THIS A VIEW OF EASTLEIGH, a district of Nairobi.     It is a very crowded and densely populated area, and there is also a considerable mix of different races residing there, including refugees from the Sudan and Somalia.      This area has been much in the news of late because of terrorist activity - shootings, bombings and so on.       Similarly in certain areas within MOMBASA on the coast there have been increasing violent incidents.      The focus, from government, is that this is mostly due to the Al Shabaab and other Muslim extreme groups.     This has of course brought certain tensions within Kenya itself, which as a nation, has lived together as a multiracial society peacefully and well, generally speaking.      BUT NOW there is fear and anxiety as Churches, buses, taxis, and even public places of commerce such as offices and even public markets have all come under attack.     There seemed, initially, an effort to make this 'look' as if it was purely a 'religious' matter, but this has now progressed to one than may be considered as 'racial'.      However it is hard to always tell what is happening.  And additionally successive Governments have always taken advantage of this kind of thing to take people's eyes off of other problems, such as growing poverty, unemployment, all aggravated by rising prices in all sectors.     BUT we must also realise that Tourism is one of the most important sources of national income, and for the government to orchestrate anything that might curtail or discourage visitors into the Country would seem foolhardy.        No, there is no doubt external pressure is focused on Kenya.........but WHY?
This last week the various High Commissions and Consulates of the United Kingdom, America and many others have been issuing Warnings to its nationals visiting or even living in Kenya.

Mwenda Njoka

The British High Commission, for example has issued a warning to all its citizens travelling in Kenya to 'avoid travelling to Eastleigh and within 60 kilometres of the Kenya-Somalia border.'  More recently the Commission has further advised against non-essential travel to Garissa and the slums of Nairobi.   This was as a result of more bombings and deaths which extended to the Thika Township as well.    Indeed the Death Rate in Kenya from Terrorism, Crime, Road accidents to name a few has increased in leaps and bounds.

The Interior Ministry's spokesman, Mr. Mwenda Njoka dismissed these warnings.   He is reported as saying "Every part of the world is nowadays prone to high threat from terrorism including Britain."
Continuing he remarked that "Here in Kenya, we've taken a number of measures to mitigate against threats and significantly minimised occurrence of the same, as such for any country to issue travel advisory comments against Kenya is an  unfortunate and irrational move."
IT WAS THEREFORE REGRETT-ABLE THAT THE VERY NEXT DAY there were two further Bomb Blasts in Nairobi, killing 10 and injuring more than 70.    These were 'apparently' home made bombs - one in a minibus and another in an open market area.      This does not present Kenya as a safe place for Tourists - but it also
emphasises that Kenyans themselves are perhaps in the MOST danger, and the least protected.     Where will it end?     Will it be confined to Nairobi and Mombasa or can it be expected to spread to other areas in an effort to destabilise and bring insecurity to the rest of the State?
ALREADY visitors are packing and leaving prematurely, and doubtless more will be cancelling their projected holidays.      This will cripple the industry.
Since 2007 in particular Kenya's reputation for Sunshine, Peace, and Hospitality has been continually challenged by changing weather patterns reducing our summers, rising crime and and terrorism reducing our peace and prosperity, and general economic strictures forcing everyone to be less open handed, and at times even open hearted.     Fear and Anxiety for the present AND the future is beginning to GET to the people.      Nairobi is no longer 'the city in the sun' but NAIROBI the centre of anxiety.

SO FAR ELDORET remains unaffected.     Our one million population remains at peace with each other, and there is nothing visible of inter-racial unrest, or even terrorism - at least as I write this.   It can all change in an instant of course.       But on the surface at least, there is nothing to suggest any impending trouble.       The Town is quiet, FULL of people mooching about to pass the time - NOT so many shoppers in comparison.    The main ROADS remain chock ablock with traffic, assuring us that TRADE continues, and that so far our main arteries are OPEN and unchallenged.       WE BELIEVE you can safely COME to Kenya as long as you keep away from clearly marked DANGER areas, and as long as you 'commit you way to the LORD'.     The SUN is shining here on our compound, our children are attending School with happy faces and untroubled hearts, and life moves on with confidence that HE watches over us.      And NO we are not being SMUG about it!   We just feel safe, and we have ALWAYS BEEN SAFE, in the midst of Rebellion, and many other conflicts that have challenged our immediate society over the last 45 years.   IF God be with YOU, who (or what) can succeed against you?   Romans 8v31

