HIDDEN JEWELS ARE WE!

EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL!    Yes it is true, and the Indian Film made in 2010 and advertised to the left is a very special case in point.    The film is fiction, but it presents a number of very real challenges, in very clear scenes tracing the life of an 8 year old boy grappling with Dyslexia at home and at school.      I discovered it on You Tube under the title 'Shine Like a Star', but it seems the right rendering would be Like Stars on Earth.    Very well acted.

BUT it is not only Dyslexia that Might a child special.   In the film the child's parents thought their child was a failure and useless because he could not read or write.    But in other ways he was more than bright, and in the end they came to realise this and to be glad for the child.   But, again, it not merely academic cleverness that makes a child, or anyone to be admirable.   ALL children, and indeed every human being, no matter what our outward appraisal may persuade us about their value,  IS individually, SPECIAL!!!   We are special in that each one of us has some hidden talent and ability implanted in us by the Creator.   It may not always be obvious as we look and interact with each other from our own perspective, and may not be noticed till some event brings it to the surface.
When we changed the use of Testimony House from children's home to Hostel for Boys over 18, the children then living in it were transferred, in a day, among our three other Children's Homes.    The over 18 boys were yanked out of their family home and re-located in Testimony House, and the under 18s living in Testimony were moved to fill the gaps made by the older boys in Jacarands, Drakeley and Tyndale Cottages.     This caused a little trauma to some, especially the teenagers under 18.     One such, a girl, was especially upset since she had a special relationship with the Mother of Testimony House, and when the BOYS transferred and SHE left she suddenly found she had another'mother', missing the one she had left behind in Testimony.   - and to compound this she had a close friendship with the daughter of her Testimony Mum.      This really affected her so that she found it difficult to form any happiness in being with them.  She appeared quiet, and morose to her new parents; very antisocial.  One evening she ran off, and no one could find her anywhere.   At 8,30 p.m. the houseparent came to tell us.   He was very upset and anxious for her safety.   He was also annoyed about it, not seeing or understanding her state of heart.     At 10p.m.  the girl arrived at Green Cottage with another girl, a cousin, from another house.     She poured out her heart to us for about an hour as we listened.   Then Esther and I shared what we felt might help her, and we prayed together.    She became a different person, and getting up ran back to her house, and immediately apologised the her houseparents, and in such a manner that the next day they shared how different she was, and that the whole situation had changed.     AND they began to point out to us some good points about her that had seemingly gone unnoticed - or perhaps obscured because of other annoying ways that had hidden her own 'specialness'.

The Director of the Film mentioned above comes from a Muslim family, though there is nothing to tell us how much he or his family adhere to that faith.    One thing is clear though - he sees THROUGH religion to the spirit of us all, and believes in the potential of us all, accepting that we are ALL special.

Aamir Kahn aged 51

What would JESUS say about this?     Well I think He would probably approve of such a mind set in favour of our human relationships.      He would not, as I have often intimated before, have wanted to set up yet another wall or barrier between mankind.     Jesus wanted us to be like HIM, and to go about doing good, and sowing the seeds of goodness wherever we go and whosoever it is we socialise with.       Salt and Light are not different because of the label or provider.  Both are commodities and utilities needed and used by us all.      We might look for salt in the supermarket by the brand label, but what really matters is the SALT; we need the salt not the brand name.      Aamir Khan is a man with deep concerns for children especially - children of all kinds and nations.  This concern motivates much of his other talent as his film reveals.  We need to recognise each others needs AND gifts; we need to be ready and willing to take action to help, and also to encourage and expose each others gifts without any preconceived preferences or ideas, and across all the boundaries of race, colour, religion and politics.     NONE of us are all RIGHT, but we are all HUMAN - we only need to recognised it and work on it in order to see change and improvement all over the world.

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THIS was dropped on my desk during the week!   I had never seen it before, and so far I do not know who wrote it or why - BUT I thought it was good =

THE NEXT TIME YOU FEEL GOD CAN'T USE YOU

JUST REMEMBER

NOAH was a drunk.

ABRAHAM, was too old.

ISAAC was a day-dreamer.

JACOB WAS a liar.

