KEEP BUSY TILL I COME!

NEW JACARANDA COTTAGE

This House was opened on

Saturday, 13th June 2015, with Supplication and Prayer,

as the Family moved from the Old to the NEW House.

We witness to this Happening

with Thanksgiving to God, 

and also through Him to Stuart and Janet Brown

&

The Kirkdale Trust

It is a Miracle in our eyes

The Old Jacaranda Cottage, sited opposite the old,

was originally purchased by Testimony Faith Homes in 1975.

Francis and Elaine Wainaina were it first Houseparents.

Looking across to the OLD house
from the veranda of the NEW!

I am actually writing this on Friday evening, having been in the new house with Daryl most of the day helping to prepare for the 'Move' tomorrow morning.     It is a beautiful and well built house, full of light and brilliance.       As I sat to take a moments 'breather'   and looked around me I was impressed to see it all completed.        In the six months it has been in the build WE, as a group of Christians working with and for children, were going through a very bad time financially, and our faith continually suffered knocks and buffets, bringing us - of course - to our knees, and at the same time making us realised how little faith we really had!!      I believe God does this all the time really.     I often re-read Deuteronomy 8 where God openly declared that he put Israel to the Test in order to find out what was in THEIR hearts to ward Him - to find out how much they REALLY trusted in Him.       I also think He put Israel through the Trial in order for THEM to realise how little Faith THEY themselves really had for God.     He shook them out of lethargy and sloth; out of taking life for granted, and made them realise their need of HIM

Pastor Ondang'a  giving a short address from the Bible

J.A. Green giving a short word

ALL THE time WE were in the midst of trial, oft in peril and even hunger, the NEW HOUSE was going UP in front of all our eyes.     It went up daily without interruption; without us even feeling the cost of it. God had inspired some to put up the money - all of it - and it was put away in its own separate account so that we might not ourselves be tempted to eat it.      And without ANY stress of any kind the House was BUILT and brought to completion.       It was SO AMAZING to just SEE it as I sat INSIDE the house and remembered how POOR we all had been.     WE could never have afforded a stone for the walls, or a sheet of tin for the roof;  a window, a door.    WE had nothing in hand.   BUT the same God to Whom we prayed for our Daily Bread,  afforded EVERYTHING that went into the making of this House.       And YES it did encourage us.    Did lift up our failing hearts, and provide incentive to just go on trusting, go on believing.      FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen - and today I SAT in the midst of it, surrounded by it.    I could reach out and TOUCH it.        And tomorrow around mid-day the Jacaranda Family will  take possession of it, and begin, all forty of them, to live in it.

Part of the Jacaranda Family with Mum on the left and Dad on the right.

The CHILDREN with their houseparents and Daryl were all awake EARLY moving furniture and other possessions into the new House.      At 12 noon the Chairman of our Board, arrived to join with us in Opening the House.    All the parents of our FOUR Homes were present, as was Esther and myself.   Additionally most of the Children of the Jacaranda Family, and our Pastor.    We all crowded into the Sitting Room and open plan Dining Room of the New House together.   There were hymns, Prayers and Dedication, Speeches, and then a Cake cutting ceremony, and the sharing of light snacks with Soda.      It all went SO well, and we felt the Presence of the Lord our God to be very much with us.   It was all over by 2p.m. when we left the 'Family' to finish moving and to slowly settle into their new accommodation.     This has been a Special Day for Daryl.   He has put a great deal of personal energy and hard work into bringing it all to pass.     

SIZZLERS -  On Wednesday Daryl and I discovered the Cafe was once again OPEN!    The corrugated tin was removed from the frontage revealing three concrete columns rising from the curbside and soaring upwards - obviously to support new expansion of the second floor of the building;  maybe even to a third floor.        Daryl and I dropped in for a coffee and discovered the Cafe must still move, but that a Court injunction provided for them to be given a proper Notice and time to find alternative premises.      SO 'Sizzlers' will still be vanishing from it old site, but with the distinct hope that it will resurrect itself somewhere else in town.

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THIS WEEK I have been concerned about the state of the Church of England, or the Anglican Church, as it is known worldwide.      My concern may be encouraged by sentimental reasons on the one part but, more seriously upon the deteriorating Faith and Testimony of the Church.   Rather co-incidentally I have come across TWO other articles concerned with the same issue.

The Church of England has been used of God in my own life, and it is indeed very sad to here that is now thought to be dying.
Archbishop George Carey (Retired) recently  said "Church of England faces Extinction"
In the Spectator, in another article, I read the headline  '2067: the end of British Christianity'.  I feel a need to comment on this, and hope to begin next week.

UNTIL THEN I must once more bid you all 'Farewell'.      May you all continue to know the Presence of God in your daily lives, and to receive the benefit of knowing Him - Jeremiah 9v24-25
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches, BUT LET HIM THAT GLORIETH glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth ME, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Lovingly in He Who is on the way!

John, Esther and Daryl Green