WILL THE RAINS COME THIS YEAR?

ANOTHER VIEW of Eldoret. This shows that Eldoret is not altogether a town where all have the same amenities. There ARE places on its interior perimeter that can only be described as slums. Areas without sanitation, water or even electricity. Hundreds of thousands live in such areas, and many of the children that find their way to Charitable Homes like ours originate from such city slums. The Town Centre looks well enough, but the people do not actually live in the Town Centre. Many see photos like this one and judge the African to be not only poor but illiterate and sociably ignorant. But this is not altogether true since many DO make it to school at least. And just because they are forced to live in such unpalatable circumstances does not reduce their humanity, or remove their ability to be human. The real problem is the continental problem of employment for the average person; a person NOT highly educated in a general sense. More than 60% are probably unemployed in this Town. Their ability to actually live and make ends meet are often almost nil. The actual hardship of life, poverty and despair cannot be imagined unless it has been actually experienced. Sickness, disease, and crime all on the increase.
This year, in the slums, water will be a problem. It is already on the verge of being rationed in those areas where it is on tap. But in the slums there are few taps and more often just a roughly dug well, a stream or river - all now virtually dried up.
Wells, Pit latrines usually lie not too distant from each other, and at times pose a threat to each other due to seepage one to the other in alternate seasons. THIS year the Weather Men are forecasting a minimal Rainy Season - expected sometime in March - May. Here, for the last three years, rain has held off until May. If it does that THIS year we may face MORE than a severe water shortage. AND if the Rains do come then the wells and rivers will fill up and overflow into the pit latrines and bring up the sewerage ..... a no win situation. Thirst, Disease or Both!
Of course we have been told for years that annually the Sahara moves South and it now begins to be seen that it is reaching seriously into Kenya, the desert and semi arid regions extending further and further until now, perhaps, even Eldoret will be fingered by them. Not a happy or comfortable prospect, and not a lot of thought going into how things may soon be. It was 80f in our bedroom last night, and even now it is almost that temperature outside. The sky IS a beautiful blue, but the grass is not green - it soon will not even be brown - just dust. A cow, poor beast, has just passed our gate so thin that you can count every rib and bone - nothing to eat. YES, come to beautiful Kenya, and experience NEED. There IS great need here, and it is not all material need. There is as huge ecological need which increases yearly whilst nothing appears to be being done to divert it - and the threat to millions of people multiplies under the azure sky. Last week in the Nation it was reported that hundreds of species of birds were dying off in Nakuru National Park due to the continuing drought and 'heat wave'. Well, animals and even humans are dying off in other places in Kenya from the same cause. Kenya cries for help, BUT what is being done by Kenya to help itself, and her own people?
LAST WEEK electric power began to be rationed due to the weather - not enough water to turn the turbines!~ Eldoret has begun by turning power off from 7 to 9 p.m. daily. This will no doubt increase as the days go by. In previous years it has been turned of days at a time from 8a.m. to 7p.m. due to the delay of the Rainy Season. And of course many other things will continue to fall apart. Life is set to be more and more difficult. Did I tell you that Power & Lighting are also increasing their charges? ~ for using LESS power!

And the whole world worries about such things. The whole world worries about what they will eat and drink, what they will wear, and how they will cope with the rising cost of living and cost of facilities they cannot do without. A world that We are responsible for, and a world WE have spoiled, corroded and brought to the brink of ruin by our own fallen nature.

But the REAL goal is to see JESUS reclaiming lost souls; lost souls that are so busy trying to make and get the most out of what Man has deceived himself into thinking is LIFE! Oh my! Truly Satan has made blind and deaf, the people of this generation. BUT Jesus Christ, by His Spirit IS ABLE still to open the eyes of the blind, and to unstop deaf ears. AND THIS MORNING, as I have been typing, one of our High School boys from Testimony School came into my office. He is starting Form 1. All his life (he is from the Homes) he has been of a most difficult character and in and out of trouble almost daily. He has grown tall and looks smart in his new school uniform. He spent the early years of his life (he is now 14) in one of Eldoret's slums. "I have come to ask you to pray with me and for me', he began. ' I do not want to go on with my life the way it is, and I want to be saved; I want Jesus to come into my life and to straighten it out, and walk with me.. Will you pray for me?'
Of course I did. We prayed and read a little Scripture and he has gone gladly and joyfully away back to his Class. GREAT! A little LIGHT from Heaven. But last night one came in the night to rob and steal. He has not seen the Light yet, preferring darkness. There is much to do in our world. And it is not an earthly or worldly labour; it demands all our time, all our patience, all our faith in the unseen, and all our life. It has it's moments of Glory ~ and it has many more of pain and anguish. Thank you Lord for trusting US to do it in your Name.

Some of you may remember that I am myself an orphan. My birth mother put me up for adoption in 1940 when just a few months old. I have never even seen a photo of her, and know nothing of my father. Elizabeth our daughter has always been anxious to find out more about my family, and recently asked the Salvation Army to help her track it down! Well it seems they not only agreed but now think they have discovered my 'sister'. We had already found out that a baby girl had been born to my birth mum a year before me but we had drawn a blank thereafter. SO, now the SA will contact her to see if she wants to get in contact - it is likely she has no idea I exist. Quite exciting though. Pray along with me about it.

PLEASE also pray for Catherine Senge - Mum in Tyndale Cottage - as you know she is expecting her 2nd child in March, and has been quite unwell up to now. Doctors are at a loss to know what her problem really is.

Our continuing Love to you all as ever, in His Precious Name
.
John and Esther