JUST A GLIMPSE into Green 
Cottage, dressed for Christmas.  We did this on the 16th, and the rest of our four family homes also began to notice Christmas on that day.
On the 18th we had our usual Christmas Concert in the evening; a good hour's entertainment that drew attention to the reason behind the Birth of Jesus.    Francis Lahol, who together with his wife Eunice care for the Drakeley Cottage Family, was the one who produced and directed the Drama and also set up some really good Choir pieces and Dances.    As usual members of the public attended, and it was chalked up as one of the very best concerts we have ever put on - all due to the very committed an dedicated effort of more than forty of our children and young people from the four Homes.    We were Blessed, and Christ was Uplifted.  During the day we welcomed Tammy from Tyndale School in South Australia (here for Purity's Wedding, and also Hendrika and her friend Terry from Denver in the U.S..    During the evening Concert we also welcomed home for Christmas Helen (Tweety-pie) and baby Abigail.  

TO DAY was also the Wedding Day of Purity from Testimony House, and now teaching in our Nursery School.    Purity is marrying John.     Practically the whole of the Homes attended (children and staff) and of course Esther and I were there to see it all Esther and I had been Mum and Dad in Testimony House when Purity and other of her family were admitted to our care in the 1990s.   Purity was only five years old when she joined us; the baby of the family. So, of course, she wanted us to 'Giver her Away', and we did so with much joy and thanksgiving for her life and Testimony in Christ,    Purity has two brothers (Ignatius and Masmandus) and also one sister (Shiela).  


AND TODAY Purity married John in Grace Church, Eldoret.     A love match indeed, and with all her Testimony Family around her she was a radiant bride.
It has been a good day for everyone,.  BUT we are all tired now.    Thus I shall close up for this week, and turn in.      Last night I was woken at 2.30p.m. to minister to a young man who wanted to finish his life.     I finally got to bed about 4p.m.    All in a days work.   Tomorrow is Church.

God BLESS you all in Jesus Name, and keep you safe in busy days ahead.     Will send Christmas Greetings and Thanksgiving.

Very sleepily

John, Esther and Daryl.
.

THESE THREE KINGS!      Yes, I suppose I like to think of them as the Carol pictures them, and without endeavouring to prove their authenticity, or number, or even their nationality. To me it doesn't really matter.    What matters, I think, is that they GOT UP to look for the True King, the King of all the Earth, as soon as He was born.  They followed the Star until they found HIM, and they did not leave home empty handed. They took with them Gifts out of a WILLING heart.  There is such a simple and honest humility about them, as they laid aside their power, position and lives, just to cast themselves at the Saviour's feet.

IT IS 39 Christmases ago.     In 1974 we had been in Testimony House for two years, here in Eldoret.     We had arrived on Boxing Day 1972 with 12 steel bunk beds, and some rickety cow hide chairs.   Twenty eight boys and girls, me and Esther and baby Steven just six months old.  We arrived with virtually nothing except the JOY of the house itself - a Gift from God for Christmas.
Writing in in January 1975, I shared -
'CHRISTMAS this year past has been so FULL of good things; such a Blessed time.   The house was full of joy and happiness, and more than at any previous time we felt like a FAMILY at last.   And the Lord provided in such a wonderful way for our peace and comfort!   A little before Christmas we were quite without money, and were wondering how we should manage, but on the 23rd December a dear sister came to my office and left a 1975 Calender for us.   I was too busy to attend to it at the time, and for the whole day it was left lying on top of my desk. In the evening I noticed it to be still there, and taking it up I unrolled it, only to find a cheque fall to the ground from within.   Stooping to pick it up I found it was made out to Testimony Faith Homes for 250 pounds sterling.    And suddenly, from the thought of a rather materially poor Christmas we suddenly found warmth and colour flood in upon us.'

That Christmas morning, the children all excited and full of fun and laughter, and we ourselves joined together for our Christmas Service.      Halfway through, Wilson, the boy we had first brought into our home in 1969 in Maseno, now 17 stood up among us and gave his Testimony for Christ.   For four years he had pulled away from Jesus, but on THAT day he fully committed himself.    In the afternoon, after lunch, we all congregated in the huge sitting room of Testimony House, and enjoyed the Christmas Tree and the fellowship.    But OUR joy was to see Wilson in the Kingdom of Heaven. He had given himself to Jesus in 1969, when he was 12, but a year later had begun to slip away again.    
Wonderful to see that Jesus ever loses HIS grip.    This was our Christmas Present for that year and our JOY was full indeed.

We have, of course, grown since then!    more than three hundred have come and gone, and our current family number (for those under 18) is 96  PLUS 42 who are eighteen and over now staying in Testimony House as I shared last week, making a total of 138.     Quite a crowd.  

Last night we held our last Board Meeting for the year.      Our treasurer noted that over the last three years our income has dropped by some three million Kenya shillings (20,000 pounds) per annum.   I pointed out that although this was certainly noticeable and had made a difference, YET we were still alive, and managing.     We had from our beginning never been a 'well healed' ministry, and had much in common with the Israelites in their desert wanderings.    Yet we had been kept.    We were not alarmed by the drop.   Happiness and Well being, were not dependant on bread alone.   Too much bread might even tend to satisfaction leading to laziness of life, and an even worse poverty.   Riches, were not known to produce much FINE gold in humanity.      What is it the Scripture says in Proverbs 30v8 -

'Give me neither poverty nor riches;

feed me with the food that is needful for me'

Interesting to notice, there, that RICHES are as undesirable as poverty!!     In this world, where money seems to count for everything, one would not think so!!     Philippians 4v11-12 is also very applicable reading - especially in the Amplified Bible.

