AN EXPANDING UNIVERSE?

WE ARE EXPANDING! This week the Lord granted the safe birth of our FIRST calf, a bull calf, and the son of Cow number Two - (we have named her ALICE). She was I am SURE very delighted to feel lighter, and to see her load of

many months delivered of her. She was immediately busy cleaning him up. How amazing to see the 'Mother Instinct' so instantly

demonstrated for her first calf! An immediate bond between them; immediate care and concern from mother to child. Rosie, our FIRST cow, will be NEXT , and then the latest, the THIRD of our cows, DAISY. She arrived on Thursday of this week, and she is only three months into her pregnancy. SO quite an increase in this last week on the Dairy side of things.

THIS IS DAISY on the left now. She is supposed to be a Jersey cow, but we have our doubts!

She has not been well cared for, and came HUNGRY three months pregnant. She is settling in a bit now, but on arrival she just made for the Hay and shoved the other two cows to one side - she was SO hungry!! More satisfied now, she has made friends! So now we have THREE cows; ONE bull calf, and a goat (picture next week), So fortunate that we have found a good man to take care of them all.

WITH THE CHICKEN PROJECT

we have suffered an initial loss, and a complete 'wipe out'

of the first 100 day old layers - they were in their 7th week. Very

sad, but on Monday they were replaced with another 100, and at least this time we have clear idea of whatto do and when to do it. Our hopes are high that this time we will be successful. The older Layers that we also initially began with have now begun to lay - all 28 of the them! GREAT JOY and interest especially from the children. SO we see things going on with the EGG side of the program so that NOW we can resume having EGGS as part of the weekly diet.

When we began we also had 100 day old chicks that would become Broilers. These, in their 8th week are now ready to be eaten!

We have learnt a lot in the first two months, and now, on Monday, we hope to be joined by a Poultry Man who will oversee There day will probably be today. A further 100 day olds will replace them, and this w the continuing and repetitive program. This will certainly ensure that we shall have something to eat at Christmas time.

ON THE LAND crops continue to thrive and grow and each week more is able to been harvested and eaten. Already we can say that almost a 50% reduction in cost to us has been achieved in the provision of vegetable needs for everyone living here. We Praise and thank the Lord We have purchased the 'Drip Feed' piping and are in process of having it laid down. We had taken a little longer than planned to do this, but the Lord has helped us by providing a few extra days of gentle rain for our gardens. He watches over us. Once the 'drip feed' is in place we hope to double the space currently in use for crops. If all goes well we may be able to even SELL some of what we grow to our neighbours. THEN, in January, we may initiated our first FISH pond. Looking ahead we seem to have healthy strategic plan for the next year!!

TESTIMONY SCHOOL

is gearing up and getting the Top Classes in Primary and Secondary ready to commence this

year's National Examination. Form IV Secondary students will begin their Practical examinations and the rest as from 23rd October (equivalent of UK's GCE O'Level) this coming week. Primary Class 8 students will begin their examinations equivalent of our old 11+ ) in early November.

Discussing the School's future recently with the School Principal, Anthony Ndungu, and the three Heads working with him, it was felt the time had come to consider a serious expansion. Last year the Secondary School especially had done well, and it was expected to continue and do even better this year. This would almost certainly mean that more parents would want their children to attend the School. So far there has been only ONE stream of four classes in this part of the School, and financially it has been hard to maintain it. ANOTHER stream would make the school pay for itself, and might even assist the Homes more. CAN we build another FOUR classrooms? Do we have space?

YES, the answer is YES. It would mean a little re-planning of what we already have, but we feel it is more than possible. It would establish the School financially. It is still owned and Managed by Testimony Faith Homes, but it stands financially alone, with its own Bank Account. It runs from the Fees of parents that use the School from the locality. From the Fee structure the School provides FREE tuition to all the children in the Homes from Nursery to Form IV. It also gives 20 free places to academically bright children from the poorest families in Eldoret. It is registered as a Non-Profit Making Private Christian School. Please do make time to pray for the current plans under consideration - we do not want to go ahead of God, any more than to trail behind Him in catching His Vision.

