REFLECTIONS .......

ROBERT EMSLIE, (right) seated with Steven Green in 2009. They grew up together in many respects, and are close today. Nice to see a photo of them both, and good also to be able to say that Robert is progressing well after his road incident.

The amputation of his right leg below the knee went ahead, and all seems to be healing well. We spoke to him on the phone a day or two ago, and he sounded fine. It is also a time that has made it necessary for Robert to look to the future - he is unlikely to continue to drive heavy long distance lorries.. Also it has made him think deeply about his relationship with Jesus which had been weakening. Thank you for praying for him, and please do continue. The hospital bill will be very high finally, but we are believing that God will see it all paid, and again we have to thank SO MANY Testimony Family Members for contributing already, and lending their support to Francina as well. It was this photo that made me look back to our 40th Anniversary in 'o9 when so many of our old boys and girls returned to celebrate with us, and also with our own children who had also joined us for the occasion. SO many photos - like this one above - were taken on that day, and it will be an everlasting joy to have them always to hand. Some of our 'children' are now in their late fifties, married and with children of their own. Others still young, only just left and still building their lives. Each one with memories of their time with us, and of course, many memories of our own about each one. NOW we see our dream of 'family' being manifested. So many have grown up and left us to start their own lives and families, but they have not forgotten the home and family left behind, and we are more and more realising that Testimony IS a great and growing ' Family.

AND then we also remain surrounded by those still with us, more than 140, of all ages and sizes. And we have to Thank God for the wonderful ties that continue to bind us all together and that have given us all that special sense of belonging. I will try to bring a few of these photos together here just to give a little representation of this big 'family' of ours.

FIRST photos of Faith Kavithi, (right) hiding behind the flowers, and training as a Nursery Teacher..
And then on the left, a group of Tyndale girls with our grand-daughter in the pink dress - Ton-ton! These are just handful of random photos of some of our family. The majority are all employed in different fields, and full of dreams for their own futures. Many are engaged full time in God's Service as pastors, accountants, teachers, agriculturalists, electricians and so on. Lastly, this time round, a group photo of some of more elderly family members!!

From the left in a white suit is Mark Owour, now a Primary Headmaster and senior inspector of Schools. Next to him Wyckliffe Ondanga recently retired, and now Chaplain to Testimony School. On the far right is Moses Ongonga, now pastor of one of the largest churches in Eldoret. (his wife Miriam is in the red costume - she also works as School Cateress for Testimony School. Next to her in white is Eunice Lahol, Francis Lahol's wife. She is now Mother in Tyndale Cottage. On Miriam's right is Anthony Bones wife. then Miriam Ondanga, Wyckliffe's wife, and then Emily Stuma, Steven Stuma's wife - he is standing the back next to Moses. Moses Stuma is one of our old boys from Testimony House, and he and Emily have previously been houseparents in Tyndale Cottage.

ON THURSDAY this week we were thrilled to receive to friends from way back when we first arrived in Eldoret in 1972. Gordon and Joyce Lovering from the UK - only they had come from Southern Sudan and not the UK!! In the early 70's Gordon and Joyce both lived in Eldoret. He was a Teacher in Moi Girls High School and she was nursing in the Eldoret Nursing Home. They left in '74 and returned to UK, but last year accepted a call from the Lord to set up a school in a very remote area in the newly created state of Southern Sudan. In their late sixties this was quite a challenge since the area is SO remote as to be almost totally without any modern conveniences and demanding a VERY spartan lifestyle. Their stories and experiences have been pouring forth and kept us both on the edge of our seats. Truly God, our God, is GREAT, and with HIM any of us can do anything. They will be with us for another 8 days and then will return to the UK to consider the next step for Jesus.

It was also THANKSGIVING on 24th November, and Esther and I, and also Carol and Daryl plus their kids were invited to a large gathering of multinational missionaries whose American members hosted a Thanksgiving Feast for us all. It was a VERY blessed occasion, and although we were more than a hundred in number and from many different ministries and denominations, the sense of ONENESS and Love was wonderful to see and experience.

