WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL - JUST STAND!

THESE ARE NOT KIDS FROM THE PAST, but children from the present; children also in need of home and family.    The problem of homeless children is not less pressing than it was, but with 'enlightened' Governmental legislation it has become less and less possible to provide the loving security and care that they crave for.      IN THE PAST children like these would find immediate help from the local community, who would take them in to their own homes.      I learnt from their example, and we based TFH on the pattern of love and community care that was then still practised, but was fast vanishing due to increasing URBANISATION.   Today, with continuing urbanisation has come what is assumed to be necessary organisation, and BUREAUCRACY.      You can no longer see a child in need and, putting your arms around them, draw them to yourself and love them, even giving them a home.  First you must 'apply' for permission to do so, and this will only be granted if it is proved that you are 'able' to care for them, provide for them and so on - all sensible provisions, but gradually the requirements necessary in order to dispense your love and charity increases until your freedom to love - to encircle a needy child with your own arms of loving concern and care - is removed in favour of whether you are considered suitable enough, safe enough, and rich enough to do so.     No doubt all very much sensible and responsible - but often at the cost of what the child needs - immediate human love.   Sad isn't it.     Man's wisdom definitely is from the Earth.     But it is the Wisdom from above with its more immediate application and and remedy that is needed.     But TODAY Man knows best!   SO the queue grows longer and the time to remedy the need delays the answer.     Children can and so grow old WAITING.

MOST of the children that arrive here, have been alone, and away from home and parents for a while
Some put a bold brave face on it, but within a few days in one of our 'family' homes, they are running to be included in the spontaneous hugs and loving care of Mum and Dad, and to see if the sense of being a family and of being safe is for them as well.     They all seek for it; hunger for it -like the four friends opposite, who are now 'at home' with us,      When we see them - all strangers to each other, but who all had in common the desolation of having 'no one and nowhere' to belong to - when we see them relaxed and happy, safe and becoming sound - this is our reward and JOY.    Also to the right is a photo of two brothers just a week after their arrival with us.
BUT as I have intimated above, Government Trends in Child Care and Placement are more and more controlling private charities, and bringing them into conformity with their own Rules and Regulations     This, though arguably necessary, has the effect of slowly eroding and virtually destroying OUR long term ability to ensure the future for our resident children, and - if they were made aware of it (and they they are) - would and will once again bring uncertainty into their lives once again.
We do not see any way this situation might change, since it is being directed and stage managed by The United Nations and, indeed, by the world sociologists and legislators.      This is a challenge to all those who just want God to reach out and LOVE unconditionally.   OF COURSE the social climate of our current world dose not encourage this since moral and ethical state of humanity has taken a dive in the last fifty years with all kinds of perversion and moral criminal activity coming back into play.       Precautions MUST be taken, and protection given against anything that might spoil or endanger -  so much so that fifty or more percent of our humanity has been. already, been pared away, restricted, and even rejected as good behaviour.  Thus our affections toward one another are all in disarray,  and our trust, and good will toward each other seriously impaired.         It seems to us that our children are in danger of never having the chance to be 'as free as children'.    Everywhere there is danger and risk.     Play time is restricted, and heavily supervised,     Both parents are hard to find in what is becoming a more and more acceptable ONE parent society.   Hardly any children left as they are forced, more and more, to become little adults, grown up in every conceivable way before they are 12.     Even 'innocence' is a rare commodity; the introduction of the knowledge of everything from how to have intercourse inter-sexually;  experimentation with drugs and solvents of almost ANY kind, no holes barred;  ALL this has kidnapped innocence.
THE STRANGE THING IS no one is saying anything about it.     It seems we are AWARE of it, but not bothered too much about it.   Or probably everyone has somehow found themselves too much in awe of those 'more qualified than themselves', and thus keep quiet.   BUT real knowledge and spiritual perception come from Above, where God IS.     The Bible says it is put, by God, in every man and woman - but we have been deceived into listening to another voice until God's Voice is blotted out.    Oh my!     I pray all the timed that more and more, who KNOW Jesus Christ, would STAND UP FOR GOD, before we find ourselves ALL led astray into lies and falsity of life........

