BEING POOR, YET MAKING MANY RICH

THIS IS A PICTURE BY Francis Collantes (1599-1656)  It is of an Egyptian hermit called Onuphrius who lived about 300 A.D.    Seeing it I was reminded of Elijah being fed by the ravens as recorded in the Book of 1. Kings 17 (read the whole chapter if you have a Bible - and the time).     ELIJAH was a true man of Faith in God, obedient in doing whatever God asked.     It did not prosper him materially it seems, and required him to lay his life on the line, and exposing it till he died to countless deprivations and discomforts.     We first hear in this chapter how he confronted the King of his time, so directly that the King sought for his life.     This necessitated him getting away fast to hide himself.     He found himself in a secluded, and rather deserted place without food, and with a dwindling supply of water.
No comfort or secure refuge there.    The ravens brought him meat, and since basically they are scavengers, it was very likely not the best or most attractive fair - but hungry, as he no doubt became, he must have been more than grateful for it.     Then the water gave out.   He had to leave.     His story is one of comparative hardship and endurance, with little earthly reward or satisfaction.    As an example of a man (or woman) that might decide to live by Faith in God's Word to them, it is not attractive is it?     I was thinking about it this week, and I realised, uncomfortably that I personally do not pursue this kind of lifestyle.  I tend to cry out when the bread isn't there, or the milk runs out, or the electricity fails.    I have not found myself to always want to live in rough conditions, or in rags.  I have eaten well in the main, and although we have had to often WAIT for our sustenance we have always had clean and edible food.    God has been good to us - or did we look for too much?
We only hear of the miracles in Elijah's life.    Not SO many but enough to make him memorable - yet we know nothing of his life in between the 'events'     It does not seem to have been very bearable - was he really content?    Generally I think he must have been - but there were times !!    God was not always as NEAR as he could have wanted; he often felt unappreciated, friendless, alone!    Once at least he got tired of living.     Who would choose such an existence as his.      Many have said to me 'You are so Blessed, brother Green, to live by faith!'       Yes of course I know I AM blessed, have BEEN blessed, and looking around at the ministry of Testimony Faith Homes materially I can SEE that God has blessed us..........but in between the events, in the countless hum drum days of being here, in His Will and Service it has not always been - shall we say 'enjoyable' as far as human sensibilities are concerned.     There HAVE been days of ............no I should spare you.   I will not discourage you - there IS joy in serving Jesus; in serving GOD!!    We have no regrets at all, but it would be deceitful to declare it has been a 'bed of roses'.      The One we serve, loves us, but He has something more in view for us than we ourselves can see, or even dream of.     ALL that we must go through here is MORE than for our own satisfaction - it is a total preparation for what HE has for us later on.   He will make sure we are trained well, no matter what the cost.........Jesus was not spared in his short human life.... He tasted of it all - He tasted everything we ourselves are exposed to - and He Passed !    He 'almost' flinched from it, but with determination to do the right, He set his face to go all the way.
AND because HE did, then any one of us, with our hand in His, can do the same.      BUT we must surely WANT to do so, if we are to succeed in overcoming the selfish nature that we were born with.

Some in the world cry out against suffering, and the great poverty to which so much of the population of our planet is exposed to.    They cry against wealth and riches, and against the selfish greed of the rest of humanity, living in comfort and for themselves alone.     They want to see those who are without what they need enhanced and improved........yet they often have
reservations as to just how much improvement there should be.       Did I ever share how one of our well to do brethren complained to us here (he himself was an African) that we sent our orphans to school cleaner and better dressed than his own son.      Somehow we find there are those who feel that some beggar from the gutter should be helped out of the gutter - but perhaps not far out of it.......the mattress should not be too soft, the environs not to far from the mud and tin - even the filth - he was found in.    He is after all not like us (whoever 'us' might be).    'Orphans' are not merely unfortunate, they are of a lower strata to other children........just another divisive doctrine, like colour, religion, and so on.

