TESTIMONY SCHOOLS ARE OPEN!

Praise the Lord our God !!  It has not been easy to effect Government Directives that had to be achieved in order to open again.   The fact that students could no long sit together without space of at least 1 meter between them posed the biggest problem.    We closed with 800 students, and all classes full.   Could we now cope with putting them all at a distance from each other.    And if not, and if we could not achieve the population at which we closed, would the school be able to cover it's cost;  we had always operated as a non profit making School, wanting to offer education without too great a cost to those who needed it.     We did not have funds to build new classrooms, and hardly enough to consider conversions and alterations to what we already had.    We looked to the Lord, and carried on through the months from March 2020 to December.   

God alone has been our provision and stay.  And He, alone, has given the wisdom and strength of mind and body  to Daryl, enabling him to face, almost single handed, the daily planning and headache.   He took on the whole responsibility, with only a handful of untrained support to deal with all the labour involved.  Planning how to re-arrange existing classes and other rooms to accommodate almost double the existing space needed; , physical conversion of many such rooms, repair and refurbishment of desks, chairs, and tables (Some existing desks made for TWO had to be cut in half and made into two single desks).  Paint work, redecoration, extra plumbing, and electrical wiring.   Digging drains and cementing paths.     It seemed an impossible work to be accomplished in time - and with no reserve of finance to hand.      INITIALLY the Government had intimated that they would assist private schools with some of the related costs in labour and material, but they were unable to fulfil these intimations.   But they DID issue more than 75 typed pages of detailed Instructions of what each school must provide and make arrangements for, before Permission to open and operate would be granted.    WE have been ONE of a few that so far has been granted that Permission.       And ALL of our students have returned to Class.  

DARYL began the work in September last year after we opened, partially, to just THREE classes on a kind of trial basis.    He began with provision of extra Hand Washing stations.   Very simple constructions, but still took time to put together with basic plastic bowels hanging in  an angle iron frame, with its own tap and water supply, and soap dispenser.   At least FIVE rows of these were put at five different points around the school.      These were in ADDITION to the already Boys and Girls Toilet & Ablutions installations.  Children AND staff are all expected to FREQUENTLY wash their hands as they move in and out of Class and around the Compound generally.

Some walls had to be knocked down in order to enlarge some rooms previously not used for classrooms, and that were too small to accommodate a reasonable Class Population of 25.  It has not been easy to see the utter mess and chaos caused by change and re-arrangement of what had been a very well organized School, with clear divisions between Pre-School, Primary and Secondary Departments.      Will we ever be able to see a return to normal, and original order in the Schools re-established?  Today it looks far away.

BUT our situation is far removed, just now, from the CRISIS we see in Europe and the UK now facing up to, to say nothing of the U.S.A!!

However, testing seems to have flagged a little, and it is difficult to gauge if things are as encouraging as they may, on the surface look.......As of 7th January.     Total tested 5424   -    Positive Cases Perceived 335   //  Total tested positive since March 2020  -  97,459  The Total Recovered over same period - 80,671

Total Deaths..............................................   1,703

RETURNING TO OUR comments regarding changes we have had to go through over the last 6 months.

First a few photos of our Pre- School Unit                       

WE have allowed all classes but one to remain where they were - the youngest however have been relocated to what was the Secondary Girls Boarding Hostel.     The big problem was the lack of tables and even chairs, which in the end had to be fabricated just a few days before we were to open!     But we managed, and we have been able to accommodate almost the total number of students we had before.

Pre-School students are probably the most difficult to distance from each other, since they are totally abandoned to BEING together in everything, and especially at Breaks are ever rushing around together and playing games that seem to demand 'touch' and close chatter.  They reman a great joy, just to see their happiness and freedom from a any kind of fear or anxiety - even WITH having to wear masks all day.  But their teachers find it hard work to enforce the Rule of Law - and insist on spacing out of the classsroom. 