AND LAST BUT NOT AT LEAST - What about the Children's Homes. Well, we do not want to expand exactly, We have room now for 150 children comfortably spread within FOUR fa

mily Homes. But we have had a change in mind for some years now. We still feel this change will come about, and this would be a good time to think of implementing it. JACARANDA Cottage has long been expensive and inconvenient to run as a children's home. It is also having ongoing and progressive problems structurally. We would like to pull it down and build a NEW home exactly opposite to the present site and between Drakeley and Tyndale Cottages. The Plans are drawn up for a house of the same design as the other two, but just a little larger, to take upto 45 children. Whilst being built, the old house would remain, then on completion of building the Jacaranda family would move into the NEW house.

THEN we would demolish the old house (apart from the breeze block end which has a slab roof. We would convert this area into a Central Laundry AND a Central Maintenance Store and Workshop for the four Homes.) We would clean up and level the rest of the site and turn it into a new Play area. We believe this would considerably reduce our running costs and contribute to our current aim of economising generally in the whole work.

This is the direction we are praying in for the future. DARYL is the one who will be praying these matters all through, and carrying the weight of being in the 'driving seat' with God by his side as the ministry of TFH moves forward. We believe that we have a Witness in this Town and area of Kenya. We believe the LORD will keep it bright and burning till He Comes. Bright in a dark place pressed by need to SEE that there is HOPE in trusting JESUS. Please remember us in your prayers, and let us together SEE the Answers come to prove the Reality of the Living God.

Our love to you all in His Great Name, and may He keep you confident and ready for anything, fearless, and without anxiety ever day.

John and Esther

WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED!!

DEATH SEEMS TO GO ON FOR EVER, as the eye surveys the sea of graves stretching almost as far as the eye can see in Kiplombe Cemetery, Eldoret. Burials continuing every day here. And today we in Testimony will be returning there for the third time already since Esther and I returned home from the UK in June this year.

Alice Muli's mother passed away last week due to heart attack and will be buried today. Graves here in Kiplombe seem to be dug just about wherever you choose, even randomly. It is a forlorn and very unhappy site, isolated and far from the town; with an almost abandoned, 'no man's land' feeling about it. But at least, for the present, there is still room for more!! This may not be the case for long. Land is at premium in Kenya, and less and less space seems to be allocated for the dead, when the living are so greedy to have some. Some cemeteries are already over-used. We recently heard of some that have bodies buried one on top of the other to within a foot of the surface in order to save space. So why not encourage Cremation? After all we have it written even in the Bible 'Dust to dust and ashes to ashes' - WELL NOT QUITE. This phrase is used often by churches in their funeral services, but in fact it is not found in the Bible at all!! THE BIBLE in fact mainly refers to humanity as being from the DUST, and that it will return to the dust. Just ONE verse in Genesis 18v27 records Abraham as having said of himself - '..which am but dust and ashes'. No explanation as to why he includes 'ashes' as a constituent ingredient of Man.

I personally like the idea of my body being buried in a quiet and undisturbed place where it might hope to remain till the Trumpet Sounds. BUT that boyhood appreciation of what a grave should be is not part of this present world's tumultuous experience. Few indeed stay long in this world's graves or 'hallowed ground' before being able to be legally ploughed up or just built upon!! Not a great deal of expected peace even for the dead these days!! Less and less expectancy of permanency in our world. Generally it is stated that are all made from dust, and to dust will return - Genesis 3v19. THUS it is hardly allowed in Christian Scripture that one should be cremated - but neither is it clearly forbidden.

SO what about being Cremated? More and more are choosing this method of disposing of their body after death. In this last year TWO friends of ours have been cremated here in Eldoret using the Hindu Crematorium! The second was cremated just this week in fact. BOTH were seen as somewhat extraordinary events by their friends and associates. In Kenya, so far, it is distinctly something that is just not done - a still very unusual occurrence. Recently a well known celebrity in Kenya, Professor Wangari Maathai, was also, upon her death, cremated at her own request. Many were quite shocked, even dismayed, by this action on her part, but I cannot see clearly that it is a sin to be cremated. I can see that in today's over-crowded

world it may even become a necessity in order to conserve space and hygiene. BUT............

