JOURNEY INTO THE UNKOWN

'JUST LOOK WHAT THE CAT BROUGHT IN!!' Well I do apologise to the owner of this photo (who is quite unknown to me) but she conveys exactly the reception Esther and I received the morning after our arrival in London and on entering the 5* Hotel dining room to take breakfast. Not really 'unpleasant' but definitely something 'OFF' in her manner. Steven had arranged to sleep us in the hotel and then drive us north the next morning. It was a sumptuous place. Esther and I just revelled in the luxurious and totally restful surroundings, and slept soundly and well.

We are not very conversant with Hotels. We have, I think, only slept in one twice during the last 42 years. We felt a little out of our depth amidst all the quiet grandeur. As we entered the Dining-room we were welcomed my the Maitre d' - a short, plump woman in her fifties,who looked at us a little apprehensively and oddly. She did not smile or greet us but directed us to a table and promptly turned away and left us there. The room was moderately full of diners, but no sign of food! We waited a while wondering if we would be served.

Eventually I noticed a couple coming from an area invisible to us, but carrying steaming plates of breakfast food. Obviously there must be a buffet just out of sight, so Esther and I got up and meandered off in that direction.. Sure enough the food was laid out plentifully obscured by a screen! The 'sniffy' maitre d' was standing there, but still unsmilingly - at least when she saw us. One or two others were immediately assisted and grandly helped to choose what she recommended. She did not spoil our enjoyment of what was a truly well presented and prepared English Breakfast - but she did not make us feel either welcome or accepted. We forgave her. Maybe she was tired....caught off guard by a couple of rather nondescript travellers who did not belong in the pristine and upper class confines of her domain.

It was, and IS, a beautiful Hotel both interially and exteriorally. Its furnishings delightful to the eye, and generally it's staff courteous and very attentive. We felt very blessed to be able to sample it's luxuries on that first night away from home. Spotlessly clean and sparkling - although my eagle eyed wife did discover a blob of tomato sauce on our bedroom floor - or was it blood! I would never have noticed it.

Steven collected us at noon,., and drove us what turned out to be a five hour journey to Accrington just north of Manchester. We met a great deal of traffic on the motor ways and in places were brought to almost a standstill by sheer number of vehicles all leaving London for the North. But we arrived at last, and have been ever since staying with Steve and Anjie and their two lovely children, our grandchildren ( Eric and Tonia.) The weather has been gorgeous with temps up to 23C every day, blue skies and warmth. Still the same today, and forecast to so continue until the end of the month.

NO EASTER NEWS so far from Eldoret, and Testimony Faith Homes. But we know they have continued to be under siege - nothing going In or coming Out. Yet of course they live and life continues. Children come to us having first existed in utmost poverty, often totally destitute of any life support, dependant on what they glean from the gutters. Pictures like the one on the left can move to tears.

After such children have been with us only a few days their entire attitude changes. Clean clothes, good food, and fellowship all around them work wonders, and transformations are immediate. But oddly we find few commenting on these happy, cared for children. In fact some have at times asked us why we do not print more heart wrenching pictures instead of those photos depicting happy and apparently healthy children living in the Homes. Our Testimony has always been that when parents leave their children, GOD will take up their cause and care for them Himself - and surely His Care will be good - and it should be SEEN to be good.

How greatly SATAN detests this Testimony, and this Demonstration of God's Love. He does all that he can to prevent and even dismantle it. That is why over the last months I have shared the Siege that is being endure by the Homes in Eldoret - not ours only either - but of all of us engaged in caring for children. Much prayer has been and continues to go up. And food continues to appear on our tables. And this week we have heard that SOME funds are getting through the Enemy's lines and bringing relief. Life in Jesus, and with God is not guaranteed to be without hardship or even privations. War continues and the Battle rages, but those in the Army and under the Protection of the Lord WILL come through. Wounds, hurts, short supplies and every kind of challenge to our Advance must and will come - BUT advance we WILL, and the Enemy will be discovered and overcome. This is our CONFIDENCE. Continue to pray for Daryl, and all those standing with him in Jesus Name to maintain the Standard of the Lord, and the peace and prosperity of the children. The Battle has been hot and enduring. Day after day the Attack continues on all sides. It is a 'Spiritual' Battle yes, but it affects the material well being of hundreds of children.

The Kenya revenue Authority notified the Homes last week that they had REJECTED our appeal against having to pay the Ksh.3million shilling charge they have demanded. A slap in the face! We shall turn the other cheek and GO ON to fight them. IN THE NAME OF JESUS we DO have the Victory. Join with us in prayer that this victory will be achieved soon.

ON TUESDAY next week Esther and I, together with Steven and Elisabeth hope to drive up to KEITH in Moray, Scotland to meet with my sister Pat, and her family. We are looking forward greatly to this FIRST meeting in more than 70 years.

Our STEPS are planted by the Lord. We have little or no say in where or how we shall proceed on this visit. It will be adventure - yes! It will also be joy and blessing. It feels as if we have gone back to the 'Beginning' when I arrived in Kenya in 1968 blindly from a material point of view with no church or supporters behind me. Then in 1972 arriving almost unannounced back in UK for what turned out to be a nine month stay in which Steven was born in Truro, and we all three traversed the length and breadth of the country unplanned and often unexpected........ Times we truly experienced the Spirit's Leading and Guidance.

HE has not changed - only perhaps WE are less prepared and more cautious. BUT we are very sensible that this trip away from our Life and Work in Kenya is not of our own doing, and that God has it in Hand.

God Bless and be with you all - we hope to SEE some of you in the flesh.

Your brother and sister always in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour.

John and Esther