WHO IS GETTING WHAT, out of sight?

EXTINCT BY AGREEMENT ? - Tacitly ?

VERY RECENTLY we were told that the East African Elephant will become EXTINCT in just a few years time - given the increased incident of 'poaching' for IVORY.    In Kenya this is an excessive factor of life - not only relative to the Elephant but also the already seriously endangered Rhinoceros.      Recently, too, the Kenya Government has Agreed an offer by the Chinese Government to rebuild our Railway Services; thousands of Chinese are already flooding the Country in preparation, and alongside this.....but what is the COST going to be.    There IS always a cost to everything - in this case the continuing existence of the Elephant +.      YESTERDAY IN OUR DAILY PRESS, one headline read -

CHINESE INVOLVED IN ALL OF AFRICA'S

IVORY SMUGGLING

The Report based on the findings of a U.S. Charity known as Born Free USA, states that 'Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the Port of Mombasa are major conduits for illegal ivory that drives the multi-million dollar global trade.'    Further on in the Report we read - 'East Asian nationals and in particular, the Chinese, are cited as the masterminds of the modern ivory trade.    The scale of this we found in our investigation was shocking.   Chinese traffickers are present in virtually EVERY single African range state and operate nearly every point along the ivory supply chain.'

It may well be that the Chinese influence on the Kenya economy may well cost the Country even more than was ever extracted by its old colonial exploiters!       We should take stock, and care, about where Kenya is being led.     Our biggest income derives form Tourism which itself is basically dependant on the dwindling Wild Life available.     What will happen when there is none left?     CHINA has long been pushed to exploit others purely and simply because it is a GROWING nation that needs MORE than it has within its own boundaries to support itself and its own national appetites.     One of those 'appetites' as an increasing desire for Ivory and for the Horn of the Rhinoceros!

SO SAD, though.   SO sad!      GOD put Man in Charge of His Creation, NOT to destroy it but to KEEP it safe and stable.     Yes, He also made it clear that Man could USE what God had provided and made for his own NEEDS but not for his own enrichment and aggrandisement.      We are CARETAKERS, and we are supposed to ensure nothing is used or damaged thoughtlessly or selfishly..     We are a LONG way from doing what God wants with our lives, even in this respect..      No longer are we 'miserable offenders'  doing our best to accommodate the God we have offended, but in the main humanity are a  race of 'happy sinners', living just for ourselves.

45 YEARS AGO THIS SATURDAY, Testimony Faith Homes began.
NOT in the house pictured to the right.   Nevertheless in many ways it IS this House known today as Testimony House, that the work really came together and was finally established.    HOME to many, including our very own, that all came to live under its roof and identified as Family.   It was born out of a concept that 'Children who had lost home and family' needed to have them restored.     Thus each of our homes, as they were founded, were based on 'FAMILY'   -  boys and girls together under one roof  with a married couple with them, caring for them as Mother and Father.    It worked out well, and for the most part incoming children seemed to respond fairly well to the idea.  They quickly became absorbed into their 'family'     BUT over the last ten years we have seen changes, both in new children being admitted to the Homes, AND to those already with us.  What initially seemed so easily accepted, has more lately been questioned, and a more 'AWARE' attitude has begun to arise especially where boys and girls no longer accept each other as brother and sister, but realise their individuality and Independence from one another.       This has been due to greater influence from the Media, and even from their progressive mixing with their peers in School, from outside in the neighbourhood.    This has affected discipline in the Homes, and also opened new perspectives in how the children see each other sexually.  
This has been being noticed and considered internally for the last five years in particularly, and at the same time we see that the Children's Department is also taking note generally of this 'change' and encouraging new attitudes relative to caring for boys and girls together.