My Esther firmly feels that this is not her 'cup of tea' as she puts it. She wants a regular burial in a 'safe' spot for her remains; to let them rest till the Trumpet sounds, and the dead shall arise! Bible language somehow makes little allowance for seeing a cloud of 'ashes' locked up in Urns or sprinkled over land or sea, actually 'arising' from open graves in recognisable human

form. But who knows? Whatever the case may be, the dead IN CHRIST shall rise ......!!!! Even so come Lord Jesus

Well this week seems to be DOWN! Nearly all our three week old chicks (the layers) that had seemingly escaped disease and death, have now suddenly been struck with sickness and DIED. Quite distressing for all of us but especially for Beatrice Rop who has been a real 'Mother Hen' looking after them. It seems that one necessary injection had been given too late - and all was lost. BUT the 28 eight week old layers are flourishing still, and on Thursday ONE of them laid her FIRST (ours too) EGG. Marvellous. We also imported a further 100 more layers (day old chicks). We have also now employed a full time experienced poultry-man to be responsible for them all.

On Thursday of this week Daryl and I visited a Dairy Unit right in the midst of town. They have 15 cows happily providing MILK three times a day in an enclosure about the same size as the one we have for our TWO. They make their own feed and look after each cow as it it is a member of the family! They seem VERY fat and contented, not a least disconcerted by our visit as we moved amongst them. Their accommodation was scrupulously clean, and the atmosphere further improved by the provision of piped Christian music all day which seems to truly almost hypnotise the cows!!! We spent almost three hours talking and seeing, and came away with a whole lot of new and good ideas.

Friday we went to purchase the 'DRIP FEED' piping for the Allotments. We should begin to lay them out and set them to work by Monday of this coming week. SO we continue to advance.

NB - Sorry about the cartoon - it IS a little in bad taste I suppose - but could not resist it.

Love you all

John and Esther

OUR LONG TIME FRIENDS Ian and Diana HOGLEY are here again! Also David Brook, also from Huddersfield, (did not manage to get a snap-shot of him this time round) has been with us for part of the week gone by.

Always good to see them, and this time to also show off the new progress, and

changes, that have been continuing here.

Last year about this time we were with them at the opening of another Orphanage in Nakuru - RIZIKI CHILDREN'S HOME, Blog for 2nd October 2010. It is still progressing and growing well, and also working hard to be see how self supporting they can be, just as we also are. It is SO good to be able to enter into the lives of other 'Family Members' in Christ, and to be able to pray and love them for who and what they are.

ESTHER and I have been reading Hebrews recently each night.

but I had independently found myself earlier reading the 13th chapter. In a way this made me think of 1. Corinthians 13........How

interesting that they should in a way be so similar.
I was reading in the Amplified Bible. There is an underlying aspect of 'caring' in God's Love that is affected by nothing, except death. The World's love is affected by anything that interferes with its own pleasure and selfish covetousness in a general sense, and can be cut off by a word, a look, even an accidental hurt!

JESUS SAID ' Love each other ( in the Christian Brotherhood) just as I have loved YOU.'

He said ' BY THIS shall all men know that you are My disciples - that you love one another - if you keep on showing love among yourselves!'

I have been wondering about myself in this respect; how do people see me? How do they recognise that God's Spirit lives in me? Is it by the way I love my 'Christian' brothers and sisters over and above all others. Are WE Christians demonstrating the exceptional and saving Love of our God amongst ourselves in such a way that those outside our fellowship are attracted to it, and hungry for it themselves? Perhaps most of us will feel that we are doing alright - but I wonder. We rarely, I think, are really conscious of how we sound, what we say, and even how we look at each other!

Hebrews 13v1

LET LOVE FOR YOUR FELLOW BELIEVERS

continue, and be a fixed practice with you;

NEVER let it fail.

Never let anything bring it to an end .

Love never takes account of the evil done to it;

pays no attention to a suffered wrong.

It is ever ready to believe the best of every person;

it's hopes are fadeless under all circumstances,

and it endures everything without weakening.

Love never fails.

It never fades out or becomes obsolete,

or comes to end. (1. Cor. 13v7-8)

Comparatively the slightest hurt felt or done to one of us immediately reduces our good will and even kindness towards the one offending us. When we are robbed, attacked, taken advantage of, we immediately want to justify, revenge and in so many ways somehow redress the hurt against the one acting in such unfriendly ways toward us. We will not turn the other cheek will not let go of our possessions willingly, will not go out of our selfish way to do the bidding of another. We want self justification for the 'wrong' done or imagined against us. We will even go to Court before unholy unbelievers and there try to force an issue against another - one that Paul suggests is another brother or sister in Christ. BUT surely those saying they are 'Christian' would never be guilty of a wrong against ME? Oh yes they could! Remember we are purchased just as we are from Satan, but we are STILL sinners under the 'covering' of Christ's Blood - still able to follow a selfish desire, lust - still able to BE unrighteous. YES! And if there have to be offences that we are guilty of toward other members of the 'Family' we should know how to deal with them IN THE LOVE OF GOD. - 1. Corinthians 6v1-20 in the Amplified Translation if possible.

