ODDS & BODS - AGAIN

HERE IS A PHOTO of the Yego Family - Micah and Catherine, with Steven and Esther in front of their home.
I was just there today, after visiting our COW who lives just opposite them.     We spent a nice time chatting together, and it was a real JOY to see Catherine up and looking well - she has been quite ill for a very long time with a bug that has looked like Typhoid, but which may have been a type of stomach ulcer!!    Medical diagnosis here is very much guesswork on the whole.  It was good to be with them.

Another reason for visiting the Jaca Compound was of course to take yet another photo of the NEW Cottage being built.      Walls are well up, and the next stage will be the setting of the Ring Beam.    This week I took my photo from the front steps of the Old Cottage.   You can see what is left of the little flower island that was in the middle of the driveway, dead centre.    The entire area in front where the driveway  was will be re designed to give more free space.

I had also come to the Compound to visit Jacaranda Cottage itself.     I found it in some disarray Joseph and Beatrice Rop have left the Home to commence an 'early retirement' on their farm!    Yes, they have felt that they needed to go, and we ourselves could see no other sensible course for them;  they had in fact decided to do this by the end of the year, but Joseph's health has made them bring this forward a little.    Joe has been unwell in fact for some years, and was under medication to help him maintain a mental equilibrium.
However of late he has been forgetful in keeping up his medicare, and became quite unpredictable and often over excitable, so that he  could not be relied upon to carry out instructions.      Beatrice also has been suffering from high blood pressure - maybe due to anxiety over Joe's health.        There has been no change in our good relationship, however, and we hope to continue seeing them from time to time.      We shall be advertising their post, and in the meantime we expect Isaac Ndungu our relief houseparent to step in and hold the fort.  Please remember to pray for them.       They have been with us SIX years, and have been real blessing to the Jacaranda Family; they will be very much missed by the children.    Well one can never tell when a change must come.       But this is the best time of year, and perhaps it is best that it has come before they were faced with the move to the New Cottage in March/April.     It will be a new home with new parents now.     We must pray that the 'family' will be able to make the adjustments necessary to such a BIG change.   

THE HOMES (TFH) were also challenged this week - a letter having been written to a Children's Help Office in Nairobi accusing us of abuse of children's rights in relation to one of our girls who had not been allowed, by us, to be admitted to a particular School she wanted to attend.       We were almost immediately ordered to attend our County Headquarters  (Kenya Children's Services) to account for it.     Daryl and I went together.     We were asked to explain ourselves.     We said that it was not our practise to send the children into our care to school of their individual choice, since we had our own School which was well known and respected.        We were told that we were quite within our rights as surrogate parents to decide what our policy was in relation to choosing where to educate the children in our care.     It was a relief to know that we were not breaking some new law.     BUT the child refused to attend our school, in front of the Children's Officer, and so she will be now transferred to another institution on Monday.      A sad matter.   Could we not have made an exception for her?      No, not on this occasion, because we had other good reasons for not wanting one of our children to attend that particular school.      

THIS has been one of those 'up and down' weeks - but we have had good moments as well.  One of those Moments was in having a surprise visit from someone we had not seen for many years - Janny van der Klis
She is visiting Eldoret with her Sister.    We had really good fellowship with them both, and it was especially enjoyable since we could all share in the Gospel and in the wonderfully amazing life we each have in Christ.   Janny lives in Northern island not far from Ginny and Desmond Hales also long and very good friends of ours.       It was a truly  BRIGHT surprise in an otherwise demanding week.     I was for a good part of that week pinned to my office desk.     And it was not the desk I usually use, in Green Cottage, but in the main Office next door to Daryl.    We both seemed to get caught up in many unexpected tasks that took our time right away.  But we have come through it all fairly well.    

