LOOKING BACK BRIEFLY!

A WEEK AGO, ON SATURDAY,  the 36th Annual School Parent's & Prize Giving was still continuing.          Above is a photo of some Lower Primary students presenting a song on stage.
The Guest of Honour had arrived at 10.30a.m. together with his wife and one of our Old Boys, Mark Ouma, who had accompanied them.       The photo above was taken during the afternoon Concert.
I had hoped to bring these photos on the very Day, but they had arrived too late.   I regret that the clarity is not as good as hoped, and representation of the events and scenes very scanty.

TO THE LEFT, on arrival, Bouquets of flowers were presented.     The Guest of Honour is wearing a white suit, with his wife standing to the left of him also in a white with a cloth of gold turban.    Me and Esther on the left.   Mr. Ndungu, the School Principal, Heads of School, and our Pastor out of the picture to the right. Mr. Mark Ouma is standing on the extreme right of the photo.   Students from Secondary and from Primary (wearing navy blue) presented the Bouquets.       The weather was not bad, but a little cloudy and quite cool.  It rained heavily in the afternoon during the Concert when we were all under cover

TO THE RIGHT we have moved on to the gate of the School Field.    Our Guest of Honour is an Engineer by profession, and we had wanted him to see our Field which is on a severe slope, and very irregular.    We hoped to get some advice and help from him in showing us the way forward in levelling the whole - some 3 acres.
In THIS photo our Guest is standing centre.  Mr Ndungu is on the extreme right, and the Head of Primary, Mr. Benjamin Emajong to the left up front.
We spent some time viewing the scene and discussing how to go about the task of improving the site and general facility.    Through the gap you can see part of Testimony House and the Bakery.

On left is a photo of Mrs Angela Omobe, our Secondary School Head, and Mrs.Ochome the wife of our Guest of Honour, as they walked round the Nursery .
By this time all our School Heads had joined the party, including Mrs. Miriam Ondanga, Head of Nursery School.          Parents had also begun to gather, and would begin to follow the main party around to see for themselves the exhibits and also their children's School work with the Class Teachers.     By mid day they would all be offered lunch in tented pavilions erected in the School grounds.



To the left a snap of Miriam Ondanga front, then Mark Ouma, then myself and Daryl Green.    WE have all now toured some sixteen classes, and are about to visit the Science labs before adjourning for our Lunch.

(( Since the Primary School opened in 1983 we have always combined the School Parents Day with the Homes' Founders Day, which until then had been remembered on it's own.       HOWEVER IN FUTURE,  Founder's Day may be once again celebrated separately as it used to be during the last weekend of August each year.)).      The School has grown so much, and on Parent's Day there just isn't time to draw attention to the Homes and to remember how the Lord began everything, and brought the School into its own existence

AND FINALLY a shot of a group of students taking part in a traditional tribal dance on state.

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SCHOOL has now closed down at the close of 2nd Term.   In just under two weeks the National General Elections will take place, and then School will hope to re-open in the first week of September.     The weather is 'wintery' quite COLD, and a lot of cloud and RAIN.     Gloomy days and rather chilly nights.     This may continue on now until September, when we expect a slow return to more warm and sunny times.

We have successfully sent out the 3rd UPDATE of the year to all our supporters, family  and friends, either through the Internet or by post.       Some E-mails have been returned due to the address having been changed.     We have now sent to those concerned at their physical address in the hope of restoring the internet connection.

PLEASE, in the three weeks ahead, pray for the PEACE of Eldoret, and of Kenya as a whole, as Election Fever continues to build up.      It is now TEN years, almost, since the political troubles arising from the Elections of 2007.       We are believing the Lord to have used the intervening years to have helped us all to grow in maturity, and to trust in God for the Election of a Government that will be right for ALL the people.     HE alone knows what is good and right for us, not we ourselves.

There is an underlying sense of anxiety and apprehension as to how the Result will go, and also how it will be accepted.      A kind of 'jumpyness'.    But we ourselves have been through this many times, and He has given us perfect peace, and brought us through safely with all our children.     He is WITH all those who BELIEVE and TRUST in HIM.    We are not in fear or dread. 

God Bless you all, and walk closely with you imparting to you all confidence and peace of mind moment by moment, day by day, till He COMES.......not long now.   Be on tip-toe, in prayer, and in keeping watch, for He WILL come SUDDENLY, in the twinkling of any eye.

