WELL HERE WE after quite a number of weeks, at the END of the 3rd School term of 2020!! Yes, quite confusing at times it has been! And here I am to the left, at the students Prayer Day for top Class of Primary School (Standard V111) AND the top Form of Secondary School ( Form 4 ) just a week ago. To day St.V111 have completed three days of National Examinations marking the END of their Primary Education. It should all have been happening at the end of 2020, but due to COVID and Shut Down, it couldn't be accommodated.
The same of course for our Graduates
for Form 4, 2020 - they will start their exams next week and continue into April. THUS for the first time ever both Classes find themselves Graduating at the Beginning of the Year instead of the end, and attempting National Exams set for 2020 in 2021
And above is a not too clear panoramic view of the School Hall on the Day we had these National Candidates come together with their parents in the School Hall on 6th March. Daryl and I are sitting on the front row, right. It was a squash, and we more than filled the hall with more than 450 attending. At the end of Prayer, Testimonies and Praise, the students were specially prayed for and and commended to God for His Blessing.
Opening in January, the School faced considerable constraints and problems. We had spent a lot of money converting previously unused rooms and spaces for School use, so as to cater for our usual population of students all spaced out and taking twice their usual floor area. We had to find extra teachers, and all this without knowing if our parents would trust their children to return to Class after a long Lockdown, and with continuing cases of Covid across the Country increasing. ALL our previous population returned! Truly NOW, my Testimony Faith Home say - if it had not been for the LORD being on our side....! YES we would have suffered an overwhelming flood - BUT we escaped. And the School has remained open and full, and Teachers have worked with a willing and generous heart to make sure that our students, long OUT of the classroom for most of 2020, have been able to catch up and FINALLY attempt their hijacked Examinations of last October/November. It has been SUCH an experience. And, whilst the threat of a 3rd Wave of Covid is threatening all of Kenya, WE have only seen ONE positive Case here in our school, and he, a standard 4 Primary boy, was met at the School gate, and on being tested there, before he could enter, was sent home. He was made to self isolate at his parents home, and completing his days was finally returned to us fully recovered.
AND to day our Standard 8 Primary top Class Finished their exam, and Graduated. Actually two Classes of 28 and 27 respectively. In the photos some of the teachers can be seen sitting on the front rows. We hope many of them will decide to return to us for their Secondary Education, but many may choose other Schools of their own, or their parents choice.
NO PHOTO to hand of the Secondary School candidates. This will become available some time in April before they complete their Exam. just wanted you too see a glimpse of our JOY. We will make sure more photos will appear in April / May. Schools in Kenya are so far remaining OPEN, and although from today until 10th May we shall all be on Vacation, we all expect to open as scheduled.\
COVID UPDATE
ESTHERS, sister and brother in law, plus their sons Mark and Tony, all recently tested Positive for C.19. but have managed to pull through, and are now mending well. A worrying time for all of us, but the Lord has been Merciful. So far no further Positive Cases have been found amongst any of us here, although there ARE increasing numbers of cases cropping up in our County (45 more today (24/3/21) but none in our immediate area.
Generally, Positive Cases are on the rise again, in what is said to be a Third Wave. Altogether since March 12th 2020 to date Kenya has discovered 123,167 Positive cases out of a total tested of 1,425,377. Out of these Positive Cases 90,586 have recovered, and 2,048 have died. Vaccinations have begun of some 1.5 million out of a population of approximately 52 million.
JAMES 'Manu' our son, has been having a challenging, and rather difficult year. Some of you may have heard about it directly from him, but Many more will be unaware. Anyway he has for some years been having problems with his eyes, beginning about three years back, with Glaucoma in both eyes. He has been under monthly treatment ever since. During treatment he finally lost sight altogether in one eye, and the other has continued to defy every effort to stop the advance of infection. About three weeks ago he was told he needed an 'urgent' operation to save the eye. Regretfully before he was able to take up the appointment he experienced an unexpected accident while travelling to his digs by motorcycle. During the crash he found himself somehow caught between his legs, and had to be taken to a Doctor in severe pain. Eventually he was taken to hospital where he went through a painful operation. He is recovering now, at home with us, and seems to be mending well, but not without damage. He still needs to get his Eye seen to, and he is worried about the delay, but God knows, and it will all be taken care of, we know. Manu also has Diabetes and during last year began to experience seizures, which have turned out to be the onset of Epilepsy! The doctors think that this might have been encouraged by over anxiety, and also the cumulative effect of all the different medicines he has been having to take. So, altogether, he has progressively found himself with more and more physical problem.
Esther and I personally want to thank all those, who rallied to help him with the expense involved in this latest challenge, and who lovingly sent in gifts to assist in paying his costs, showing their family care for him. The Hospital charges alone were more than a Ksh.100,000/=, and of course he has remained unemployed, and in no current position to help himself. Thank you all for your kind and very generous response. I know it has deeply touched Manu himself, and we ourselves have been greatly moved, and do sincerely appreciate this demonstration of 'family' . God Bless you all. We would lovingly ask you all to intercede for his sight.
Our Love in Jesus to you all, and every one.
John, Esther and Daryl Green