The RAIN has continued - or restarted....? Nobody quite knows what it is doing. Normally the sun should be shining the warmth of the sun increasing daily. BUT it is sodden and COLD still. Good for the gardens, AND for the cows since it assures them of more grass and so on. God is Good to us.

It was also our half yearly medical check for all the children this week and we had our usual team from our doctor's clinic here for two days. All were found well and healthy Thanks be to God. Naturally we try to take good care of each of the children's health as well as our own, but we also are required by government to ensure every child is seen at least ONCE a year.

NOW everything is gearing up for Christmas, and already the children are practicing for the Christmas Play, Carols and the Christmas Services. In between there is soccer and basket ball and general play as well as the daily chores of housecleaning and so on. Busy, busy, busy time for all. We shall be praying and remembering you all and our prayer will be especially that you will know Him even more perfectly during this time of Rejoicing in Him.

God Bless and be with you all

John and Esther

ANOTHER GRADUATION DAY!!

EVERY YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME, Primary and Secondary students completing their respective Syllabi Graduate from Testimony School. THIS year - for the first time - the NURSERY Section also decided to Graduate their Top Class. NEXT year they will, God Willing, all enter Class 1 of Primary School.

The Celebratory function took place in the School Hall. There were Presentations, Songs and even a Traditional Dance, all to follow a special Luncheon for all the graduates, and their teachers plus a few guests. I did not attend. I guess I am just not modern enough to believe that holding Graduations for Nursery Students is really necessary. Sorry parents - know you just love to see the kiddy-widdies up front an all¬!¬! Well I did not try to stop it from happening after all, and I am grateful my staff did not insist on them all wearing gowns and mortar boards as is the custom of other schools around us. I never did get to wear one - and I have no complaint since in those days you could not wear one till you got to University and had obtained a Degree. I did not manage to earn that privilege. I did not feel underprivileged about that, and have continued to respect and honour the intellectual prowess of all those that were able to so prove themselves. My sorrow today is that in many cases the Degrees awarded are not always of the high standard one might expect. The honour not so much of an honour - at least in Kenya.

SO why try to kid the kindergarten child that he or she too is an academic genius worthy of applause, glitz and glamour! Well because its just NICE for the parent. WE did not invite the parents. This was just a little SPLASH for the kids to mark the end of the first chapter in the learning process - not quite so ostentatious or pretentious as it might have been. But each did go away with a colourful Certificate to certify they had indeed completed their Pre-Sch00l Course - each with a clear, distinct, photo of the whole Class printed upon it as a Memento of their time together.

They had a good time - starting at 1p.m and going on until 4p.m. - and I thought you would like to see a few photos. Children start Nursery / Pre-School / Kindergarten in Kenya by the time they are three. - They enter Primary ONE when they are 6. By that time they should be able to read and write in English and Swahili, and do simple arithmetic + + +!! Classes start at 8am Monday to Friday and continue on to approx 3 in the afternoon. For the very young there is time to sleep, and for all time to just play. Each year in our Nursery Department, approximately SEVENTY move on to Primary School out of a total population of about 120.

NOT ALL of the graduates from our school will continue on into Primary with us. ONLY those who have passed the Primary ONE Examination, Primary School has set, and if the parent wants them to do so. There is always a waiting list for places in our Primary School so the competition is quite stiff. Our Primary Entrance Exam too place on Saturday 29th October.

ON THE 9th November one of our Old Boys - Robert Emslie aged 31, married with two kids; a long distance lorry driver, was involved in an incident which has confronted him and his family with life changing challenges. From what we have been able to gather, as he was driving towards Nairobi in the early evening, and nearing the lake town of Niavasha in the Rift Valley, his lorry overtook another which, as he was passing steered into him, hitting his vehicle. Having passed, Robert then stopped and got out of his cab to go and talk to the driver of the other vehicle which had pulled up a little way behind him. THEN, as he was walking towards this vehicle, the driver, who was still sitting in his cab, moved off, and drove toward Robert as he was coming towards him, knocking him down and running over him!! He then drove off.