THUS our journey in life together here in TFH has never been always comfortable, it has been bearable, and we have endured, and grown, and been productive.     Yes, we need everything every day, and this is not a secret, but we leave to our Father to communicate this need by His Spirit and to provide for it as He sees fit.       We have walked and talked with Him for 46 years.    Some have got lost along the way, but the rest of us are well and pressing on, inspired by hope and faith in His Watchful Goodness and Mercy.    It has been a testimony, and a statement concerning the Faithfulness and Reality of the Living God.       It has not been a demonstration of sensational power, but an emphasis and evidence that GOD is there for whosoever will trust Him for their need, whatever it is may be, great or small.     We are not many, not well known - but we are HERE, and can be seen, experienced, and proved.   A very little thing - just like the 'grain of mustard seed' but potentially reproductive anywhere, with anyone.

TODAY, in Kenya it is JAMHURI  DAY - our Independence Day.     Tonight the children will Celebrate with 'pop' and Queen Cakes!      Not highly political or Nationalistic, but just a marker as to how Kenya came to be a Nation rather than merely a Colony.

God be with you all.     May He Bless you all progressively day by day.

Lovingly in Him,

John, Esther, and Daryl

MOVING UP AND ON

FOR US, THIS PHOTO IS QUITE HISTORIC!
For the first time since we moved to this house - Testimony House - in December 1972, there are no girls in it -  except for Mother Alice Muli.     The house is also no longer a Children's Charitable Institution or Home according to the Kenya Children' Act.       Testimony House is now, as from Monday this week, a HOSTEL for 18 year old BOYS only!!     This is a very significant CHANGE.

For some time now I have been sharing the new Climate that has been sweeping through the Kenya Children's Department (the Dept of Children's Services).     More than three years ago they began saying they wanted all 18 and above children out of Children's Homes.   WE argued that children who had grown up in a family situation together, since they were practically born. needed to still feel the security of the care of that home until they had finished College and were ready to earn their own living.    Our stand was not appreciated, and although nothing happened, and we continued to keep young people of eighteen and above in our four Homes, the Department ceased applying to us to take further children into TFH.     The total number of boys AND girls in the Homes who are, by age, now adult has grown to more than 40 out of the 140 children we actually have had in care.   32 of these are boys; some in the last year of Secondary, and College/University, and others waiting to find employment, and to leave us for their own digs.    A big number.     SOOOO!  It occurred to that we might indeed remove these heavyweights  from three of the Cottage Homes, and transfer them ALL to one house - Testimony House- transformed into a HOSTEL.     This has now been effected and is working VERY well indeed.    

This leaves some ten our of 40 girls that are eighteen and over still living in the Children's Homes.   The Children's Department have already expressed their relief at our change of attitude, and applauded our answer to both their own, and our, difficulty in the matter by avoiding sending our children away at a crucial time in their development, and instead merely keeping them near us without being completely AWAY from home.      BUT we do not have another house to use as a Hostel for Girls just at present, and so the girls have been given leave to remain in their houses where they were until we CAN move them on.     We are praying much about this right now so that we might quickly provide a comparable facility for the Girls to that of the Boys.      In the photo opposite you can see SIX of our nine girls who have now crossed the line from childhood to adulthood.  The others are away in University.      

So NOW we have a Hostel of 32 boys over the age of 18, PLUS nine girls over eighteen still living in our three Family Homes of Drakeley, Jacaranda, and Tyndale together with 92 other young children.    We also have space for about 10 more making a grand total of young people cared for of 131 with expectation of ten more joining us soon = 140 odd.      No great change in our numbers therefore, just a change in where and how they are being cared for.    Below is another photo - this time of the CHILDREN under 18 plus their houseparents, and ourselves.     This was taken in the garden between Green Cottage and Testimony House.

LAST SATURDAY Esther and I were attending yet another Wedding.    This time for Salome, brother to Edwin who was also married a few weeks ago.     Salome is marrying a local young man called Amos, and they will be living locally.    I had the privilege of walking Salome down the isle; she had come to us when she was tiny tot, and grew up with us, training as a nurse.     She and her brother Edwin had both lived in Testimony House with Esther and me.       We had also assisted their two elder sisters to train as teachers whilst living externally from the Homes.    They have all done well and we feel glad for them to now be independent and able to take care of themselves.     Salome's Wedding was at a local Church and was  well attended - by dozens of our current children from the Homes, and also a good number of Old Boys and Girls many of whom grew up with her and Edwin those years back.   The photo above shows Salome with bridegroom Amos and her Bridesmaids.
AND ON THE 19TH  another of our many daughters  -Purity- will also be getting Married.   I might even have to Walk her up to the alter!!      AND Christmas still to come!!   WOW quite a busy and demanding time one way and another.     We enjoy it all together.  

Daryl is away next week attending a special Seminar on Children's Affairs in Nairobi.    Should return on Thursday or Friday and then he is supposed to take his Annual Leave.     I say ' supposed ' as since it is Christmas, and he will probably be at home with his family, there is every likelihood that he will be dropping in quite frequently from time to time.     He only lives a kilometre or so away!!

May the Lord be with you all, and help you as you plan your own Christmas and Family times.   Keep the Saviour in view as you go, and let his Presence flood your lives and homes in such a way that the world's Lights and Glamour will not be noticed by comparison.     HE is the Centre of this Season - the true iridescence breaking in on the world's NIGHT.      We love you all, and pray for you

John, Esther and Daryl

DAY TO DAY CONTINUING

                                                                             

MOTHER AND CHILD!    Helen Green and her little daughter Abigail now aged 1 year and eight months.    They have both been staying with us since a few months before Abigail was born in March 2014.    We were not too sure we would be able to cope with the way things were, but we were wrong, and the Lord truly moved our hearts with His compassion, and Aby was born into warmth and joy; a Mum full of love for her, and Grandparents who were at once enthralled by her.    Truly a child unexpected, but received with surprising JOY.   She has grown up peacefully and well, wriggling herself into every heart she has come in touch with.

