Some important questions you need to ask.

Christian House Sitters has a ‘sister’ ministry called TLC Childrens Trust who run a home for vulnerable children in rural Kenya. The home is called Home of Peace Children’s Home.
Christian House Sitters helps Christians around the world enjoy rent free vacations and helps Christian home owners find someone to look after their home and pets, free of charge while they are away.

Many of our the Christian House Sitters members also choose to support this work. There is no requirement to do that but all income from Christian House Sitters goes to Home of Peace through TLC Children Trust

Because of this close relationship I wanted to answer a few important questions

There are a lot of people asking for your support and we believe it is important that everyone checks before giving because sadly given to some so called good causes is actually money wasted. Here are some basic questions about our charity to help you make a more informed decision.


How can I check that TLC Childrens Trust is genuine?
Visit the UK Charity Commissioner website and search for Charity 1156786. We are a UK Government Registered Charity.

How do you make sure the money used is not stolen or wasted?
Marilyn White, the chair of T.L.C. Children’s Trust, is on the Home of Peace management team and in daily contact. We make all their financial decisions. Ray White, as a Trustee and the Treasure, demands receipts for everything and photos of large items purchased. He also gets copies of their financial statements every month and checks it agrees with our records.

What percentage of money received is held by TLC Children’s Trust for overheads?
NIL! The trustees cover overheads and 100% of income goes to Home of Peace.

Who visits and checks on Home of Peace?
The home is registered with the Kenyan Government and is inspected by the Department of Children’s Services, the Department of Health and various other government departments.

When missionaries are visiting Kenya we also ask them to visit.

On our website you can read the views of 2 UK Pastors who spent 10 days at Home of Peace

We would love to visit more often but can’t justify the cost when that money is needed to feed the children.

How do you know these children really need to be in the home?
They are referred to us by the Dept. of Children’s Services and then committed to the home by the court after a magistrate has carefully examined each case. Their committal to Home of Peace is under continuous review by both the court and the Dept of Children’s Services.

Some charities have large amounts of money invested. Do you?
No. We actually struggle to meet the monthly running costs. For example a few times Marilyn and Ray have personally had to lend the charity some money that they had set aside for their own rent and other accounts. They did this knowing that there were donations due a few days later which would enable them to pay their rent, etc.

So if you don’t have a large reserve how do you cope with emergencies?

Through prayer and letting people who have expressed an interest know the situation.

Are we a School?
NO. We are NOT a school we are a Children’s Home. Our younger children attend the Primary School. Our older students attend a local Secondary School. We are responsible for covering all the costs associated with their education but we recognise without an education they have no future.

How can I support the work?
Through prayer. Ask for our quarterly newsletter
Through gifts. Every gift is a blessing
Through regular monthly giving. There is no restriction on how much you need to give. We appreciate everyone.
If you are a UK Tax payer please Gift Aid your gift as the government will then increase it by 25%

How do I give?
This can be done through many different ways. Have a look at www.TLC-Childrenstrust.org/support

I still have questions. Please feel free to ask us any questions.

God bless you,

Ray

🌟 Discover Your Dream Vacation with Christian House Sitters! 🌟

(Note any adverts in this blog were placed by Word Press. We have not seen them and they should not be taken as recommendations from us)

Are you yearning for the perfect getaway without breaking the bank? Look no further! Christian House Sitters offers you the opportunity to explore incredible destinations around the world without the burden of hefty accommodation expenses.

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As a registered House Sitter, you can enjoy rent-free vacations in exchange for looking after the homes and cherished pets of generous homeowners. Worried about leaving your own home and pets behind? Rest easy – we connect you with trustworthy Christian House Sitters to care for your home and furry friends, all at no cost to you.

🌍 Why Choose Christian House Sitters? 🌍

We’re not just a business; we’re a ministry dedicated to supporting the work and people of God. Our mission is simple: to provide rent-free vacations for Christians and reliable House Sitters for homeowners seeking trusted caretakers for their homes, pets, and gardens. Homeowners pay nothing to list their properties, and House Sitters are only charged £25 per year – a small fee for the opportunity to enjoy numerous rent-free vacations.