AND the Love of God that Saves, Forgives and Cleanses US can so easily be forgotten in our dealings even with our fellow Christian, himself forgiven and cleansed by the SAME God that did if for me!!

HOW MUCH DO WE CHRISTIANS FORGIVE EACH OTHER?

How much to we CARE for each other, even when we see one of our number sin and fall from the WAY? Are we ready to really DIE to our human rights for each other? Are we ready to crucify ourselves upon the Cross with Jesus - for the sake of one another? Think about it.

How much of our Christianity is still coloured by our OLD NATURE and understanding so unlike the nature and character of God Himself.

It is great to find a FRIEND like Jesus, in another brother or sister. What a treasure that is, no matter how still spoilt that treasure may still be until the final Trumpet sounds and we are ALL finally changed and the last vestige of sin in us falls away for eternity! I have been wondering how good a friend I am and have been since I came to know God's unconditional love for me. And I am troubled to see how critical and judgmental I still am, how set in my Christian views and how easily I can turn away from others that do not agree with my opinion, viewpoint, feelings on a matter - even another Christian! Woe is me, I am undone - I have been found out. FORGIVE me Father in Jesus Name, and never let me forget that only JESUS in me can produce anything worthy. Less of ME is yet STILL needed, and MORE of you instead.

How truly deceitful and sick SIN is in us all. Even so come quickly Lord Jesus.

THE WEATHER has been slowly changing, and now is quite pleasant - not over hot, but sunny most days, with still a little rain at times, but progressively moving on toward summer time.

Our gardens have continued to prosper and have begun more and more to abundantly supply so that we are all eating every day something harvested. Our cows continue to be well, the one so heavy and READY to give birth that she can barely stand for long, and there still giving milk but also herself heavier and wearier. But happy and contented. Our chicks also growing healthily, and next week we shall be bring in a further 100 broiler chicks. All goes well.

ALICE MULLI, Mother of Testimony House was away on Thursday to attend the Graduation of one of the sons of the House (Edwin Ngovia) who was receiving B.Com Degree at a University about 200 kilometres away. Onthe way back by bus last night she was told by phone that her 62 year old Mother had suddenly passed away at her family home here in Eldoret. A GREAT shock and LOSS for Alice who went straight there without returning to the HOME. Esther and I plus our friends went round to the family home this morning to share in the grief. She and her mother were VERY close, and it will be hard for a while for her. Her father is also unwell; he suffers with his legs and feet, and although he has an elder daughter at home looking after him, he also will be VERY sad, since he and his wife have always done everything together all the days of their long marriage. BUT the Lord is with ALL the family - each of them knowing Him, and thus He will find ways and means to comfort them and to fill the gap. But please spare a little prayer for Alice at this time.

LASTLY this week we are now on SKYPE, and Steve our son in UK has just connected with me for the first time - really AND to see the place he was speaking from AND all the family members there with him - WHAT a great privilege and thrill. WOW!

God Bless and be with you all

John and Esther

WELL, here are the LAHOL FAMILY. On the left, in the pink, is Eunice, wife to Francis, and Mum to Ken and Esther. Also Mum to 30 others that share Drakeley Cottage with them. Francis is an Old Boy of Testimony House, and as well as being Housefather to Drakeley Family he is also the senior Chef and Supervisor for the Kitchen providing meals to ALL the four Homes.

There Home is full of young children aged from 4 to 24!! Boys AND Girls of course - NINE girls and twenty-one boys. This photo is taken from in front of Drakeley Cottage, which looks out upon the new Allotment and the Chicken Project.

The chickens continue to thrive. We bought 204 chicks and so far after three weeks have lost only 4, which we hear is something of a record amongst local poultry keepers! So we have 100 broiler chicks which should be ready to eat in between three and four weeks time, and 100 Layer chicks which will take a further five to six months to begin laying eggs! Additionally we have another 28 Layers which are already two months old, and which we hope will commence laying in about another two months. All healthy and contented. We also had 24 Cockerels, and these we have now slaughtered and put into the diet. SO we have now begun to see a return, if only still small, for our labour. We are encouraged.