But she was born out of wedlock!    Surely nothing good can come out of that?   Yes will there may be a good number who will believe so...BUT God is the GIVER of life.    Each baby imagined, fashioned and designed by a LOVING Father in Heaven.  How can we not rejoice to see one no matter the manner of their birth.     

AND THIS morning, at 3.30a.m. they both left us to travel up to Nairobi to begin a new life together as Helen commences teaching again.   Rooms are not easy to find in the Capital, and on hearing of one Helen just had to pack and come before someone else snapped them up.   Hesketh Muli and Francis Lahol drover her up with all her belongings, and as I type are on the way back again.    We shall - are already -missing them - but the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.   However this doting grandfather will take awhile to get used to not having her around.    But of course we hope to see them both from time to time, especially during School Holidays, so at least we shall be in touch, and not cut off 

forever.    

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 LAST WEEK, I said I would try to insert a picture of the kitchen and washroom/toilet facility at the Day Care Centre.
So far we have not completely fitted them out, but we are almost ready.   To the left is one of our senior girls trying out the cooker in the little kitchen area adjoining the main play area.
Not a lot of space, but it will finally be enough.   You are looking towards one end of the room, and there is at least three times more space coming back this way.
To the right opposite is a view of the toilet and wash room.   This is a larger room, bright, and with good access and plenty of room.      We are also including a few photos here of some of the Homes' youngest children having a preview of the play area.    They enjoyed themselves and we feel glad that their reaction tends to encourage us into believing all will go very well when we finally open.     Interview for Carers to be held next week.

Exterior work is also still continuing, but again is almost com-plete.   There is a very definite 'feel' that we have been well guided in following this idea, and although not originally our first thought in relation to using the Old Jacaranda house, it does seem RIGHT.      God often liked to but in and adjust OUR plans, and to say  'What about THIS idea...?   Not very 'business like' but much more exciting.    And really it is how everything started for us, and probably how it will continue.     We hope you will enjoy these latest photos, and that you will go on praying for us.

Another ten days and the month will be over again, and we shall be entering December.    Christmas almost upon us - and nothing to be seen - no sign of it's nearness- in the town, or anywhere.    As usual here in Eldoret you would hardly KNOW,     To start with, of course, Christmas comes almost in the midst of Summer as well.    And it will be same even on Christmas day apart from a few unreal and almost bawdy electric Father Christmases at the doors of the supermarkets.    In the main this is good, since Christmas is approached without the tawdry and unwanted 'glamour' usually attending it, and thus comes almost as a surprise. except for those 'expecting' Him.      THIS WEEK on the 26th some of us will be attending Thanksgiving with the majority of our Missionary Fellowship, to just REMEMBER all He has done (not just in rescuing the early pilgrims fleeing from Europe to the Americas two hundred and more years ago), but for all He has done for us over this last YEAR!     We usually make a crowd of a hundred or so we pray, fellowship, and enjoy a common meal together.     It is good, and it kind of ties up the year for us, and gets us focused on the New Year ahead.

No other news so far since last Saturday.    We have all gone in His Grace and Mercy, kept safe against cold and sickness.   We give Him the thanks, rembering ALL of you in His Name.

John, Esther and Daryl Green

TESTIMONY DAY CARE CENTRE

YES,  this IS front door of the Old Jacaranda Cottage, which is NOW the front of the TESTIMONY DAY CARE CENTRE,
BELOW THIS PHOTO, on the left again, is another showing work still in progress on the NEW front.    We have let the front grass grow some more, hoping it will become a safe grass play ground.    We have had to re site some of the play equipment put in by Tyndale School to another adjacent site.   A new fence has been erected all around the immediate external area, and a further fence from the drive and across, just beyond the Bamboo Plant, to the far hedge.    A new double door exit gate has also been cut through the roadside hedge as a separate entrance to the Centre.   Parents will drive in and around the Bamboos and out again after dropping their child/children.
NEW pathways have also been laid from the Drive to the front door.     Landscaping has not quite been completed but it is well on the way.
DARYL has been well occupied supervising this work, and also in changing and refurbishing the interior rooms...  so far we have had to spend some  two thousand pounds sterling, but we seem to have done well since a lot has been achieved; more than  expected.     Still some more items and work to buy and finish, but it is hoped we might open before the end of this month with potential staff being interviewed in the next week or so.
THE NEXT PHOTO shows the new reception area as you step through the front door.    This leads, once past the barrier, to one of the 'Sleep rooms' on the left, and on the right to a further sleep area, also joining a bathing and potty area.
The room on the left has two baby cots so far but we will be adding floor mattress beds as well in both rooms.    All the decor is Daryl's idea, and for the most part we feel he has really done a remarkable job in the choice of colour..   ALL the flooring is CARPET, throughout.
Below Right is a view of one of the Sleep rooms.
This used to be The Girls Bedroom in the Old Jacaranda.     Big window on the right, out of sight.


Below left and right are two views of the main play area
which used to be the sitting room of the old House.    Still more items to get to make sure we have enough play things, but we are getting there.    To the left the fire place (it will be boarded up) is a small bedroom which is just now being fitted up as a Kitchen.    Once this is complete we will have the Public Health over to make sure we have followed their directions.
But we are happy with progress so far, and it has all been done quite quickly.     This is Phase 1 of the Jacaranda 'Turn Around'.    The rest still to follow as the Lord allows us.    We feel very excited and encouraged.

This is quite a 'blossoming' of the Old House with its drab gloominess.  It has certainly been 'jazzed up' a bit, but it has really changed the entire atmosphere of the place, and made it take on a new lease of life.     Thank you LORD, for leading and guiding in all of it.