💖 Making a Difference 💖

What sets us apart? 100% of our income goes towards supporting vulnerable children at the Home of Peace Christian Children’s Home in rural Kenya. So, by joining Christian House Sitters, you’re not only enhancing your life but also contributing to a noble cause.

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We all need a break to rejuvenate our spirits and improve our overall well-being. Christian House Sitters can make your dream vacation a reality by offering cost-effective, rent-free accommodation options. And for homeowners, we offer peace of mind, ensuring your home is cared for and your pets receive the love they deserve.

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Leaving your house empty can be risky, but with Christian House Sitters, you can travel worry-free. It won’t cost you a dime, and we’ll match you with a reliable House Sitter. Now is the perfect time to list your house or sign up as a sitter to secure your ideal vacation spot.

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Click here for more information

God bless you,

Ray

Almost an indoor pool.

Looking back i was reminded that something happened  that made me think back to when we lived in South Africa over 40 years ago. We had a lovely house with a swimming pool. Coming home from work on a hot day and diving into the pool was a real treat.

After we moved to England we no longer had a pool. To be honest we also no longer had as many really hot days either.

The thing that reminded me was one morning when I woke up and discovered that we now had an indoor swimming pool.

I went through to the utility room where we have our washing machine, boiler, etc. and as I opened the door my feet were flooded.

Flooded Utility Room

The entire room was under at least 2 inches of water.

OK not a swimming pool but enough to make me remember our old pool.

I am not a great handyman but I knew what needed to be done.

Turn off main water supply.

Clear water from the floor.

Turn water back on and identify the leak.

Turn water off again and go and buy a replacement connector for where the water supply connects to the inlet hose on the washing machine.

Fit it and pray!

Leaking PipesIt worked! Took me about 3 or 4 hours but in the end it worked!

No lasting damage done. Thank you God.

Then I got to thinking what if this had happened while we were away from home of a week or longer?

We would have returned to find the entire house flooded, all the carpets needing to be replaced, no doubt some electrical equipment damaged, walls needing to be re-painted and so on.

In other words it would have cost thousands and been a major inconvenience even if the insurance agreed to cover some of the cost.

That is one of the reasons why we never leave our home unoccupied when we are away.

What about you?

Could your home be flooded, broken into or suffer some other catastrophe while you are away?

By using Christian House Sitters FREE service this need never happen because we can normally arrange for someone suitable, reliable and with references to look after your house and pets free of charge.

This service is available worldwide!

For more information have a look at our website

http://www.Christian-housesitters.com

God bless you,

Ray

We are part of the registered charity

TLC Children’s Trust

UK Charity number 1156786

http://www.tlc-childrenstrust.org

WordPress are adding adverts to blogs. They are not always shown but if there are adverts on this page please note they were not placed by me, not approved by me and do not imply my recommendation

How does it work?

Christian House Sitters is an online service that connects Christian homeowners with Christian house sitters. House sitters are people who are willing to live in a homeowner’s house and take care of it while they are away. This can include tasks such as watering plants, feeding pets, and taking out the trash.

Christian House Sitters is a great way for Christian homeowners to find reliable and trustworthy people to care for their homes and pets while they are away. It is also a great way for Christian house sitters to enjoy rent-free vacations in beautiful homes around the world.

If you are a Christian homeowner or a Christian house sitter, we encourage you to check out Christian House Sitters. It is a great way to connect with other Christians and to enjoy the benefits of house sitting.

Here are some of the benefits of using Christian House Sitters:

  • Reliable and trustworthy house sitters. Christian House Sitters only accepts house sitters who are members of a recognised Christian Church and willing to supply you with two references, including one from a leader in their church. This means that you can be sure that the person who is taking care of your home is someone who is reliable and trustworthy.
  • Rent-free vacations. Christian House Sitters offers a platform for Christians to enjoy rent-free vacations all over the world. This means that you can save money on your next vacation and still enjoy a beautiful home and a comfortable place to stay.
  • Peace of mind. When you use Christian House Sitters, you can rest assured that your home and pets will be well taken care of. Our house sitters are experienced and qualified professionals who will take care of everything while you are away.