THE RAINS have tapered off a little, and we have seen none for almost a week. But it is still cloudy and there may be still a little rain to come. But the crops have continued to grow apace, and here in front of Drakeley we can see Maize and Potatoes going on well. Still to plant on this side is Cabbage, Spinach, Beans, Peppers and even more!!

This week we also arranged to start a small FISHERY in JANUARY next year on Jacaranda Cottage Compound. I wonder where all this is leading. We also now have TWO goats instead of one!!.

This all sounds very much as if all our problems are answered. However we are still facing considerable challenges in carrying on the ministry here. We still stand in need of prayer, and this is good for us. We are not our own, and we are no

t able to provide everything for ourselves, but must remember our dependency on our Father in Heaven. And indeed HE is our delight and the encourager of our souls.

FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH THEE

be not dismayed for I AM your God

I will strengthen you - yes I will help you!

I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness

Isaiah 41v19

Well, well I hear the rumbling of Thunder! As I glance up from the computer I am made aware of the dark rain clouds that have quietly covered the sky - RAIN it will - Thank you Lord for ours IS a thirsty land, and every precious drop from Heaven must always be a Blessing to us all.

Our guests from Scotland left us on Wednesday morning for Mombasa. We had a truly lovely time with them and trust that they will now enjoy a further week - this time in the sun!

On MONDAY, this coming week, we shall receive three more friends for a short stay with us. All from Huddersfield - Ian and Diana Hogley, and David Brook, all OLD friends going back a very long way. We feel blessed to have these visitors come to encourage and also enliven our day.

The School teachers' strike ended and all schoolchildren are now returned to School. Good! An answer to prayer. God does answer prayer - no matter what it is about. Nothing is without interest and concern to Him! And although a few have endured colds, the majority of us all are now well and in good health. Esther, my darling wife, has not been feeling too bright of late though. She has been having palpitations and got quite worried about it. I took her off to our local cardiologist yesterday, after a thorough examination, found nothing wrong with her heart or even blood pressure. We have both had a few stressful happenings over the last few weeks, and no doubt the old Enemy made an inroad on her emotions. We often get very much - sometimes too much - involved with the one and another of the children and young people here, and at times even with a staff member. But last night we Praised the Lord with Thanksgiving on our bed as we prepared to sleep. How good He is to us, and how faithful to always hold our hand, and ensure our peace. Already - today - she is a new person!

WHAT a Friend we have in Jesus -

All our sins and griefs to bear;

What a privilege to carry,

everything to God in prayer.

OH what PEACE we often forfeit

oh, what needless pain we bear

all because we do not carry

everything to God in prayer.

Joseph Scriven

We all need to watch our step each day; the Enemy is seeking to upset, destabilise and press us down. We must always be ready to FLEE to Jesus at such times, for HE will always lift us UP, and put the Enemy in his place = DOWN.

God Bless you and keep you all through the coming week.

John and Esther

£40 FOR A GOAT!!? This one cost £30!

Just recently a friend from a Church group in Lancashire, England sent a donation of forty pounds for us to buy a goat with. In fact the goat had been a Birthday present given to the donor! 'Maybe we could add it to the Farm!'

Well, not really, as we do not have a LOT of spare

land, and goats can be quite destructive of anything that grows.

NO we shall not keep it as a long time resident! We shall fatten him up and eat him during Christmas!! The only problem with this is that everyone will get quite fond of him by then, and probably not very keen on eating him... but finally will no doubt be glad and happy to do so. A present of this sort is VERY useful to us, and Christmas is usually a time for us of economic depression. NOT because we spend more money than usual but because funds are more scarce during the month as a whole.

THUS. to have food on hand is often a great boon and and blessing to us. SO we are very grateful to our Brother for this timely gift which will only grow BIGGER over the coming weeks.

OUR COWS are still growing bigger too! Our Vet says that they may deliver by the END of this month! We had hoped it might be sooner, but well, it seems difficult to be very sure since we are without a clear knowledge as to when they became pregnant in the first place.

24 of our CHICKENS were slaughtered yesterday!! All cockerels!! When we purchased the first batch of Layers the one we were buying from threw in the cockerels as well!! So now they each weigh about three kilograms, and are all frozen down for eating later on. The first batch of layers are almost laying and the 200 chicks all alive and well, thriving and growing. God be Praised in Jesus Name!! AND everything planted growing well, more and more able to be harvested.