LEAH was ugly.

JOSEPH was abused.

MOSES had a stuttering problem

GIDEON was afraid.

SAMSON, had long hair and was a womaniser

RAHAB was a prostitute.

JEREMIAH AND TIMOTHY were too young.

DAVID had an affair and was a murderer.

ELIJAH was suicidal

JONAH ran away from God.

NAOMI was a widow.

JOB went bankrupt.

PETER, denied Christ.

THE DISCIPLES, fell asleep whilst praying.

MARTHA worried about everything.

THE SAMARITAN WOMAN was divorced, more than once.

ZACCHEUS was too small.

PAUL was too religious.

TIMOTHY suffered from ulcers

AND

LAZERUS WAS DEAD

No more excuses now   God can use you to your full potential.

Besides, you aren't the message, you are the messenger.

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Our love and greetings to you all IN Jesus Name.    If you ever have something you might like to hear from us about please let us know; we would be glad to fill you in, or give you our view.   God Bless

John, Esther, and Daryl

AFFAIRS OF THE HEART

THIS WEEK, I will begin with a comment on these four lovely kids who are, left to right - top row Ivy aged 11, and brother Mashram aged 14. Second Row Brian and brother Chemase.  They all came to be with us in  2013, and I probably mentioned them even then in a blog. They lived in one room with their Mother plus two other older children. Mum was unemployed, unmarried, and sick.    She also had a number of men friends.    All of her children are bright academically, and do very well in school.   They have been glad to leave the confined quarters of their home, and no doubt the sparse diet that sustained them from time to time. Since leaving home, together with another sibling who is in boarding school, Mum has found a job, and become a Christian Believer who reads her Bible.    She is still in the same hovel of a room though with no water, or bathroom.      I have marvelled that out of all the squalor and poverty can come such intelligent and normal kids.    We see it happen again and again.     It is clear therefore that one is not academically dependent on one's parents circumstances or even their level of education.    And history also demonstrates that a huge number of great and gifted men and women grew up in poverty, neglect and even violent homes.     I look at my children here and it is plain to me that the majority have within them ABILITY - BUT not all of them have the will, energy or inspiration to use it. The eldest of the four in the photo is now in his teens, and showing it.   He is an 'A' student but his nature and character show self determination to please himself.    We are praying for him that this does not derail him from pressing on with study and learning.     It is so distressing to see potential men and women of Letters, Science and other disciplines walking the street jobless just because they have wanted to live in their own way, and refused to heed the advice of their parents and teachers..........AND it is far worse now than it used to be.     Parents and Teachers both have greater difficulty to day in harnessing their children in a way that will channel their strengths and gifts toward a greater success and product at the end of School.      WE find it harder every year.     Partly, (a big part), we believe is because the world media and society tends to encourage children and teenagers to think of themselves like adults, and to push them to 'grow up' too quickly so that they impatiently set aside the instruction and discipline of their elders - both at home and at School.     Yes there are other caurses as well.     Enough said for the moment.

ANOTHER SNAP!   This time from the mid '80s and of our Soccer Team as it was then.   Really quite a rough group of teenagers, three of them already having passed on.  I will not name them.  They have all left and gone about their lives long since this was taken.   The majority came to us when they were 10 or younger.  They stayed on with us till they completed Secondary School, and even further into professional training.   There are sixteen in this photo, and most of them all lived in Testimony House with a few others in Jacaranda Cottage.   Looking back it was not such a bad time.    And it has gone on being not so bad - but of course they are and have always been growing boys, seeking to be men, and acquire Independence and wisdom of their own.    By the way there is just ONE girl in this photo - does anyone recognise her?    Well we still know and converse with some - but if any of you see yourself in this photo, yet are not in regular touch with us assure yourself that I never regretted knowing you, sometimes putting up with you, and opening my home and heart to you.    Hope you learned a lot both in School AND at home.