It is late on Friday night, and I have made an effort to get words and pictures sorted out before tomorrow dawns.      Saturday is our Spiritual Emphasis Day for November, and all our staff, School and Homes, join together with us for prayer, worship and to hear the Word of God.    I am the one to bring that Word on this occasion.     I shall hope to speak on 2 Chronicles 30 - the account of how King Hezekiah endeavoured to bring all the Nation back together from a time of division and coldness.     Not everyone joined in, but those that DID were BLESSED.    I pray that we also will be once again knitted together to be closer to the Lord, and to each other.   Please remember us.

Our love to you all, and our very special Thanks for gifts JUST received that will lift up all our hands with Thanksgiving -  may God Bless each and every one.

Lovingly in Jesus,
John Esther and Daryl Green

LITTLE MAIDS ALL IN A ROW?

THIS WEEK, I am starting off with a photo of Esther.s Quilting Club members showing off one of their latest adventures.    The are all very diverse and lovely sisters, and really enjoy doing what they do.....more drinking coffee and chatting than Quilting I think - and this one rather hurts my eyes and jumbles my mind.
Colourful but kind of offensive at the same time!!      They DO achieve good work as well though, and the main thing is the good fellowship and togetherness that has been achieved in just coming together and taking part, and being ONE.   In the end, because of this, everything becomes beautiful!!

Quite an international group as well - Kenya, Goan, American, South African, !!  Esther is forth from the left by the way.... and the photo taken from in front of Green Cottage, looking towards the School under the branches of our Big tree.     The smaller photo is just an extra shot of our 'ladies' admiring their work, and recalling how it all came to be put together.   All the work takes place in our sitting room - which means - Yes I am pushed out onto the veranda to continue my literary adventures.     They do bring me tea though!


NEXT Esther and me at the Eldoret International Airport with baby Abigail, to say farewell to our son Steven, who was flying to Nairobi to connect with his KLM flight to the U.K.   He had been with us since Monday, after attending Mugure's Wedding.    We had a great time, just being with him, with time to chat and reminisce,     We truly enjoyed ourselves.    However, we also missed having Anji, Steve's wife, and our grandchildren with us as well.

We felt somehow as if we were on another planet, with all our kids scattered on in different solar systems!!

The Airport is about 18 kilometres from us and 9,000ft above sea level.   It is nearly always rather cool, and windy.    Not very comfortable.    He had a safe trip to Nairobi, and on to U.K.  Maybe next time he will bring all his family with him.

Michael and Elisabeth also need to make a visit.    But probably not in the near future.    Next visitors will be for Christmas - Tammy and Liz from Adelaide , South Australia,  and Hendrika and Terry    from the U.S.

Secondary School closed down for Christmas  this week, on the 4th, and today the Primary School also shut down for the Period.    National Exams for the Form 4s in High School continue for a little, and next week the Primary National Exam will be done - Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  THEN it will be quieter by about 700 kids daily.     But our 137 will still be around, and they are not usually unnoticed !!    The WEATHER is somewhat colder. There is some rain but not deludes, and really in our area we are not seeing, even now, any real EL NINO symptoms.    The harvest so far has been good, Thank God.

IT IS HOPED that before the end of November our NEW 'Day Care Centre' will have opened in the OLD part of the old Jacaranda Cottage, opposite the NEW.     The old part frontage is shown in the photo to the right, and is the MUD brick end. Midway on the right you can just see a little of the ridge roof that covers the other end of the house - that part built with breeze block.     DARYL has been VERY busy trying to re plan the interior and get it equipped and furnished - not at all easy when finance was not really just lying around waiting to be used on it.    As soon as work started the Lord just gave us all faith and assurance that this IS the next step.    Hopefully next week I will send some photos of how it will look inside.   We are thinking of starting with up to 20 one to three year olds, and see how things. go.    So far we are happy with how things have been developing, and once again Daryl has been demonstrating his ability to make something out of nothing - with nothing in hand to actually do it.

AND THIS IS IT for this week!       Continue to pray for us, and help us to press on regardless.
The Lord is with us, as He is also with you.    He laid His hand on our Cleaner, Harbert, and he now out of hospital and in good recovery.    All has been provided for his need and the cost of his hospitalisation.    A real answer to prayer all round.    God IS Good!

Lovingly always in His Name

John, Esther, and Daryl

A LITTLE JOY, A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT, AND A LITTLE CHALLENGE

SUCH REAL DELIGHT!    This is a photo of our NIECE  Elisabeth Mugure on her Wedding Day!    It truly expresses her JOY and excitement, and indeed the entire day was one of pure happiness.     She has sought the Lord for this day, and for the one she married, and yet in many ways, I think, the Day caught her almost unaware, and even here, in the photo, there is that incredulous look of amazed surprise.   I wasn't at the Wedding but I can almost hear her saying 'Hey!  I'm getting Married!  ME!!'
Well, we both wish her every blessing together with Paul, her husband.    Such a thrilling thing - to start a NEW life together, with the one of God's choice'.    And to have God with you, between you, and walking with you is one tremendous piece of confident Assurance.     We all need such a Friend by our side, each of us, for there is another who is an 'Enemy', seeking all the time to come between to divide, and to destroy our trust and love.     But if God, in Jesus Name, is binding our marriage together, then it will not easily be broken. - Ecclesiastes 4v12
Let Jesus hold on to your hearts, and to your lives, and He will never let you go, and will renew your love for one another even in times of stress and disappointment.

ON MONDAY Esther, arrived home with our son Steven who has been with us until today when he will be flying home to Manchester again.   It has been a very special Blessing to us both to have him with us.    We have needed his fellowship and companionship.   It has been a good week, even though the Rains seem to have decided to arrive together with the usual cloud cover, and cooler temperatures.    Steve will fly from here this afternoon to Nairobi, and then on from there to U.K. tonight.   We shall miss him the more, since we see him so little, and also find his 'being here' has caused us to miss  Anji and our grandchildren the more.      Last night Steven took us all ( me and Esther, James Manu, Hellen and Abigail, Daryl and Carol and their three kids, Jesse, Becky, and Jeremy, out to supper.    It was quite an occasion, and very good to be all together for once.     When shall we meet again?    No way of knowing.    But God has it all worked out.