INADVERTENTLY I took some snaps of the inside of Green Cottage.    I will include them here just to let you actually BE here with me this afternoon!  The first is taken from my home desk in our sitting room, looking towards Testimony House through the big picture window (sorry you can't see through the sunlight.     The second is taken from the same place but turned slightly to the right, looking
over Esther's desk towards the door leading out to the bedrooms and kitchen.   The wall hanging is of a group of Bukusu girls praying.     It was for sale as a carpet but we could not bare the thought of standing on it.  It has been a good inspiration to pray.     We have four bedrooms in this house.   One is in use as Esthers Sewing and Quilt making room.  There there are two guest rooms one of which is currently being used to sleep Jesse our 16 year old grandson, and the third,hosting Helen and baby Abigail.  Then finally our own.      We additionally have two toilets/showers, and a kitchen.    Our dining room is open plan to the right behind our desks.   It is a cosy house, and has been more and more used as a Guest House to friends and family visiting.    It was a Gift to us for our retirement, and a Gift also to TFH as it will revert to them eventually when we no longer need it, to do with as they see fit.       We were a little afraid to move into it, thinking 'reiirement' might mean a living death - but NO!    We have been busier than ever since retiring, and indeed been free to spend time and hospitality on many we might previously been unable to invite or entertain.    God has been more than good to us.       Thank You, Father, in Jesus Name!     And if you are planning to come this way any time, be sure of a welcome.

YESTERDAY I attended the School Parade for the first time for some years.    It was strange to stand once again in front of the whole school - some 700 kids and staff.      I will be there, God Willing, every last Friday of the month for as long as He allows.      This week I shared the words LOOK AND LIVE based on a little incident recorded in the Bible in Numbers 21v1-4.     I don't want to preach it to you.     But you might be interested to read the Scripture.      Basically how grumbling brings even great affliction, and that in suffering we are made to seek an escape, even crying out to God.         In this case God answered the cry by removing the cause of the people's anguish and nailing it to a pole whilst saying to the people LOOK!   AND LIVE!        Jesus Christ once said 'As Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so I must be lifted up.....
Jesus took my sin, ALL of it - all my selfishness - and NAILED it to the cross with Himself.    His Father says to all that believe themselves to be dying from sin - LOOK!     LOOK at Jesus!   He has taken YOUR sin and nailed it, dead to the cross.      Your sin cannot have its way with you, cannot kill you any more!   Just LOOK to JESUS and LIVE.       Didn't take me five minutes, and you could have heard a pin drop.  I hope it made a few minds THINK.       Preaching tomorrow as well, but I have not yet discovered what I am to say

GOD be with you all, and Bless you, and THRILL you with the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ.


John, Esther and Daryl Green

THE 3RD WEEK OF THE 1ST MONTH

PHRAGMANTHERA CAPITA  seems to be the PARASITE invading our trees, although it seems to be mostly in West Africa.   The Cameroons, for example, have been struggling for some time with it as it has attacked their fruit trees.     Regretfully so far not much success for them!    But I was interested to see they have tried inoculating their trees!      I had wondered if that was possible and it seems it is.  However, even that did not work.    Apparently they could not find a chemical that worked.  Apart from uprooting the tree and burning them there seems little that CAN be done, and even then, I suppose the new trees will still get infected.     Bird droppings as they roost on branches seem to be the means of infection.    Perhaps they should kill all the birds!!!!     I have been very disappointed to see our own infection increasing and spreading.     IF anyone reading this might have better, more up to date, knowledge of what we might be able to do please write in and share with us.      I have included a more focused photo of what we have here.

The SUN continues to blaze down upon us all for the second month, without rain.    The river Sosiani is now reduced to a mere trickle of blue-grayish liquid - no doubt mainly the intrusion of industrial waste, and perhaps even a little sewage.      In the '70s it was just like this.    Then it could remain dry through December until March/April.    In those days there were only 40,000 of us living here, now we are more than a million.  We COULD be in for a hard time if we remain without a shower or two before the RAINY season begins.  The CROWS enjoy this kind of weather.    Our crows are BIG black and white birds.    They spend a lot of time 'courting' each other, and especially like our Mahogany Tree where they come to carry on, with raucous and discordant croaks.   The grass beneath the spreading branches of this Tree are turning brown with the rest of the lawns.    When the wind blows just a little, clouds of dust swirl around - I pity our builders in the heat, the dust, and the thirst.    BUT the Building IS now going up.    I was there just this morning taking a few photos of the progress once more.    Another week to the Ring-beam, I would think, and some days for that to dry out - and then the rafters will soon be up, and the roofing.       THEN they can get on with flooring, plastering, and electrics - all this I think will take us to the end of February.     THEN painting and finishing.
We shall see as we go on.