Hopefully some of you will have seen the Finance Letter we released yesterday in which we state that it costs about 10,000/- a month to care for an orphan in TFH.    This is inclusive of ALL that orphan daily needs such as food, clothing, education, medication, and so on.      We have other good and creditable Homes in our locality who spend much less - because they actually have LESS at their disposal.       Out standards must be a little higher than theirs apparently. God has been good to us! maybe we found better quality  clothing to buy second hand, or chose more reliable the medicare..       We are often chided for this.    After all money is short these days; economy is necessary.    And after all these are orphans, and they can get buy on less  (WE find it hard to get buy on what WE have - it may be God will take us down a peg or two).    Orphans do not need three meals a day, do they?    What is important is just to make sure they will live and have a chance in life.

The 'quality' of the 'chance' seems of little concern to  most.   Our buildings are of Volcanic Stone, properly planned and built, with an eye for beauty and permenance.   They cost more than mud and wood, more than brick and tin - and they cost more to maintain.
BUT we also want raise the children's aspirations beyond grass root squalor and poverty of what has so long been their expected lot in life.     Are we wrong?      It might be possible!   Our 'outward image' in stone and order, has tended to testify locally that we are rich, and have no need of support or help for we are already far above the majority of those living and dwelling around us.     It is, of course, yet another example of how we should not trust outward appearances!       If we lived in squalid, ruinous accommodation it is true we would attract more concern......but probably not a better quality of life.   BUT some are happier giving to the ragged and hungry, than to those who by love and care have been assisted OUT of their rags and hunger whilst still needing  the material aid to continue.      After 45 years in Kenya, Kenyans are found to be few who support us.    On the other hand there are those of us in the world who cannot bear to let our conscience be invaded by calls of concern and compassion, and tend to look away from those in pain and trouble, especially those not of our family or nation.   MAN IS PRIMARILY SELFISH.       Only GOD can turn this around and, if He is allowed to come in our lives, motivate us afresh by HIS love and concern.  He made us to have love for our neighbour and NOT just for our self.       Maybe that is why in this age, where so many are turning away from God generally, that the LOVE of God is hard to find in any heart for another.     Woe to the World.    Woe to the POOR.

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YOU WILL REMEMBER that the School opened its Swimming Pool last June.    It proved a great boon BUT...... yes there was a but.    It had gone unnoticed that the depth of water at the 'shallow-end' was too deep, and also that the water was not circulating as well as it should.    Basically this had escaped the notice of both the Contractor and US.      Once it was open of course it was clear that a six year old's head was under water when he stood at the 'shallow-end' which was not as shallow as sit should have been by almost a metre.    Also they had laid a pipe of too small a diameter to extract the water from pool and through to the filters.    It had to be dug up!      Indeed the whole of the shallow end of the pool had to be dug up again!!     The Contractor was not too happy, but he had no choice.    SO during November he was back with his team and the pool closed whilst repairs and changes were made.     It was quite challenging.     However, finally it was all achieved and the Pool was open on the 1st January again.
I have included a few photos here before the Pool was mended and refilled with water.
The POOL is under the management of the School, whose Pool it really is, since it is the Parents of the children from outside who voted to have it, and to seek a Bank Loan to build it.    Repayment will be taken out of the School Fee to cover it.     Thus the Homes have not had to pay. although we have contributed funds towards landscaping and so on.     Our children all go to the School so will all have the opportunity to partake in the School's usage, AND during School holidays they will have almost sole use, although we shall allow some of our local community to also share it with us at a small cost.
Just now the weather is hot and very conducive to spending time in the pool.     It is already full to capacity every day.    We have two Pool attendants, one of whom is an ex Kenya Olympic Team member.     Daryl designed most of the landscaping, and it looks as if it will all contribute to that 'testimony' of affluence that I mentioned earlier in this Blog.     BUT why should not God show off just a little - to prove that the POOR actually can produce something admirable, something good, something to last!       Within and under the shelter of our Faith Inspired Works our days are often very unexciting or remarkable - we are not rich, and not always comfortable, but we ARE fed by the 'Ravens' and by the 'Widows', and when things DO dry up we remain in God's Hands and content to trust even when our hair might turn grey at the sight of the attacking waves of doubt that assails us.


God encourage and inspire you all at the beginning of this Year of 2014.  

Lovingly  - John and Esther