THUS CURRENTLY  there may be a sense of CHANGE in the air.     We shall be coming together as a Management and Staff to discuss this and other relative aspects in the near future.      One of the immediate things will be to consider separating Boys from Girls in our four Homes.      We shall consider possibly using ONE home for GIRLS only, and putting BOYS into the remaining THREE homes.      This would be quite a BIG change in policy, and would also initially be difficult for the children to adjust to.       We think it could happen even so, and there is no doubt that there will be a change of policy.     This would make a difference to our 'Family' idea.    We would still run each home AS a Family, but no 'brothers and sisters' together in one family entity.
We need you to pray about this with us over the next weeks.      We shall not leave it long to finally ACT.   If not segregation there WILL have to be changes of attitude in discipline and the kind of co-operation we would expect from our houseparents.        Very often petty theft, and instances of immorality and deceit occur in a Home, but the houseparents instead of sharing it with us as management and seeking council, decide to deal with the matter privately within their 'family'.       This has meant that serious neglect of moral behaviour has gone on unnoticed by us as Management, and tacitly undealt with in the Home.      We feel this has to be DEALT with so that REAL supervision and parental care can go hand in hand with what is required of  by the Ministry itself, as it stands on God's Word for Christ.       I am sure you will perceive that this will mean that all aspects of how each Home will now function are in for a careful revision.

ESTHER AND I expect to continue to interact with Daryl, as Director, and with all those sharing the work here in Testimony, and in doing so to assist where we can in council and even practical ways to carry the Ministry forward into a new Chapter.       Otherwise all things continue, and there is no sense of unrest or disturbance in our day to day activities and way of life here.

RECENTLY I came across a book written in the 50's - a Christian Book.    I found it interesting, thought provoking and challenging.       In some ways not an easy 'style' of writing,,,,but nevertheless still VERY relevant for today for any Christian endeavouring to walk more truly with Christ in a very unchristian world.
It is entitled Letters to a Diminished Church     (Passionate Arguments for the Relevance of Christian Doctrine.) by DOROTHY SAYERS.     If you can find it it IS well worth the read.

Most of the Family and Friends recently staying with are back in their own homes, with the exception of our Son Michael and his wife and child.    They are with Janet's Family for a week, and then Mike will join us for a few more days before returning to the UK.     It has been a very wonderful and amazing time.   God truly Blessed us all.

May God be Close and REAL to each one of you, dear and precious as you all, each one, is to us.

John land Esther & Daryl and Carol

MY GOD LOVES THE ONE I HATE

ALL THE KILLING!     It HURTS me deep inside.    It is not just the major BLACK spots of our current world - Libya, Israel and Iraq, but ALL OVER THE WORLD, everywhere there is an increase in violence and KILLING.    A great THIRST for blood apparently.   In reality and even in fantasy, via films, electronic games, and video - the drive is on to KILL.        All through history MAN has killed of course, and not only in political or
criminal climates but also in religious ones.       If Islam is now in the news for terrorism, and tribal and schismatic massacres, so also other Religions may claim to have done the same - even Christianity.
And GOD - what is his view about it all?  
WELL, whatever may come to your mind about God's apparent inconsistencies, God has said that as far as HE is concerned He does not want ANYONE to die!   He says in Ezekiel 18v31-32 ....why will ye die....
I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth.
And JESUS, in the Garden of Gethsemane that fateful night.!...READ the words recorded in Matthew 26v51-52  '........one of those that were with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword, and striking the body servant of the high priest, cut off his ear.
THEN, Jesus, said to him, Put your sword back into its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

ALL who draw the sword

WILL DIE BY THE SWORD.

Looking at this verse this morning I noted a cross reference to Genesis 9v5-6 -

'..surely for your lifeblood I will require an accounting;

from every beast I will require it; and from every Man;

from every Man  who spills another's blood I will require a reckoning.

Whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed;

for in the image of God He made man.

If I suppose that this IS God speaking and making His Mind known, then I should give His Words due regard - and that means taking them as read, and not open to adjustment or re-interpretation to satisfy myself or others.

Most of our world society, its thought and selfish practise, has done away with capital punishment - though it will still destroy the animal that hurts or kills any human being.     Why make an animal accountable that does not know what it is doing, and yet commute the Death Sentence of a man who KNOWS very well what he is doing?   God will not, ultimately be mocked, on this matter.      He will repay.     Indeed He alone has 

the right in this matter.      When Man neglects to DO what God has decreed he should do, he will be held accountable, both in the here and now, and on the Last Day Judgement.

