TEARING DOWN MORE THAN WE BUILD; FORGETTING MORE THAN WE REMEMBER..

Horatio Nelson

NOW THERE IS TALK OF TOPPLING NELSON FROM HIS COLUMN!   Suddenly we seem to live in a world manifesting a  'DOG EAT DOG' mentality.     The Day of Degradation!    Human degradation, without any regard for any of Man's admirable moments.       Surely, the Bible says ALL men (and women) are sinners.   Romans 3v10-12 ' There is none righteous, not one.......'    There is no need to seek for the fault or the dirt in a person's life - we are ALL faulty and dirty because of sin working in us.       BUT when some moral good, or selfless act that the nation can admire and be proud of appears, why should it not be commemorated and remembered?  
These people want to knock the man who gave his life in saving his country from invasion, and the loss of its freedom. from off of his pedestal in Trafalgar Square.      It was all done 200 years ago.  He was the National Hero of the that day.       No one remembered his faults, they remembered his courage and love for his Country.      He had already lost an arm, and an eye fighting England's battles, confined to an uncomfortable and confined existence for months at sea away from home.     Here was a dedicated servant of his Country, regardless of his own safety, comfort, and well being.
When I was a child my mother took me to London, to Trafalgar Square    (Trafalgar was the name of the great sea battle that Nelson and the British Navy had won)  and I remember standing looking up at the tall column,  Nelson's Column, on which, at the very top, the great Admiral's statue stood.   I was about nine years old, and I already knew all about him.      He was one of my boyhood heroes. I knew nothing of his attitude to the slave trade, nor his unfaithfulness to his wife, and if I had it still would not have dimmed or tarnished the Honour in which I held him, and still hold him today.      At nine I knew it was his genius at sea, and as a leader of men, that motivated the Victory of Trafalgar, and I knew, two hundred years later, that I was not living in an occupied Country, robbed of my freedom.
Nelson bought all our national freedom with his own death..........sinner though he certainly was.       I am sure it is right for him to be remembered and regarded as a man.   To throw him down would be to forget a glimpse of the Glory that even a flawed human being can reveal.
Many Statues have been pulled down, removed and even angrily destroyed; statues of those who had manifested ONLY evil in their lifetimes, bringing pain and suffering and enslavement to their will during their time in the world.     In the United States of America today statues have been, and continue to be, pulled down, of statesmen and leaders who upheld the Confederacy during the American Civil War.     The argument is that those they represented stood for white supremacy against the black man.      The Confederacy stood for Slavery, and so those who fought against the Northern 'Yankees' are said to have fought FOR slavery.     Slavery being a great Evil, why should images of its approval be allowed to remain rallying points for those of a similar mind?  After 200 years, has Man become wiser - or is he less able to admit the 'good' that can be seen in others, even in those that may be against us.       Did General Jackson and Robert E. Lee fight for slavery?    Perhaps, but more basically they fought for their freedom, and did so gallantly and bravely.    Their Countrymen should still have reason to be proud of them - even though they fought, in part, for a mistaken ethic.    
Why should an image of Lord Nelson be allowed to remain atop his Column in Trafalgar Square, when he was himself stood for slavery, and spoke for its retention even in Parliament?    This is the Question being asked.  BUT he was not fighting the French at Trafalgar because of slavery.    He fought to defend his King and Country from the the domination of a megalomaniac dictator who dreamed of subjugating the world to himself.
God used him, sinner though he was; imperfect though he was, to maintain our Freedom and Democracy.       He should be remembered for that.   His Courage, and his national identity are a constant memorial to all the rest of us.     His faults and failings are not displayed in Trafalgar Square; they are not hidden; just not brought to mind in order to obscure or obliterate his honourable devotion to serving the Nation.

WHY is it our world is now so busy trying to eradicate, devalue, and even destroy the righteous values, and actions of mankind, together with the proof of his genius and creative ability.       ISIS has sought to pull down, blow up, and deface all trace of the historical past of Syria and Iraq, and indeed wherever else it found opportunity.       And now we see a similar spirit at work in the new wave of Statue Toppelers who, without proper thought or understanding seek to remove Memorials that remind the world of true unselfishness, courage, bravery, and other testimony of the Humanities.
In Proverbs 22v28 we find these words  -

'Remove not the ancient landmarks which your fathers have set.'

