TREASURING EVERY REMEMBRANCE

I  have rather liked this picture!   It draws me!  Perhaps it is its simplicity.    One cannot SEE the people's faces, yet somehow you get the impression of their individuality.    Each one so special, so innocently 'wondering' - what IS the one holding the leaf so tenderly thinking about?  And the Palm Leaves ........?
Tomorrow is PALM SUNDAY!    The remembrance of the Day JESUS entered into Jerusalem just four days before He was killed.
Just another likeness to the Sacrificial Lamb - the PASSOVER Lamb of Exodus 12v3-6 which was 'penned up' for four days before it was killed!
Interesting to consider how quickly people can change.     Innocently joyous to welcome him as King; so quick to turn and indecently stab Him in the back!         Such a 'strange' day it must have been for Jesus; laughter, exultation, JOY on all the face around him - NONE then realising that they were leading a sheep to the slaughter.    HE knew.   He was aware.   He knew the Truth.  How truly brave and courageous He IS.

On Thursday we here in Testimony will remember the LAST SUPPER, where Jesus and His Disciples gathered together in the Upper Room to celebrate the Passover together.    Can there be any thing SO poignant?        Each of the four Homes here will eat Roast Lamb.    Each Mum will be in the kitchen, and at supper time, the meal cooked and complete, will be shared around each Family table.     We started doing this three years ago, and it has really caught on as a prelude to Easter Friday.  It has been a Blessing.    So what will be on our table Maundy Thursday?   What will the Menu be?
Well it will be Roast Lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs (from our own garden) and water.
During the meal, as we eat, one and another will speak of the 'meaning' of the lamb, the herbs and the bread.      Then AFTER all is cleared a little bread will be left and some water........
At that point we shall have a Family Time of sharing the bread and cup together - and again the Father of the house will give a simple resume of what is being done and why.     And finally when all is said and done, songs, and hymns are sung, and prayer and sharing.... and then it is time to go out to bed in the bedrooms  - at least for the youngest.       SO think of us - we shall be thinking of you all as you prepare to meet Good Friday once again.     SUCH a momentous day.    
We are hoping to show the PASSION this year.     Yes, it is a little TOO violent and bloody in places, BUT it is a powerful rendition of what too place, and it follows the Bible Text clearly.   We have two or three different films of Easter.     We usually show a different one each year.
God Willing and Enabling we shall hope to wish you all a Blessed EASTER on Easter Saturday.

To night there is 'thunder' in the air - a faint promise of RAIN, and with temperatures in the 80fs and severe water shortage we all long to see, hear and FEEL it.    Yes, it is rumbling all around us as I type this.    Have Mercy upon us O Lord.

Three days ago we received the gift of a three year old cow - our fourth!!!   Quite thrilling.  Milk here is up to Ksh.70/- per litre now - but WE have our own plentiful supply by God's Grace.  AND we still have green veg, and PEAS growing well AND more and more EGGS and CHICKENS so that we are now able to even sell more of what WE do not need.     God is GOOD.

I hope you received our Awareness Leaflet - I know at least some have received it safely.  Please do hand them on.     We are also distributing them in our immediate locality as well.    It is already apparent that it was a good idea since so many have told us they had no idea there was a work of love and care for kids right here under their very eyes.     Amazing, after 41 years!   But the Lord knows, and He knows the times.

I am ending here - a shorty this week - yesterday was our Quarterly Board Meeting which took a good four hours, and today I had to write up the Minutes and send our Audited Accounts up to Nairobi to meet a Government deadline.    Quite demanding and tiring.    But tomorrow is Palm Sunday, and I shall tell the story of the two Greeks who asked Phillip to take them to Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem on the back a donkey.

Love to you all.   Focus on He Who is our LIFE.

John and Esther