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ON WEDNESDAY one of our Cleaners, Harbert Taabu, who has been with us for many decades collapsed on duty.  He was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with an intestinal hernia.    It seems he had suffered with this for more than two years without sharing with anyone.     The Hospital declared it was an Emergency case with immediate need to operate.    However, they then declared that they did not have what was needed to repair the hernia, and that WE would have to look for the materials elsewhere and buy them before an operation could be attempted!    The materials have been found, and the op is now scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday).     Harbert is 44 and has been with since June 1990.   He is married with family.   Please remember him in your prayers.


DURING THE WEEK, we also saw one of Testimony House' iconic landmarks removed.   The largest of five Jerusalem pines was finally cut down.    It must have stood for at least 80 years on the left of the driveway leading up to the Testimony House.   Eighteen months ago it caught a disease that destroyed it's foliage till nothing was left.    We left it standing hoping to see a recovery, but no!  It slowly dried out, and this week it was finally cut down.    We miss it.  In the photo on the left it can be seen still standing in its grey deadness, ( see bottom centre, going up.), and on the right the resultant GAP and residue of its trunk and branches on the ground.    It is sad; sad to see and have to make way for change.BUT change is part of the ebb and flow of life.   Change is inevitable, and whilst we may not always rejoice at it, it has to be, and in coming to be it must also, to some extent, take us on, changing us too.

==============

DARYL has been in Nairobi most of this week; he arrived back yesterday in fact.    He has been attending a week's Meetings conjoined by the  African Charitable Children's Institutions in Kenya, and the Kenya Department of Children's Services.     In the short time he has had to brief me, the general governmental vision for the future is not very encouraging for us.     The ideas themselves are not new.    

 First the plan to channel ALL incoming charitable donations to a central clearing house in Nairobi,where, on receipt they will be sorted out according to where the donation is meant to be placed.    However,  only 15% of the total income for any one NGO or Charity, will be sent on to the individuall Charity -  the rest will be distributed to poorer NGOs, that are still unprovided for.    This will leave the rest of us who are receiving only 15% of their expected income  forced to find the rest from local Kenyan based effort, or close down.      Some have done so already, in advance, and have re-sited their ministry in other countries.
Second, the general feeling was that Children's Homes were outdated and should give way to simple and institutional 'Holding Centres' where children would be first investigated and their histories proved before either being repatriated to their discovered family roots, or passed on to some other unit to be educated, trained, or rehabilitated as the case may need.        Homes like ours, set up to provide an alternative for children, without ANY home or family seem to be considered  almost non existent.     Children's Homes of our kind of vision will be purely temporary holding centres from which children will be fostered or adopted.     This means short stay tactics.
Third all those children in existing and future CCI's/Holding Centres, who have attained the age of 18 and over must be moved out and on to some other facility.     Any CCI such as our own, who continue to harbour this age group will not be Re-Registered, and might even be closed down.  the whole tenure of social thought as it applies to children and young people is - don't draw attention to them, get them all fostered, adopted, or working.        
This is not good news for us.      We are therefore seeking the LORD to help us re-define the Vision He gave us 44 years ago.   Please do bare this all in prayer.     There is no immediate danger to us, but we now realise that we must be prepared, in the LORD, for changes to come, not resenting them, but ready to enter into them in the Mind and Vision of the Living God.

Must close now for this week.    Accept of our love as always.   We do keep you all in mind in Jesus Name.


John, Esther, and Daryl Green

MEMORIES!!

THIS IS A LITTLE FAMILY GROUP PHOTO TAKEN IN AROUND 1983. Esther and I, plus Steve and Lizzy Green, were visiting others of the Testimony family in and around the Luanda area in Western Kenya.    Henry, standing to the left of me was in High School at St. Mary's Yala,   Hendrika, standing between Mark Auma and his wife and child, was in a boarding Primary school in the same area.  We usually packed a pic-nic lunch on these visits and made a day of it.
HENRY, now married with grown up children is currently living in the U.S.A. and is a lawyer.    HENDRIKA is also in the U.S.A. working hard in Business.   And MARK has been engaged in Primary Education in Nyanza area here in Kenya.   He has been a well known Headmaster, and also Inspector of Schools in his area, and is well respected for his Christian Testimony and consistent life.    All of them now older of course.   We are in touch with them all, and this Christmas we are hoping to see Hendrika and friend with us for a week or so.    We also see Mark and his family, though not too frequently - and on a very rare occasion may also see Henry.     It is a huge delight to see a photo like this taken in a rather arid area, when we were ourselves suffering some privation, and at the same time managing to see so many young people being given a chance to hope for their future.    And we were were all in it together; an ever increasing and expanding family..........SO much to thank God for.

AND HERE ARE THE 'GIGGLING THREE' Sarah Njeri on the left, then Lizzie Green, and on the far right Catherine Senge.  Not sure of the date, but at a guess, sometime in 1985/6.
SARAH now a senior Bank Manager with Equity Bank.   LIZZIE a mother of two, married to Pastor Prem Joseph pastoring in Rochdale, Lancashire, England, and her self, qualified teacher and accountant..   And on the far right SENGE now Mum in Tyndale Cottage, married to Micah Yego with two kids.    Such good friends and 'sisters' still.     So good to see the
m in this photo, and to know the bonds between them have not been broken or spoilt by the years between and the general process of 'growing up'.