A number of people were in the vicinity by the roadside and saw the whole incident. There seemed no real provocation. The lorry driver was eventually stopped further on and gave himself up to the police. Robert was taken to Naivasha Hospital. He was unconscious, and it seemed that at least one of his legs was broken. The hospital admitted him but did not have any medicine!!! Nothing was done for him, but they notified Francina, his elder sister, who works in Nairobi and told her to come immediately since his condition was very serious. They refused to tell her what was wrong - imagine her anxiety and fear.

On arrival early the next day she arranged to have Robert moved to a private hospital in Nairobi. THEY did have medicine, and looked after him, but at the end of the day told Francina that Gangrene had set into both legs and that they would need to be amputated.

She panicked and again had Robert moved to yet another private hospital for a second opinion.

THEY assured her that his legs were safe and that all would be well. At THAT time it seemed he had broken four ribs, and one leg in two places. The Hospital then operated on the leg and put in steel pins to hold the broken parts together. However, the leg continued to swell and show signs of renewed infection. THUS on Thursday they informed Francina that it would have to be amputated otherwise he might lose his life as well. Quite a 'medical saga' - one that had cost up to that moment £2,000 (not yet paid). So Robert has lost his leg. By yesterday he was still very unwell, and hallucinating. Much prayer will be needed to pull him through, and to enable him to re-arrange his life. It is VERY unlikely he will be able to continue with his driving job. He is not highly educated. Unemployment now at its highest and most unhopeful stance.

How quickly life can change. How completely unable each of us is in being able to predict the next few moments of our life. How devastating to meet such an unexpected catastrophe without Faith. This is going to be hard for Robert - hard on his family. They all need our prayer - they all need to KNOW GOD for themselves in a way that will enable them to face the situation with the confidence that HE is ABLE to see them through.

We do not have an up to date photo of Robert, but I am publishing one here of him taken with his younger brother Steyn (left), and his elder brother Gordon (right), but now working south of Nairobi.

Of course we are all bound up with everything that happens to our children. They are not orphans to us, but sons and daughters God brought to us to love and care about. Robert was only SIX when he came to live in Testimony House. He did not get on well at school and only managed to complete his Primary Education. He was then 14. In the interim he has grown up, become responsible and is the breadwinner of his family. At 31 we still see him as a son of ours. Some may feel this is too much to take on. But it is what the Lord required of us both, and still requires. Even those coming in today, quite new, are non the less seen as 'Family'. We are not Mum Dad to these, but they find us here as 'grandparents' now. .

Yesterday Esther and I had the blessing of being taken out to lunch by another mad couple who God called to do just what we are doing. It was a special privilege to be able to just be with them and for the four of us to be able to share our vision, and aspirations AND experiences. It was encouragement of great immensity to us. They are beautiful people. They also do not look after orphans - but children! Children who have been orphaned, but now have found a home and a family to replace the one they lost. Praise God for His great Mercy and Compassion. And Thank Him for being a parent, and acting like one toward each one of us.

Love you all, and pray your blessing and happiness in the coming week. And Remember Your Father in Heaven is with you to give you status and worth wherever you go and whatever happens to you.

John and Esther

THERE ARE TWO WAYS........!

THIS IS A PICTURE FROM THE PAST taken in 1978, thirty-three years ago! On the left is Moses Otunga with his wife, Elizabeth, and on the right is Daniel Koech with his first wife.

Daniel came to us when he was about 17. He was a Probationer that I had met up with at a Probation Case Committee Meeting. His parents had died in a ferry that sank in Lake Victoria when he was a very young child. He survived and was brought to Eldoret. His guardians at the time were not bothered about him, and he ended up on the street, becoming involved in crime. This led to him being on Probation. We offered him a place on our Mechanics Course, and later he also trained in electronics.

During his training he stayed with us in Testimony House; a period of about two years only. He worked for a while in town, and then later partnered with Nicholas Mwangi in a small electronics business in town. He was the practical and senior partner. Mwangi was the business head. Initially they did quite well. But as they prospered Daniel turned to drinking too much. Dan had never shown interest in Christianity or any religion. His was a godless life. He had purchased a small plot of land though and built a house on it. But little by little he was able to work less and less, and business went down. As his drunkenness increased his wife left him. Later he married again, and for a little while it seemed all was well. But then one Saturday people he owed money to accosted him and his wife in their house and killed them both before robbing them.