The History, Tradition, and Custom of a Nation established it, and give it a distinctive character and flavour.  It is called National Heritage here in Kenya.    When a Nation turns its back on the past it tends to forget what it believes in, and will eventually slide into meritocracy and even obscurity. - This is to make the past of no effect, and to make the future to be founded on the present.

Sir Winston Churchill  (whose own character, life and faith are now being questioned by those who would like to 'debunk' him from any place of respect or honour) said that 'Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.'     If we continue to remove icons of history, then the world will not remember how it came to be,, or why it is what it is.     There will cease to be Reminders of what is regarded as Good and Worthy, and there will cease to be Reminders of where we went wrong.         Our brothers and sisters trying to bring one of our National (British) fighters for freedom fighters into disrepute, may well be in danger of   'throwing the baby out with the bathwater.'     If they succeed, and if they are permitted to go ahead in their ideas then I will know England has indeed given up its freedom and its democracy.      Probably the government will build a block of flats on 'Human Rights' Square, and we shall forget Trafalgar and why the English won a great Victory there.

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Malcom  X

In April 1964  a certain black American and member of the Islamic Nation,  MALCOLM  X  originally Malcolm Little, embarked on a speech entitled ' The Ballot or the Bullet?'

This week a member of Kenya's Opposition Party (NASA) Dr. David Ndii said on NTV ' If change will not come through the ballot, then it will through the Bullet.'   The Result of our August Election is still in question and is under review of our Supreme Court, who may hand down some statement on this coming Monday.    The country is balanced almost 50/50 and the Opposition is accusing Government of foul play.        The actual Election itself went quietly, and International Observers felt satisfied that there were no untoward happenings; that the Election was well managed and fair.     - Nevertheless the words of Dr. Ndii though delivered laughingly, carried the threat of further civil action if the Result of the Election is not overturned in their favour.     The Government has remained undisturbed.
Nevertheless it is not a good beginning for the 3rd School Term, and the last quarter of the year.
TODAY our School is opening, and there has been a PRAYER MORNING today for students and parents of children attempting National Exams over the next two or three months.   It has been well attended.     Plenty of RAIN still, but not so much sunshine.     Cloudy for the mot part, and cooler.

Here is a photo taken this week of some of the 40 or so Primary & Secondary Teachers
staffing our School, and who were attending a 4 Day Seminar focusing on 
How to Present the Word of God in the Syllabus.

The Seminar has been led by Mark and Kathy Lessig who recently joined us as part of the Testimony Family and Team.      The week has gone on very well as about 45 our of 54 teachers have attended, and this during their usual vacation time     The presentation has really been a blessing and it is quite thrilling to see an awakening to an area of teaching that for the most part is not given much thought or priority - even among Christian Teachers.     Our sincere thanks and appreciation to Mark and Kathy for the huge effort made to provide the content and present it through the four days from 8a.m. to 4p.m. daily.     

MANU is still with us here, at home.     Next Friday he should be attending Clinic to have the 3rd set of eye injections.      So far it seems the treatment is helping, but he is still discomforted by soreness in the eyes, and this is especially worse nearer to the time of the injection.      After next week there will still be two more sets of injections over the next two months.      Generally his spirits have lifted though his eyes are not his only problem.     Nevertheless there does seem a 'change' and we do thank all of you who have prayed for him, and will perhaps also continue to do so......

STILL NO further news about possible surgery for DAN NDUNGU.     He continues to appear well and strong, and is happy and looking forward to the new School Term.     He is still on quite potent drugs as he awaits for a chance for surgery - IF it will still be necessary by then!     We do thank God again for all your prayers on his behalf, and believe those prayers are indeed working.

God Bless you all, and keep you all at peace, and IN peace, in the Name of Jesus.

John, Esther and Daryl Green  

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BE PRECIOUS TO, AND THANKFUL FOR ONE ANOTHER - ALWAYS.

