A TIME TO WEEP - AND A TIME TO REJOICE!

OPPOSITE photo from last years Family Day of VINCENT Aluusa, our Chief of Maintenance for the Homes.    Vincent is perhaps the oldest member of our current Staff.   He was first of all a member of our Mechanics Course that began in '76, and he has even been a relief Houseparent at times,    He does not earn a lot of money, but he has always been a loyal and hard working man, and is in so many ways a part of the Family.   Two days ago his mud house was broken into, and everything of value looted.  The thief or thieves hacked a hole through his bedroom mud wall whilst he was out.    His little house stands on its own ground and surrounded by a hedge - but MUD is not a very substantial building material at the best of times.     Poor Vinny has been robbed many times, though not recently, until  now.    He has been left very distraught and upset by this further blow.      I do commend him to those who know and remember him.   We will try to assist him, but it will not be much.  Please do pray for him, that the Lord will hear our prayers and supply not just his need, but also the possibility of building, perhaps, a BRICK house.

Here we are a couple of weeks ago, in front of Green Cottage, with all of our patio and paths ripped up and looking the worse.
THEN Tyndale School Students and Staff arrived and applied themselves to hard work and perseverance trying to restore it all - and even give  everything a 'facelift'.      The weather held, and although there were rain showers, they were mainly at night.   BUT for the first few days it all looked worse rather than better, and especially the lifting of the old paving stones was found to be very hard and heavy work.    Nevertheless no one dropped out, but set their teeth to
 finish !!

TODAY ALL IS FINISHED.  These photos were taken today,  and everything is neat and tidy again,    Come Monday it will be full of staff and kids travelling between Homes and School; quite a thoroughfare.    Thank you OZ!

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SUNDAY 20th July -  To-day the School celebrated its 38th year with the usual annual Parents and Prize Giving Day.    Our Guest of honour was the Chairman of the Kenya Private School Association of which we are also members.    It was a perfect day weather wise, and began at 9 a.m. in showing the Guest around the School, and class exhibitions.   She was accompanied by The School Principal, Anthony Ndungu and his wife, plus Daryl, Esther and myself.   The Heads of Nursery, Primary and Secondary also went round  with us.  At 10.30 we all repaired to the School Hall for a Concert put on by the Children, and the Annual Prize Giving.    It was an excellent occasion - perhaps one of the best, and remarkable in that the day had been seriously reduced from a Morning and Afternoon function to just a Morning occasion - 9a.m. to 1p.m.     No reduction in activities, just better use of time and arrangement.    Very successful.

THIS WEEK I am happy to publish the most recent photo of our New Jacaranda Cottage Family,  taken on the 13th July.   Mum, Dorris Chumba at front left, and Dad David Chumba front right.  The Family has long been full, and so not so many young new faces, but rather more older faces of those quickly growing up in the family.    All still enjoying the family home - even though it currently has 44 in the family.   

AND also a photo of TYNDALE COTTAGE FAMILY

Mum and Dad are to be seen 5th and 6th from the left. with a family of 34 currently.  Again the Family is now without any vacancy and so we see the family looking older as whole, all growing, and soon we shall see some of the eldest leaving to start their own lives in the world around us.

LIFE goes on - and WE go on with God to Guide and Keep us all on track, and confident........

ANOTHER week has rushed by full of activity and amid the usual tide of school, play and sober necessities of daily life.     God is SO gracious to us all.      Thank you for sharing your prayer-time with us, and helping to manifest our Father's Love to us.

Sincerely in Him

John, Esther and Daryl Green