What is happening in our world right now is a result (in part) of turning away from the Mind of God when it comes to Capital Punishment and the Death Sentence.       There is no real cost any more, to any person killing another.      What is happening in Israel and Gaza.....what is happening in Iraq with these terrorist Islaamists is WRONG.       As the United Nations, and the Leaders of the World sit and DO NOTHING, and others indulge themselves in a holiday with the family,  men, women and children are being murdered needlessly. This has nothing to do with RACE, RELIGION, or POLITICS!     It has to do with the freedom of mankind to act without reference - to act without God - and when I say GOD, I mean that very REAL spiritual Being who IS the Creator of All. The ONLY one who is truly JUST and RIGHTEOUS, and finally revealed to us all in the Person of Jesus Christ.

ALBERT EINSTIEN once wrote -

The World is a dangerous place.

Not because of those who do evil,

but because of those who look on and do nothing.

In Proverbs 24v11-13 we can read -

IF you turn away from delivering 

those that are carried away to DIE, and those waiting to be KILLED;

If you say, Behold we did not know about;

does not He that searches our mind consider it?

And He that keepeth your soul, does He not know of it?

AND shall He not give to every man according to that man's works?
(Will God not require the life of every one murdered from the one who did the crime?)

WE need the WORDS of GOD!    We need the VOICE of GOD.    We need those who KNOW God to stand up and LOUDLY DECLARE His Will land Purpose just where they are, in Government, School, and the entire community.         THIS IS THE TIME to open our mouths without fear or favour.

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THIS WEEK at Testimony the weather has continued to be good, although today the rain clouds have returned and there has been a little rain again.       The children have continued to enjoy the sunshine and warmth that has been blessing their school holiday, and so this also helped the parents in keeping the Homes a bit less congested and confining.

AND, of course, ESTHER'S 70th which was actually on Sunday 17th, was celebrated with a big Party in the School Hall on the Saturday before. (16th).     About seventy attended including all kinds of people and children who had got to know and love her over the years, including her own sister and family.   It was a great time.    

    

Children from the Homes sang and danced, a Cake was cut ( made of the 4 homes with 'Mum's Pot of Provision at the centre.     A Day to Remember!!

Hopefully, later on, I will put more photos up on Face Book.    For now this will surfice.  Green Cottage is still full with family from UK.     Eleven of us altogether plus one from the USA and another three from Mombasa - a family of 17 currently, but on the the Birthday weekend this expanded to a further EIGHT plus four children.    We have all managed to EAT together in our house, but SOME have had to sleep in one of the School Boarding facilities.        DARYL has been away this last week in Nairobi with part of his own family, but should be back Sunday/Monday.     A very special time for Esther and me, and I believe for all of us since it is the first time for many years that we have found ourselves all together again in one place.

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Please pray for the Homes VOXY Toyota which is about three years old.       Going to the Airport in Eldoret to meet visitors it ran out of oil, and the engine seized up.     We have to purchase a NEW engine as soon as possible.    This was quite unforeseeable, and has obviously caused some inconvenience since it is the only reliable vehicle the Homes has in working order.....We know the LORD is aware of this accident, but we do ask you to join with us in seeking his special help at this time.        Fortunately we do not travel a lot, but it will make our daily local transport needs rather more difficult..

Much love to you all from us all

John and Esther & Daryl and Carol

YET ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY

YES, HERE WE ARE AGAIN!    Darby and Joan (John and Esther) both stilll together for their 43rd Wedding Anniversay, celebrated in Green Cottage with almost ALL of the family present - the Green Family that is.    Steve and wife Anji and children Eric and Tonia; Prem and Elizabeth with their two children, John-Finney and Rachel;  Daryl with Carol his wife and their three children, Jesse, Becky and Jeremy, plus ourselves - John and Esther, plus James Manu, and Helen with baby.         WOW!   We had four absentees - Edward, Daryl's brother who was sick, our son Michael and his wife Janet and baby son Liam.     The latter had first said they would be with us, and then said they were unable to come.     Some idea of giving us a 'surprise' when what we needed was honesty so that we could managed to arrange ourselves accommodation and food wise.        HOWEVER they will be arriving here on Saturday in time for Esther's Birthday.