Our 46th Wedding Anniversary photo, taken at home here in Testimony Faith Homes on Wednesday evening this week.      Daryl, Carol, and their children Jesse, Becky and Jeremy together with Hellen and baby Abigail were all able to share a meal and spend the evening with us.   It was so good.  Also our family in the UK,  Steven, Anjie, Tonya, and Eric, plus Michael, Janet and Liam Green all able to phone IN with Prem and Lizzy Joseph, and their children John-finney, and Rachel - all over the period from 14th (our Anniversary),  the 16th (our party) and 17th Esthers 73rd Birthday. We have been blessed in all of our forty six years together and look forward to many more, if the Lord Jesus does not return quickly-  that would be so much better for we never be seperated if He comes.
Esther was almost overwhelmed by so many cards and Greetings from so MANY places and family members.     She deserves every one of them, for she has been such an exceptional Mum and Grand-mum to SO MANY.      She has been, and continues to be, a woman of great grace and patience, full of hope and optimism.      She has first of all been such a support and encouragement to me, and then to all that have worked together with us here in TFH, and then, of course, to ALL the children that have come to be part of our home and family.    A very remarkable woman, and Gift from God both to ME first, and to the Ministry second.
The WEATHER has cleared a little, and the heavy clouds have gone, to reveal an ocean of clear blue sky.    Beautiful!    Only a few fluffy clouds, and for the last three days no rain - but it is unlikely to last. Temperatures currently about 68f which in Europe is probably thought to be reasonably clement and even warm - for us it feels more like 30f. and rather COLD with a brisk breeze.    Nevertheless the children are all in the Pool having a whale of a time.      They LOVE it all.


IT MAY BE THAT THE 'ELEPHANTS are getting ready to trample the grass again!   The Election is over, but the Votes are in question, and in the midst of a re-count, with both sides more and more strongly accusing the other, and damaging the well being and peaceful status of Kenya.
We pray it may not be so, and that the 'grass' of this nation will not be precipitated into renewed violence.         Freedom of Speech may well go hand in hand with a vibrant Democracy, but is it the best liberty to bring down peace and civil obedience when it is full of malicious invective, jealousies, covetousness? I feel sure some migh like me to share my own view of the Right and Wrong of what is now the talk of the nation.     I fear I cannot oblige for I feel very much that the 'truth' of the matter, such as it may be, may only put both PARTIES, and their supporters into the very same mire and reproach as all the rest.     A case of the 'Pot calling the Kettle black' so to speak.      Politically both sides - Government AND Opposition - have good reason to repent, and then to come together to repair the damage now being done, by way of the fragmentation of national unity, and the general abuse to the economy willfully and also through and by dishonesty in business and government affairs;   SO SAD.
Oddly the Proverb quoted here, is reputed to have originated from Kenya in the long distant pass.   It is very applicable - and not only to Kenya in particular.       Well, for the present the Opposition continues 'smoulder' with discontent.    We continue to pray they  will not be allowed to BURN, and at the same time bring a Bush Fire upon all the land.   Please continue to remember Kenya in your prayers.

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SCHOOL HOLIDAYS will soon be over, and the 3rd Term of the year will begin.   It will probably be the shortest as well since national examinations in Primary and Secondary will both be taking place by the end of October into November....Thinking of the School took me back yet again the to te photo below.      Good to remember the 'Beginnings' of things, and I seldom get tired of going back and remembering the ones that began with me in 1983, in borrowed rooms, our School.    I was nominal administrative Head then, and Anthony Ndungu my Assistant.

ABOVE IS A PHOTO OF SOME OF THE EARLY TEACHERS THAT TAUGHT IN TESTIMONY PRIMARY SCHOOL - 1983-1988+  (Top Left - Stephen Mwaura;   Anthony Ndungu,; Brendan Luwangu; and PhilipWakaba.   Bottom left - Judith Gechengechi; Judy Towett;  Susan Iraya;  Titus Mbatiah, John Gitari; and Peter-John Anderson.

