SUPPORTING OURSELVES

THIS IS TESTIMONY HOUSE, as viewed from Green Cottage, just fifty feet or so away, where Esther and I now live.    It was here in 2011 that we got together to consider ways and means that TFH could help itself.   The Kenya Government is very keen to get Non Governmental Organisations obtaining their support from within the Country rather than from abroad.   Sounds a good idea until you examine it more carefully. BUT at least it is true that we CAN do something to help ourselves rather than just lean back and trust God. SO we decided to at least put down part of our grounds to grow needed vegetables.     We managed to isolate about half an acre within Testimony House compound, and another half acre within Jacaranda Cottage compound across the road.      At the same time we decided to seek for a cow to give us milk, chickens to provide meat, and a bakery to give us bread.      The Lord provided the means to START, and soon we had all these innovations alive and running.    And they are still running.........
The Garden Plots were ploughed up, planted and carefully tended.    We even put up a rough Greenhouse made of plastic and timber - we have since been blessed with excellent crops of Tomatoes.      In the Gardens we planted Maize, Kale, Spinach, Carrots, Onions, Cabbage and Potatoes,   Within three months our Vegetable bill was decreasing!!     We chided ourselves for not thinking of this before.    
A small Dairy was built for the cows - we currently have ONE good milker providing milk for us all. She has just delivered a bull calf.    We hope to have a further milker soon.     We actually started with THREE cows, but regretfully two died.     We learn from errors.   The Dairy also originally commenced in Testimony House compound, but this year moved to Jacaranda compound.   Again a very great saving on the Milk Bill!!

The Chickens, with the kind help of Tyndale School who put up the 'House', also commenced and still continues producing meat for us all AND and additionally allowing us to SELL some of our Broilers to local clientele, providing a little income to offset the cost of production.  At present we have 400 growing well.   The Poultry Unit is sited just Above Jacaranda Cottage and opposite Drakeley Cottage.      We are intending to increase the numbers catered for during the coming year, as we still have plenty of space.   We began with Layers, but since 2011 prices of Feed have gone up and it is now CHEAPER to buy the eggs from the Trade.

AND, finally we opened a Bakery in Testimony House in what used to be known as 'The New Room' which was a utility room.     We are currently baking about 200 loaves a day, and are planning to obtain a Public License to SELL to the general public.        All this in a year or so.     AND it HAS assisted us to reduce our housekeeping costs.     HOWEVER,    This would still be considered just a 'drop in a bucket' when taking into account our Annual Expenditure.      WE would be unable to find this from within Kenya easily.      We have been here now almost 50 years and local interest and provision has improved very little.   Averagely we might receive approximately 1.2% of our total need from inside Kenya.     CHARITY may begin at home, but NOT in Kenya.    The ethic still seems to be receive rather than give - but it WILL change with time, hopefully.      
When we first came here in 1972 we were on the very edge of an old colonial residential area.  Beyond us was open countryside with not a house in sight.      NOW building continues to encircle us so that we are practically 'inside' the town.      We have used the land available to us - some ELEVEN acres - as economically as we could but now we have reached our capacity and there is no further room to expand here.    PROGRESS?    Yes in a way, but in another way it has taken away our original privacy and we are now encroached upon by town life and what goes with it.  

THUS we have discovered everything that has been slowly growing here in this rather hidden corner of Eldoret in East Africa.     And tomorrow will be the last Sunday in November.   This week on Thursday Esther, Daryl and Carol and I joined many other Europeans in celebrating Thanksgiving with some of our American brethren.    It was good to find ourselves ALL Thankful, for oh, SO MUCH.     On the 26th DECEMBER we shall have occupied this compound for forty-two years.   The day we arrived the compound had been unused for three years.   The grass surrounding the only house was as high as an elephants eye, infested with snakes of many varieties, the whole compound of only 5 acres visited by monkeys, gazelle, and many other wild animals.     Our increasing occupation and neighbourhood development has chased all the wild life away, leaving us still with pleasant lawns and stately trees to attract a multiplicity of bird life, adding to a God given peace and tranquillity.    A SAFE harbour to the many adrift and away from home.

God bless you all, and add to you greater likeness day by day to the Master.

Much love in Him,

John, Esther, and Daryl