AWAY FROM HOME - A PILGRIM

TO THE LEFT is a photo (not one of ours) of The Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. Esther and I were taken there last week by our dear friends Desmond and Virginia Hales. It was not a good day weathewise - heavy cloud, rain, and wind like a tempest! It was wet and cold but interesting, and for my part I enjoyed the crashing surf and the inspiring site of the huge causeway. Science tells us it was made from volcanic forces of millions of years ago. But the story is that a giant called McCool built it in an effort to attack another giant who lived in Scotland. Well perhaps neither explanation was very inspiring, but the visual experience of just seeing the place once more made us to glorify the creative power and forces of God Almighty. We had a wonderful time there, and we were not the only ones - hundreds of tourists from all over the world also braved the weather to see for themselves...........

We were a week in Northern Ireland and were taken to see a great deal of the beautiful coastline from our base in Port Stewart. It was a very restful and happy time. Whilst there we were able to share about the work and ministry of Testimony Faith Homes with the brothers and sisters of Port Stewart Baptist Church. The Pastor very kindly invited us to take the Evening Sunday

Service and we were able to speak and also show slides We were all strangers to each other, but it was truly wonderful to feel one family together because of the Love of God that had reached and touched each one of us in Jesus Christ. We were also in the Morning Service - though not ministering - and were able to join together in Breaking of Bread.

THANK you Lord for Blessing us through our friends and the family of God there in Northern

Ireland.

From there on the 25th we went down to North WALES to fellowship with friends at Bradley Road Baptist Church in the Town of Wrexham, 60 miles south east of Rochdale. We had great fellowship

and it was wonderful to renew friendship and relationships in Jesus there. We had not visited since 1983 so it was wonderful to see their new Church building and to meet the family of God there. It is wonderful to be with people who are committed and determined to endure for

Christ's sake. Witnesses to all that He has done in their lives and personal experience. A praying church.

TODAY we are in Yorkshsire, staying with Ian and Diana Hogley until Sunday 29th when we shall visit St.Matthews Anglican Church in Rastrick not far from Huddersfield. This is a rather unusual desing for a Church, but always

reminds me somehow of Birmingham Cathedral. The Cathedral and St. Matthews Church were both built in the mid 1700s, St. Philips Cathedral built is strongly in the Baroque style, and St. Matthews though not so grand has always seemed to somehow replicate it. I first visited this congregation

way back in 1972, on our first visit back to UK from Kenya. The brethren have ever kept the candle of prayer burning for us, and our relationship has only strengthened over the years. We are really looking forward to our visit there.

We have been comforted to know that all is well at home in KENYA and especially in Eldoret and Testimony Faith Homes. The hardship and pressure remains unlifted upon all that are there - Daryl not the least. This is a burden of course even to us as we travel and remain separated by distance. BUT on the other hand it is clear that GOD is using the general situation AND the opportunity for me and Esther to have been set at a distance from it all, to let us SEE what perhaps we have been blind to and even neglected whilst we were all together on top of the work at TFH. We have growing optimism that the Lord is going to bring us into great Blessing as the days go by. And they are going quickly. We have, as of today, 32 days before we finally arrive home. Our time away has been extended by one week. We shall now expect, God Willing, to arrive again in Kenya on the 27th June. Hopefully I WILL be able to update you many times before our arrival - though, as with this late entry - I may not be able to resume my Saturday entries till I return to Eldoret.

On Monday 30th May we will turn sout-west and then proceed east toward London. Pilgrims with no continuing City......still seeking the ONE that is to come!

Thank you for your prayers - both for us as we travel AND for those who remain working for Jesus there in Eldoret and TFH. You are all our ARMS of strength and support. Bless you every one.

John and Esther

P.S. If I have not managed to mention every one we have met, and every place we have visited, please forgive me - I am sure eventually it will come to be recorded with comment. Nothing and no one has or will be anything but SO SPECIAL to us as part of our Lord's gift to our lives and vision.

IN JOURNIES OFTEN

IT WAS MY 71ST BIRTHDAY on 11th May. Here I am showing off my best Gift of the year - nay of a lifetime. Marvellous. My dear sister Patricia! Had a lovely Card from her and also other members of the family. I additionally received more than 50 Greetings on Face Book from friends, past students, boys and girls and so on. Very surprising, but also very comforting to be remembered by so many! THANK you ALL for helping to make my Day a truly Happy and Joyful one.