We all went out to a pleasant children's playground for lunch, and it was certainly a very wonderful chance to be together.     I will share the photo we took on Thursday evening, our Anniversary day.

When I first got Engaged to Esther I did not have funds to buy even a very cheap Engagement ring.
SO on this occassion I managed to Engage her for the next 43 years with a RING to set on her finger.
She managed to have two previous Wedding Rings lost or stolen as well, so I also gave her a NEW Wedding Ring to match.    Quite an occassion.

TODAY a few more family arrived - Mary, Esther's sister, and her husband, plus daughter Mugure,
AND one of our old girls who manages a Bank in Mombasa, with her two children.  17 adults and 9 children.    This will swell by 4 more adults, and 3 more children by tomorrow.    Quite a CROWD!

Still a busy day as most Friday's are, for the Homes, and Daryl and I were out and about in town as usual.      TOMORROW we have a Special Lunch for Esther's 70th Birthday when we hope family and friends of hers will be in attendance and spend a few special hours and memories with her.     Daryl and Francis Lahol have been also very busy with this. and we hope for a very happy day.     Some of our old boys and girls will be in attendance, our houseparents and other members of our staff, family and friend will pary in the School Hall as from 1 p.m. our time.      Each of our four Homes will also party to a lesser degree during the evening with Cake and Sodas.    

Well, I am for bed!    It is only 10.20p.m. our time, but it feels like one in the morning.    It has been a good day, and tomorrow I have to prepare to prepare a Message for Sunday before mid-day.    Hope I managed to find a quiet place.     God Bless you all, and thank you for your prayers.

Sincerely waiting for Jesus


John and Esther

SORRY FRIENDS and followers,   just TOO busy today to put up anything.    Revelling in the first wave of incoming Family members from the UK - next wave on Monday!    Just great to SEE everyone and to just have fellowship.      But the 'SHADOW' of VIOLENCE and HATRED pervading our world, as depicted in GAZA and IRAQ in particular, tends to darken everything.  

Please be patient with me - next week I hope to pick up a thread or two, and maybe a photo or two.
I may even mention 'terrorism' - an advancing and progressive tool in Satan's hands.     God Bless you all.    Keep you Bible OPEN, and keep close to the CROSS in your life and heart.    JESUS is our only HOPE, and is the only TRUTH - if we could only BELIEVE it, and trust in it.     Together with ST. Paul, I feel so JEALOUS in wanting each one of you to know the PEACE and ASSURANCE that comes from letting THIS KING, to be your friend.