BELOW is photo of Richard Ochieng looking more like a Tibetan or Chinese peasant, than the Father of three and a successful Business man, as he is to day!   He was always a joker, and up to fun and games, and it is so good that he remains local and close to us all.   Again it such a pleasure to look back and to remember days gone by, and the times of good family joys and fun we all had together.   Yes, of course, it was not ALL fun, and each member of our BIG family was and is an individual.   And each one had to bear and suffer things within themselves that did not always promote happiness; many of them had memories of home and family lost, and others with the pain of not knowing their true parents or history at all.  But, I think, in the main, we did help each other to be healed from our pasts, and to embrace the future with God.
We have many photo albums going back all the way to the year we began.    A wonderful source of encouragement to us.     I hope you will enjoy seeing at least a few of them, and in doing so, feel yourselves the more connected to the Testimony Family here in Kenya.

FINALLY for this time, here is a photo of three boys, all brothers.    They also came to us with a forth brother, (Percy) and sister ( Francina)   The three came to us 1986/8.   Steyne on the left NOW aged 32,  the Robert aged 35 and Gordon aged 37.   All married with children, but not so far very successful in life.     Poor Robert is a long distance lorry driver, and has suffered the death of to wives, and a serious accident in which both his legs suffered multiple breaks.    He is still recovering.   Steyne and Gordon have both had problems in holding on to various jobs which has not been easy for them.  BUT they are all very likeable young men, and we are still in touch with all of them including Francina now 50 and married with a son and daughter in Nairobi..  Francina has also come to know and trust in Jesus - We continue to pray for the boys as well.
We have shed a few tears for them over the years, but when I see this photo, I always feel, rising within me, a great deal of affection and hope for each one of them.

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I AM WRITING THE BLOG today - FRIDAY !     Esther, Daryl, Manu, Hellen and baby Abigail, plus three of Daryl's children have all motored down to Nairobi in order to attend the Wedding of one of Esther's nieces tomorrow.     Steven Green is also in Nairobi having flown in from England yesterday to attend the same function, and then will come back up with the others for a week with us in Eldoret.

Daryl will be remaining in Nairobi until Thursday next week for some special Meetings to do with Child Welfare.      The house is very quiet!,  but it is quite a blessing in its own way - baby Abigail is quite a lively and demanding young lady of 18 months.!       Why did I get to be left behind?   Well it is to do with with the Diabetes I suffer from, and it is somewhat difficult at times to be too far from a toilet.    Otherwise all is well, and my doc, says I must be patient !      Well that is not altogether bad advice, for I am a believer in letting 'Patience have its perfect work....'!     Sometimes I find myself a little impatient though - for the work to be done in me.

Daryl and the Management have agreed now to go ahead with the idea of a Day Care Centre, and a great deal has been done in the last week towards repair, redecoration and equipage.   Might be able to include some photos next week..     God be with you all, and always keep you safe.

With our Love and affection in Jesus always

John, Esther and Daryl Green

KEEPING UP THE GOOD WORK

BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS on Testimony House have been going on from time to time over the last 40 years.     The Plot on which the house stands was purchased from the Colonial Government in 1908,   We have believed that the House literally rose out of the ground around 1910 which would make it about 105 years old to-day! But it is possible it was erected a little later, say 1920.    Many Boers from South Africa trekked up to Kenya as from 1908, and settled in what is now Eldoret.    We believe one such family purchased the land on which our Home now stands.    They would have travelled up by ox-mud waggon; a long hard journey.
The house was built from mud; mud dug from the surrounding ground, and baked in bricks by the sun. Once finished it was lightly plastered to give it what still strikes the eye as a substantial and attractive house.     There is no proper foundation. Heavy rocks were laid upon the surface of the ground as 'footings' and the brickwork laid out on a smooth platform of mud.    But now the house has become elderly, and like many of us who have also arrived at that status in life, it needs regular care and attention.     Especially the termites are working hard to give themselves a foothold in the brick work, and take the place over.   Many of the walls are hollow now.      THIS MONTH one of the gable ends of the house became in danger of falling down.
Water had been seeping from the roof into the exterior and even interior walling, and worrying cracks were appearing.    Daryl felt that the time had come to find a Builder who would be willing to tackle the situation.   They are not too happy working on such structures as ours.       Well as you see he found one, and a little team of very 'amazed' builders arrived to 'patch up' our ageing home.
THEY DID A GOOD JOB, and the exterior walls now look as good as new.  But they had to use some light steel bars to strengthen joints and cracks, and then cover the brickwork finally with 'chicken wire' before plastering.     We had to do the same some years back with the front of the house and it has held well, so we are hopeful all will be well on this occasion also.
INTERNALLY the same principle has been followed.     I will include a few photos of the exposed brickwork - apart from cracks we were quite surprised at the good condition of the bricks.


These few views of the original brickwork with the plaster removed
show just a little of the building style used by the man who built it those years ago.  No cement was able to be used. and bricks were laid upon plain mud  in layers.      Such methods of building ARE still to be found today, but not often, and certainly not for such a large construction.  

The Picture to the right is of a building under construction in Rwanda.   Note the surface foundation of rough hewn stone or rock. This is of course a very cheap way of putting up a house, but perhaps not very up to date - on the other hand it can provide a good hundred years of wear and tear, and may still be good for a long time into the future.     I lived in a house in U.K. that was 800 years old.   And Testimony House is well worth taking care of for the future.   A warm, comfortable home, that still speaks to this modern and less enduring generation.       However it is true that Testimony House  will need careful monitoring as the years go by if it is to remain safe and strong enough to endure the task of sheltering and suffering the use of more than 40 people day in and day out into the future.

We had found Jacaranda Cottage, across the road, built at least thirty or more years after Testimony,
to have been less cared for, and in places water from the roof had been seeping into the mud walls without any restraint, so that in places serious reconstruction and even renewal was needed.   Since moving out of the house, we have been able to shore up and strengthen the weaker areas enough to keep it going on a less demanding basis.     We would in some way like to keep it UP rather than ruthlessly pull it down since it has been 'home to more than 150 children since we began to own it in 1975, and many still see it as 'home'.    But it was never an easy house to run since it was never intended to cope with as many occupants, residentialy, as we forced it to do.      THUS we will slowly retool the internal space to provide less demanding facilities that might at the same time assist the ministry of TFH as a whole to assist itself financially.      The OPPORTUNITY to consider this has only just been realised as a very real and possible asset.      Indeed, if it had not been for Stuart and Janet Brown of The Kirkby Trust in England, then a very real chance to expand and improve what we have would have been missed, quite apart from seeing a NEW Home up and running.