FOUR OR SO DAYS ago children finally returned to School TWO weeks late due to Government Teachers Strike.      WE, of course were not on strike, and our School opened on 6th January.    The Government Teachers were as usual Striking about Pay, which is an endless concern.    BUT it is the Children who suffer, and in the end perhaps the Strikers themselves - who for the most part are themselves parents - will suffer the most, since their action affects the performance and future homes of their sons and daughters, who will then perhaps look back with anger.    Earlier this week a School in the Nairobi area, having finally opened, their students discovered that the School Field had been bought and fenced by people unknown against their use.

The School insists the property (field) belongs to the School, and that it has been 'GRABBED'.      A 'Peaceful Demonstration' was organised, with children and parents parading with placards protesting the taking of the School Field.     Police were ready for them, with tear-gas and ferocious dogs to deter them.     Violence broke out, and photos taken.      A lot was made of what is said to be Police violence against children.   BUT not much was said of Parents hurling insult and missiles at the Police, and encouraging the children to do the same.       Well, still - perhaps- the Police should have retrained themselves from hitting back.     On the other hand I think it very wrong to involve children in civil action against their elders - it is quite as bad as enlisting children into the ranks of militant force.    BEFORE children have a chance to BE children they are being forced to become ADULTS - adults without REASON, and without KNOWLEDGE.    And these attitudes are not related to Kenya alone, but tend to be seen worldwide.     WHERE is humanity going?   I do believe Mankind is losing his way!
 
DARYL is away this week-end in Nairobi trying to resolve my status with the Kenyan Immigration Department.     After almost fifty years married to a Kenyan, I am still needing to obtain regular reinstatement as an ALIEN here.       He tells me on the phone, that this now not be necessary any more - he is trying to Register me as a DEPENDENT of His!!      Well. well.!       I find this almost a joke - after all BOTH of us are already dependents of GOD.    Daryl returns Sunday evening, so we shall no doubt hear more then.
Daryl's son, Jesse, has now just begun his final yar in High School here in Testimony School.    He is taller than me now at 16.     Wants to be an Engineer of some kind.
I was looking around this week in Eldoret for a dictaphone or a small tape recorder.    I am told they are no longer in demand and therefor not obtainable.    I found this suddenly were hard to accept.    In my teenage Tape Recorders had been all the range together with various 'high-fi gramophones .......Then there were pocket sized tape and disc players that be plugged into your ears (and brain) wherever you went - getting smaller all the time.      Same thing with phones too.     So much I grew up with is now quite GONE, even forgotten in the near past.      We must now all learn to live with totally NEW technology.......Once again what is this leading us to ?     I find this a little 'scary' since Mankind hardly has any say in any of this - we all in the main being led and conditioned by a minority OUT of the image of God and INTO an image invented by just a handful of men.     BUT, as a computer user I am glad to have learned keyboard on an old fashioned and very basic typewriter.      And I certainly enjoy improved SOUND recording of music.

God Bless you all.     And Thank you always for your friendship and fellowship.

John, Esther and Daryl Green

WORK ABOUNDING !