AND HERE IS A BEVY OF GIRLS for a change, and taken quite a few years ago too.   To the left is Damaris, then Catherine Senge, and then Francina, and then Elisabeth our daughter.  Wow and NOW each one MARRIED, with kids.  How the years rush by, and yet it seems but yesterday and all the years wrapped up into just a day!!
All FOUR love the Lord Jesus.   Damaris and Francina are both businesswomen with their own business in Nairobi.     Catherine Senge you know is Mum to Tyndale Cottage here with us. and Elisabeth (Lizzy) is in the North of England married to a pastor and working and studying still.    How GOOD to see them in this photo when they were even then good pals.   All in their FORTIES today!    Wow.     Thank you each and every one for being our daughters in the Lord, and thanks for still being part of us and giving us so much to rejoice and be happy about.     Bless the LORD.     (Photo probably taken in late 80's)

HELEN in 1996

Helen & Abigail

AND FINALLY a little something of another daughter the Lord brought into our family - Helen. Baby Helen, as she was in 1990, was given to us to care for from the then District Hospital.   She was just eight months old.     She eventually trained as a Pre-School Teacher, doing very well, and got a job in Nairobi.     She really enjoys her work, and children just love her.      This month after a break of more than a year she has left us and returned to Nairobi again, to rejoin her former School who had not forgotten her, or her talents.   So now she is away, from us.   We have missed her.    When she came suddenly home, more than a year ago, she was expecting a baby.   The news had really saddened us, and I wondered whether we could bare having the child born in our house.    It was, and baby Abigail came into our life and home. Little Baby Abigail became a special Gift to me and Esther. We were so glad to be on hand for this unexpected trial, and glad to be able to still be Home and Family to Helen in it all.   NOT every child will go through life as we might hope or expect.   We might be disappointed, but surely not to the point of disowning - I mean can we actually disown or abandon ourselves, even in part?    God, in a similar vein asks 'Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?  Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.  Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.'     Helen's birth mother abandoned her!  I am glad she did not want to do the same.    God rescued Helen, and brought her to us to CARE for.     Should we only CARE when all is well, and when WE are satisfied?    No I must care when things go wrong, and even when I might feel disappointed.   After all was said and done we loved Helen, and still love her, and she is standing on God's Word, rejoicing in her salvation, and picking up the threads of her previous life.      She returned to us with Abigail for Christmas and we rejoiced to see them both and love them both.   We hope to see her again at Easter.   What is it Isaiah says in his book - something about giving us JOY instead of ashes!     Yes, that is what God does with ashes - He turns them into JOY - it is the fruit of Love, of mercy, and of forgiveness.

I have put a few thoughts and scenes in front of you this time round.   I hope it will provoke a few thoughts concerning children and parents - especially our own,but not excluding other people's.
We ALL in Testimony remain well, and the winter snap that dawned with the New Year has apparently ended, and now the blue skies and sunshine have returned.    Thank you Lord for so many good things to Praise you for, and to be GLAD about.   God Bless and be with you all, through another week.   How fast the week goes by!    As we think positively with thanksgiving they go even faster as we also race into His welcoming arms at His Return.      Even so COME Lord Jesus.

Lovingly as ever from us all
John Esther and Daryl






 






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PRESSING ON TOWARD THE MARK.......

JANUARY seems to have already taken wings, and School having begun we seem to be speeding into the New Year.     I am including a view once more of the Children left in our THREE Homes, Drakeley Cottage, Jacaranda, and Tyndale. Only 90 now resident since 38 boys over 18 were transferred to what is now Testimony Boys Hostel.
Hopefully we shall add about 15 more children aged 0 to 10 as the year now progresses, giving each Home a population of 35.   And so we still seem to be in operation, and the Kenya Children's Office seem satisfied that things should go on as before.  
our DAIRY has continued to be operational, and we now have a new dairyman to take care of the THREE cows we now have.     He is a young married man, and we have given him a small house of his own on Jacaranda Compound so that he can be close.    So far things going on well.    We first began with just ONE cow in 2011, and then by mid 2012 we had four.    Things went on quite well and we felt the saving on buying milk from the Town.    The Dairy was then nearby Testimony House,  and not too good a structure.    

 THEN in 2014 we moved, with the help of Tyndale School, to a new site near to Tyndale Cottage on the Jacaranda Compound.     Alas disaster struck and we lost three of our lovely cows due to the negligence of the Dairyman at that time.    We had to dismiss him, and sold the remaining cow.     The Dairy stood derelict for some time until this year when we hired a new Dairyman as mentioned earlier.     Things are now looking better, and we are trusting the Lord to keep all well.

