JOY TO THE WORLD STILL!

ON MONDAY, THE 12TH we were glad to receive one of our Old Boys who grew up with us in Testimony House, Justin Kiprono.    He came to introduce us to his fiancee, Georgia, and her little daughter Alicia.   They plan to marry in October, God Willing, next year.    Justin has been working in South Africa as a Youth Pastor, and is currently now in Nairobi working in Nairobi Chapel in a similar capacity.    He came to us when he was just four years old in March 1986.   He had, when a baby, fallen into a charcoal fire, and was seriously burned on his head, and parts of the body.   His hair has never grown and so he usually covers it with a cap to hide the scarring.      It was so lovely that he wanted us to meet Georgia.   We have always been close and felt proud that he should want us to get to know her.    She also loves the Lord Jesus, and also works in the office of Nairobi Chapel in the City.    In the photo left to right - Justin, Alicia, Georgia, Me, Esther, and our grand daughter Abigail.

TO THE LEFT a photo of daughter Helen, Baby Abigail and Esther.     Helen and Abigail will be with until the 28th when they will be returning to Nairobi to begin the first School Term - Helen as a Teacher in Pre Primary and Abigail as part of another pre-primary every day;    Abigail is now Two years and nine months.   I shall miss Abby a lot since we kind of gel, and spend a lot of time together.   She has been an unexpected blessing to me in particular.

AT LAST THE SUMMER HAS COME.   Three or more predicted months of clear skies,  heat, and dryness.    The River Sosiani which flows through Eldoret Town is almost dry already, and water still rationed.       It will be interesting to see how we shall get through this Dry Season with a population more than thirty two times greater than the 40,000 it was in 1972 when we first arrived here.     And we expect to have Christmas in the Sun.     NEXT Saturday will be Christmas Eve, and we shall no doubt have our evening Meeting under the stars in front of Testimony House as we have been doing.     Might try to get a photo or two onto the Blog if I can.

Every year we have endeavoured to have a Christmas Concert about the 22nd, but this year we shall not be doing so.   We just have not found the time - BUT we will be still taking a Team Carol Singing on Christmas Eve.    The children just love this.   We usually send out a couple of mini vans to go around the district.     They are always very appreciated, and are often singing up to Midnight.

LAST SUNDAY, was the 3rd Sunday of ADVENT, the 2nd before Christmas Day.    The Topic for the Day was JOY, and we began the day with a short Message shared with ALL our children and staff during the Morning Service based on the Question IS THIS GOOD NEWS FOR YOU?     Is it Good News to YOU that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem to be our Saviour - your Saviour?   Does it make you want to SHOUT with JOY?   DOES this NEWS lift a LOAD from your shoulders and give you HOPE?   It did to the Shepherds caring for their sheep.  It did to the wise men who had watched and waited to see the Star!   It HAS to millions who have lived ever since     -      WHY?
Because they all felt in danger of God's Anger and condemnation of themselves because they were sinners.   They were aware deep in themselves that their lives were unable to come up to God requirements, and as a result they believed God wold demand their lives one day, and that they (their very spiritual selves) would DIE.   Trapped in a body infected by Sin, they had no way of escape, either from the Sin itself, or the Judgement incurred by it.
TODAY, because of SIN everyone will still be judged and condemned to death - nothing has changed except humanity's AWARENESS of their need of forgiveness.   BUT the Good News IS that our Father in Heaven has provided a means of ESCAPE from Sin, and at the same time has provided a way for every sin committed by any one of us to be BLOTTED OUT AND FORGIVEN.      SURELY THIS OUGHT TO BE, must be Good News - if we believe that we are condemned sinners waiting to die.   DO YOU BELIEVE IT?    It was Good News for the Shepherds for they believed in God, and feared He would judge them for their imperfections.  They believed that the SOUL that sins must DIE -  Eternally.        THEY also felt hopeless in relation to their life on Earth for they were oppressed and suppressed the Roman Colonial Power, and full of FEAR at every turn.        It was a world very like our own in many ways.     But the ANGEL said FEAR NOT!  Here is Good news - there is one born to SAVE you from all our sins and all our anxieties.
CHRISTMAS reminds us of that BIRTH, of that man child BORN TO SAVE US.   His Name if Jesus.
We should WAKE UP from ignorance and unbelief to FAITH and TRUTH.   WE need to become aware and conscious of our condition, and turn to our only HOPE of deliverance and healing - and just run to Jesus; to the babe of Bethlehem who grew up to BE our SAVIOUR; able to Redeem, Rescue and present us perfect to God.     A Friend indeed, and a Friend in need who promises to walk with and never leave any one of us who trusts in Him.     The Bible tells us His Name means 'GOD with us', and the Apostle Paul says 'IF God is for us / WITH us, then WHO (and what) can be against us?'
I am FREED from fear, anxiety and all apprehension.    GOD is now my helper, keeper, and everlasting Salvation.

JESUS sets the captives free,

bursts their bonds asunder;

fetters break and dungeons fall,

oh, the wondrous story,

this Salvation's free to all,

Glory!  Glory! Glory!

THANK YOU to all those who have written in over this last week.    We are encouraged and cared for truly by the Love of God moving your hearts.     May HE also bless you in return, and give you an increasing JOY and EXPECTATION through the coming week

Lovingly and thankfully on behalf of all our staff and children

John, Esther and Daryl Green