Usually about 500 parents attend, staying to lunch and the afternoon concert. Most of their children stay at home unless they are performing in the afternoon Special Entertainment or are receiving Prizes. It is especially a parents Day to socialise amongst teachers, themselves, and the administration. A VERY popular day indeed.
This year was no exception. Our Guest of Honour was Mr. Peter Mungai, Director of the local S.O. S. Village, The School Hall was packed out, and the children gave all they had to impress the visitors in song, drama, and even dance. There was much laughter, some tears, and generally much appreciation. We finished at 5p.m. For the most part of the day the sun shone, but it DID rain a little before the end.
The School, of course, began in 1981 with Nursery. A few years back we opened a Boarding Block to cater for 112 primary students who were in the 7th and 8th grades who needed some extra tuition time. This September the School will open further Boarding facility for 40 boys and 40 girls. The Girls will the DAVID LILLIE HOSTEL sited near Testimony House, and the Boys facility will be in a converted RENTED house about 500 metres away next to the School. The Girls are only using our Hostel as a temporary measure, until they build - and will pay us rent!!
It was encouraging, this year, to see so many of our own 'Homes' children going up for Prizes and showing good progress. This is why started the School - to given THEM the best academic start in life. Wonderful that MANY others have been able to share in the good standards and results.
It was a SUCCESSFUL day in which everyone one in the School AND the Homes worked hard, and it was enjoyable as well = though we were all ready for an early night at the end of it all.
THIS WEEK, in Kenya, the Nation voted on the Referendum on whether or not to say YES to the new Constitutional Draft. Many were feeling anxious in case civil unrest might yet again disturb the Country. But all was peaceful, and calm, even to date. The People voted YES overwhelmingly, and in a very demonstrable way, the nation has GROWN in the process, and there is a definite impression of having advanced into a greater political maturity and sense of being Kenyan. We do thank God for this - a very clear answer to Prayer.
BUT ON THE 4TH, the
actual Day when everyone went to Vote, I was getting up to date with my mail, and later when completed I went to the Internet to look at some sites to do with Alfa Romeo Cars! I am not much of a car enthusiast or fancier, but just needed to find out a fact or too for an article I was writing. I found myself face to face with the Alfa Romeo Badge. I had never noticed it in particular before - except that it looked colourful!
THIS TIME I suddenly noticed the CROWNED SNAKE, and then the image of the 'man' apparently being swallowed by it! What an earth had made Alfa Romeo choose this symbol?
I became curious and began to check into the history. I discovered that the crowned snake was in fact the family Crest of the VISCONTI who were Dukes of Milan in Italy in the 14th Century. Even today this Symbol can be found in Milan publicly displayed. It was one such site that caught the eye of Alfa Romeo's designers - so they say - and it was incorporated into their badge opposite the RED CROSS. Interesting.
History suggests that the man in the mouth of the serpent is a Muslim! And that it came about through the first Visconti Duke of Milan, who led an army in the Crusades, adopting this badge - but it is hardly likely that any 'Christian' would adopt a snake, synonymous with the Devil, as a symbol of Good overcoming what might then have been thought of as an enemy. So what, or who, did this Crowned Serpent represent? And in the second illustration cut from a public building in Milan not long ago it doesn't look like a man but rather a child in the mouth of the serpent.
And slowly my memory stirred and I remembered a novel of fiction read when I was in my early teens - 'The Viper of Milan' written by Marjory Bowen in 1916. A story about a particularly EVIL Visconti Duke. He was finally defeated and overcome in the story..............
BUT for some reason this symbol disturbed my peace as I sat in the late afternoon on Green Cottage Veranda. I switched off the computer. How was it that I should have come across this symbol - obviously NOT a very happy or beneficent one? Was I being warned that OUR children, in the Homes, were in danger of being devoured by evil? I got up. It was now 6p.m.
I closed the Veranda door and bolted it - something I never usually do before 10 or 11 at night.
I don't know why I did it - just an impulse.............
I came into the house and began to lay the table for supper for Esther and me. SUDDENLY I heard the veranda door bolts violently drawn back, and through the sitting room door was pushed a 14 year old boy - his house-parent following shouting and pushing. I was still standing near the dining table with a handful of cutlery. With outstretched hand the houseparent slapped with the palm and back of 
his hand - I cried out in remonstrance - he continued, then turned and stormed out of the house leaving me with the boy! I was startled. The boy it turned out had been accused by another of stealing green maize from the next door neighbour. Right there and then before being driven to Green Cottage he had been assailed by the 'parent' with a broom handle and thoroughly beaten. WHAT WAS going on? This just did not happen.
his hand - I cried out in remonstrance - he continued, then turned and stormed out of the house leaving me with the boy! I was startled. The boy it turned out had been accused by another of stealing green maize from the next door neighbour. Right there and then before being driven to Green Cottage he had been assailed by the 'parent' with a broom handle and thoroughly beaten. WHAT WAS going on? This just did not happen.Not only is physical punishment forbidden everywhere by law in Kenya, but the policy of the Homes and the Instructions and Training to our Houseparents clearly outlaws such punishment in this present era.
On Thursday all our Houseparents attended my office and we discussed discipline in depth once more. I thought we had at least sorted the matter out.
BUT TODAY evidence has been incontrovertedly laid before me, that proves physical discipline is being used almost daily in three of our four Homes, AND the School. A sense almost of panic assailed us. On Friday and today we have had a team of some 50 doctors, psychologists and social research people in the Homes interviewing ALL our children in a voluntary exercise involving more than 12 different Children's Institutions. They have told me at the conclusion that a number of our children have been abused in three of our Homes. I had in fact asked them to try and uncover any such incidents. I have had to let Mica and Catherine Yego go to day as well, as part result of investigations. In fact they walked out without any Notice! We are coping, but with a sense of shock and unreality, and we may still have to ASK another couple to leave.
We sense a serious attack, but also understanding that this is not SUDDEN, but an attack that has been insidiously proceeding undetected for some time. We thank God for bringing it to light, and for strength to deal with it. We are also thankful that the children are calm, and that they seem sure that Esther and I will watch over them and ensure their well being.
PLEASE DO PRAY FOR US. Even as I write we are in the midst and grip of a freak hail and thunder storm of rain and wind that is tearing through our compounds, having banished the blue skies once more, and engulfed us in semi darkness and what to us feels like freezing cold.
We are not anxious or afraid. We were put on our guard. We know who is ultimately behind this, and we are not without ability to withstand and overcome him. But we will be glad of your family support in holding up our hands, and encouraging our hearts.
IT IS THE LORD'S DAY TOMORROW. We are looking for His Blessing upon us, and also healing.
Lovingly to you all
John and Esther
PS - Apologies for the lack of photos related to Parent's Day. They did not come out well this time.
No comments:
Post a Comment