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LATE FRIDAY afternoon we received a gift of money that ended almost two weeks of dearth.    The miracle was that during the whole period, when we could not use the Bank and had no available cash, we DID still - all 150 of us - EAT.        Our College students could not return to College, our vehicles could not move,  and some Bills could not be paid - BUT we did all live.   And this because of our chickens, our bread, and our garden vegetables.   AND, of course, as we continue to live we continue to LEARN.........NOW the College students have returned to their college with their fees paid, and we were able to buy MEAT!    and so many other things suddenly were suddenly FREED and WE rejoiced yet again.       It is often hard for us to know how to convey our life here.     The SCHOOL with 800 students now seems such a prosperous enterprise;  it gives a very solid impression that TFH has need for nothing.     BUT the School makes no profit; it runs purely to pay for itself.     It is not a drag on us in any way - it JUST pays for itself.        The FOUR Children's Homes, and the 140 kids (FIVE newcomers joining us TODAY) plus some 15 others working in and among them, has to pay its way without any regular income.       We pray and we wait.      We do not know how long we will wait, or even IF what we wait for WILL come.     Every day is new, and it is a challenge.       Thinking of this and reading in some of my first Diaries I thought it might be good to enter a few more entries here..........

JUNE 1982 - just a month before the attempted Cue on the Moi Government on 1st August that threw the Nation into confusion........

June 24th - 30 pounds from U.K.  It felt as if it were 300 we were so greatly in need!

June 25th - TWO Birthdays to celebrate

Quarterly Board Meeting.

June 26th - Spoke during the afternoon at Eldoret Christian Centre on Ephesians 5v4.

Received 500 Kenya shillings from the priest of the Singh Temple whilst I was returning from town.

I must have looked a little startled, for he put his hand on my arm and said 'It is a gift from God - take it!'     And I did -   with Thanksgiving.

Had to pay a lot of Bills today - more than 600 pounds of them.      One or two cheques I paid out without knowing if the funds were actually going to be in the Bank!    A little reckless!    But the funds were there on the day!

June 28th - Taught Accounts at the Trade Training Centre a.m.

Went with Esther to visit one of our old boys hundred kilometres away.   We found him thin and rather lonely - very glad to see us.

20 pounds received from UK.

July 4th - NO post for some days now.    We have 300 pounds still in hand even so by God's Grace. Praise the Lord for it,    But we have a lot of unpaid Bills.

July 5th - Received 220 from the U.K. -  Glory!

Taught Accounts again till 10a.m.     Paul and Lou (from U.K.) stranded in Kakamega, 120 kilometres away in our truck which had broken down.     Travelled down to rescue them.    All's well

July 6th - Received a further 100 from friends in the U.K.

Peter Wangolo aged 6 very sick.   Has not been well for some time and is losing weight fast.   Esther very worried as doctors seem unable to diagnose what is wrong with him   -    more tests today in the afternoon    (LATER that day he was diagnosed as having TB.    Is on the mend now)

In actual fact Peter completely threw off the TB and and grew up to become a Chef.    He is married, and is in fact now the Chef in Drakely Cottage.

Aug 1st - 'THIS IS THE VOICE OF KENYA!

In the early hours of this morning, the Government of President Moi was overturned.

A National  Council of Liberation has been set up in its place.    Further Information will be given later.

ALL members of the public are advised to remain indoors and not to travell'

Some of the children were up early playing (it was a Sunday) and had switched on the radio about 7a.m. and were the first of us all to hear this announcement.    Then rushing into our bedroom they shouted the news excitedly to us.    It was a frightening moment.   Soon everyone had the news, and we all converged on the sitting room to listen to the radio, which continued repeating the unchanged original statement and played more canned music.     There were no updates on the situation and it was quite unnerving not to KNOW what was happening in the Capital.
The CHILDREN, of course, were the most affected, and were full of chatter and concern.   But we felt no fear, and carried on with our normal Sunday Program.   We had a fine morning Service.
LATER that same Sunday news was Broadcast that the Rebellion had been crushed.
A week afterwards President Moi attended at Nairobi Pentecostal Church in Valley Road.   One standing next to him heard him share with another how on the morning of the Cue Attempt, he himself had risen early and was reading his Bible.   He had read Psalm 46 and said it had well prepared his heart and mind for what soon followed.      (I would like to say that for all the flaws, faults, and accusations that have been flung at this President it should not be forgotten that even until now his Christian Testimony has always been unwavering.      Was he - is he - a hypocrite?     Only he and God know the truth - I cannot be his judge.)

Dear friends, brother and sisters in our Lord Jesus,    we Greet you all in His Name.    Let not YOUR heart be troubled, made anxious by anything - just be GLAD HE IS WITH YOU.       Please pray for Helen's little 8 week old daughter, Abigail.     Since she was born she has not ceased to loudly cry.  At first we felt this might just be Colic, but it has in fact worsened in time day and night.   Everything seems normal but there is no doubt she in great discomfort when it comes to going to the toilet.   TODAY Esther and Helen have gone with her to a Consultant to seek some advice and re-assurance.  I sincerely hope help is found since we ALL need some SLEEP!.     Much Love to you all, and our prayers for the week ahead that you will, each one, be kept safe and well.

John and Esther / Daryl and Carol.