Lovingly to each and every one, beloved as you all are

John, Esther and Daryl Green

DAYS TO REMEMBER

TO DAY IS OUR 36th SCHOOL PARENT'S DAY & the 48th  TFH FOUNDER'S DAY!     The Guest of Honour is expected around 10a.m. but visitors (at least 500 of them) will be arriving at 11a.m. to view Academic Exhibits, Class Work, and Demonstrations.      It is still only 9a.m. so I will BEGIN this week by flashing back to last week, beginning on Sunday.

LAST SUNDAY WAS OUR BAPTISM SUNDAY.    Our usual practice is to have our normal morning Service, and thereafter we all go the School Swimming Pool, quite near, for Baptism.   On this occasion we Baptised two from Australia and five from among  ourselvers...................................................


The WEATHER was very cold, as it had been for more than a week, and the Pool water was  FREEZING!     Michael Potter from Australia was preaching and later also assisted, together with one of our old boys ( a Pastor of a Church in Eldoret), Christopher Kipkosgei.     I was not so well on that Sunday, and was unable to attend.   Esther was there and, of course, all our staff, and children from the Homes, and from Tyndale Team, as well as some other members of our Fellowship.    The sun shone. God was glorified, as His Praises and Thanks-givings were poured out.      A wonderful occasion.

On Monday Tyndale Team tidied up and finished their works both for us and Neema Homes, and began to pack, ready for their departure back to Australia as from Wednesday morning.   Their time with us passed so quickly we could hardly believe the day for them to leave had actually come!

On TUESDAY evening, the Team invited all the houseparents including me and Esther to have a Farewell Supper with them at an outside venue.     We were presented with momentos of their visit, and many of the students on the team and also staff shared how they felt about their time with us. Some of us also shared, and all in all it was a great time.    But after all we expect to see at least some of them back next year!     We have missed them all already though!

All of  these extra happenings come in the midst of daily life, and other matters that crop up between the ordinary routine of daily life.     This last week we have had to see a NEW accounts clerk take his place on our staff.   His name is Daniel Natto.   He and I, for the next five months or so, share an office.       He is well qualified, and good company.        LESS happily we have had to see another member of our staff laid off due to serious pilfering of animal foodstuffs, and even animal products generated from the Poultry Project, and even the Dairy.     Very, very sad, since on the surface the offender appeared hard working, and honest.

YESTERDAY  was an Anniversary Day!      It was our daughter Elisabeth and Prem's Wedding Anniversary, AND their son John-Finney's 15th Birthday, and the 16th Birthday of Daryl and Carol's daughter, Rebbecca.
Their son Jesse was also with us from Nairobi, and so we also remembered his 19th Birthday which happened in his absence in May.       It was a nice time, and generated a good photo as well.  We do not always have chance to be all together either with our UK or even Kenyan family members.     But its always GREAT when it happens,    We managed cakes for both J and B, and enjoyed blowing the candles out and sharing the eating.    Even the majority of those who have lived with us remember the little 'family' things we used to do and shared together. When they visit these always get mentioned and remembered, and indeed they have carried these memories and moments into their own family life.       We did many things together in our parenting days.   Played board games together,  went for walk together, sat on the porch and talked together.
TV was a loser compared to the the comfortable commaradie of just living as a family, and knowing each other.      NOT so easy these days here.      School homework and other tasks have gobbled up a lot of spare time AND television has also increased its temptations so that its firm control tends to be an increasing challenge that parents find difficult to stand up to.       BUT we are also aware that if we seem to be losing "family' it is for US to find it again, and to devise ways to hang on to it.
STEVEN phoned us late evening to say Happy Birthday to Becky, and WE phoned Elisabeth to wish her and Prem a Happy Anniversary and to also say Happy Birthday to our grandson John Finney.  So in the end although 'at a distance' we were all hooked up by phone to each other - except for Michael and Janet.

THEN we managed, just before everyone went their way, to also get a Family Photo, just as a reminder that we CAN all manage to get together Once in a While.

AND NOW TODAY!!    Usually School Parent's Day is a week or two later in July, and the last event before the end of Term.   However, with the Elections looming in the 1st/2nd week of August the government felt schools should close early - thus we moved our event a little forward to today... It is already 10.30 and Esther and I must go to meet the Guest of Honour - will resume later.....!

