FINALLY, it seems safe to say that Esther and I will be flying to the United Kingdom on Thursday 14th April! It will be a day flight, with us arriving the same day. We shall initially be staying with Steven and family in Lancashire, nearby Accrington, and not far from Rochdale where our daughter Elizabeth lives with her little family. We are really looking forward to seeing them all again, including Michael and Janet. But strangely it will not be like a 'home-coming' since HOME is very definately here in Eldoret for us after more than 40 years. BUT... I suppose for me there is a certain nostalgia involved, and I know I will enjoy seeing and remembering the earth I grew up from.
AS USUAL, when it comes to actually leaving here, it seems a bit of a rush and hustle. I in particular feel rather unready for such an imminent departure....but it has always been like this every time we have left Kenya.
I shall still put out the BLOG each Saturday, so you will be able to follow OUR stay - probably until mid July when we hope, God Willing to return here. We expect to visit the south west and also Aberdeen as well as the Lancs/Yorks and London areas. We shall be using public transport for the most part, but still hope to be able to get around as much as possible to catch up on friends, and also perhaps to present the work of Testimony Faith Homes to a few new audiences.
But I confess I do not enjoy travel so very much, and this may be the last time I will yield to temptation. Probably, in the future, it may be our son Daryl who will present the ongoing work of the Homes and School. We are leaving him in charge whilst we are away. He is currently Assistant Director of the Children's Homes, but he will have overall responsibility in our absence. His photo was taken last year on his 38th Birthday together with Caroline his wife. Some
of you know that he has had a rather chequered past, but deep in his heart he never let go of his faith in Jesus, and through much prayer and tribulation he has managed to come through for God. He is a happy family man, and very well accepted and liked by those that work here generally. He is also well seasoned in most aspects of the administration of all the ministry here. However he will also have Anthony Ndungu, our School Principal who is also the Assistant Director for the entire School, standing with and by him. They will need to depend on the support of each other in daily running of ALL the work here. We leave them confidently in charge, but knowing that we do so at a very difficult time financially, and with many challenges to face along the way. It should be a good learning time in and with Jesus. Praise the Lord for EVERY opportunity to know Him and His Faithfulness more and more. We shall of course be in close touch via E-mail and mobile.
of you know that he has had a rather chequered past, but deep in his heart he never let go of his faith in Jesus, and through much prayer and tribulation he has managed to come through for God. He is a happy family man, and very well accepted and liked by those that work here generally. He is also well seasoned in most aspects of the administration of all the ministry here. However he will also have Anthony Ndungu, our School Principal who is also the Assistant Director for the entire School, standing with and by him. They will need to depend on the support of each other in daily running of ALL the work here. We leave them confidently in charge, but knowing that we do so at a very difficult time financially, and with many challenges to face along the way. It should be a good learning time in and with Jesus. Praise the Lord for EVERY opportunity to know Him and His Faithfulness more and more. We shall of course be in close touch via E-mail and mobile. We are planning to leave Eldoret by road on Wednesday, spend the night with Esther's sister and brother in law, and then fly the next morning. Have not got the Ticket details yet so cannot give time or place of arrival in UK. It is still quite warm here with large doses of sunshine - hope it will not be TOO much of a change!!
On the 29th April it will my sister Pat's Birthday - and on the 11th May it will be my 71st - SO we are hoping we will be able to arrange a get together one way or another. It will be our FIRST sight of each other - a special Birthday Treat. Still can hardly believe it is true. I think one of the most interesting things about it all is that we have both lived all these years in ignorance of each other, experiencing very different lives in very different places, each being blessed with our own children and grandchildren. Truly God IS good - even though the roads we travel are not always smooth or easy to endure! God Bless and be with you all, and remember to pray for US as we travel, and those we leave behind who are much upon our hearts.
Sincerely your Brother and Sister in Jesus always
John and Esther
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