DO YOU REMEMBER? Probably not! However on 27th February 2009 I told of a visit I made with Desmond and Virginia Hales, our friends from Northern Ireland, to a 'slum' area of Eldoret. There a brother and sister in Christ lived with AIDS, and had begun to reach out to others, both children and adults, in an effort to help. The pictures I put up did not really convey the hopeless squaller we found there. Yet these two Kenyans were in no way cast down or defeated for Christ had come in and made them more than conquerors. I Titled the Blog for that week 'A MAN RECLAIMED'. Since then Obadiah and his wife Margaret have reclaimed a great many more. BUT, during that first visit to his dilapidated dwelling - the floors were underwater, the walls crumbling and covered with newspaper, whilst the rusting roof of galvanised shee
ts was rusty and leaking - hearts were touched, and help began to come into their lives. Not riches you understand - but help. Help enough to improve their living conditions, and lift up their hearts. Two of those hearts that were moved run a small charity in the USA - Discover the World
ts was rusty and leaking - hearts were touched, and help began to come into their lives. Not riches you understand - but help. Help enough to improve their living conditions, and lift up their hearts. Two of those hearts that were moved run a small charity in the USA - Discover the WorldON THURSDAY 4th OCTOBER THIS YEAR, I went again, with Esther and Daryl, to witness the Dedication of their recently refurbished kitchen - the latest 'help' from DTW!! Their little home had also been given a mild 'make-over' with a new roof, new walls, and floor, plus some simple redecoration. What a difference. And as we sat together (there were about were about 12 of this time) we marvelled how different a quite modest amount of financial aid and voluntary help had made.
IN ADDITION to the family home, another building which had only managed to flaunt foundations had also been built up and made into a dormitory for the 12 boys that currently make up the extended family tacked on to Obadiah, Margaret and their five children (the third still to be born .....) These Children (apart from Obadiah's own five) all have HIV!!?? ALL of this forms the nucleus of an outreach into the local community running in to dozens of families. It is amazing to consider that SIN brought Obadiah face to face with death - his first wife died as a result - and initially embittered and stigmatized him. A great VICTORY for Satan.......BUT in the midst of this overwhelming DEFEAT for Obadiah, Jesus Christ stepped in and turned him and the DEFEAT right around. Out of what first off seemed certain DEATH has come LIFE. Life for Obadiah, and for the community around him. They call it KIMPLWAS CHILDREN'S CENTRE. Such are the Miracles of God.
Thus I include a few NEW pictures. The rest can be found on my Face Book page if you have access to it.
The first is taken in front of the newly renovated home of Obadiah and his wife.
The first is taken in front of the newly renovated home of Obadiah and his wife.The second two of his kids holding the new sign.
ON THE SAME DAY we also visited other friends of ours who run another Children's Home. Patrick and Ruth Chege (you can find them on Face Book as well) live in and care for this Home, which is only about 4 kilometres from us in a large rented house. They call their project CARE 4 KIDS. They care for about 20 kids (boys and girls) and also babies. In fact they felt led to open a special section of their work just for Babies. They have gone about converting the garage adjacent to their Home, (pictured here)and on Thursday they were welcoming friends to visit and share in Dedicating it. A whole crowd of us were there. The Chege's - just like us in Testimony and the Mbithi's in Neema, - trust in
the Lord for all their need. They are not rich - the same as the rest of us including Obadiah and his family. BUT as we have all prayed and waited the LORD our God has heard and has supplied our NEED. Wonderful.