...............Back again by 4..45p.m..   The Guest of honour spoke for forty five minutes during the afternoon Prize Giving.    He was more of a lecturer,and rather repetitive.     It was a good day generally and well attended as expected by parents - even though it rained heavily in the afternoon.   But in the afternoon it was dry and even sunny.     The Guest of Honour was on time, and arrived with his wife, AND - surprise, surprise - also with Mark Ouma who was with us in the early 70s.    He chose education as his future, first becoming  teacher, and later Headmaster, and an Education Officer.  He is now retired, but still teaching.   It was so very nice to see him.    He currently teaches in one of the Private School owned by the Guest of Honour, Engineer Charles Ochome, who is also the National General Secretary of Kenya's Private School Association.
The actual Prize Giving was continuing when I left, and may yet go until about 5,30p.m.     A long day.    And NOW I have to fit in some photos if I can.   .........................I had hoped to also include a few photos but the photos were run away with by the photographer - so will have to include them next week.

I have almost finished an Update, and hope to send it out early in the week ahead.    God Bless and be with you.

John, Esther and Daryl Green

ALL THINGS COME TO AN END SOMETIME!

OUR AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS ARE ALMOST LEAVING! They have successfully completed the work they took on with us - and also at Neema Children's Home, up the road from us, - and now it is a matter of tidying up, and saying Goodbye - till next time.   The TIME seems to have gone faster than any year before.    The weather has been fair, but not very warm, and with a lot of heavy thunder storms.     One of the smallest of Teams so far as well, but all in all, very hard working and willing for anything.     WE DO THANK them all, including Mike and Dani Potter, Tammy Garret, and Tim and Liz Rankin, who came with them from Tyndale Christian School, Adelaide, South Australia.        They arrived, as I have recorded earlier, on Monday, 3rd July, and will finally leave us on Wednesday morning, 19th July.     The will have spent just 15 full  days with us and in that time they have built a new Hen House for Layers, expanding our Poultry Unit, and also built a six foot tin fence across the top of the Jacaranda Cottage Compound.      Might not seem a lot in cold print, but in fact a lot of heavy and intensive work and effort - more so when only HALF of the Team were achieving it, whilst the other half were with Miriam and Joshua at Neema Children's Homes doing even more.

TO THE LEFT is a photo of the front of the Layer's House, and to the Right is one of the rear of the same.     We hope to put in about 300 layers into this building.
BELOW are glimpses of the interior ...........

A job well done and finished.  Also PAID for by the hard work and generosity of Tyndale, staff, parents and students who have always joined together to really HELP and improve us every year that they come, self sacrificially, to just GIVE ....

ABOVE THE FENCE PUT UP across the top end of the top end of the plot.    Drakeley Cottage is out of sight to the right of the photo, the fence extending a little beyond it.     Previously it was just bush and scrub, and dogs, plus other livestock would always be pushing their way through into our compound.    We had no security at all.     NOW all is made safe.     Wonderfull!!

The 2017 Team

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NEXT SATURDAY WILL BE THE 36TH PARENTS DAY FOR TESTIMONY SCHOOL founded in 1981, and also the 48th Founder's Day for Testimony Faith Homes.   It is slightly early this year due to the expected General Election in early August.      The Country a little nervous and apprehensive on coming up to an Election, but generally we are not seeing any sign of serious disturbance so far.    The government just feel Schools should be well and truly SHUT by the time Voting begins..      We expect to open for the 3rd Term at the end of August, God Willing.     Are WE feeling 'jumpy'?    No.  All is well with our souls.      Daryl will be hosting the day as our CEO, and the General Secretary of the Kenya Private School Association will be Guest of Honour.        Hope I might get some photos of the Day, but I might be a bit late insending .       In 2019 we will be having the 50th Anniversary of the Beginning of TFH, but that will be AUGUST of that Year, and we hope to host a great many of our Old Boys and Girls plus friends on that occassion.      

Psalm 103v.1-5

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; 

Who crowneth thee with loving kindess and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renews

like the eagles.

