DO YOU REMEMBER GROWING UP?

THIRTY YEARS AGO!   This photo includes all but three of the Testimony House Family as it was then, plus Joshua Mbithi standing at the back (centre) and Daryl Green far right with Afro hairstyle, now Director of TFH.     I have included the photo this week since I just re-discovered it, and was impressed with the clarity of an old black and white photo.     We are in touch with most of them, and it is heartening to know that they are generally going on with life, many married and with their own families.   Not often do we come across such a 'clear' group photo of our larger family - and as always it touched our hearts to remember being all together in God's hands.

THIS week we received a brother and sister into Tyndale Cottage - Alex aged 7 and his sister Alice aged 4.    Both parents deceased.   They do have aged grandparents, but they are unable to cope with the children's needs.   They come from Turkana in the north but due to deteriorating health of both children it was thought unwise to repatriate them there.   Alex has a cast in his left eye and other health compli-cations brought on by his H.I.V. status.     His sister Alice is not H.I.V. but is seriously malnourished... ........So now they are with Micah and Senge Yeto, Mum and Dad in Tyndale, and have already settled in with a lot of joy.    ORIGINALLY, before Government here began tinkering with child care issues, our Vision and practise was to take in children without home or parents with the idea of giving back what they had lost - a home, Mum and Dad, and security.    The stayed till they had finished school and got a job.    NOW they only come for THREE years, and then their case is re-examined, and it is hoped (by the Children's Department) they will either be repatriated to their own home area (not necessarily family) - or Fostered.      SECURITY has immediately been something we can no longer provide since it is up for grabs every three years!    Makes it hard for us now to provide the semblance of HOME and Family ourselves.      This has completely undercut our intentions.      It has made us reconsider the future in order to re-assess how best to re-focus, and provide the stability and care we are used to giving.   Please keep it in mind in your prayers as we continue to Serve the Master in Kenya.

I NEVER GET TIRED of this photo where our current 'combined' Family are all together in front of Green Cottage, just opposite to our old family home - Testimony House.    I like it because we are found all together from the youngest to the eldest.     All brothers and sisters of each other.   I wish it was a true representation of what we have all strived to create and maintain.

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The City of Manchester in England has been severely shaken this week, and it's citizens not only killed and seriously injured by an indiscriminate terrorist attach, but also robbed of its sense of peace and security.     A certain Chief Constable is said to have stated in the 90s that Terrorism was not going to go away, but rather increase in the years ahead.     In his view there was NO answer to it.      Our current world society seems to be confirming this more and more.
JOB 14v.1 says 'Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.'

Often it is the PROSPECT of trouble that is worse that the trouble itself.  We actually live in the FEAR of trouble itself; fear of an Accident, of Illness, Violence, Pain of any kine - and now even of a Terrorist attack.    We fear DEATH.     Sometimes it is a struggle to keep happy and optimistic.    But Job says 'Man is born for trouble.'
AND Psalm 145v3 and Micah 7v5 tells us that there is no man to turn to when real help is needed. Friends, even, will fail us- even the influential and rich - and even princes will fail us.
JEREMIAH17v5 says 'Cursed by the man that trusts in man - in himself - in his own kind.   Man alone is unable to guarantee himself safety or defence from any kind of hurt or danger, no matter how rich or powerful he may be = Psalm49v6  BUT WE ARE ALIVE - WE LIVE!  We have to FACE life and square up to the very real troubles and afflictions that might come to us.    Surely ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
Paul the Apostle was just a man such as you or me.    His life was full of conflict, even suffering and pain. (2. Corinthians 11v25-)   How did he manage to finish his life in victory.   How did HE manage to come through without despair, without losing his mind or faith?     He tells us that it was by laying hold of ETERNAL LIFE.     By taking hold of Jesus Christ.
The Hymn Writer Blanch Moffat wrote 'Trust in the Lord and don't despair'    1.Timothy 6v12.    Again in 2.Chronicles 20v17 we find the Prophet telling King Jehoshaphat, and all Judah under attack with him,  -  'BENOT AFRAID.   Be not dismayed, just stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord.     Look into and read Psalm 107.   In verses 3-5 we hear of those who are living as refugees, homeless, stateless, hungry and alone.  'THEY CRIED UNTO THE LORD in their trouble, and HE delivered them out of their distress.    THEN, in verses10-12 we are told of thos4 who are afflicted with illness, and in the bondage of habitual sin and poverty of life - 'THEY cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of all their distresses,'    And again in verses 23-29 we are told of those in peril on the sea in storm and tempest 'and they also cried to the Lord in THEIR trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses.   The LORD, Jesus Christ the STRENGTH of God, will deliver US from all our fears and calamities.
KING DAVID testifies and says 'BY THEE I have run through a Troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall' Psalm 18v29-39

PAUL, writing in Romans 8v31 asks 'WHAT SHALL WE SAY TO THESE THINGS/    If GOD be for us, then WHO (or what) can be against us (and succeed)?
LOOK to the Saviour - to Jesus the Maker, the Right Hand of God Almighty.    He says to any that turn to Him and cry to Him for help ' I will never leave you forsake you; I will NEVER run out on you.'.

Right now you may be confronted by some impossible problem, or the fear of it.   STOP FOR A MOMENT. You are not alone -  God is right there closer than any other - all you have to do is call upon Him.     He will will take your trouble, distress, pain, and fear and deal with it.    He will fight and defend, and deliver you from ALL your distress..    Just call upon the name of Jesus, and then believe in His Presence with you - SAY - 'HERE A I LORD, USE ME!

I walk with the King, Hallelujah!

I walk with the King, Praise His Name!

I no longer roam, my soul faces home

I walk and I talk with the King.

OUR LOVE TO YOU ALL,    Pray with us here as we now enter to run up to the National Election and all the upheaval that is expected and imagined.     WE are praying for you all, wherever you are, that you will remain KEPT by His Power, in and by the Kingdom of Heaven.    

God Bless you all,

John, Esther and Daryl Green