BUILDING WORKS STILL PRO-CEEDING. By today all this on the left has been filled in, and the SLAB laid down.     In fact the last photo shows the first course of rough stone being laid for the external walls.     So far all has gone well, and the weather has made sure the foundation was laid soundly and surely.       It is the right time of year really - the hottest month -together with February - of the year.  However, although so far the weather has helped, we do need water, and the RAINS are not expected to return in any force until March/April.     SO the contractor is seeking for Showers of Blessing

in the midst of the DRY SEASON!     The Slab has just been laid in this photo.    We are looking up towards Drakeley Cottage from the Tyndale Cottage end.     Old Jacaranda is on the left just out of sight.
The concrete was mixed by a small cement mixer and put down by hand.    Quite a hard, heavy and time consuming task.    It all had to go down in one go, so to speak, and indeed they made it perfectly.
The trees you can see are ALL  Jacaranda trees from which the Home takes its name, so you see even with cutting some down we have a number left.
Once the SLAB had dried out the final finishing surface was added and also given time to dry out.  After that  the plan of the internal walls were marked out on the surface, ready for 'Walling'.      Of course this has had to wait a little until everything on the surface had an appropriate time to dry out.
This was accomplished on Wednesday this week, and the first Course of stone has been laid for the exterior wall.      This will be of volcanic stone just like the other two cottages and also Green Cottage.  It comes in various colours, grey, yellow, black and almost white.    The NEW Jacaranda will be using grey and red, and possible a little black.     It has to be brought in to Eldoret from more than one hundred kilometres away.
AND thus you can see from the last photo taken yesterday, that all is in continuance.  In this last picture you can see Old Jacaranda Cottage - still in use of course - on the left, with Drakeley on the right just above the new house.    But we now will need a supply of water daily.    At present Water is Rationed in supply, and so we do not always have it in the taps.     A few heavy thunder storms could really help us as we could collect water from the run-offs from the roofing of the other houses and store in drums.    Something to pray about.  From now on WALLS will be rising up!

ABOVE is a view of Testimony House taken from the patio of Green Cottage, and taking in part of the gardens AND the famous TREE.    It is said to be an Indian Mahogany Tree, but is also related to the NEEM family of tree, and is a soft, red wood.    It was probably planted when Testimony House was being built - circa 1908, and is past its best, having a life expectancy of only about 80 years.     We have had a lot of tea parties and family gatherings under its shadow, and in a way it has become a land mark and a symbol to us of Shelter and Refuge.          It will not last for ever.         Many other of the trees we found here are now old.   some of them are also likely to die off in the near future, and additionally we have a nasty Parasite  that in the last two or three years has suddenly attacked the majority of the trees here.
We think it is spread by a particular bird, - The Great Green Ibis - since for the most part it is found in the upper branches too high to get at, and where the Ibis like to roost - we have a colony or two here,..    From the photo you will get some idea of it, and next week I may be able to show it more clearly.     It is clearly a very hungry plant, and quickly spreads.  I believe if it is left alone, it will take over and overwhelm every tree it lights upon.    Horrible - but then most parasites are.

God meant us to take care of everything - including TREES,   Thus I feel there ought to be a way to eradicate conditions of this kind when they are found attacking any tree.     I wonder if there is an 'innoculation' available for trees!??     Never heard of such a thing, but you never know!

OTHERWISE ALL REMAINS QUIET, and the week gone by has been peaceful.      The School being open provides a lot of extra laughter and chatter amongst the children, but it is not all time - just at breaks in tuition.      It also exudes from the swimming pool where lessons in swimming are carried on every day.   It is a background ingredient of noise, not loud, but somehow joyful, even  'aholiday by the sea sound'!    It strangely adds to the serenity of this place.     We are thankful for it.     Is speaks of God's Presence and Protective Love.

May Jesus be with you all, each one, and give you a good week.       Our Thanks to you all for your care and thought of our welfare and life here.      If any of you might feel to also right to US and share any need for prayer or Praise, please do feel free to do so; we would be so glad to be in touch either via -email or even Face Book.       We are told to 'Bare EACH OTHERS burdens'.     Very sincerely from us all.


John, Esther and Daryl, & all our staff and children

THIS IS THE 2ND WEEK OF THE YEAR!