We are now Pressing on .......     JESUS said 'Occupy, keep busy, till I COME.'      Some people, even Christians, have given up expecting His Coming Again, but He WILL - He IS coming - and perhaps sooner, as I have constantly believed!    We see no reason to slacken off the pace, or even give up on our 'expectation'.    NO! Not at all, as long as there is what needs DOING let us hasten to push forward - PRESS toward the Mark, the Finishing Post.   And there so many that need to know and hear about God's Love.

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TOMORROW I shall be back in our Fellowship sharing God's Word.    It has been some time due to having been laid aside over Christmas.     The last occasion was at the end of last Term when I shared with our staff on one of Saturday 'Spiritual Emphasis' Fellowships.    I will close today with the Note I used on that Occasion -

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WANTING GOD

(I am using 2.Chronicles 30v1-27)

This is the story of one man's dream of seeing his Nation united and dedicated to God.

Israel was backlidden, and divided, and the 12 tribes were confused and full of hatred

for one another.   They had forgotten God's Love for them.

This can happen even in the confines of Family. between sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, and other family members drifting apart with passing years.   The Love that should bind them together somehow thins, and almost vanishes away.

It can happen also in the Workplace where every day people meet and jostle amid their working together - yet forget to CARE about each other, and more and more become strangers and even enemies of each other.    Yes it is true even in the family and workplace - AND even in the Church - people can so easily be separated from each other

HEZEKIAH decided to send messengers throughout the land to INVITE everyone to come to Jerusalem to remember God and the Passover - to remember God's Love for them, and His desire to keep them safe, well, and FREE from oppression.

The Nation had not come together as a Nation in such a way before.  All of them together at one time.

They were a divided nation, full of factions and argument, having no unity.      Hezekiah cried out to them saying - 'The Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away His face from you if you return to HIM.'

SOME LAUGHED at him and his invitation.   They scorned it, and mocked Hezekiah.

But others humbled themselves, meekly accepting their need.     

And still others welcomed Hezekiah's Invitation with one heart gladly.

A VERY MIXED RESPONSE.     One Nation, One Church, One Family, Town, Village, workplace or school  -    All with divided hearts.

BUT GOD LOVES US ALL;   Died for us all, Is alive and seeking for us ALL.    We need to SHOUT it out!

In Jesus all those who have been scattered and separated have been been given the opportunity to be ONE 'Family', one Nation, one Tribe again - TOGETHER.

On the day appointed a huge number converged on the City of Jerusalem to remember the Passover.

And in remembering, to remember God's Love for EVERYONE, for every individual,

AND to return that Love in humble Thanksgiving.

A HUGE NUMBER ASSEMBLED - 'a very GREAT congregation  - and they all ate of the Passover TOGETHER.      'And many among them were quite ignorant and unprepared religeously and spiritually  -  they were not CLEAN in the sight of God, and had drawn away from Him............'

Are WE all CLEAN here today?    I mean are we aware of God, .....is the knowledge of Him and the desire to be close to Him in our thoughts - or have we got used to ignoring Him; of actually doing without Him?

HEZEKIAH looked and saw all the people, and he was moved in his heart for them.  He longed for them all to come close to God, and to each other, and to ADMIT and GIVE IN to their need of God, and of His Love not only for themselves, but for one another.

HE PRAYED FOR THEM ALL without exception - all of them, unbelievers, and the spiritually untaught and unclean together, and he said -

'The good Lord pardon every one

that has prepared their heart to seek God, The Lord God of their fathers

Though they be not cleansed according to the custom of the Santuary.'

AND the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah

and HEALED all the people.

AND THERE WAS GREAT JOY THAT DAY IN JERUSALEM,  AND the priests arose and Blessed the People, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to God's Holy Place - even to Heaven.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

In Testimony

we have always sought to work with us, those with a desire to honour God and each other.  We feel that each of us working here, should be one Family together,

and that we should visibly love each other as God, through Christ has loved us.

