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)
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| HELEN in 1996 |
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| 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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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.
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