HERE WE GO AGAIN, back on site.    Basically doesn't look much different from last week does it?  But there has been progress, even so and NOW the entire Floor has been covered up so that you can no longer see the internal divisions of the rooms.      The NEXT step will be laying down the SLAB, and we hope this will happen next week.     The Weather has held, and remained hot and dry.   WATER getting more and more scarce.    Very dusty, and a lot of it in the air from time to time.     And, what with piles of building materials, Drums of Water, rubble, sand, and workmen all over the place the whole Compound begins to look rather untidy - part of the cost of building in ones 'garden' so to speak.     The second photo is taken from the driveway, looking down to Tyndale Cottage.
You can just see the edge of the foundation work.       It also gives an idea of the distance there will be between each Cottage.

Not a great deal going on this week.     With the Lord's help we have been able to get all our College and University students (20 in all) back to their various external Schools, with the first Term's Fees ALL paid.  Hallelujah.      ALSO those needing new school or College clothing have also been able to be serviced and provided for .    God is SO good.      OUR School opened on Tuesday morning, and everyone is now back on track - 140 of our our children plus a further 600 from our immediate area outside.
This year the School Administration decided that no student can advance to the NEXT Class unless they attained an expected grade of performance at the end of the year.       This has upset some parents from outside who wanted their C- and below children to continue on, even to High School.    But they HAVE to repeat - usually we have seen students who have been willing to repeat actually go on to perform better.  The School is satisfied that is is for the best.

Eldoret Railway Station in 1975.      I only used the railway ONCE.
we once took ALL the children 3rd Class to Nairobi and back as a Family Treat.      3rd Class was not very comfortable - wooden seats rather like the old park type of seat - we had to book a whole carriage to accommodate us all - the year was about 1975 as well.
But our carriage was still open to be invaded from within and without by other passengers of various kinds.     One man brandishing a knife and looking as wild as can be burst in upon us, look for a toilet!     He finally, with a great deal of noise and shouting from our rather frightened children, departed via the other end of the carriage.      Also whenever we stopped at a station (quite frequently) our windows on the platform side (the glass was usually wound down to provide more air) would suddenly find themselves attacked by various market women together with their wares - sacks of cabbage, potatoes and so on.  The SACK and sometimes even a baby, would come in first, followed by a usually well muscled and voluminous lady.    No matter that we cried the carriage was full and booked for us alone.     Thus with the smell of industrious sweat and strong pervading aromas of Onions, cabbage, and other veg., we would slowly make our way - an average speed of about 20 kilometres per hour.      It took us between 15 and 17 hours to get to Nairobi (approx. 360 kilometres) and the same on the return journey.    It was novel, uncomfortable, and rather adventurous.   The children loved it all - we were fairly worn out.      Since then Railway has slowly deteriorated until now there seems to be only one train in the morning leaving for Nairobi and one at night..     BOTH are Goods Trains.   Passenger service practically defunct.       This has lost a cheap means of transport both for Passengers and also Traders.       TODAY there is continuing talk of revamping the Railway - widening the Track to enable great speed, and provision of new rolling stock.     We are WAITING........perhaps this year something will be accomplished at last.      At present, virtually, Kenya is a Country without a Railway.

And that is all for this week.    As I type clouds have gathered, hiding the sun and sky.   Will it rain?  I do hope so.     If it is only a SHOWER it will relieve many problems.     So continue to pray for us.  The photo to the left is perhaps one of my favourites - it a view of Testimony House taken in the late 70s after we had worked on the drive and gardens.  It remains the same today.     It remains the place where everything else has grown from.   It speaks of Home to so many, and is a symbol and memory for many which remains as a Testimony to God's Love.


Please do have a peaceful and rewarding week where you are, at home, and at work.   Our prayers  are with you all - lovingly in Jesus Name.