I may have shown this photo before, but I often go back to it as it speaks of the beginnings of our School.     Mr. Ndungu,  Mr. Mbatiah, and Mrs. Iraya were the ones to begin in 1983 in Classes 1 - 3 and then others followed in 1987 onwards.   Anthony Ndungu is still with us, now as Principal over All.    But we remember the rest with much Thanksgiving and Happiness.     You will always be a special part in our Memories.       Mr, Titus Mbatiah has since passed away in the Lord.   His Father Mr. Zacariah Mbatiah later became Head of our Secondary School till his retirement, and is also now with the Lord.    

AND TO CONCLUDE, THIS WEEK. a recent photo of a heard of elephants in front of Mt. Kilimanjaro - with very little snow left to be seen.     I  always feel great affection and admiration for the Elephant, so brutally hunted down and mutilated .    

THE LORD continued to demonstrate that He keeps watch over us all here, as this week funds had all but run out, and we WAITED on Him to help us fact the coming week.    On Friday we had word that Gifts were on the way to us, and yet again we felt the burdens lifted.      Thank you all who have and do remember us.     God Bless and keep YOU through the coming days.

Love from us all in Jesus Name

John, Esther, and Daryl Green

MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES!

WHY is it that human beings find it so easy to throw words at one another, and mainly when they find themselves in disagreement with each others point of view?      The BIBLE teaches us to ' Speak evil of no man/or woman.', (Titus 3v2)   AND to even avoid encounters that bring heated and even ill mannered exchanges brought on by national, tribal arguments, and strivings about points of law - they are vain and unprofitable (2.Timothy 2v23) - as in the cartoon opposite.     They bring out the WORST in us, and provide no sure foundation to build a better society on.    POLITICIANS are for ever engaged in such behaviour, insisting that they are all individually right.   They do love to stir up strife among themselves.

THIS LAST WEEK, and commencing on Tuesday the 8th August, Kenya went to the Polls to vote in a President, and a whole lot of others, including County Governors, Senators, Congressmen, and so on.      The Voting went off quietly, but thereafter, as counting went on over the next four days,  rumours of foul play, incidents of unrest, and a growing apprehension began to grip the people.      The media poured out a pot-pour of conjecture, opinion, rumour, and general gap filling and often meaningless,  words.      Confusion increased.  

We began to receive calls asking if all was well with us in Eldoret - International news media had begun to report and even show visible evidence that Kenya was once more falling into violence and political confusion.       We were shocked!     At that time, (the day after the Voting) we had seen and heard nothing ourselves, Eldoret was as peaceful as could be, and life went on.

BUT  there WERE incidents, in Kisumu more than a hundred kilometres away to the west of us, and one or two others in other disconnected places.    They were purely 'incidents' and they did not reflect a national uprising or disintegration of law and order at anywhere near the levels of the 2007 'Troubles' experienced after the Christmas Election of that year.
The PRESS just delightedly seized on anything that could increase their days circulation by proclaiming whatever might encourage MORE
public outrage.     In doing this they also managed to depict a very wrong image of Kenya and the Kenyan.      They took an opportunity to degrade Africa and the African in fact, though, of course, they would defend themselves as merely documenting the 'truth'.       But, as Pilate asked ' WHAT IS TRUTH?'       Very hard to find it on Earth.
The two photographs to the left were displayed in the American and British Papers.    They do not reveal the Kenyan as he truly is, nor did they reveal the national spirit or condition of the Kenyan people generally across the State.      We should all be very much aware that what we are told and induced to believe by so call visual truth, is very much presented to us from the viewpoint and personal perspective of a VERY small minority among us as a world society;   and it is not always the TRUTH.     Woe unto us, gullible as we all are!
WHEN I WAS A KID I learned what is today known as 'The Lord's Prayer', though in fact Jesus only taught us the necessary content for our prayers.    It was a 'Receipe' if you like, and still is.    It was not meant as a 'short-cut' to God; an escape from putting into our own words our thoughts and feelings about our life and situation in detail to a God is walking with us day by day.     JESUS recommended that WHEN / IF we pray we should begin with 'OUR FATHER who is in Heaven, Hallowed be your Name...'     God must always COME FIRST, and with the understanding that He is over all - in Heaven - and that He wants us to be as close to Him as a child to its father, - and that we should venerate His Name - his fatherhood.      All that is first to be in mind when we begin to pray, to talk with HIM.
THEN '...Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven..........'      I will go no further that this.         We are to seek for God's Kingdom,  His Rule and Authority, and Way of Life, to come to us here on Earth, just as it IS in Heaven.          Certainly it is a long way from happening as of now.       AS I BEGAN BY SAYING,  we find  it SO difficult just to order the way we speak to each other, and to control our tongue  -  mainly because, regretfully, our mind and imagination is so often set on fire of Hell due to our selfish, jealous, and petty mindedness - and dare I say it again, our LOVE for each other, including our so called enemies.  Even those of us all who call ourselves 'Christian'!   James 3v1-18