The week has been quite busy otherwise for us as we have been visiting various Fellowships and churches through the week. Last Sunday we visited a Pentecostal Assembly - Westhoughton Pentecostal - near to Bolton in Lancashire. I first visited there in 1968 when I was still on the way to Kenya. It was then a rambling wooden structure which seemed to have been there for ever. From that very first Meeting the brothers and sisters there have kept in touch, and it was so wonderful to be there in their new Church and to be able to Thank them for all their encouragement and faithfulness and for all the faith years of prayer and love. Especially one dear brother who love and care, together with that of his dear wife May, upheld us year by year. God is so gracious.

And yesterday we had all our UK family together to remember and celebrate the love and fellowship of a dear family here in Rochdale which has touched each one of us, and overflowed to Testimony Faith Homes as well. It began in 1968 when I first spoke the Word of God in Rochdale - but we did not actually meet until 1972 when we stayed first with them. It was very special for us all to realise how God has entwined us together.

BUT at home in ELDORET things have remained hard and difficult for the Testimony Family.

Daryl has been beset with problems and challenges both from children and staff. AND the dearth we left them experiencing has continued and so they are in fact in a greater 'desert experience' than ever before. YET they live. Continue to pray with us that the Lord will supply.

We continue to stay with Elisabeth and Prem here in Rochdale until the 18th. Will be visiting an Anglican Church tomorrow, Monday for a lunch time meeting. They are near Blackpool an hour away. The weather continues grey and cloudy, wet and cold - 8c! We still have a little more than month left of our time away. Still many friends to see, and hopefully a few Meetings more to present the Ministry to. We are missing our home in Eldoret; missing being part of the family and team there. And we also hate being away at a time when there are trials and difficulties to share and overcome. Please continue to pray for our health, and that the Lord will use us as we travel around, so that we see His purpose in bringing us away at such a time. Our Faith and Hope remains strong and firm. We know He is Faithful, and that He will work His Purpose out in all that is happening to us all.

Well once again this is only a short note - as I had warned before, and I must apologise for being also LATE this week. But it is good to feel we are in touch. We hope still to see one and another as the Lord allows. But whether or not we do, we still send you our love and greetings in Jesus Name as always.

Lovingly

John and Esther

STILL IN RAINY LANCASHIRE

YET ANOTHER PHOTO of my dear sister Pat. This was taken whilst celebrating her 72nd Birthday in ELGIN near to the small town KEITH where she now lives in Scotland. We had a fine day together.

The Press & Journal reported our story on the 7th May as you can also read at www.pressandjournal,co.uk

No contact since then, but we are still looking forward to Pat and Family visiting Kenya in January 2012.

AS to Esther and me still sojourning in England, we are currently with our daughter Elisabeth and her husband and children in Rochdale. It is raining here now, and no sign of the sun or the blue vault of heaven. Just grey clouds covering grey cement and dark brick buildings and streets. Rather dull.......

It has been a restful time, and I have been glad of it since my left BIG toe has been giving me a great deal of pain and discomfort. We think it is due to a bunion, BUT I have had foot problems since my operations last year. Nothing serious, and nothing as painful as these last few weeks. I think I somehow brought it on when trekking from the aircraft to the luggage pick up point at Heathrow. Thankfully it seems to be easing up as from yesterday, and I hope the improvement will continue. So far have not had to do much standing, but as from tomorrow we shall begin a round of ministry meetings and I shall need to stand and walk a lot more. I will be glad of your prayer.

Our thoughts continue each day to be drawn back to Kenya, to the work of Testimony Faith Homes, to our family there, and to all the children and staff. They have been going through a lot of stress and testing, which seems to have gone on undiminished until yesterday when, finding their 'cupboards' quite empty the Lord helped with them with funds from UK. These funds had in fact been sent much earlier but seem to have been held up in our Bank's headquarters in Nairobi. Quite feasible, but again a frustration to those already waiting on the Lord. THANK you to all those who responded to the Holy Spirit in sending this relief to us. Glory to God.

DARYL seems to have been holding on well, and has been busy constantly in ALL the many calls upon his time and energy - and 'at such a time'! He has had to fend off the Inland Revenue who have been demanding payment of their millions; tackle the Registrar of Births for issue of still outstanding Birth Certificates for the children; and most of all to circulate and encourage whilst also trying to work out how to spend the little he has had in relation to the budget. It has been a great learning experience. Of course he does not share every little thing since he would not want to disturb us, but I am sure it has not been an easy ticket for him, and its good to see that he has encouraged himself in the Word of God, and in the Lord.

God is GOOD - ALL the time.

Thank you all for praying for us, and for keeping us in mind.

John and Esther