Love from us all - John

AS LIFE GOES BY

IT WILL SOON BE OUR 43RD Wedding Anni-versary.     Hardly seems possible, but I was reading this from my 1974 Diary and found myself celebrating our THIRD anniversary; a big party and get together with the children - we had 40 then - with us in Testimony House.   We all had a soda and a bun!     God is indeed Faithful, and has kept us together, well and still standing for Him forty years further on.
Wonderful.    AND this year Esther will celebrate her 70th Birthday, and by this time next week we will have welcomed our daughter Elisabeth, and her family who will join us in that Celebration.   Steven and his family to arrive a few days after that, and many, many others.......all in time for the 17th August, Esther's Birthday.    Quite an auspicious week and month.     But so far the 'winter' weather is building up,  clouds, rain, and cold days and nights.       But there ARE some moments of warmth and sunshine....and our children still SWIM in the big open air pool - makes ME shiver just to look at them.   THEY are thrilled and just jump in and splash around as if it were central-heated!!!
SCHOOL is winding down and will CLOSE on Wednesday next week.    Termly exams are all over and marked, with Reports being written.   A busy, tense but excitable week.     AND THEN three weeks School Holiday, and freedom from the 'Bell' and lessons.     Hooray!    Well - for them rather than us!
Our youngest member of the family, Abygail, is growing fast and well, with four lovely teeth.   She seems to be coping fairly well, but she still has a Bad Day here and there.    Otherwise a constant delight and source of laughter - a real personality indeed.
One of our teenage boys living in Jacaranda Cottage has suddenly shown serious anti-social traits. He has been with us since he was 5 years old and although he has been a 'slow' learner at school he has always demonstrated a quiet, and pleasant disposition.     On leaving Secondary School he commenced a Course in Welding some forty kilometres away at a Boarding Polytechnic.      He complained of abuse there, and refused to return, so we had decided to try another method, thinking that he might still do well, but as a day scholar at another school.  He is 17.   He he has so far not attended his classes, and has been found wandering around aimlessly, and seemingly a quite different person.     Of course many have tried to get alongside him and tried to council him including myself, but so far it is looking unsafe to keep him at home..       Our Children's Officer has advised us to get rid of him  -   Yes .....but this is not as easy as it looks.      Apart from ONE, there is no full time residential care home for those who may be psychiatrically disturbed,     And even though there ARE Psychiatric units at District Hospitals they only take temporary cases, and thereafter return them home.      This boy has no home but us!   So please, we would value your prayers.       We have had worse to deal with before, and the Lord has helped us, and one by one has helped them to have a life and a future.      Reuben has a sister with him in the same house, Daisy.    She is fifteen and has just concluded her Primary Education - very clever and happily settled.      She inherited HIV from her mother.    She is under medication but well and strong so far.  In 3rd World Countries such as ours, fascilities for special needs are rare if not quite non exisitant,    Humans of any age found below par are either ignored and left ALONE, Locked-up in a room like mad dogs, or done away with - just as Street Children in South America are shot by the Police to keep the streets clear of their nuisance value.      Of course there IS danger and risk in helping those whose minds run on abnormal tracks, a different 'gauge' to the standard.    Even George Muller said that if he came across a child who, after repeated council and advice, contnued to demonstrate an anti social trait he removed that one from the Home.     He did not say what he did with them though.
But he did it for the good of the rest........      ANOTHER recently qualified Sociologist sent us an SMS to advise us (she knows the 'Homes' very well)  'Reuben should be got rid of NOW, before he hurts our children'.      Did she forget, I wonder, that Reuben is one of our children too?    What will he do, where will he go, how HURT will he become?      What happened to Pity and Compassion?   What happened to Faith in God............?       What has happened to US, to humanity.....?  

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IN 2009 A NEW ORGANISATION was Registered in Kenya. 

The Association of Charitable Children's Institutions of Kenya (ACCIK)

It is a National Organisation with up to 47 County Representatives nation-wide.      ACCIK has various programmes to do with Children's needs.     Membership is limited to Legally Registered Charitable 

Children's Homes within Kenya.     It is a completely independent body, but works closely with Government as well.

On THURSDAY this week an Introductory Meeting was held here in TFH, in our Board room.   A number of CCI managers attended together with a Team from ACCIK chaired by Rev. Steven  Ndungu (above left) who is himself the National Chairman of ACCIK.    

At the end of the day it was agreed by those present, including ourselves, to form a CHAPTER for our County, and Daryl P. Green was elected County Representative and Leader of the new Chapter.  I personally feel the ACCIK has a good vision and that it will be very beneficial to ALL CCIs to have an available source of fellowship and information to draw on.     Initially our chapter will meet bi-monthly and here in Testimony Faith Homes.       It is hoped that membership will increase as more CCI managers get to hear and understand more about it.

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TOMORROW I am to be the speaker at our Fellowship's MEN"S SUNDAY.    It will be the last Sunday of the Term and so all our Boarders will still be with us, making for a well filled Meeting.  Then for three weeks we shall just be our usual 200 or so in the Fellowship Meetings, Children and Staff as well as a few locals.      I shall be sharing about Micah, a minor prophet of some stature.   A truly brave and courageous MAN who would not live with evil unrebuked.     He lived in a world society very much like our own, He grew up in a rural area, but was unafraid to tackle Urban problems and decay,


God Bless you all.     Hope you will all be kept safe and well during this coming week.    Remember HE who is our very Health and Strength, our Saviour, has made His home within US.    Who and What can hurt us if GOD be with us?


John and Esther & Daryl and Carol