They also raped the wife before murdering her, and then threw her body headfirst into the water well in the garden. They left Danial sitting dead in his chair staring at the place where the TV had half an hour before been entertaining them. (NB - the salient facts related here are as they have been given to me. They may not be quite accurate, but regretfully generally events would seem to be very similar if not exactly the same as I have written. My apologies to any who may know better or more than I do in this matter.) A very bad end, no matter what. And nothing left to show for a life lived hard and for the most part unhappily.

MOSES also came to us when he was also quite old - 15, in 1971. Instead of joining Secondary School after completing Primary, Moses went to Nairobi and studied Painting & Signwriting at the Christian Industrial Training Centre, and went on to work as an Instructor in various Polytechnics. He made a very definite decision for Christ, and later he later founded his own Church denomination, Children's Home and Industrial Training Centre in Korongocho slums in Nairobi. Recently he wrote to me saying - .

'I want to thank our heavenly Father for making Testimony what it is to us today. I thank God for the way He used our time in Testimony to transform our lives for his own GLORY. Do you still remember when we used to have a family devotion, and you used to beat (out a rhythm) on a drum. I can remember you now singing -

It's coming down! It's coming down!

The Glory of the Lord is coming down!

When the saints begin to pray

the the Lord will have His way;

So the Glory of the Lord is coming down

.

I can testify now how the Glory of the Lord DID come down and it transformed our lives into what they are today. AMEN! Thank God for Testimony Faith Homes. It has been God's divine purpose to use it to bring transformation in our lives - and in return He has and will use some of us to transform the lives of many other children in our local communities where He calls us to serve. I am called to serve in the slums of Korogocho.

I never experienced such a loving and caring family as was given to me in Testimony Faith Homes. The Love I learned there helped me to bring up my own children and support them all, so that they were enabled to complete their High School Education - even though I never managed to do so myself. The LORD even provided friends that helped them go to university. This is God. I never went to a formal Bible School, yet God has helped me to complete my Master's Degree in Theology. Who could have thought a Primary Class 7 boy, dropping out of school, could have managed such a thing. Who could have imagined that he would build a school and employ university graduate teachers to teach in it?

This has taught me never to ignore the potential there is in every child we see around us. God is no respector of persons - we just need HIM to BE in our lives. May the Grace of God God be with you always - Your son in Christ, Moses Otunga; and Elizabeth sends her Greetings.

TWO BOYS, teenagers! Both with difficult childhoods, and both with so much potential. One makes shipwreck and dies ignominiously. The other reaching out for the Hand of God grows

And all that DO make the right choice do so by the GRACE of God, and He alone receives the Praise and the Glory for it.steadily from strength to strength, on the way imparting strength to others in God's Name, the Name of Jesus. They are typical of all the children that pass through our hands. And it has been a wonder and privilege to see the hand of God on so many, and a heart breaking disappoint-ment to see others turn to the venial things of this world and so being deceived by them fail and sink, cut off from God. Truly there ARE two WAYS. One will lead to DEATH and everlasting sorrow. The other will lead to LIFE and eternal happiness. For us brought here to be carers and encouragers, it sometimes is a hard thing and humbling to realise how little we can actually do for another. Everyone makes their own 'furrow', their own choice, their own. We long that ALL would make the RIGHT one, but they cannot be forced to do so. Testimony Faith Homes and those of us that have been Carers there cannot say ALL that have come left transformed - though some were later, and perhaps are yet to be - in retrospect. Some left unaltered, and some maybe, even worse. What each of us does with life we go through it remains very much what we choose to make it.

Last Sunday I asked one of our High School leavers from the Homes what he desired for his future. He had at 17 recently given his heart to Jesus, witnessing immediately in the Sunday Service. He looked at me, and said - 'I would like to serve God. Rather than go to university or College, I would like to enter Bible College and prepare myself.' Born into great poverty and neglect, with both feet facing back to front, he had little initial hope of anything. Now tall, and his feet having surgically been turned to face the right way; an indefatigable footballer; and a playful nuisance to his teachers, SUDDENLY the heavens have opened, and LIGHT has shone and CHANGED everything - whilst we all stand back in amazed joy and happiness. God IS good and He IS Faithful, and WILL answer our prayers for HE IS ABLE to do what we cannot.