THIS IS A PHOTO of Stuart and Janet Brown of Kirkby Trust, taken at another function in the UK, where they donated some 20,000 pounds to assisting the Bradford Cancer Crocus Appeal.    They are, both, two very dear and generous hearted people who both walked quite unexpectedly into our lives here in TFH, and left us with the Gift of a completely new Jacaranda Cottage, and the quite un-thought of chance to use the old 'condemned' premises to provide new life and innovation into the entire work.    Our Thanksgiving for this will take time to fully measure, since the 'benefits' are still dawning upon us, even as the Jacaranda Family of 35 is still, day by day, discovering the joys of their NEW home together.
We had prayed for many years for the opportunity to have a New Jacaranda Cottage; many years!     God's ways of answering are usually very unexpected.    The very ways He has of involving other human beings, part of His Family, is
beyond guessing!    But He arranged for Stuart and Janet
to call in here one day, and put it on their heart to make an offer which was the Answer to our Prayer.    Truly Amazing.
And the Timing was right, and the Answer is beginning to unfold as one beyond our imagination!

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OCTOBER is almost ending.     The Promised 'El Nino' and its deluge of rain, has not so far appeared, though today the weather is very overcast and cool.    AND we need water still.   I personally have not felt too well still; partly the weather, and partly ????    I have continued to feel very fatigued.   My doc is neither sympathetic nor helpful in that he merely says 'You are 75 and should expect to feel older.'    Anyway I feel there is a great benefit in not having a helpful doctor down here, since I am the more thrown back upon my Lord and Master, Himself, the greatest Physician,  I am otherwise in every way well.    I am due to travel up to Nairobi next Friday with Daryl and others to our nieces Wedding on Saturday.    We hope to meet with Steven there as he will be flying in from the U.K on Friday as well, and will then return to Eldoret with us on Monday.     I am not looking forward to the journey there and back, and my Diabetes does not make it easy to travel these days in any case.    I may not decide to go with them all.    Also it might be best for me to remain since if ALL of us go we shall leave no one of substance in Charge of the Work here.     I shall be grateful for your prayer and for the Lord's Guidance in this.

We thank all of you who have prayed for us during this last week, and for all who may have been part of the Answer to our Prayers in relation to our needed Provision for this week.    God Bless you all.

Our love always to you all in Jesus Name,

John, Esther, and Daryl Green

LOOKING BACK

HERE IS ONE OF MY OLDEST KENYA PHOTOS! Taken in early 1969 at weekend Retreat with the Roving Team.    To attend it, in Lumbwa, I needed to take my first journey by train at night in Kenya.    A very elderly steam locomotive chugging along under the stars suspended in a clear moon ruled heaven. The gauge was narrow, and the speed was slow, but the 'atmoshpere' was just SO amazing and special.  God spoke to me very specially at that Retreat.   It was led by a very dear Man of God - Rev. Gilbert Mulaha,
I, of course, am the one with the beard in the photo.
To my left is Elijah Akhahenda, now in the States with his family, and to my right Evelyn Achenje a School teacher.    We were with a number of others including Dr. Nelson Munala, Dr. Johanna Mruka, Elijah Malenge,  Micah Amukobole,    Rahab Kimani,  Harry Cotter, and Joseph Yobera.   There were many others.    Some of the most well known have already past on to Glory, and we begin to be conscious of a passing Era, and with it the present need to see more equally noted brethren rising up with commitment to the Word of God, and the energy and dedication to proclaim it.    I was very blessed to know so many of them, and to be not only encouraged, but also accepted as as a friend and brother in those early years when Green was truly a 'greenhorn.' in matters Kenyan and African.    They were my preparation for all that came afterwards in the founding and development of Testimony Faith Homes.
IT IS GOOD TO LOOK BACK.

Just a year after this photo was taken, I met Esther Iguru, a high School teacher of English and Home Science.    I had about 28 boys staying with me by then, but had travelled some 400 kilometres to Machakos, from Maseno in Western Kenya where I was living.  I had gone to speak at a Boys High School for the Week-end.   Esther came to supper with my hosts there, and immediately I saw her I knew she would be my wife.     She says it was the same for her when she saw me that evening.   And so we were in fact married in August 1971, and have been together every since.   28 years as parents to our own children, plus some 150 others who came to live with us in Testimony House until 1998, and then as Grandparents to all the 350 that have been part of the greater Family of Testimony Faith homes since its onset.    It has been a wonderful experience, and a wonderful partnership.    I was 31 and she was 27 when we married.

IN MARCH 1972 we had about 30 boys and had moved from Maseno to Ramula in Siaya District.   We were able to leave TFH with Duncan and Christianne Munn for some months so that we could visi the UK..   THEY were on their way to Congo and needed time or get used to climate and so on.   We were away nine months. We took one of our first boys with us, Johanna Nanjelo Okombo.  Esther was pregnant with OUR firstborn, Steven, and was to give birth to him in Truru Hospital, Cornwall on 16th June.    Johanna stayed with us till he had completed High School but then ran off. and became a thief.   He eventually killed a man, and was imprisoned for life.    Whilst in prison the LORD met him, and Redeemed him.    Many in the prison were saved because of his witnessing, and eventually he was released early because of his Good Conduct.    He came to work with us as a Groundsman and Cleaner, eventually dying from heart failure brought on by Malaria in 2010.  He was 52.

