YEARS GO BY

Prem and Elizabeth Joseph

MARRIED 12 YEARS, AS OF TODAY, our

daughter Elisabeth, and husband Prem Joseph.

All the family GREEN travelled to Chennai, India for the Wedding. Prem and Liz both live in Rochdale, Lancashire today, and Prem is pastoring there in Champness Hall right in the Town centre. They have two children - John Finney, 10, and sister Rachel, 7.

In fact it is also John Finney's 10th Birthday TODAY as well, an event he also shares with his cousin Becky, Daryl and Carol's daughter. Becky is ELEVEN today. SO today is a rather special day. The Rochdale Greens are currently visiting Germany right now, and the Eldoret Greens will be having a small meal together to celebrate Becky's Birthday this evening.   Separated as we all (the Greens) are by distance, these are times when we tend to miss each other most of all.
AND of course when there is some special family fixture to

remember,  we especially find ourselves looking at photos and recalling memories and so on.   When we have a day like today with a Wedding Anniversary AND two Birthdays all in the family it tends to fill the day with Family - almost as if they are ALL here together with us,   INCLUDING other members of the family such as Steven, and Anjie with their son and daughter, Tonia and Eric, together with Michael and his wife Janet - all in the UK.      AND also my sister Patricia, and her son and daughter, and a whole new and until very recently 'unknown' side of my own family in Scotland and New Zealand.
I must say that we are proud of our children, and our Grandchildren.     We are proud of them because they are together in love with each other and are able to have their own home and family without strife and without the fears and insecurities that many families have to suffer.  
My own early home and family was filled with violence, worry, and upheaval because of alcohol and unfaithfulness.     I determined that if ever I should marry I would never endanger the lives and happiness of my children by letting anything come between us.     And God has been so very gracious in giving me a happy marriage, and children that have grown up quietly and with a faith and integrity that has kept them from the many pitfalls that have strewn their paths in life.     Yes, God IS Good, and He has heard and answered our prayers.    AND this is not to say that we have in fact all been saints instead of sinners!     We certainly have many times erred and missed the way ourselves, but the Goodness of God persuaded us always to turn to HIM, and in doing so to find help and restoration.
King David in Psalm 116v1-2 -

'I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my prayer;

Because He has bent his ear toward me!

Therefore I will call upon Him, as long as I live'

I had prayed that I might find a good wife and mother, and that I would be a good husband and father.

I prayed that together we would make a 'home' that would be always full of happiness, love and security.    And although marriage is indeed a 'partnership' I did not pray for a partner, but for a WIFE for life; a true and competent mother for our children.      And my prayers are answered still each day.

And I believe there are countless others that have and are having this appreciation and experience of Marriage; Marriage as God means it to be.     Even though all around us is to be seen 'change' and devaluation in such standards and practises; even though we have un-guaranteed, and uncertain 'partnerships', 'same sex' marriage partnerships, and wilfully 'single parent' families.  And even though it is clear that world society is changing in such a way that humanity itself may soon become unrecognisable - even de-humanised in the long run - YET God STILL proclaims TRUTH in real Marriage and Family Life.     THUS, the Writer of Hebrews in chapter 13v4 says (in the Amplified Bible Translation) -' Let Marriage be held in honour (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things........'

And if our sons and daughters manage to attain such sustained determination to share in the creation of a similar home and family, then to be sure, we must pray and therefore hope, that our grandchildren also will continue in the same way, and thus to some degree provide a continuing Light and Witness to the True Pattern of God for the entire watching universe.

*********************************************** 

MIKE AND DANI POTTER and all the Team from Tyndale School are now back in Australia - no doubt still recovering from their labour of love AND the long flight home again.   I received from one of them an up to date snap of me taken with our son James 'Manu', now 28 and working with a Special Project attached to the Referral Hospital here in Eldoret.    We see him often.      He is an IT Wizard, but not as wise in other ways.     I love him dearly.  Pray for him much.

Everywhere has become strangely quiet once more, as the days have continued with intermittent sun and rain.   There is still almost a month till the End of Term, and NEXT Saturday will be the 43rd Founders Day for Testimony Faith Homes, and also the 31st Parents and Prize Giving Day for the the School.  We share the Day together, and preparation for it usually begins during January or February.     At 10.a.m. the Invited Guest of Honour arrives to tour the School, viewing the special Class & Laboratory Exhibitions, and also being shown at least ONE of the four Children's Homes.    ALL the School parents are invited and usually follow the Guest of Honour round.     At 1p.m. EVERYONE has lunch together.   Then at 2p.m. everyone squeezes into the School Hall for the Annual Concert (put on by the students and Homes children) and later the School Prize Giving.    A short (15 min.) address from the Guest of Honour, and then everyone goes home by about 4.30p.m.    Quite a long day, but usually very well attended and enjoyed.

HOWEVER since all this will happen on Saturday, and we shall all be caught up in it all day, you will I am sure forgive me, on this one occasion, if I do not update the BLOG as usual.     But the following Saturday - 4th AUGUST, I will be back again, and maybe also with some photos of the event.   Please pray for us in between, and remember us.      

Some funds arrived for us a few days back via AENON, and a Note of Thanks will be in the post for those that contributed.   God Bless, Keep and Enliven each one of  you in the days ahead.   With our much affection and love in Jesus, Lord and King

John and Esther