If a 'butterflies wings' gently folding and unfolding can affect the weather on the other side of the globe WHAT can the simple prayer of one believing heart achieve for others, however far away?

ALICE, our second cow, has been ill this week with a bout of Milk Fever. The vet came and she was fine again a day later. The vet was a bit cross with us for not knowing a newly delivered 'mother' cow needed special diet as her body was trying to adjust to her new state. Well we were very sorry to be found ignorant but glad that we have been in time to learn, and that we will not let it happen again. She is very proud of her new son,

who is a handsome youngster and the darling of all the children.

One of our old boys, Richard Ochieng who is in Business in Eldoret and has a small farm of his own, has just donated the maize stalks from his five acre harvested field to help feed Alice and her 'sisters'. We are glad and thankful to Jesus for sons and daughters that remember us, and provide us with encouragement even in the midst of their own challenges and needs. Hallelujah.

THIS WEEK the old and ailing mother of a boy we used to sponsor arrived in my office. Her son had long ago been Head Boy in our Primary School, very bright, but from a VERY poor and needy family. He completed his Secondary Education and got a place in Nairobi Polytechnic as a aeronautical engineering student. He was due to graduate in two weeks time. His mother came to tell us that he had died two weeks ago in Nairobi in the bomb blast that had blow up a small cafe - initiated by All Shabaab terrorists. A great shock to us. But his mother was more shocked that the cafe in reality was a bar, and that they boy had turned to drink. Another 'choice' perhaps - we had not heard from him for some months and had begun to consider contacting him to find out why.

The Primary Finalists completed their exams on Thursday and now have all gone home.

The Secondary Finalists will complete on Monday morning. The rest of the classes will continue on for one week doing their normal term end exams, and then the school will shut down for the 'summer' holiday until January. A quiet few days thereafter...........maybe!

Thank you for your prayers. God BLESS you, each and everyone!

John and Esther

SHIFTING SAND

'THE EARTH IS DEFILED BY ITS INHABITANTS!

Because they have disobeyed the Laws, changed the Ordinances,

and broken the everlasting covenant.' - Isaiah 24v5

The United Kingdom's Prime Minister, the Hon. Mr. David Cameron, has come under further criticism for threatening this week to withdraw Aid to African Countries within the Commonwealth that follow anti-gay policies. It appears that David feels very charitably toward those that make up the World's 6% community of Gay people. Enough to attack the moral integrity of independent Nations and their Sovereignty.

He is already under attack for assisting to undermine the National Sovereignty of his own Nation by refusing to obtain the national opinion of his countrymen in relation to giving away The United Kingdom's sovereignty to another power collectively known as the European Union. What DO the British people think about the many far reaching decisions and laws being made by a handful of men and women that act more like a Dictatorship than a Democracy?

A number of FOREIGN Leaders are already showing considerable disapproval of this current threat on behalf of gays.

None of them - including David Cameron - are in fact perfect or beyond making a gaff or two. Not the least of them all is the current President of the Republic of Ghana - John Evans Atta Mills. He has made an unequivocal and very plainly expressed statement of his position and that of his own Nation. He says -

'NO ONE can deny Prime Minister Cameron his right to make policies, take initiatives and make statements that reflect his social norms and ideals. But he does not have the right to direct other sovereign nations as to what they should do especially where their social norms and ideals are different from those which exist in Prime Minister Cameron's society. I, as President of this Nation, will never initiate or support any attempt to legalise homosexuality in Ghana. As a government, we will abide by the principles enshrined in our constitution. Let me also say that while we acknowledge all the financial assistance and all the aid that is given us by our development partners, we will not accept any aid with strings attached if that aid will not inure to our interests.'

WELL DONE say I, for here is a man who stands on the sure unquestioned ground of his Country's Constitution. It is the GROUND of governance based on the nations history and moral traditions. No SHIFTING SAND there. And his integrity cannot be bought either!