IN 1978 a young man from Dumbarton, HARRY SPEEDIE, A STOP Worker with TEAR Fund UK came out to Testimony Faith Homes to head up a new Course we had begun in Automotive.

He remained with us for two years, and the resultant Course continued on until 1981 when we began to implement Nursery School in preparation for a full Primary School that opened in 1983. Almost ALL the youngsters that Harry taught during his time with us found employment and remain therein, many also having found the Lord as their Personal Saviour.

In 1982 Harry married Flora, and it has been a special happiness to have them BOTH here with us this week together with their son Ewan. It has been good to reminisce and to have fellowship after all these many years, although of course we have been in touch by letter.

The 'group photo' shows Harry (standing on the left) with a group of the first students on the Course. The gentleman standing on the right is Jan Bloomhof who also worked with Harry for a short time. It has been good to look back and to see that for all of us God has been Faithful and True to us.

We have just had word from AENON Trust that funds are on the way to us. We do thank all of you who may have contributed at this time, and truly if YOU have sent something to us through the Trust recently then you are indeed the Hand of God to us. Life for us here is quite stringent, but we also know it is stringent for all of you as the world as a whole is moving through dark and scary days. Bless you for your compassion on our children and upon us who live here with them.

BRING BACK CORPORAL PUNISH-MENT!

In the Kenyan Daily Nation today it is reported that 'Students were charged with Torching a Hostel' - ' Four students were yesterday arraigned before a Court and charged with setting fire to a dormitory and destroying property worth Ksh.3 million. The Form 3 students from Lwak Girls High School in Rarieda.'

It is also reported that 91% of all parents in Kenya want corporal punishment restored. Also 47% of all students AGREE, saying that teachers cannot be respected when it is known they cannot mete out punishment and correction of a serious nature. Students feel this is unfair to the teacher and damaging to the general success of the student who needs to be kept in check and also respectful to his or her mentor. It is unlikely that the Government will do much about it due to the fact that they take their orders from the United Nations and not from their own citizens. These days it looks often as if democracy means that the people cannot have much say in government - even a democratic government because even governments are being dictated to. What will become of the world - we have already this year seen a taste of it. We can expect Anarchy to be a soon to be reality. Are you still watching out for His Coming? He is hopefully not too far away from actually arriving.

Love you all in Jesus

John and Jesus

AND AT LAST THE CHICKS HAVE ARRIVED! 204 ALTOGETHER - 100 Layers and 104 Broilers.

They are all snug and growing daily in a special Brooder where they will probably stay for some TWO weeks before being transferred into the main Poultry House. So now all is set up for the FIRST Round.

The NEXT BIG EVENT should be the birth of our expected calves!! Maybe even in the coming week. SO everything is now moving along well and truly, and what was only and 'idea' ten weeks ago has become a working reality.

However, we still have room to EXPAND the whole project, so if the next six months is a success then we may double the input!! Daryl is already planting a small ORCHARD now with Apple. Orange, Paw-paw, and Avocado trees.

=====================

Last week I shared that our School had re-opened for the 3rd Term. BUT for the last week all the Government Schools have been unable to function due to all their Teachers being on strike.

In Kenya the 3rd Term of any year is always the most important, since in October/November the National Final Examinations for both Primary and Secondary are attempted. Students now shut out of class are obviously going to seriously suffer from deprivation. Basically Teachers are complaining about poor conditions - some are forced to take Classes of more than 80 children - and also, of course, inadequate salaries. So far no end in sight. BUT it does seem even more unfair to use the future of children, dependant upon their expertise, as a 'lever' to get what they want, however legitimate it might be. These days it seems that 'the end justifies the means' in any situation!

WE, of course, are NOT on strike since we are a Private Christian School which generally has been successful in providing good working conditions.

THE NUMBERS of children now on Eldoret Streets are increasing. Since Esther and I returned from UK we have noted a worsening situation on our Streets. Children of ALL ages and sexes seem to be coming in every day. Also the majority seem to be in poorer circumstances and also already clutching 'sniffing' bottles of glue. There seems no official reason or comment on this from the Local Authorities. This is quite worrying - mainly since it seems the Children's Department in our area has become inactive. Early in the year I would have known a little more through the Uasin Gishu Children's Services Forum, but this body has somehow become less well informed and also less involved in current trends. Also I have in fact resigned as its General Secretary due to the fact that generally the Body has become more moribund with a more academic approach to children's social services, and also a concern amongst its members on how to raise funds. However, I remain connected to the State Probation Service, and also to the Juvenile Court. In the next weeks I hope to poke my private nose into some of these matters and find out exactly what is happening.

