BLOG 8 - 21st JULY 2008

Dear surfing bloggers!

Welcome to the new, updated Blog. Thanks for your patient wait – 8 weeks since the last Blog! I've just read through my previous one and realised just how significant diary/blog writing can be. It also reveals my weak English comprehension!

I am sat in a 'rocker' looking through a large bay window out to the hills surrounding Kendal. Yes, Kendal, Cumbria. The sharpness of colour is outstanding on the blue sky and clouds, to the green verdant hills. It is 5.30am. It has been light for over an hour! It won't be light in Kisumu, Kenya until 6.45am – nearly every day of the year, because we are on the Equator. I'm currently wearing my sister-in-law's fleecy white 'hoody' to keep me warm.

I'm contently resting before the rest of the family arise from their slumbers. One day I would love to live up here. It's outstandingly beautiful. What an amazing heavenly Father we have. When we consider the work of His hands! To try to think that what we all naturally see came into being through a spoken 'word' by the most amazing friend and lover. Unbelievable, yet true! Yes it does take a step of faith to believe. Take this step if you do not yet believe. Take the risk, rather than regret not having done so when you get to the end of your life. Too many people get to the end of their life regretting. No regrets with Him as your personal friend and saviour – ever. One day we all will have to give an account of our lives before Him. Read John's gospel in the Bible, especially chapter 3 to help you hear personally from Him.

The past 8 weeks have been eventful! We have come through a very challenging time. Regardless, we have persevered and overcome. Some things happen to us that we do not want to happen, or understand why? However, in facing the challenges we realise that the challenges are opportunities to really trust God and know who our true friends are. Many of you have upheld us in prayer. Thank you. We are now able to look back – as we believed we would – feeling stronger and more resilient, assured of our 'call' to serve those in greater need.

Paula has suffered from malaria, bronchitis and 'a typical' pneumonia! And having to cope with my cooking for a change! I won't go into all the details, suffice it to say we entered into uncharted and foreign territory 'health-wise'. We have rarely had a day off work in our lives – so for Paula to be home -bound for 4-5 weeks has been especially difficult for her. She did not waste the time whilst recuperating; reading many books, praying, diary writing, and being thoughtful. She did not find the time easy, struggling to rest. Some days she felt well enough to bake, sew, and other household chores. However, within minutes her body would tell her, rest, and she learnt to be obedient. The consequences of not obeying meant a prolonged bed rest. Tunnels are meant to be passed through, even the darkest ones. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, even if there is a bend preventing the light from initially being seen, and she is now safely through.

Throughout these past 8 weeks I have tried to continue serving To Kenya With Love with integrity and passion. The sponsored (and non-sponsored) children at Simon Newberry school are developing well. We had a child nearly die from cholera, but miraculously he is now completely healed. A school trip for Class 1 was spent at a nearby animal park; 'Impala Park'. For all, this was their first experience of real wild animals; lion, leopard, baboons, hyena, ostrich, dick-dick, impala, vervet monkeys (loose) being the main attractions. It was the latter that left quite an impact on the 29, 7 & 8 year olds. Whilst sat on the grass besides Lake Victoria having our picnic, a pack of 'ververts' surrounded us and one cheeky male shot through our group stealing a banana which, at a distance, he began to masterfully peel and devour! The children were absolutely delighted – tempted to entice the rest of the pack to do the same! The day was an outstanding success. Much was learnt and enjoyed by all.

Our tenants/guests have as of today all moved out. Zoe Stares moved out during Paula's illness to house-sit nearby for an English couple home on leave. It looks likely she will be moving permanently to Tanzania, working with an American family, helping start an orphanage. Graham Bond, from Australia, came and went within 10 days – he was a breath of fresh air and so caring – we missed him when he left to be with his girlfriend in Rome! Then we were informed yesterday that Chris Wheat has found a home to rent not far from us in Milimani, Kisumu. He came to stay with us for just a few days, he said: 4 months later ... He's great and our time together, both when we first arrived and since has been invaluable in understanding his ways and developing clear lines of communication about the charity we serve.

Our planned 3 week return to England changed into a 4 week one just a week ago when we decided to come home early. We both needed more time to rest and decided to return. Family in Kendal kindly offered us accommodation, superseded by other family members generously making it possible for us to hire a car and stay for a few days in a hotel in Grasmere, Cumbria. We gladly accepted their gift and today we will be recouping in my favourite place in England. This is Wordsworth country, (an ode to the daffodils).

I do hope and pray I will never have an air flight as 'horrific' (Chris Wheat's words, not mine) as the one we have just experienced on our return home! We were a couple of hours into the middle leg of our 28 hour journey, travelling from Nairobi to Dubai, when I fell ill with food poisoning! It was 2am in the morning, 3 hours away from our destination. I was violently sick, filling 3 sick bags. Unfortunately I didn't get it all into the 4^th bag! And I had no change of trousers for 20 hours!! I was out of it, nauseous, dizzy, weak and alone. Paula had taken a sleeping tablet and was totally oblivious to her husband's state of health! These tablets had been kindly given to her by a friend in Kisumu, concerned about her state of recovery from 3 very serious illnesses, needing proper rest on the 3 flights home. Needless to say she was eventually aroused from her slumber when we were due to land and informed about the state of her husband!

The cabin crew were brilliant. Well done Emirates! They had phoned through to the Dubai airport authorities and a mass of medical staff dealt efficiently with me and 2 other poorly patients on arrival. I was wheeled off the plane and with Paula by my side and given priority treatment, passing through customs unchecked, and driven in a large 'buggy' along the amazingly long terminal building with flashing lights and blaring horn we arrived at a superb purpose built mini-hospital. Within minutes I had been thoroughly checked and found myself lying on a pristinely clean bed with an i.v. drip attached to my left hand. I slept for an hour, whereupon I had regained proper consciousness and was smartly discharged. We were both tempted to request we stay longer – Paula having also slept on the same bed curled up by my feet! Resisting temptation, we emerged into the hubbub of mass humanity. Dubai airport terminal really is giant-size. Over a mile long, and yes you've guessed it – our next leg of the journey to Gatwick was to leave from Gate 36, a mile away! We decided to find some reclining seats in a 'quiet area'. I'd like to know if there has been any comparison study made to the noise in a 'loud area'! Needless to say we were so desperate for sleep, we treated the noisy 'quiet area' as background material for us to cat-nap! This we did for our 10 hour wait!

On the next leg (our final one) of the journey home, once again I was sick – retching with very little in your stomach is unpleasant to say the least – especially when you know nearby passengers can clearly hear you! Thankfully we were sat next to a toilet block and when needed it was always free!

To be truthful, I really knew God's amazing support and help in the whole experience. I am now completely healed. I wouldn't want to ever repeat it. And Paula? Yes, she was great through it all. She is recovering well, almost back to complete normality.

As I sit here in my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's home, with their 'miracle' son playing around my feet, I am truly grateful to God for His amazing love and provision. The beautiful clouds in the sky are rolling over the Cumbrian hills, reminding me that life constantly moves onward, inspiring us to always look upward. There is never a day or experience in life repeated, because every new day has been created for us by an 'irresistible' God who wants the best for us, and every experience we face draws us ever closer to His lovingkindness.

We shall return to Kisumu mid-August, with Sarah & Geoff (for their 2 week holiday).