If you are interested in learning more about Christian House Sitters, please visit our website https://www.Christian-housesitters.com today. We would be happy to answer any questions you have and to help you find the perfect house sitter for your needs

Benefits of a Vacation

There has been a lot of publicity recently about ChatGTP the programme that will do research and write a report for you.

I decided to test it and asked it for a list of the Benefits of a Vacation. I also asked it to create a suitable image.

Here are the unedited results:

As an AI language model, I am not capable of experiencing benefits, but here are some researched benefits of vacations:

1. Reduced Stress: Taking a break from work and routine stress is one of the significant benefits of vacations. Research shows that vacationing reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone), lowers blood pressure and lowers heart rate, resulting in a calmer and more composed mind and body.

2. Improved Physical Health: Extended periods of work without breaks lead to burnout, fatigue and exhaustion, which ultimately affect physical health. Vacationing, on the other hand, improves physical health by promoting physical activity, a better sleep schedule, and adopting a healthier diet.

3. Enhanced Productivity and Creativity: Working on complex tasks for extended periods lowers productivity, motivation and creativity levels. Time off from work rejuvenates the brain and provides it with fresh ideas that can help in better problem-solving and decision-making skills.

4. Strengthened Relationships: Vacations strengthen relationships with loved ones by providing ample time for bonding, shared experiences, and quality time together. For families, vacations can create lifetime memories and develop stronger family bonds.

5. Improved Mental Health: Vacations provide a break from routine and stressful environments and allow an individual to relax and unwind, leading to improved mental health. Research suggests that people who take vacations report a decrease in anxiety, depression, and an overall improvement in their mood.

6. Increased Job Satisfaction: Taking vacations regularly leads to increased job satisfaction, motivation and employee retention rates. It also improves teamwork and collaboration by allowing the employees to return to the workplace with renewed energy and greater enthusiasm.

In conclusion, taking vacations is essential for overall health and well-being. It allows an individual to recharge, refresh, and rejuvenate their mind, body and soul, ultimately leading to increased productivity, improved relationships, and better mental health.

Well done to ChatGTP. I agree and if you are interested in a rent free vacation or in having someone to look after your house and pets free of charge while you are away please visit our website http://www.Christian-housesitters.com

God bless you,

Ray

How to keep your home safe while you are away

Photo of masked intruder during robbery in villa

This is a revision of a post I put up 6 years ago.

I am repeating it as it has some very good advice that could save you a lot of problems and save you money.

The original post was prompted by an article I read published by the Good Housekeeping Institute.

Below is an extract.

It contains some fairly good advice but as I point out it is not really the answer. Don’t worry I do share a better solution (and one that will not cost you anything) so keep reading.

Here is the extract

5 ways to burglar-proof your home
https://goo.gl/oEaowg

Over 70% of thieves search social media to find empty homes.
Beat the burglars by following these top tips to a more secure home:

1. Don’t share the fact your house is empty
It may be tempting to share your ‘hurrah, I’m going on holiday’ feeling with your friends but, according to mediabistro.com, 78% of thieves use social media to find empty houses. It’s best to avoid posting about your break on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And make sure selfie-obsessed teenagers do the same!

2. Make your house look lived in
If you get milk or newspapers delivered, make sure you cancel them during your holiday so there isn’t a build up. If you have a window by your letterbox, it’s a good idea to make sure it’s covered so any prying eyes can’t see the build-up of letters by your front door. Things like this make it obvious to criminals that no one is home. If you have timers for your lights, use these to make it look as if someone is coming and going.