John, Esther, and Daryl

INTO 2015

Yes INDEED, we wish you a VERY happy, enjoyable and successful New Year, no matter what the Enemy might throw at you - as he no doubt will endeavour to do, just to cheer you up - but never mind the LORD is with us, The Lord of Hosts is His Name, and he is more than a match for putting out Old Lucifer.
We do want to thank you all for helping us in one way or another as Jesus put us on your hearts.   We needed your payers, and we also needed material help too.    By mid December we were practically without funds, but then found ourselves rescued by deposits to our Bank that were quite unexpected - real Life-savers!     Then a sister sent a gift pure and simply for us to buy 'SAUSAGES' for all the children for Christmas!      That was the beginning of what was almost a deluge of edible blessing from all over, including locally.      The children were well catered for, and truly were able to enjoy their Christmas as they Celebrated with all their hearts the Birthday of Jesus.     We were all  blessed.  
Our friends Ian and Diana, and daughter Hendrika all left us before New Year came about, and left quite a big hole in our fellowship - we have truly missed them a lot.    They piled into all the work and activities and contributed so much to the general gladness.     We also had a visit from Michael Rufroni, who is currently living and working in Tanzania teaching and lecturing on IT,  but planning to return to Kenya soon.    It was really so good to see him
looking very much the same - tall, athletic, and full of energy.     He did not stay more a few hours but we were very happy that he found time to call in.      He was just a small guy of ten years when he arrived here in 1977 - and now he is 48 (approximately) - how time flies!

AND, OF COURSE, the building of the New Jacaranda has continued.     We started on the 19th December with Ian Hogley taking the first step in
preparing the Foundations with an Earth Shifter - photos in last Saturday's Blog.      We shall not repeat photos, but we will hope - week by week - to update progress visually.       Today we have the LATEST photos taken with my NEW camera which is a SONY 8x - 20.1 megapixels.     I am quite delighted with it.
The Work on the Plot has proceeded quite quickly.   The Foundation work is almost completed, and within a few days the whole will be ready to receive the floor slab.     Then the Walling will commence up to the Ring Beam.      The weather has been the best, and the Contractor is very happy with the progress so far.

The Old House must look on with some apprehension.       We still believe the mud brick end of the house will have to come down, and give way to grass to make up a little for the space the NEW house will take.      HOWEVER we have discovered that the Breeze Block end of the house has a foundation work laid down deep enough to take a further storey on the existing building.     Thus we are now thinking that we might indeed build on the existing breeze-block area.    We could then use this space for storage and even for guest accommodation.     All in the 'mixing bowl' right now, and no doubt there will be plenty of bright ideas to come as months go by.

NEXT TUESDAY our School re-opens for the First Term of 2015. 
The National Primary Exam that took place in November last produced a good result for us, and also most of our Home's children did well.   Everyone rejoicing!     About seven of OUR children will now continue on in our Secondary Department for a further four years.          This time NEXT year we shall have 15 leaving Primary for High School!!       Big scramble to find replacement for worn-out shoes and other items of School uniform.  All our houseparents busy trying to accomplish this in a town already overcrowded with parents doing the same.        This week Daryl has also been busy trying to ensure that necessary repairs and maintenance are completed before the doors open and the students flock back.    Almost worse than the moment before the doors open for the New Year Sales!!

Our little grand-daughter, ABIGAIL, is now 9 months old, and crawling!      She is quite a captivating child, but as with most children shows strong determination to have her own way just now.    An 'angel-face' for much of the time, but there can come a sudden change, a scowl, a piercing SCREAM and severe damage from both little fists on the rampage.    She is spoilt of course - by everyone.
Helen is busy seeking a future.    She has attempted many interviews as a pre-school teacher but our local establishments do not offer very attractive terms.      Helen is now considering starting her own Play School.      This would definitely be more lucrative, and she is quite able to run such a place - she is very imaginative and competent teacher, and so good with little kids.

Well that's about all for this week.     Daryl and I have decided to share the post of Director for the coming year, and this seems to be a comfortable and useful decision as he is more and more out and about, leaving a need for someone to stand in his place at home to deal with staff and more clerical issues of administration.    This is a kind of unofficial arrangement since I HAVE officially retired of course.  Helps us both not be alone with too great a load.

God Bless and be with you all

John Esther and Daryl Green