30 YEARS AGO IN 1983

(top left to right - Nicholas Mwangi; John Ngugi, Moses Ongonga;  David Koech;  Joseph Kihara; Daniel Kinyanjui; Anthony Wanyama; Mwangi Macharia; Peter Kalulu;)
(2nd row - centre - Sarah Njeri and Catherine Senge;)
(Bottom row left to right -  Jotham Chege; Ezekiel Okoko; Samuel Macho; Christopher Kipkosgei; Peter Wangolo; Anthony Bones; David Senoga; Paul Ngugi; William Lomyrot; Charles Salim; Daryl Peacock, and Samuel Kirui.)


ESTHER AND I WERE BOTH IN THE U.K. WHEN THIS WAS TAKEN.    Nicholas Mwangi (top left) was left in charge during that time, and it was he who got this photo taken.     Not every one was actually in the photo - but it is interesting to look back..........The majority are all doing well in different spheres, though two (Peter Kalulu and Paul Ngugi have died).     Four are in full time Christian Ministry ( Moses Ongonga a senior pastor with A.I.C. and Jotham Chege an Archdeacon with the Anglican Church,
and Christopher Kipkosgei a pastor with a pentecostal church in Eldoret, and his brother Anthony Bones a pastor with Africa Gospel Church in their largest church in Nairobi.    All happily married with their own families.
John Ngugi and David Koech are both Accountants - David in the U.S.A.     Daryl Peacock Green became Director of TFH in 2011 - today is the 17th Anniversary of his marriage to Carol.     Our son  Steve and his wife Anji who married in January of the same year were Best Man and Maid at their Wedding.
Sarah Njeri is a Bank Manager, Catherine now married and Mum to Tyndale Cottage working for TFH.
Joseph Kihara and Peter Wangolo also both work for TFH,     Sam Mwangi is a taxi driver in town.
Anthony Wanyama a business man in town, as is also Nicholas Mwangi.        Daniel Kinyanjui is a hotel waiter in Nairobi.   Charles is an evangelist with Youth with a Mission stationed in Ethiopia and recently married.   William, hoping to set himself up as a Dairyman having worked successfully  in  working up a Dairy in Town.     David Senoga is Director of an Urban Garbage Collection business in Nakuru and  doing well.
We are happy to still know them and to see them building their own lives and families, AND for many, many MORE from Testimony House still,    AND from Jacaranda, Drakeley and Tyndale.    Life goes no - not without challenge and sometimes pain - but it DOES go on, and God goes along with it, to offer opportunities to each one of us.    

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has been a busy month so far, but each day has had its blessing, and we are all glad - even with continuing heavy RAIN and severe COLD - to say that all are well and glad to be living and working together.  ALSO last Saturday (Esther's Birthday) we really had a good time together with the Greens from UK and the Greens from Eldoret Kenya.     We shared a meal together and celebrated being family together   -    we missed the remaining members still living in the U.K. but we did managed to talk on the phone - even saw our latest grandchild - Liam Alexander - via SKYPE.           Daryl and Carol are expecting to celebrate their Wedding today as well, though we have not so far seen them.     TO-DAY the weather has been wonderful - blue sky and warm sunshine.      Everyone taking advantage of the pool to SWIM and swim, and swim.     And I - by the grace of God and prayers of many - was able to pay out the due College Fees of seven of our twelve youngsters about to commence a new term.     No mean feat considering it is money that has to be found over and above our normal housekeeping .      We have truly PRAISED GOD.


TO CLOSE FOR THIS WEEK - I just wanted to include the picture to the right.     I liked it, and I used it recently when speaking on the topic of a 'Virtuous Woman'  Partway through I had said -
'A Virtuous Woman will strengthen her husband, and give confidence to her children.   Men, for all their proclaimed masculinity, are more often the gender most at risk in losing their self confidence and assurance.    When a man falls and fails, it is the WOMAN who can lift him up and push him to success.   Virtuous Women are not merely sexual conveniences.  NO!  God created them to HELP the MAN to hang on to, and grow into his intended MANHOOD.   She was made to an integral part of the Man, his inner moral fibre.   Somehow a VIRTUOUS woman, a woman with God, has 'power' to make a man to BE a man - she standing with and behind him - quite a package!.   
IN THE PICTURE the man is seen to be STRONG, not because of himself, but because he knows the woman is at his back to secure him, assuring and encouraging him in love and compassion.   God sent the woman to DO this.   It is her SERVICE to God FOR the Man.    A Virtuous woman will do it.      Will YOU?           As I looked at this photo for myself I felt very much how the man in the picture was thinking of his wife - Very much the same way I have learnt over years to see and appreciate my own dear wife.     It has taken ALL she has to make me and help me to be the Man I am.   I thank God for her; for her love, her patience and her endurance all along.      Keep it going you sisters who are also wives.      And you husbands be meek and humble enough to recognise what you have in your wife.

Much Love to you all in Jesus

John and Esther