I am a little frustrated with my Blogger.   They have been constantly changing (improving) themselves and thus making what was easy and straightforward, for an old duffer like me, totally awkward and ,a nuisance.     These days I am unable to find out how each progressive page I create is actually looking and I must apologise if finally it prints out with page gaps,  and so on.    I have tried communicating with them but they seem very unhelpful.     But it does make every blog a labour.     Even difficult to put a phot where you want it without a hassle. 

To continue - here are some photos of various Classrooms - old and 'new'.

The recommended spacing of desks precribed by Governmend in Kenya is 1 meter only.   We had to remove and relocate 16 desks from the Classroom on the left which has space now only for 20 rather than the previous 36.    The photo to the right shows where the the 16 were relocated - to a converted Senior Boys Dormitory!  This had to have a wall taken down halfway down the length, and to the right a new partition put in.   The Boys Dorm was re-sited to another building.

Below to the left is a view of one of the junior primary classes where double desk needed to be divided into two singles so that we could use them still.   It was a lot of work but well done.    Two of or senior boys helped with the welding.   The result is really 'stop-gap' and we  hope,  eventually, to provide a less stark desk for this Grade, once things return to normal.   This Blog cannot do real justice to the work that has had to be done.     Additionally even some of our Staff have had to be re-located into difficult circumstances, and as said before, the School has had to see different departments encroach upon another for the time being.     Less convenient to students and teachers alike.     Also for the 600 or so day students arriving each morning it is NOT easy to see everyone individually TESTED, temperature taken, and sanitated all by hand BEFORE entry;   it takes time and patience.

BUT the SCHOOL is OPEN.      And, to some extent the HOMES remain open also.    We currently have 125 children and young people resident in our four family homes.     So far so good.   In the Beginning of my time in Kenya the LORD spoke and A  Family began, was sustained, and made to grow and prosper for fifty years.       We accepted whoever came to the Door, and still  do so.   The Government refers to each of them as 'OUR' children, as Wards of the State, but they do not in any way provide a shilling for their keep; their food, health, education, and general wellbeing.      It is God who opened the Door and it is God who Provided all each one was to need.        WE see them all as His children - and OURS as well, in His Name.       Since 2008 we have been under threat of Closure by the Government.   Twelve years have passed.      The Threat remains.     We also remain.     Fear NOT, says the LORD to our spirit.     Sing Praises, Stand and do nothing, and SEE the Salvation of the LORD.

And this is where we continue to be.        Thank you all who have likewise stood together with us, and been the channels of His Blessing day by day and moment by moment.

TEN of our College students (4 in University one doing I.T. and the others Teaching) and the other 6 doing Nursing, Secretarial, Accounts, I.T., Business Management, and Theology!   4 Girls and 6 boys. Ten more waiting to join their Colleges.   Some will Graduate this year, and others will hope to START their Course.    SO already many are believing the  LORD to find WORK......and this is much harder than it was with Covid 19 adding to the to difficulty.

Esther and I still carrying on from our little retirement cottage as honourary 'grandparents, with many opportunities to share in daily chores, and especially in praying for and finding time to relate to the children as chance is given.    We feel it a privilege to still be allowed a share in this ministry at our time of life.     We are both well.     I am still Diabetic, but well.     Have what my doc thinks might be a bit of arthritis in my left leg, but am mobile and still get about.   Esther too is generally well, and still busy with everything and everyone, as well as her hobby of Quilting!            A group of our Old Boys and Girls ('sons and daughters') sent us monetary gift just before Christmas.     We were very moved, and thank God for their care of us.       And, of course, Daryl is ever in and out every day, sharing all the news and so on, and does his best to bare with us, and take physical care of us.    We are Thankful.

I am not sure how regular my Blogs will be this year.      I am feeling slower, and frailer.   But I will try to share when I can.      I am encouraging Daryl to do his best, now, to be in touch with everyone.

God Bless you all, most of you we are supposing, still in Lock down.      Open your eyes, and SEE the very real fact _  if you are Believing in Jesus _ that beyond our carnal vision are ranged all the Forces and Power of God to protect us and ward us off from all the powers of the Enemy directed on us.   We are NEVER alone, and never out of His Hand.

Lovingly in Him

John, Esther, Daryl, and all the staff and children here with us.

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