In my opinion we still need our local Children's Service contributors to come together in order to monitor what is going on in our immediate area and locality, and to become a VOICE that will be able to bring attention to bare wherever it is necessary on behalf of Children. We still have more than 2.8 million homeless children in this Country.

Generally in Testimony Faith Home, we are all well. Even with increasing bad weather, which has now extended beyond the normal seasonable limit, we have experienced less illness than usual. Rain is still visiting us daily, and the days are almost continuously cloudy, with temperatures of 18C on an average - not too cold by UK standards, but VERY cold for us in Eldoret and Nairobi where we live about 6.500 ft above sea level, and perhaps the thinner air makes us all feel chillier! Hoping warmer weather is on the way by the end of this month.

The general material fabric of the Homes (two of our Homes are between 60 and 100 years old) and the School (some of the buildings first built in 1986) still looks fair from the outside, but they ARE ageing and needing repair and renovation in many places. Things like bedding - again especially in the two first implemented Homes - long overdue in provision of replacement of components. But we are still functional and able to continue onwards. We remain a secure, homely environment with added ability to offer above average educational facilities.

MORE THAN THIS we are seeing a move of the Spirit of God amongst the children both at home and at school. Since our new Chaplain, Wykliffe Ondanga, arrived last year we see Decisions for Christ almost every Sunday. This has been the most significant and wonderful factor to note - and even at such times; times of material want and challenge. Truly God has been and IS good to us. And in saying this I must also recognise that all of His Goodness and Care was expressed to us through your own fellowship and support. A verse of Scripture I have often quoted in past years remains very close to our hearts because of its truth and relativity, daily, to our ongoing lives together. It does not describe our permanent situation, but it certainly can be found to apply many times in our ongoing experience. Let be quote it again now from the Amplified Bible Translation -

'For we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about the affliction

and oppressing distress that befell us --- and how we were so utterly and unbearably

weighed down and crushed that we despaired even of life itself.

Indeed, we felt within ourselves

that we had received the very sentence of death,

but that was to keep us from trusting in and depending on ourselves instead of on God

Who raises the dead.

For it is He Who rescued and saved us from such a perilous death,

and He will still rescue and save us:

in and on Him we have set our hope( our joyful and confident expectation

that He will again deliver us from danger and destruction and draw us to Himself.

While you also cooperate by your prayers for us (helping and labouring together with us).

Thus (the lips of) many persons

(turned toward God will eventually)

give thanks on our behalf for the grace

(the blessing of deliverance)

granted us at the request of the many who have prayed.

2. Corinthians 1v8-11

And this brings to a close this week's update. We pray and trust that you are yourselves all well and blessed. Receive of our love always in Jesus our Saviour.

John and Esther

HE GIVETH THE INCREASE!!

HARVEST TIME!! 40 days after planting we have begun plucking Spinach and Sukuma-wiki

from the Testimony Plot. As we see in this photo a SACK has quickly been filled. This will now continue on progressively. We have been very thrilled and encouraged to see how well things have grown. We have not had a lot of sunshine in the month but a lot of rain, and it seems the

ground is fertile and healthy. NOW we know that we are on the right track. Beyond the sack to the fence (top right)are growing a second crop of vegetables, to be followed by a third, so that we should be able to keep a constant supply of fresh vegetables the year round. Wonderful.

The drip-feed piping has not been laid down yet but will be there very soon. Right now it has not been so 'urgent' to put in place due to the prolonged rains. We look and see the crops coming to fruition with Great Thanksgiving to God. It is a daily delight to the eyes to see how well things are coming on.

The Chicken-House has also now been finished and painte and is 50% inhabited with chickens. Next week we shall be taking another brood of chicks which will eventually join the layers. So far everything has gone well with the poultry, and we are looking forward to that first EGG as much as we did to the first Sukuma-wiki. Wonderful. I am a frequent visitor to the chickens and have long conversations with them - kind of encouragement to them. They certainly make a lot more cluckings when they see

me than when left to themselves - mightbe due to thinking I am bringing more to eat. Animal Greed! As you see from

the latest photo today we have named the chicken house TYNDALE POULTRY PROJECT

to remind us that it was Tyndale Christian School that helped us initiate and set up the whole thing. We owe you guys and dolls so much in Jesus. May He Bless and Shine upon you- each one. All around about we have the Garden, or second plot. Nothing much

coming up yet except weeds (they are forever pushing their way up) but we have sown MAIZE, POTATOES and more beans.