UGANDA, our neighbour, is also considering to forge ahead with new laws confirming that Homosexual acts are unlawful. THESE laws are in fact NOT new, but OLD. Oddly the Laws that are still on their Statute Books and now up for re-affirmation all originate from the British Colonial Legal Code of a bygone era.. What has caused this total turn around by the British Law Makers? A turn around that finds no reason from their own history or moral belief.

According to the Word of God I would say it is because they have chucked that Word out of the proverbial window, and adopted there own misguided ways. The erosion of the ROCK on which our National Identity and Character is built has been chipped away at for some years already, but NOW it seems great chunks of it are being broken up until now we do not look to the Bible and our Christian foundation any more but to the humanistic EEU and the Bill of Human Rights for guidance and even governance.

KENYA is not one of the Nations apparently threatened. However Homosexuality is not smiled on by people of this Country. Indeed the Anglican Church of Kenya has been on the verge of withdrawing from the Church of England communion because the whole issue of Homosexual marriage and ordination into the priesthood.

If we were in England today, conducting this ministry (Testimony Faith Homes), we might easily be shut down for NOT teaching that homosexuality is acceptable to our children - just like the coloured couple in UK who after 19 years of being successful foster parents, have now been barred from continuing because they refuse to agree to teach children in their care that gays are living an acceptable lifestyle! Amazing.

Does it really matter? After all traditions, and even law changes, doesn't it?

NOT if it is God's Law. God does not change, and the result of ignoring His revealed Will has not changed either.

BUT I am not in favour of inaugurating a 'witch-hunt' for gays. I do not condone their persecution or victimisation. They are human beings that God made and loves. He did not create them to be homosexuals any more than He creates one to be murderer or a drunkard.

There is no trustworthy proof that its in the genes. NO my problem is not with the Gay person, but with the Gay Life-style. The Bible clearly teaches that That cannot be condoned, or encouraged by any God conscious person. Fornication, which is sexual activity of any type outside of normal marriage, is against our own physical health (1.Corinthians 6v18). It is AGAINST God and His Character. SODOM, was destroyed by GOD (2. Peter 2) to demonstrate how much sodomy (homosexual practice) was against His Plan and Purpose. He says it will stand for ever as an example to the rest of us of what will happen to all those following the same social status. Paul the Apostle, having seen this clearly himself, states more than once that such people who do such things will not be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 1.Corinthians 6v9

Should we as Christians not be concerned when our society is slowly being allowed to slide into one matching that of Sodom - and indeed actually encourages its neighbours into the same?

SORRY! I know some of you will be groaning and wishing I would shut up. I know news of the children and the farm is more welcome, and that this is what I should concentrate upon, but regretfully I HAVE to comment, when comment is necessary. The CHURCH is more and more silent and even IGNORANT about the Law of God, AND consequently also about the need to uphold it in a lawless world.

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HERE ON TESTIMONY FARM, the drip feed piping has at last been put in place. In the photo you can only see SOME of it. The rest is hidden under the crop foliage. We are now able to ensure water is there year round on both sides of the allotment (Testimony AND Jacaranda).

However it is STILL raining!!! We are indeed thankful for its continuance as well - but I suppose we would like an opportunity to see if the new system actually works.

TODAY we had a Prayer time for the Class VIII Primary students who will be sitting the National Exam on Tuesday next week. The 70 odd students plus their parents and the Teachers all joined together in the School Hall for about three hours for prayer, and encouragement. Daryl and I joined them a little late as we were also attending a Memorial Service 10 kilometres away for a fellow missionary who passed away recently Everything went very well and continued to about 1p.m. Now Daryl has gone off with Jesse for a Pizza.

During the week I attended the District Probation Case Committee. We went through some 40 Cases. Currently the full case load stands at about 800 cases. Out of these 80% have committed crimes related to alcoholism! They are also unemployed. The two factors going together. Very sad and provoking. There are Rehab Centres around but they charge up to £200 for a three month stint. Well above and beyond an unemployed, poverty stricken persons means. Began to wonder about the possibility of getting involved into the REHAB business.

Well, you never know!!

This must be all for this week.

God be with you all and give you clear spiritual sight and judgement in the midst of so much confusion and debunking of world society.

John and Esther