KING DAVID wrote these words.   The man who testified in another Psalm and said 'I acknowledge (confess and admit) my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me.'     Taken as they are, one can read the words in Psalm 103 as a simple statement of well being;  they can almost be taken for granted.     It IS a statement of Truth for the one who is Trusting in God, and whose sins are forgiven.       BUT,,,,,,,,,,these words come across so much more strongly when one sees and accepts that they apply to the sinner that I am.      Yes we all DO sin, even after realising\the Blood of Christ; we are prone to sin, and although we now have means to overcome and be victorious over sin, it is a fight and a struggle.     AND YET the Blessing of a Loving God abides with me and upon me, quietly and constantly refreshing my life with His Goodness.       It is SO EASY just ignorantly accept this, and be thankless, or without a clear realisation of it - but when He opens our understanding, our ears and eyes to the moment by moment truth of it - THEN humbling it is, finally be aware of who and what I am were it not for the voluntary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the Cross.   My Heart cries out more and more, to such a God, such a Heavenly Father - who spared not what was most precious to and loved by Him, in order to rescue you and me from our own willful waywardness.     Oh my!

Hallelujah!  What a Saviour!

Who can take a poor lost sinner,

Lift him from the miry  clay and set him free.

I will ever tell the story

Shouting glory, glory, glory,

Hallelujah,  Jesus ransomed ME!

Julia H. Johnston

 

TODAY - this very DAY, He has yet again provided ALL our needs.     HIS love never fails.

May He so love you too, and fill your hearts with the expanding knowledge of that love both for yourselves and your enemies and those who may despise and take you for granted.

John, Esther and Daryl Green

VICTORY IN JESUS

Lucky, DominiC, Charles, Dixon, and Nelson

LAST WEEK, on the Saturday evening I had hoped to put up some photos of our Leaving Party for five of our boys, now grown to manhood, and commencing an independent life.   The photos are now to hand, so I will start off with them.     We all met in the School Hall at about 7 in the evening.   Pastor Wycliffe gave a short word, and then each of those leaving stood to share with us all before they. finally left.     Two,  Dixon and Nelson, grew up in Jacaranda with Micah and Senge Yego,   Two more, Dominic and Charles, grew up in the Testimony House family before it became a Hostel for over eighteen boys so, in a way, they never left home.   Initially, whilst it was a Home, they grew up with Hesketh and Alice Muli, but more lately with John Obiero who took over as Warden of the Hostel.     And lastly ONE from Drakeley Cottage - Lucky who was part of Francis and Eunice Lahol's family.    Apart from Alice Muli all the houseparents and Wardens were present, and able to stand with their their boys and to pray with them.     A few tears here and there, but we ALL were glad and proud to see them ABLE to finally stand on their own feet and confidently face the world.

Lucky  (to the left) has studied to be a Civil Engineer, and came to be with us in May 2003 when he was 10.
Below is a photo of him with his parents in Drakeley, Francis and Eunice Lahol.   He has studied Civil Engineering.
Dominic (to the right) has also studied Civil Engineering
He came to be with us in 2007 when he was also 10.    His brother also spent time with us earlier, and both have done well.        Also, to the right, is a photo  of him with Charles Muriithi, (and Hesketh Muli,) both from  Testimony House with the Mulis as houseparents. Charles (photo below right) leaves a younger brother still with us in the Boys Hostel.  He has studied to be a Community Dev. Officer.   Charles came to us with a severe stutter, but God has helped him, and he now speaks well.
Below left is a photo of Dixon and Nelson with Micah and Senge Yego who were their parents in Tyndale Cottage while they were growing up.  Dixon came to us in 1999 when he was SIX, and Nelson in 2004 when he was 14.   Both chose Hotel & Catering as careers and are hugely happy pursuing it.


We were very glad - as BIG family, to be able to send them out with Prayer and Blessing.     We were also able to give each a Bible, and a very small monetary Gift  to assist them get started in their new digs.
They will all be working, at least to start with, in Eldoret area, and so - as with others who have left  us - we expect to go on seeing them and sharing their future adventures.    It was a truly very glad and happy evening.

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THE TEAM FROM TYNDALE SCHOOL arrived Monday in the RAIN.    Quite cool as well..   The next day I met with them all in Daryl's Office and shared about the work and history of TFH.   It was a good time, as always,    From there they went on a tour of 'inspection' and took in what was in store for them relative to work!       The next day they visited Neema Children's Homes and the Mbithis, getting an idea of what may lay in wait for them there as well!