We have been talking so much about our agricultural endeavour that you might think we have changed our ministry and that we no longer have children being cared for here?

But indeed the ministry amongst children continues. In the Day School (Nursery to Secondary) we now have a regular 800 boys and girls attending - 138 of them from the four Children's Homes, and the rest from private families in the locality. As a School it has a high academic standard and is well known and sought after. It survives from incoming Fees paid by parents, and this enables us to send OUR children free throughout. This is a very GREAT help to us educationally therefore, but otherwise the School does not financially benefit the Children's Homes.

On the HOME'S side we have currently 138 children aged between 0 and 20+, with ten

resident staff. As you know we have four Homes each run as a family with a Mum and a Dad

each.

They make and partake of their breakfasts in their own individual kitchen but otherwise lunches and suppers are pre

pared centrally and then distributed to the 4 dining-rooms. This works very well and the children think the food is even better than before, when it was all cooked separately in each Home kitchen! LAUNDRY has also been centralised. Basically this consists of the clothing for ages 0 - 12 years. The Children from 12 upwards wash their own clothes. Staff clothing is also washed centrally. This has been a tremendous improvement in keeping track of dirty clothings and the difference can be SEEN in greater brightness and good repair. The change in system has also enabled us to reduce our salary bill considerably.

We still have about TWENTY over 18 year old attending College. TWO of them will be leaving us in the next week or so to start out on life. One is taking a position as a Chef with a high class and busy household, and the other as an Assistant Manager in a Chinese Restaurant. During the year we shall probably lose a further TEN. So we shall expect to admit a group of about 14 new small

kids during they year. Not a very big turnover. The demand for places far exceeds what we are able to offer.

The MIRACLE is that we are able to continue to offer ANY places, or even provide for those already here. School opened this week and many were facing inability to attend due to the fact that they had no shoes to wear. Then the Bank rang up to say that a

Gift of money had arrived right out of the blue and unannounced! So suddenly, out of nowhere, funds just arrived and with them we have been able to purchase shoes for the worst of the poor and need amongst us. JOY all around!! AND Thanksgiving to God, and to the hearts He moved to remember us. Other gifts arriving over the last month also answered prayers just as desperate

and so each day emphasised that for the most part thatwe LIVE by faith and NOT by sight. Our 'Substance' seldom able to be SEEN as a tangible asset, but rather HOPED for, and obtained later on. Praise the Lord indeed. In the photos to the left of the page you can see some of those needy shoes actually being received by the children - these pictures taken by Daryl on Friday of this week.

2,8 million children remain uncared for in Kenya. Many of these children 50 years ago would have been absorbed into the local community as a matter of course as they traditionally observed what was called 'extended family'. This was often as good if not better than the modeern idea of 'adoption'. Many families today would still be willing and

interested to adopt, but feel unable due to the cost of actually legally doing so. Esther and I have adopted FOUR children and young people over the years. It cost us little compared with today's inflated prices. None one of ours cost us more than $100. This included two or

three days in Court, all legal and other fees. TODAY it can cost as much as $20,000. The actual and REAL cost is still no more than a hundred dollars. This is no less than making merchandise out of the plight of the innocent and defenceless child, and may only be identified with a greedy godlessness. Governments should be making it easy for willing families to take in homeless children. I think some charge for an official adoption is good and right. Better in fact that giving money to people as an inducement to help a child It is a topic that needs co

nsideration. But the current trends are unforgivable. I may well endeavour to stir up some discussion on the issue as a whole.

WELL, it is almost lunch-time. I am typing in Green Cottage sitting room almost in the dark apart from one table lamp just near me. Outside the day is overcast, gloomy even. No sign of blue sky or sun. It is 65f and to me it feels definitely cold and chill. BUT by now, into September, the SUN should be shining and the rains stopped. Summer should have dawned.

Visitors expected next week - all hoping for this tropical climate to warm and delight them -

right now it looks like gum boots and brollies, with a heavy coat. Hope its better where you are. God Bless and be with you in a BIG way. We love you and thank you truly for just being there, our friend and family.

Affectionately,

John and Esther