; he escaped that body of death and rottenness, and is caught away quite delivered from it. So he is not with us. And he will not be buried with the body this coming Saturday. NO! Francis will live on in the memory of all who have known, loved and been touched by him, during his time with us; he is not, though, just a memory- he LIVES on, and one day all of us who trust and believe in Jesus Christ, and the great Work He did for us in His Death and Resurrection will find ourselves waking up together in His Presence. No sign of that old and corruptible body, but a renewed, restored, and eternal one, glowing with God's Glory and Righteousness. YES. Satan and Death have no Power over those who trust in the Saviour. There is no Victory for Death, or the Devil. Indeed even though we DIE bodily, and our fleshly tent gives up, our SOUL shall NOT die, but soar upwards to abide forever with the God who made us, and Who Lives for us.
'All the darkness of the night,
has passed away!
IT IS MORNING, It is Morning in my heart.
JESUS made the gloomy shadows all depart;
It IS morning in my heart.
A.H.Ackley 1887 - 1960
He also wrote that wonderful hymn
'I serve a risen Saviour'
+++++++
The Funeral will be on Saturday at their small homestead, about twelve kilometres away from us on the Kapsabet Road. A Memorial Service will take place in Testimony School Hall on Friday Morning. This will enable all of the Children, and staff to attend, and even take part. Thereafter the body will be transported to, and buried at, the Lahol's homestead at a place known as Kapsaret. Much of the expected cost has been coming in daily from Old Boys and Girls - a very moving tribute to him, and even to the Homes as a whole. It has truly cemented what was originally only a dream - to make a Family, with family values and affections.A.H.Ackley 1887 - 1960
He also wrote that wonderful hymn
'I serve a risen Saviour'
+++++++
======================
ON FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK, our Nursery, Primary and Secondary School will close for the Long Vacation. ALL students will be out of School until the first week of January, EXCEPT for those students who are sitting for their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, and for those others sitting for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. They will all continue to attend the School as long as the exams continue - under very strict and tight security to diminish the chance of any instance of cheating - either from within or without the compounds and exam rooms. This will make - initially - for some tension for those home for the holiday since they will have to be kept from any contact with examinees or movement near school buildings, for the duration. However we believe we will still have a good time as usual, and the Lord will Bless.
AND SOME TENTATIVE 'Good News' !! Daryl, as Director of TFH, has verbally been told that Testimony Faith Homes WILL be re- registered as Applied for in March 2017, and that the Certificate will be for THREE years and dated to commence as from the actual date of issue instead of being backdated to March 2017. IF this is not just a sop to keep us quiet then we can be quite glad about it as it will seem to suggest that the threat to close down all Charitable Children's Homes may not so imminent as supposed. We shall see! The LORD Rules.
Finally I must apologise for an almost four week silence in regard to the publishing of the Blog.
This has not been intentional, although I found myself with nothing to actually say, and no new photos to focus words upon. THIS publication, although on the Blog Site, may not be considered an actual episode of the Blog itself. I had said earlier that this year I might not be able to ensure regularity, and this has now come to be the case. BUT I am not closing down, and I trust to continue once I see the way ahead.
I am now in the midst of sending out the 6th Update from my Diary, and Thank Yous to all those who we know have been praying on our behalf, and even supporting us. We do thank you ALL, with all our hearts for sharing our labours and for lifting up our burdens. Surely in this 'fellowship' we have also seen the forging of a 'Family'.
Lovingly in Jesus Name
John, Esther and Daryl Green
