THE END OF AN ERA

THIS HAS BEEN A BUSY WEEK WITH THE GOVERNMENT SUDDENLY ANNOUNCING THAT ALL SCHOOLS WILL OPEN AS FROM THE 5TH OCTOBER.    On the face of it a very welcome and sensible decision, until you receive the 50 page Book telling you HOW to Open, and with what V.19 Preventative Precautions.    The Private School sector under which our School operates, has had no income for 7 months, and with no funds in hand it has been impossible for many to even begin to bring their school in line with the new C.19 Standard.      We are still struggling, and of course UNTIL we come in line with Government requirements we cannot ourselves open - and we have not YET opened....but WE ARE HOPING TO OPEN next week!    Hurrah!

BUT, the Government is ONLY permitting Schools to open Primary Classes 4 and 8, and High School Form 4., initially.       So we shall not have our usual population - only approximately 155 out of 800.  Also not our usual number of Teachers - approx. 18 out of about 48.      We have had to ADD a Classroom for each Class/Form,  in order to accommodate 'Spacing'.      We have also had to Accommodate the need to provide hand washing points for all students and staff - ONE to ever fifty, AND provide a Temporary Isolation Room for any who may show symptoms of C.19 whilst they wait for transport to the nearest Medical Centre for Testing.   AND, of course, we must equip ourselves with Thermometers to keep a check on temperature     There is no doubt SCHOOL will be different as from now........

BUT it is a start.    For us, one fraught with very real problems and challenges, which can  affect the success of the School AND even the future of our Children's Homes.     But we do not stand alone, or without Strength, for we continue to BELIEVE God IS with us in JESUS Christ, Alive and present in our midst.    We ourselves are still weak humanity, but HE is strong and gives us Confidence and Assurance that we shall overcome.

DARYL has been shouldering most of the mental and physical load in planning, and actively achieving the changes and readiness needed for bringing us to Opening Day.     He a handful of our staff, and a huge input from our teenagers, to help do the heavy work of Cleaning and refreshing the School, as well as seeing to the provision of new fixtures and fittings.    Still going on right NOW.
 Of course we have done our best to rally behind him, as the old guard, to encourage and pray with him.    ONE of his activities has been in going through our twenty four classrooms to ensure desks and chairs are found in good repair and general condition.     He and his Team are STILL involved in achieving this - together with so much more.

I have just now been walking around the initial area to be opened on Monday.   Still  a lot of work to be done in cleaning and removing litter.   Amazing how plain dirt has a habit of collecting from no where - and even more amazing how it can remain hidden from the sight of those able to remove it!

Daryl still active identifying Hand Washing points. I Found him organising one for the Reception Office, and found others being actually MADE for children to use in the Dining Area.     Can we actually complete it all by Monday?     Our Teachers, who have still been laid off without pay, are also here this morning, going through the new proceedures laid down, and now walking around the Classrooms that will be in use, with Anthony Ndungu the School Principal.     Very  encouraging to see them all here, anxious to resume work;  they are all amazing, and I must express to them all our very Thankful and Grateful appreciation of their loyalty to, and pride in, their School.

Life continues in other areas, quietly.    The Covid 19 continues to dictate a lot of change and a lot of frustration, but not nearly to the degree of many other unfortunate Nations on Earth!    Yesterday's figures for Kenya are - As at 9/10/20

Confirmed Cases        Recovered Cases      Inclusive of yesterdays Confirmed Cases of 442 out of

40,620                         30,876                      5,327, Tested.   Most of these new cases recorded  from                                                                             Nakuru,   Nairobi,  and Uasin Gishu in that order.

This is showing an increasing number,   but relatively not dangerously so.    

INSIDE Testimony Faith Homes we have recorded no Case so far, for which we are grateful, but we are aware that the incidence of recorded Cases is growing even in our area, and that with the Opening of School the risk of infection will rise, at least initially, for all of us and, to all intents and purposes, will  be forced to open up our previous state of Quarantine to the local world around us.

THERE HAS BEEN  HEAVY THUNDER STORM whilst I was typing this.  Everything is VERY WET, and outside is looking very grey and wintery.    But our winter should be giving way to Spring!    No!   IN FACT  here in Eldoret we have had a rather dull, cloudy and wet year.  Surely it HAS found the odd day full of sunshine and blue skies, but for the most part  there has been no HOT SEASON this year, and  it look as it it may con-tinue.    But we are GLAD to see plenty of rain this year, although it may well not be good news, at this time, for a good Maize and Wheat Harvest.  Now we wait for what could be a VERY dry  time.

AND NOW I AM SIGNING OFF  - maybe permanently.     BLOGGER.com has changed a lot of its Settings and arrangements recently, and together with hundreds of others I am finding these changes too much to cope with.     I have found it impossible to properly Edit, and even Post my Blog for some time now, and although I have also tried to share my problems with the ' Managers' I have felt very unhelped  by them.     I have blogged since 2007 very happily, but not any more with them I think.   I may try to find another way.     

Esther and I are still well, and well occupied.     We will be delighted to reply to any who want to keep in touch and want to hear more about what is happening here.     We are much in prayer for all of you, wherever you are in our condemned world.     Revelation remains THE book in the Bible to READ and pray over.     There is so much there that reflects our world at this time, and also the mentality of mankind at this time.       BE READY for CHANGE.     It is coming soon.

Without love always in God and in His Son, JESUS

John, Esther, and Daryl Green, and ALL in Testimony Faith Homes Family