KEEP ON GOING ON !!

THIS IS THE TESTIMONY HOUSE FAMILY

MUM EUNICE at extreme left of middle row displaying 'I HAVE DECIDED' on her tea-shirt!   The photo was taken just this morning on their veranda.    A real joy to see the House at last HOME again to a family.     They were all, of course living in Drakeley Cottage, across the road,  but had moved back to Testimony House when Dad Francis Lahol became ill late in the year.    He had himself grown up in the House.     After the Lord took him to be with Himself, Eunice, his wife, felt that she could not just stop being Mum to her family - her very own, and the extended one.   They had grown up with her and Francis since 2011, many of them just infants.      Yes,  she HAS decided, not just to continue following her Lord and Master, but to BE a Mum.     I think this photo reveals the gladness and contentment of her family, once again secure in  their, Mum's ongoing love for them.   Thanks Eunice, and Thank you Lord Jesus for walking so lovingly and tenderly with her.   

Of course one or two are wondering if we are departing from our original contention that children need a Mum AND a Dad.    No we are not doing any such thing.    And the children now with Eunice are children who have lived with her AND her husband, their 'Dad' in the Lord.   They enjoyed him, and learnt much from him; much that they will ever remember, and which already is steering their lives onward.     Later, when most of this present group have grown up and are about to fly away, Eunice and we ourselves may have to re-assess the matter.    But for now - all is safe, and well.

ON THE RIGHT, OVERLEAF, is a NEW family of just four children recently admitted, with the consent of the Children's Office....    Hesketh and Alice Muli are Dad and Mum now of this Family.  THIS WILL BE THE NEW DRAKELEY FAMILY. 'Aunty' Grace Mwangi, will be staying with them as a Relief House parent to all four HOMES when needed. We feel this is RIGHT for us now, and a step of FAITH toward God Who put this Work into Being. We hope, within the next three weeks,to sit down with Government and put forward our plan to continue as a Reception Centre, and also as a Long Term Home for those children and young persons who are not Repatri-ated, fostered, or Adopted.  We would not like to give up on the children that STILL are in need of loving care - millions STILL we are told by Government.     God sees behind current world policy on Orphans, generally.    I believe that together with the poor, widows and orphans will always be there needing love and care.                        SO, now we have FOR Family Homes once more, and we hope and trust that the future will still provide for children in need here in Kenya who are more and more having to do without a real home and family.

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PROGRESS ON THE PATIO of Green Cottage.    Up until noon today!  The main patio has been now covered with 'bricks' but the paths from the cottage to the Office and from the Patio to Testimony House driveway still have to be tackled.    Also a drain from the Office down past the patios to the lawn beyond is still being laid.
We hope by Monday all will be completed apart from the cleaning up process, removal of earth, rocks, and surplus building material.  Some of our own Grounds Staff will assist in this last stage; the Australian Team leaving on Wednesday morning.     They have all worked wonderfully well, with all their hearts; a very real testimony and example to themselves, and also to all of us, children and adults alike.  And we DO Thank the LORD, and give Him all the Honour and Glory.     What a Blessing.    The photo above shoes the main patio as seen from our veranda door, facing the Office.  The drain not yet in place to the left.       

Alice Kiboi with 5 of our 6
puppies just 3 weeks

THE NEXT  photo, to the left, shows the patio just in front of the last photo, and in front of the veranda, again looking ahead to the Office.  Still a bit to do, but there is no doubt it will look good when finally finished.     The path  to Testimony, across the lawn, will leave the Patio bottom left of the photo.    Next week I hope to be able to provide shots of the completed job.

(ALICE helps Esther in the house, and she just loves DOGS, and so, of course, they love her too - possibly encouraged by the fact that SHE cooks their food every day!)

THIS  IS A VIEW from Nyerere Road. In the fore ground notice the cement parapets of the roadside drain.   They also depict the original entrance into Jacaranda's compound.  You can just make out Jacaranda's roof  to the right.
A hedge will now be planted to hide  the tin.
Behind the tin was an inverted V shaped entrance.   This space has now been used to provide for a Half Basket Ball court.  I showed this in construction, last week

The NEXT photo shows the Ring just having been put up, and you can see the old Gate Post on the left.    All space now occupied by the Court was previously taken up by the V shaped drive way.
To the left, out of the picture is the Dairy.

The third photo, overleaf, is taken from behind the Ring, toward the Road, behind the tin fence.  Hopefully, for those who have been here, or have seen previous photos before the change, you will be able to appreciate what has happened
If you can imagine it, the old entrance with the Basket Ring stand being the position of the old Gatepost - centre of the inverted V  (the actual gate posts are where you are looking at the Ring).   Then funnelling right and left, the wings of the V to each far corner.      Well it has caused a lot of excitement and joy for all the kids to see it going up, and it will be certainly USED every day.    This was all Daryl's idea, and we certainly  commend his vision, as well all the
labour and finance that Tyndale Team put into bringing it all to pass - Thank you ALL.  Dream Makers !!    For you Vision, Your Energy, and your Sacrifice.

FINALLY FOR THIS WEEK, A NEW PHOTO of ME with all those who labour here with us, and who we depend upon, and who work hard as cleaners, cooks, gardeners, plumbers, handymen, accountants, and secretaries without great financial gain.   Many have been with us, and with me, for decades.   Some have only been here a short time.    I take my hat off to them, and honour them.  My joy to be invited to share this photo of them all together to day.

   

Our Love and Prayers to all, as ever, and be sure we DO pray for you, and lift up our hearts with gladness and thanksgiving for each and every one of you.

John, Esther and Daryl Green