HERE WE ARE ONCE MORE, IN THE MIDST OF EASTER!     We have been trying over the last few years to focus more and more on this time of year.       We still do remember the Lord's Birth at Christmas, but EASTER has become the Time of greatest celebration to us all.    Our plans for Thursday's Supper unfolded well, and each of our Homes were truly blessed as they followed the narration of the Last Supper.      And then on Good Friday all the children and staff came together in the School Hall for a Service of Readings.     There were EIGHT readings from St. Matthew's Gospel.     I was the reader of all of them, but there were also eight others that came and gave a brief insight or commentary on each consecutive Reading.    It went really well, and caught everyones attention.      About 50 of our High School  boarders also attended.     Daryl had also put together a portrayal of the Crucifixion using a number of our children.    This took place about halfway through the service.      Thereafter there was a low key fellowship with tea and hot cross buns.  And at 7pm in the evening we showed the film 'THE PASSION' on a big screen - again in the School Hall with everyone attending and even some locals.
TODAY IS SATURDAY of course, and all is quiet.     Nothing happening.     We wait for tomorrow and the promise of His Resurrection.      We shall have a Service at 10.a.m. and we hope this will be the beginning of joyful activities arranged for the day.     MONDAY has been set as a 'Family Day' and although it has begun to rain we are hoping that we can use the day to emphasise being a family.    Many of our College youngsters have returned home to spend Easter with us, and it is really good to have them with us, and to hear the many stories they have to tell about being away from home, and dealing with life away from here.

ABOVE is an old photo of the FIRST group of kids - a very mixed bunch indeed and of all ages - that constituted the first Testimony House Family, taken way back in 1970,  42 years ago.  We were often short of clothing in those days - as we sometimes still are - and living in rented    property; the house at that time was rented from the then Archbishop of Kenya, Festo Olang.  Many of these kids were in their teenage, and had been into drugs and glue and a whole host of other bad habits.     Some were run-a-ways, orphans, and street kids.    They were unruly and hard to understand at times.      I was still unmarried, and looking back I believe it could only have been Jesus that gave me the strength and vision to want to go on caring for them all.    This picture was taken around Easter Time 1970.      All of those in the photo have become swallowed up in the Kenya community.     A few did not do well, and we lost touch with them, but many others - against all probability - took off to successful lives and futures.     We remain in touch with a good many of them still.       BUT I must say it was a real challenge, and the fact that we are still existing as a Children's Ministry in 2012 is nothing short of a Miracle.       God remains faithful.

TWELVE YEARS LATER, we had moved into our own house and the general scene and image had changed considerably.      We still had older boys, but also a good many younger ones.  Not many girls by then.     Our population still not much more than 35.      But now we have more than a 130 resident.     Hardly any of them still living with us from the photo above.    All are new and  live goes on.    The young boy on the front row, and the last to be wearing a yellow tea-shirt, is Daryl Green who is now the current Director and Chief Executive of Testimony Faith Homes.   Amazing!         Always wonderful to look BACK, and to realise how a LIVING CHRIST has kept us going, and progressing.

As we look at our present BIG FAMILY of children and carers we cannot but REJOICE at this living proof and testimony to the reality of the Resurrection, and the constant Presence and Fellowship of a Risen Saviour - even JESUS!        In the Supermarket this morning I was greeted by a young lady I did not recognise.    She said 'Oh!  Its Mr. Green isn't it?    I was in Testimony School in 2004.  I will never forget the time spent, and you are still here doing do such good work'
BUT my immediate thought was NO!    This has never been ME doing such a good work - it has had to be, and always has been JESUS doing a good work - in and through me, maybe - but NEVER me on my own.      It has been, and will always be wonder to me.     And it all began by reading a book, and finding myself on a plane to Kenya in 1968 - my only capital an English six-penny piece, my only Promise and Hope pinned to One I could not see, but Who I knew held my hand.       Thank you Jesus.    

BE BLESSED dear friends and family members this Easter Time.     Cast ALL your care upon HIM, and see what He will do in and through you as the days unfold before you.

With our love and prayers

John and Esther