We have laid a Table here today!

Upon it are the emblems of God's Love and Forgiveness.

Le me invite you all to come and share what is there.

COME!

Be Blessed.

This is all for this week.     We remain Thankful to all or you for your prayers and support.  Keep the Faith and be Strong in the Lord - till He comes.

Yours in His undying Love and Grace

John,Esther and Daryl.

ONCE MORE INTO THE BREECH, dear friends..

YES INDEED, we wish Everyone a Truly HAPPY New Year, but in order to make it true WE, each one of us, has to THANK GOD for every day - no matter WHAT happens in it!!
Thank you God, my Father, I know that what you allowed to come to pass in MY day's experience has somehow been for my good and for my edification.  

I was reminding my self of this over Christmas DAY when I found myself in BED with a rather tenacious and persistent brand of diarrhoea.     It began on Christmas Eve, and finally gave up the fight on the 30th December.     NOT comfortable, but I had needed at least that ONE day away from everyone and everything except the Presence of the Lord with me.    I have been refreshed and strengthened because of it to face the HAPPY dawn of this New Year.   Thank you dear Jesus!
MEANWHILE Christmas WAS full of Happy Thanksgiving and Joy, and everything proceeded well, and yet again we were shown great Care and Love as we rejoiced in His Birth.     I hope you will none the less forgive that my BLOGS went a little forgotten and laid aside.    They probably needed a rest as well!

AND NOW here we are already in 2016!!     Amazing and Wonderful!!   The World continues on rotating, and the calamities and disasters continue to happen.    The photos that have come through of the aftermath and damage from the floods in the north of England and in Chennai are still overflowing into the present.    Just looking from afar brings the real and harrowing anguish of all those who have lost home and belongings swirling through my own heart and emotions.     We have friends and family in both areas so that we feel even more caught up in the agony of it all.    Our prayers go out to each and every one of those affected and involved in the mental and physical stress and depression felt by all.THIRTY SIX YEARS AGO I had written

January 1st.  Our balance at the Bank to day was found to be Ksh.553/25 ( the Pound Sterling was then approximately equivalent to Ksh.13/=.).   Having prayed we all entered fully into the New Year.     Many problems hover above us.   
January 3rd.   We received our first LUO  today, aged about 10.  He is called Christopher, and is from South Nyanza.   He does not look too well - he may have some Malaria about him.  We now have NINE boys!!      I have noticed since yesterday in fact that Wilson is improving in general behaviour!   I do pray this might continue, and that the Word of Grace in his heart will grow rapidly.
January 5th.   A parcel arrived at the Post Office in Kisumu, so I went off to collect it by bus.
Home again we unpacked it, and found it to be full of good used clothing.  Every article has already been distributed !    We still need shorts however.
A further cheque also arrived from UK for five pounds, from the Brixham Assembly in Devon, England.    It is so encouraging - the way in which Pastor Stan Hyde and his little 'flock' have taken me and the children upon their hearts.
January 7th.   Rose at 6a.m.  Boys all of to school as usual.   It rained all last night; everything dripping. It remained cold all day,and still continues into the evening.
Moses remained back from School because of his his boils, poor lad.   Wilson. Moses, Zackariah, Johanna, Daniel and Doudi all treated for Round Worms today as well!
January 8th.   Finance continues to be low.   Must continue on persistently in prayer or else we shall be in even more trouble.
Moses is continuing to have a hard time with his boils.   Some have burst.   Dear Jesus help him to health - me to as I am not feeling to strong just now..'

NOT a promising start to THAT year.    Miraculously we survived, and lived through it even though sickness and financial struggle continued to the end of the year.     God did answer prayer and He DID provided against all our need, physical and material, and He has gone on doing every since.
TODAY the sky is blue above us, and although there ARE a few clouds the golden brightness of the sun is not in any way diminished.     A beautiful day - and the children are making the most of it, as on Monday SCHOOLS will open once again after the long Break, and play will give way to STUDY.

We also hope to Open the Day Care Centre on MONDAY as well!     Always something going on!
The Lord our God BLESS you all, and provide for all YOUR need and Protection.


John, Esther and Daryl.