LOOKING BACK

WELL, HERE IS AN INTERESTING PHOTO,  It is a photo of Paula WHITE  (on the left) and her 23 year old daughter, Georgina (on the right).    The are standing on a terrace of Kerio View Lodge in Iten,   Paula is in her 50s and although she may look a little 'tipsy' in the photo, held up firmly by Georgina, she is a very sober and energetic sister.
PAULA came to visit us first in February 1984, thirty two years ago!   She left in March the same year, and we did not hear a word from her again until 2011.       It has been especially good and happy to have here again with Georgina, and we have enjoyed them immensely.    We managed to play Monopoly, Scrabble, and Ludo for six players with them.    They were good at everything including CARDS, and cheated whenever they could (in a very open and hilarious manner) both with us AND among the families in the other 4 homes.    They have made a lot of friends.
TODAY they both leave us for Nairobi to take their Flight back to England.    They are certainly browner than when they arrived.

REMEMBERING 1984 I came across this little Article written by Bob Grahamslaw, about the same time that Paula was staying with us.     At that time Bob and his wife Joy were Houseparents at Jacaranda Cottage.    An interesting glimpse into the work of being 'Dad and Mum' to 35 kids.

JACARANDA COTTAGE  -  It is March 1984.       'It is 8.30 p.m.   I have just come and sat down in our Dining room.    The boys are studying their school homework from today's Classes.  I'm sure they would rather be watching the telly, or playing football, as any other typical lad would.   But from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. they have to slog away at more School work - and I have to make sure they do so, as Dad in the family.   My wife, Joy, and I have been at Jacaranda Cottage for four months now, and to be truthful, we have found it the biggest challenge of our lives!!           

When I look back and think about how I used to be, and the problems I used to give to my Mum and Dad, like unwillingness to wash myself (My Mum was always looking in my ears to see if 'potatoes were growing inside', and would often say 'Potatoes would grow in the dirt I see in your ears!'     I was the only boy in our family, and if you you multiply her words by 26 you will get some idea of how things are here with us and our 'boys'.   There are a lot of times when I have to be the stern father to keep things together and in order, but at other times I can go out and play football with them. JOY looks after the smaller kids, supervising them, making sure they brush their teeth, reading bed-time stories - and just being with them through the day's chores and moments of need.     These small boys (there were no girls in their day) helped us both a lot in settling down as parents in Jacaranda, as they seemed to immediately have confidence in us, and in calling us Mum and Dad!    The older ones have been a bit apprehensive towards us, trying us out, to see how far they can go.   But I think that now they are getting to know us, and I believe they too feel confident with us now.

Both Joy and I are glad to say we know Jesus as our Personal Saviour, and we try to live as unto Him.  We hope and pray that Jesus may shine through us, and that as these boys grow up they will see the love of God in action, and that they also will commit themselves to Him Please pray for us along these lines

          (Bob and Joy eventually left us and returned to England, where they have turned their family
          home into a Foster Home, still caring for needy children in the Denton area of Manchester)

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THE LAST FOUR WEEKS have been quite difficult for us,since our February expenses were inflated by College Fees, and although we did our best we found ourselves at times forced to spend more than we could afford.     In order then not to borrow or take goods on Credit, we just did not spent at all except on weekly essentials.     This meant we lived at a minimum, but we DID live.   Bills remained owing.      However, we did receive the odd Gift from here and there, other than from AENON, and it was these that allowed us to pay our minimal way.     These were truly Gifts of a Life Saver quality.
There has still been no further news of the Legacy left to us via UKET.      We begin to wonder if it will in fact ever arrive.      We had been SO encouraged when we first heard it was on the way last November, but in fact it has been a huge disappointment to hear nothing at all since then.   Another emphasis on Jeremiah 17v5 - 'Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.'      So easy to depend on a brother or sister, but GOD abhors it.     Best not to 'hear' the promise of men, and instead to HOPE only in the LORD.   And, of course, we have lived without it.     God looks always on the heart, and to what He finds there,     That will finally determine His Mercy and Grace toward us.    

School closed yesterday for a three week April Holiday.    Everyone at home now, and enjoying a little freedom from the continual and demanding class work.

Daryl has been off work due to what the doctor defines as 'stress'.     He concluded his Leave on Friday, and has now gone to Mombasa for a further break until next Wednesday.

The expanding Town, and it's population seems to attract more and more who are turning to DRUGS of one kind or another.     The commonest currently is Marijuana.      Schools, and children from across the society - including ourselves - are being targeted more and more, and almost daily one or two cases come to our attention.       This is a very real threat to our society here, and of course it is the precursor of even worse substances and greater mayhem among our youth..     Pray for us that the Lord will protect us and give wisdom to us.

Our Love in Jesus, as always.   Our prayers ever go up to His Throne for you.

John, Esther and Daryl Green