HERE their first assignment as been to finish and roof the new Layer's House adjacent to the Poultry Project (which they also built).     Daryl had, with help of funds sent in advance, and local labour, already laid the flooring and set the poles.     They have pressed on from there, and yesterday it was nearing completion.     The photos here are from early in the week

In the Photo on the right above you have a view right to the top of the compound..  The poultry house is to the left and opposite just our of sight in Drakeley Cottage.    The next job the Team hope to undertake is to erect a Fence of tin sheeting right the way across the end of the compound, shutting us off from dirt and dogs from the next door neighbours.!         Just a little more security after years of just putting up with a lot of unpleasantness and nuisance.

JAMES MANU, our son, was again away for the 2nd Injection into his eye in an effort to save its sight.    It is a three hour journey from here, and he had to stay over night.    However, the Consultant was VERY pleased with the improvement he found in the eye.    SO pleased that he decided to go for the SAME treatment for the other, previously condemned eye as well!!    This was VERY good news for us all, and especially for Manu.     SO MANY of you had sent word that you were praying, and we feel that the LORD has truly heard and acted to HEAL.      God Bless you all for bearing up our burden, and REJOICE with us that He has heard our prayers.     Hallelujah.

How wonderful to be so entwined together as a 'family' in Jesus.      Hope to send another UPDATE shortly.     Our grateful Love to all of you.

Lovingly in our dear Lord Jesus

John, Esther and Daryl Green

      

COMINGS AND GOINGS

WE ARE HAPPY AND GLAD to present this photo of the 12th Team from Tyndale Christian School,  Adelaide, South Australia.     Almost all girls this year!   Nevertheless we are sure that will make little difference to the energy and hard work they will exhibit whilst in Kenya.    Mike Potter is on the extreme right of the photo.    God Willing they will all safely be with us on Monday next.

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AND HERE, for the first time, a photo of Kathy and Mark Lessig who have for the last year or so been in and out of the School and Homes with the Word of God.      Together they have a ministry promoting the Word of God into teaching and presentation of all subjects in School.     They have ministered to a number of schools in our area over the last two years including ours.    Relative to ourselves in Testimony they have not only ministered to our teachers and students but also to all departments and staff in the Children's Homes as well, and we have been blessed and challenged.
Both they and ourselves (Esther and I) have felt very much drawn together by the Spirit of God, and just recently they asked if they might be more involved with the spiritual aims of TFH as a whole, in deepening and strengthening spiritual awareness, and growth.     This had been on our own hearts, to also speak with them about, before they wrote to us, and last night at our 2nd Quarterly Board Meeting we shared their application, and it was accepted with open appreciation.    Thus, as from now, although not resident or officially 'attached' to us, they have become a close spiritual members of the 'Family' and will be giving us more of themselves in prayer, council and fellowship in the Word of God.  We feel that this is a very real Answer to Prayer at this time.   Please pray for Kathy and Mark as they live and serve our Lord trusting in Him alone.

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TONIGHT we are having a Party to send off FIVE of our young men who grew up with us, away into the world to start independent adult lives.     Our tradition is that after someone growing up in the Homes has completed their academic education, we find some training for them.    On completion of this, on their final Graduation, each one is given THREE month to find a job whilst continuing to live at home with us.   Once job has been found they are given a further THREE months to work, and to save their salary for the day they will finally leave. On that Day the Homes give them a small financial Gift of Ksh.10,000 plus just a little more such as a bed or cooking apliance of some kind, to start out on their own with.  It is a tough call for most of them, but on the other hand most of them do make out and succeed.     Tonight we have five young men who have already been out working, and some even having commenced to LIVE outside of the Homes. Tonight will be a Family Farewell and Blessing.     I will hope  to include photos before sending later tonight.All five of the young men leaving us have completed there time here in Testimony Boys Hostel.   But they all grew up in different Homes - 2 in Tyndale Cottage, 1 in Drakeley Cottage, and 2 in what was Testimony House before it became the Boys Hostel.       TONIGHT ALL the children from the 3 Homes and all your over 18 boys and girls from the 2 Hostels with the staff assembled in the School Hall TOGETHER and had Party and Send Off for the FIVE.   We started at 7p.m. and Esther and I have just got back to Green Cottage at 9p.m.      Regretfully Daryl has returned home with the camera and the photos - SOOO!   I cannot include photos after all - hopefully next Saturday I may be able to do so.It has been a very busy day for me again, and I think I will close for this week.    I have a sermon to write for tomorrow morning, then a Men's Meeting in the afternoon, and an external Prayer Fellowship to attend in the evening.
God Bless and be with you all.

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John, Esther and Daryl Green