3. Recruit a neighbour or family member
If you have family or neighbours who can come over every day, they can make it look as if someone is in. If they can move your post, or park a car in the driveway, it will help put off a burglar who may be monitoring your home.

4. Lock all your windows and doors
A quarter of break-ins are through windows, so make sure they’re firmly locked, even those on upper floors. If no one is around, consider installing movement-activated floodlights or sensor lights at the front or back of your home.

5. Keep valuables in a safe place
Over half of people don’t leave their valuables in a secure place, according to a study by confused.com. In fact, 13% leave items in a sock drawer – a popular target for burglars. It’s worth investing in a safe or finding a clever spot to stash precious jewellery and gadgets. For insurance purposes, doors should have a five-lever mortise deadlock to comply with BS3621 and window locks BS7950.

All excellent advice…. BUT sadly it is not that easy.

I wish it was that easy

Burglars also read those tips. They know the tricks we are advised to use and so are often not fooled.

The fact is that your house is still being left empty and while these ‘tricks & tips’ may help to hide that they are no substitute for having the house actually occupied with someone living there.

This is where we can help. And it is FREE.

We can help you find a suitable person or family to live in your home while you are away. they will even look after your pets. No pretending the house is occupied. It will be occupied by someone trustworthy with good references and it will not cost you anything.

The other side of the coin is that if you would like a rent-free vacation we have houses owners all over the world who let us know when they are going to be away and we can put you in contact with them.

Have a look at our website for more information. CLICK HERE

God bless you,

Ray

We are part of the registered charity

TLC Children’s Trust

UK Charity number 1156786

www.tlc-childrenstrust.org

WordPressise adding adverts to blogs. They are not always shown but if there are adverts on this page please note they were not placed by me, not approved by me and do not imply my recommendation

 

The more things change the more they stay the same

In 1849, French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose “ – the more things change, the more they stay the same.

In 2010 Bon Jovi sang:

The more things change the more they stay the same
Ah, is it just me or does anybody see
The new improved tomorrow isn’t what it used to be
Yesterday keeps comin’ ’round, it’s just reality

Things are changing!

As an example, today the UK welcomed in our 3rd Prime Minister this year. Politically we have seen constant change all over the world

But even in these changing and often difficult times some things remain the same. As humans we still get tired, stressed and ill.

As most of you will know our charity www.TLC-Childrenstrust.org  runs a Kenyan Government Registered Children’s Home and food costs alone have increased by well over £1,000 per month during this year so we do understand financial pressure

We still long for some time away from the treadmill of daily life.

But for most of us, we feel it is asking too much, as money simply does not go as far as it did

We would like to remind you that WE CAN HELP YOU

If you are planning a getaway and don’t want to leave your home unoccupied and vulnerable to being broken into or damaged.

If you don’t want to leave your pets in kennels or a cattery because it is expensive and also hard on the pets.

We can help you! Our ministry is worldwide so take advantage wherever you live and because it is free there is nothing to lose!

Register as a Home Owner with Christian House Sitters (Yes, it is free) and we  will try to find you the ideal Christian to look after your home and your pets while you are away. Their service will not cost you anything.

Hopefully this means you can get a break from the pressures of life, spend time relaxing and rebuilding relationships and come home refreshed.

How do you arrange to benefit from this FREE service.

Easy. CLICK HERE and Register as a home owner.

Remember do not leave it to the last minute. Register asap so potential sitters have time to make the necessary arrangements.

Do not delay. At the moment we are a little short of houses so you can expect a good response and you will be able to choose the sitters you like best.

God bless you,

Ray

Vacation Chaos. We can we help you?

The past couple of years have been difficult because of the Covid travel restrictions.

They are now almost all lifted BUT have been replaced with new problems such as the chaos at airports, the cancellation of flights, the rail strike, the massive increase in fuel costs (not to even mention living costs)

The pictures above are showing the situation in the UK but sadly the same is true in so many countries at the moment.

As a result many people who desperately need a break simply can’t afford to get away at the moment.

WE CAN HELP. If you are a Christian and attached to a recognised Christian church.