ON BOXING DAY .we moved from Ramula to ELDORET, about 130 kilometres east.   We came to a compound of some 5.15 acres comprising of just one house - which we called Testimony House.   It had been empty for some three years, and was built of MUD brick and timber, the walls externally plastered.   It had been built in 1910!!    It had a huge sitting room some 900 square feet, and seven bedrooms.
It became Esther's and my home, and home to our three children, plus an extended family of more than 40 at any one time over the next twenty six years.    It was a happy house, and we always felt the warmth of a happy history in it all the years we were there.
We purchased a SECOND house in 1975 - Jacaranda Cottage just across the road from us, and in 2007/08 we built the third and forth houses on the same compound - Tyndale and Drakeley Cottages, all now with a combined total of some possible 140 children plus staff.     I am not going to go into details about these Homes since previous BLOGS do this - especially those of the most recent review of the ministry here dated as from 1st November 2014.
THE SCHOOL did not get going until 1981 when we started Nursery.  Then Primary started in 1983, and High School in 1994   -   Once again the School has been reviewed in Detail previously.

In JANUARY 1973 we were joined in Eldoret by a young High School graduate, Francis Wainaina,.
He became a very real and valued assistant to us both, and in 1974 married Elaine Johnson, a High School teacher from the UK, who was on the staff of a local school.    Elaine came into the ministry with Francis, and until 1977 were Mum and Dad to Jacaranda Cottage.     Eventually the left us, to work in the UK.   Francis was ordained in the Anglican Church of England where he still ministers.
Esther and I were standing with them at their Wedding (also with our second born Michael).     From here on I will insert a few more photos from around this era until about 1977.    

.ABOVE is a group of some of those who were in the Family of Testimony House around 1975. From the left is George Muturi, John Francis, Abwao Ongondi, Wafula Wanjala, Then also Patrick Najok, and John Etabut, both soccer players.  Patrick played for Kenya, and John for Bata.  Both have now died, and Patrick was in fact murdered in Nairobi, leaving a young wife and children.   All very distressing at the time for us all.
AND HERE IS Francis Wainaina with our TWINS Christopher on the left and Anthony on the right in the photo. They both grew up wanting to serve God, and are both now in the ministry and pastoring churches; Anthony in Nairobi with his own wife and children, and brother Christopher here in Eldoret with his wife and children.    We thank God for them both, and see them frequently.
IN FEBRUARY 1983 Esther and I again visited England for the 2nd time round.
We left Nicholas Mwangi in charge at that time.    He had worked with us as my Assistant for some years by then, and he proved himself more than reliable and efficient in all that he did whilst we were away.     Although he was eventually to leave us in 1988 to go into private business, he remains, with his family a valued and close friend both of ourselves and of the Homes.

Nicholas is standing on the back row of this photo to the far left.    The photo includes almost all those who were in the Testimony House Family at that time, and you can see how well he kept them.     Our thanks Nicholas, always for all you did for us at that time.   Following on from you on the back line going right can be seen, John Ngugi, Moses Ongonga, David Koech, Joseph Kihara, Daniel Kinyanjui,  Anthony Wanyama, Mwangi Macharia, (and  Peter Kalulu - staff member). Then IN THE CENTRE is Sara Njeri, and Catherine Senge.    Finally the bottom row left to right - Jotham Chege, Ezekiel Kipchumba, Samuel Macho, Christopher Kiptisia, Peter Wangolo, Anthony Kiprotich, David Senoga, Richard Ochieng, William Oyongolot, Charlie Green, Daryl Peacock, and Sammy Kirui,   Five among them all are now full time pastors and servants of God.
This goes back up to 32 years ago, and jogs the memory of the FIRST fourteen years that we had been existing.    They were good years in the main, though not without a great deal of challenge and disappointment at times,    AND, of course JACARANDA Cottage was also having its own family from 1975 alongside our own.  WE had grown.      And we continued to grow even until now.

TODAY one of our old girls, Purity Abwona, now an Early Childhood Development Teacher with our Nursery School is having her 2nd Pre Wedding Party in Testimony House.    She and her fiancee hope to marry in December.     Esther and I will be there, although of course Mum and Dad in Testimony House is now Hesketh and Alice Muli.     One of the wonderful things about Testimony is that it IS a Family, and even when children grow up and leave us to become independent, the majority still remain in touch to some extent, and often find themselves back with us to celebrate as well as to cry. That is very special and encouraging.

DARYL is away in Nairobi today.   He is looking over possible 'equipments' for a Day Care Centre that has at last been identified as the first of THREE projects that we feel can be housed in the shell of the old Jacaranda Cottage and also assist us in attaining at least a little 'self sufficiency'.      It is also hoped to install a Tailoring Department which will make and sell UNIFORM to our School parents and perhaps even to parents of other schools.    And finally to move the Bakery from Testimony House into the same facility.
THEN we will go public and seek Licence to sell our bread to other schools and the general Public.  We would appreciate your prayers for our father's Guidance about this, but we believe it will be a very great assistance to us, and enlarges the benefit of having been given the funds to build a NEW Jacaranda Cottage.      Kirkby Trust say they do not wish to be thanked in writing for all their Gift has meant to us, but I guess they will never be able to prevent our hearts thanking them goingly and for ever. Surely God will Bless them so much, and also Stuart and Janet Brown, their Trustees.

For the first time I have felt glad to have been able to retire from all the work here, and to be able to leave it to a younger man, with inspirational energy and vigour.      It took a while!     Recently I have been feeling very weary, and tired.       I am still up and about and able to share with Daryl when and where necessary, but I am happy it is no more than that.      Esther,contrariwise, is still spending four hours a day involved in School business, as well as looking after me and the visitors that come to encourage us and share friendship with us.        We thank God together for being well enough to do the little we do, and for giving us mental and physical health enough to still enjoy each others love and fellowship.

God Bless and be with you all till next time

John, Esther, and Daryl.