LET OUR CRY COME UP TO YOU, O LORD!

ON THURSDAY Testimony Faith Homes came together to PRAY, and to 'Storm the Gates of Heaven' in the midst of severe NEED, and attack from the Enemy.     More than 150 of us altogether - and even some teachers from the School although they were all supposed to be away on holiday.    A crowded, and Spirit filled atmosphere in which we all felt the Presence of God.      We began by presenting ourselves in front of our Lord, asking him to convict us of un-dealt with sin, and to beg for Cleansing and Forgiveness.      So many found themselves in need and almost the entire morning time was devoted to this exercise, and Jesus, by His Holy Spirit, ministered to many of us.      A number of our elder young people were also blessed, and it was so encouraging to see so many from the four Homes willing to be with us, since the entire day was voluntary and no one was 'pressed' to attend.     But Esther, myself, and Daryl plus ALL those working in the Orphanage side of TFH (the School was on holiday) did in fact attend, together with many friends from the locality.
Truly the LORD spoke to us all, and we can say that at the conclusion we felt assured that God had heard and would indeed answer us.
We want to thank ALL those of our friends, and TFH Family members, that being unable to attend DID in fact remember us, and joined us in prayer.     We surely FELT your support and concern.
At the end of our time together Esther shared the memory of another time when we were waiting upon God.
We only had ONE Home then and 40 kids.  Only one other staff member apart from ourselves.   This was in May 1974  -  I quote from the Dairy here just in order to point out we have been in need often, even from the onset of the ministry, and God always proved His ability to take care of us.

'No money to hand today.  We are in fact over-drawn at the Bank.  Salaries unpaid and a whole pile of Bills needing payment.   Drove down with Esther to the Post-office in the afternoon to see what might have arrived for us.    I left Esther in the car whilst I went to check the Box - Nothing there - the Box was dust-free empty!       I went a little dejectedly back to the car.   I had just settled in the driving seat, making to drive off; both of us feeling quite low.      Suddenly there was a tapping at Esther's window - a European lady was standing there.     Esther wound down her window...
"Excuse me" said the lady "but are you by any chance Mr. and Mrs. Green from Testimony Faith Homes?"
We had no idea who she might be and could not remember ever seeing her before.
"Well I just thought it might be you, and I was intending to drive up to your
place, and now I shall be saved from the bother.    I have been given this for you.."   and she shoved an envelope through the window and was gone!       Esther opened the envelope and found Five hundred Kenya Shillings inside!   (In those days it was equivalent to about forty pounds sterling)   Both of just stared at it - tears welling up in our eyes - we had been at such a LOSS, and now here we were with enough to cover ALL our pressing bills and expenses."

We never saw the lady again - she could could have been an angel!      You might wonder how we could have been in such a state of mind and heart over Forty Pounds - almost nothing compared to the daily need now, almost fifty years later, of course, but at the time it felt as GREAT a load of care - if not greater.      Thanks for YOUR encouragement today - at the time related above we had no one at hand to whisper a word to us.

YES, and here we are still because God has always been there for us, and will be there of course.   How weak is our flesh, AND our faith.    We have been glad of an infusion of that faith, and Assurance that all will be well yet again, and the Testimony of this place and of God the more embellished.

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ON WEDNESDAY 15th April,  we celebrated our son James (Manu's) 31st Birthday.    He works for the Moi Referral & Teaching Hospital on the administrative side of things.      It so happened he had a few days leave so he was able to not only come to supper but also spend a few days with us.     Here are a few photos.      The first shows Mum Esther doing her best to light the candles on the Birthday cake - we only had four!  - Manu sitting in the armchair nearby.     The venue is Green Cottage of course, quite unchanged since it was built in 1998.     It has been tradition for us to celebrate birthdays with cake and fellowship.  Even in the Children's Homes this is the case.

The second photo shows Manu himself blowing the candles out!     The day caught him back with an Afro style hair-do.     After a while it will go and give way to a more standard short hair cut.    It goes in cycles.  

He came one with us to the U.K. in 1994; he was ten years old then.     Of all the boys in our family he has perhaps loved home most.     A real 'home-bird' ever dropping in to see us and share a word or two.  We have appreciated him.

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TECHNICALLY Kenya is at WAR!      Most of you will know that the terrorist group known as Al Shabaab based in Somalia have been mounting attacks against Kenya, blowing up shopping malls in Nairobi, and lately attacking a university killing more than a hundred and fifty.   It is being said that maybe another 200 are missing after the attack, and may have been taken prisoner.      Of course the people are beginning to be jumpy in the Mombasa and Nairobi areas.

YESTERDAY, Friday I received this Message on my cell phone.

'We are informed that there is a security alert in Eldoret - a bad one!   Foreign Nationals have been evacuated from the MTRH and Indiana University House and elsewhere.   We advise any foreign national especially to stay away from shopping malls and the TOWN'

THIS KIND OF THING is not good news for an edgy populace.      Muslims have lived together with other people of all nationalities for years in peace and good will, but now non Muslims are no longer sure of their safety in their own Country.      This state of affairs is very distressing, especially for those Muslims who are not motivated by violence and politician fanaticism.        There is also that element found in many places where the situation is fanned and made worse by 'messages' as I have quoted.        People are nervous.

NOTHING has been seen to confirm that there is any danger in our area.     All remains peaceful.   BUT keep in prayer for us all in this region of Kenya.      So far, since 2007, we have had only peace and calm here, but many are believing that Al Shabaab will soon reach out to this area in an effort to emphasise that there is no place within Kenya they cannot and will not reach.     PEACE has all but gone from this world.

TOMORROW is the Lord's Day, and we shall once again find ourselves all together worshipping His Name and listening to His Word.    Remember us, and we shall be remembering all of you - that the Hand of the Lord will be able to sustain us and keep us faithful in the week to come.

God Bless and be with you in Kindness, and gentleness, no matter what man may do to you.

With our Love in Him

John, Esther and Daryl Green