the Lord for all their need. They are not rich - the same as the rest of us including Obadiah and his family. BUT as we have all prayed and waited the LORD our God has heard and has supplied our NEED. Wonderful. The Chege's have room for about 10 babies. Dozens of babies are being abandoned in Eldoret every week! Heritage Baby Reception Centre will now take in ten or so at a time, and care for them with a view to eventually having them adopted. These are not HIV babies. You have to have a special heart to do this - to give your all for a babe in arms to grow to childhood, and then be
willing to let go of it - again and again and again. As we walked around and SAW what has been done - again with the minimum of financial outlay - we marvelled. What they have is not palatial by any standard. But it is homely, clean, well ordered, and ENOUGH to give
a comfortable and safe shelter for the unwanted. We were very much thrilled and our hearts yet again touched by the wondrous Love and Mercy of our God - the ONLY God - well the only ONE that is truly ALIVE and able to demonstrate it in and around each one of our lives if we just BELIEVE in, and reach out to Him. Discover the World has also had a big hand in being a Channel of our Father's Love.
a comfortable and safe shelter for the unwanted. We were very much thrilled and our hearts yet again touched by the wondrous Love and Mercy of our God - the ONLY God - well the only ONE that is truly ALIVE and able to demonstrate it in and around each one of our lives if we just BELIEVE in, and reach out to Him. Discover the World has also had a big hand in being a Channel of our Father's Love.AND TODAY, we visited a third endeavour. OPEN ARMS MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL is something that has come in from outside. It is a Charity based in the United States but with offices also in the United Kingdom. It was founded by David and Rachel GALLAGHER, and it is they who came to Kenya about two years back and initiated a vision they had to provide for a 
model village to cater for orphaned and destitute children from across Kenya. They are about 12 kilometres from Testimony, and we have come to know and love David and Rachel for their total dedication and love for God and for children everywhere.
They have 70 acres of land plus, and have already built some half dozen 'family' children's homes AND a Baby Centre. Today the Baby Centre was to be opened officially. It was a fine day, and crowds were there from all around. This is not just a Children's Home, but a reaching out,
in a very depressed area, to countless poor families in an effort to encourage, provide and draw to Christ the surrounding communities. Walking around with the Guests today it was easy to see that THEY are not living from hand to mouth - there is an obvious prosperity behind the whole enterprise. But then their approach to funding is very different to those I have talked of previously. NO MATTER it is also obvious that from this 'international appeal' has come a magnificent response - and there is also no doubt that it has come due to Faith and Dependence on God to move hearts and lives. STILL a miraculous demonstration of God's Love and Mercy. We REJOICE at all we have seen of His Ways this week. We REJOICE for all the dear dedicated brethren we have shared with this week. AND we REJOICE at the many, many others who could repeat the testimony and re-enforce with proof the knowledge that God is VERY real. The complete set of photos for each of these Ministries will eventually be found on my Face Book page as the week goes by.
model village to cater for orphaned and destitute children from across Kenya. They are about 12 kilometres from Testimony, and we have come to know and love David and Rachel for their total dedication and love for God and for children everywhere.They have 70 acres of land plus, and have already built some half dozen 'family' children's homes AND a Baby Centre. Today the Baby Centre was to be opened officially. It was a fine day, and crowds were there from all around. This is not just a Children's Home, but a reaching out,
in a very depressed area, to countless poor families in an effort to encourage, provide and draw to Christ the surrounding communities. Walking around with the Guests today it was easy to see that THEY are not living from hand to mouth - there is an obvious prosperity behind the whole enterprise. But then their approach to funding is very different to those I have talked of previously. NO MATTER it is also obvious that from this 'international appeal' has come a magnificent response - and there is also no doubt that it has come due to Faith and Dependence on God to move hearts and lives. STILL a miraculous demonstration of God's Love and Mercy. We REJOICE at all we have seen of His Ways this week. We REJOICE for all the dear dedicated brethren we have shared with this week. AND we REJOICE at the many, many others who could repeat the testimony and re-enforce with proof the knowledge that God is VERY real. The complete set of photos for each of these Ministries will eventually be found on my Face Book page as the week goes by.We have just got home, and we both feel a little tired. I will select some photos and then I will probably go to bed.
GOD is doing wonderfully. May He join hands with you, and each one of us, through this coming week, to display clearly that He is ALIVE and able to do wonders.
Much Love to you all in His Name
John and Esther
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