We can arrange for a reliable person or family to look after your home and your pets FREE of charge while you are away. Saving on the cost of putting your loved pets in an expensive facility and leaving your home empty and open to burglary.

We can arrange FREE accommodation around the world for you looking after someone’s home while they are away. No hotel expenses, no confined to a small room, all the benefits of living in a lovely house and costing you nothing.

May we suggest that you look at our website CLICK HERE and then prayerfully consider registering with us.

Registering for someone to look after your home and pets is FREE

Registering to be offered available houses around the world costs just £25 a year and even that money does not go to us it goes to support a Christian Children’s Home in Kenya. Details can be found if you CLICK HERE

Do not delay. At the moment we are a little short of houses so you can expect a good response and you will be able to choose the sitters you like best. CLICK HERE

God bless you

Ray

Light at the end of the tunnel

The last couple of years it has been difficult for people to benefit fully from CHRISTIAN HOUSE SITTERS because of all the Covid restrictions around the world.

BUT at long last there is light at the end of the tunnel as everything seems to be starting to return to normal

France, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand

If you or anyone you know need to get away please have a look at what we have to offer.

Remember we are NOT a business but a MINISTRY and 100% of our income goes to support vulnerable children

Register FREE as a home owner and we will try to find you a suitable person to look after your home and pets free of charge

Register as a House Sitter for just £25 per year (goes to vulnerable children) and we will keep you informed of all new houses so when you spot anything you would like you can contact the home owner for a rent free vacation.

For further information please visit our website CLICK HERE

For information about the children we support see the charity website CLICK HERE

If you have any questions feel free to contact us using the contact form on either of the above websites.

God bless you

Ray

How does your country rate?

Marilyn and I are exhausted. We are thankful that we will be going on a short vacation at the end of this week.

This led me to thinking about the importance of taking time out.

Having a vacation is really very important for many different reasons.

It benefits your health, protects relationships, improves work productivity, and can even save lives. I will not cover these in detail as I have done that previously but have a look at the following if you need a reminder.

Science behind vacations 

Research that could save your job, family and life

Health benefits of a vacation

Why you need a vacation

CLICK ON PICTURE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

So I looked at how countries around the world care for their workers.

I got my information from  Wikipedia   They list over 2000 countries annual leave details. I made very interesting reading.

Here is a very short extract showing the countries I believe most of our readers will live in or be interested in. For the full list visit the link above to the article.

With only one exception (more about that later) every country listed has a legal requirement to give workers paid leave every year plus paid leave on public holidays (although sometimes this is taken as extra work and an increased pay instead of a day off.

The one exception is not some backward 3rd world country as one may have expected. Even 3rd world countries have a legal requirement to give staff paid leave.

No, the only exception is the United States of America where there is no legal requirement to give staff any time off.

COUNTRYPAID VACATION DAYS PER YEAR 5 day working weekPAID PUBLIC HOLIDAYS TOTAL PAID DAYS LEAVE PER YEAR 5 day working week
Australia201030
Belgium201030
Canada10 to 20 Varies6 to 10 varies16 to 26
France251136
Germany201030
New Zealand201131
Portugal22931
Spain221133
Sweden25934
Switzerland20727
United Kingdom20828
U.S.A000

America No vacation Nation 

Wherever you live and however many of few days you get take them!

Use them!

Benefit from them it could transform your life.

Worried about the cost?

Worried about your pets?

Worried about leaving your home empty and in danger?

We can help!

If you are going away and concerned about leaving your home uninhabited and vulnerable, we can arrange for people to stay, free of charge, in your home while you are away. They will look after your home and your pets.

If you are finding it difficult to afford a vacation, we invite you to join as a sitter and we will keep you up to date with RENT FREE vacations all over the world

For details have a look at our website

REMEMBER. We are a Ministry NOT a business. 100% of all income goes through a UK Registered Charity to support vulnerable children at a Children’s Home we run in Kenya Full Details

God bless you,