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TO DAY IS OUR SCHOOL SPORTS DAY - It rained heavily last night, but with the dawning of the day the Sun has come out and the heavens above are gloriously BLUE.     Wonderful, and as always it will be wonderful turnout.      Our School Field is not in too good a condition so we have been given permission to use the Eldoret Sports Club field.      Most of our 800 students (including all those from the Homes) are there, and a good many parents of children learning with us from the locality as well.    One very popular Annual Event.

YESTERDAY,  Daryl hosted a BIG Meeting in his Office (about 50) individuals from various Children's Homes from 8a.m to 4p.m. In actual fact the Meeting was hosted by ACCIK (Africa Children's Institutions of Kenya) and the Program presented by the Kenya Children's Services Department for the County of Uasin Gishu.     Daryl is the Country Rep. for ACCIK.    Basically the meeting was to advise and inform Children's Institutions in Kenya of Government innovations.

Daryl was taken ill in the afternoon, and had to be taken off to the doctors.     He was forced to rest in the afternoon.      Too many white blood cells caused by Stress AND a current bout of 'flu that he has been battling with.  

ON MONDAY our friend Dr. Frank Guinness arrived and stayed with us till Wednesday evening. We had really good and happy fellowship with him.     He had to return to Uganda prior to returning to UK and thus took the night bus from Eldoret.    It was supposed to leave at Midnight, and so Daryl arranged to drive him down to the Bus Stage at 11.30p.m. only to find that our gates were LOCKED and our Watchman nowhere to be found.     Frank, at almost 76 had to climb over the gate to get out!

All rather dramatic and alarming.     But when they got to the Bus stop they discovered the bus was delayed and would not leave until 2p.m.     Not a very good way  to leave.

Half an hour AFTER he left we discovered out two watchmen both asleep!     WE have replaced them.

ON TUESDAY we received a transfer from AENON Trust forwarding Gifts from any friends.   We were in a VERY difficult position once again, when they arrived, so we REJOICED greatly.   We had in fact been waiting and praying for funds for more than two weeks.     Another one of those 'Are you still trusting in Me alone?' times - they seem to come more often these days.   He knows our frailties.

ON WEDNESDAY,  the Lord provided against my stolen computer,    Through the kindness and love of  a dear friend, AND one of our old boys  I was able to replace the loss entirely.   I am therefore very HAPPY and THANKFUL to be using it today to send this BLOG;    Hallelujah!    Thank you both again, dear ones.

NEXT THURSDAY we shall  begin to Celebrate EASTER.    As usual each of our four Homes and ourselves will be sharing about the Last Supper in the Upper Room, and remembering Passover as well, just as Jesus and the disciples did.     It is always a wonderful time.   After the meal of Roast Lamb, bitter herbs and unleavened bread (+ vegetables) we share the leftover bread and drink with each other just as Jesus did.......then we sing a hymn and pray a little..........   A good preface to our Good Friday Service.     This is always a Service of 8 Readings following Matthew 27 throughout, with someone giving a short thought about each reading as we go along.

ON SATURDAY our friends are arriving from England, Paula and Georgina White.    The four part Life of Christ produced by Franco Zeffirelli will be shown in the afternoon with short intervals between each part.

THEN, on SUNDAY, we shall all meet to REJOICE because HE HAS RISEN.     A Wonderful Beginning to a NEW week.

We are all battling still with the dregs of a kind of influenza marked by an aggravating cough.  Partly this has been encouraged by the DRY, dusty, and WINDY weather, accentuated by the heat.    A little rain has been  appearing briefly over the last few days, and this is alleviating us a little.      God Bless you all land our Thanks always for your care of us in Jesus

 John, Esther and Daryl Green

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