THE 2017 KENYAN ELECTION IS OVER.        Our President, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta was returned to Office with a sizeable majority at the conclusion of four days of discomfort brought on from the determination of the Organisers not to bow to public impatience and rumour mongering, and to WAIT till all the Votes were finally in, counted and confirmed according the the laws laid down, BEFORE making any final Announcement as to the TRUE result.      LAST NIGHT  at a fitting ceremony the Appointed Commissioneers and the Returning Officer  delivered the final result,    It was done with appropriately serious and proper presentation, seemingly restoring faith in the growth and maturity of Kenya politically, and giving hope for the future.          Still a long way to go, if one looks at the political imperfections of the rest of the world.     ALL generally proceeding without God in mind.
AND OF COURSE, as has been mentioned repeatedly over the last 48 hours,  there are always Winners AND Losers in any race or competition.
The Hon. Mr. Kenyatta was obviously glad to be re-elected as our President.   In the photo he is seen holding his Certificate of Registration, with a new mandate for a further five years to lead and steer the Country.       He garnered more than 8 million votes;
more than a million more than his closest contender for office Hon. Raila Odinga.     Mr. Oginga is 72 and it is unlikely he will stand again in five years time.    This was his fifth attempt, and in failing to win, he will be a very disappointed man, as the photo I have of him here shows.    
There has been a lively and often very bitter rivalry between the two.   Accusations against each other from both sides have shown little or no Christian Grace, though both would claim to be Christian, and in losing perhaps the bitterness may continue.       Mr. Odinga garnered almost 7 million votes.       His followers, for himself and Party, are many.     Not such a close and unpleasant result as Theresa May's in the UK recently, but nevertheless one has to see that the Country has been divided.       AND there is a huge number, going into millions of young people under 18, milling about unemployed and many also uneducated, who although without a vote could be used dangerously if they were encouraged to stand against the new government.        BUT Kenyans themselves, as I have also many time said before, are not seeking political upheaval, civil strife, or war.    They are really a peace loving people who look for peaceful ways forward.       YET there may be retaliations against the Election Result.      You may hear more of so called unrest.     ELDORET remains peaceful.     Daryl and I were in town shopping yesterday, and today life goes on..........at least for the time being..

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YESTERDAY  I was visiting Testimony House, and was shown one of the bedrooms where the floor had caved in.       The floor had been replaced a year or so ago, but it seems the timber used had not been treated against ANTS - and the entire house is built over a mega colony of them!     About a third of the bedroom floor has been eaten completely away.    We how have to go in and attack the ants in that area, and then relay the floor with treated timber OR perhaps put in a concrete floor. We shall see.     It is an old house as we have shared before, and it is a miracle it has lasted as long as it has without actually falling apart.     We think, in the main, it is the ANTS that hold it all together actually, AND the fact that the original timbers are all IRON WOOD which is SO hard that even the jaws of ants are unable to chew it..

The weather has been colder since August began, and a lot more rain too.     The skies are mainly full of heavy cloud and everywhere looks grey and chilly.   Even the birds have flown off to some warmer place so the compound is that much quieter.    The kids mainly indoors as well.    Well I guess it IS winter here and the August holiday is usually the dullest one.      But we are all well, and in good spirits.

WE thank you all for your care of us and for watching our on behalf of us.    We thank you for praying for Kenya through this Election week, and for bringing us though to peace.     As always please receive of our Love in Jesus

John, Esther and Daryl Green

HOW WONDERFUL TO RECEIVE YOUR CHILDREN IN YOUR ARMS AGAIN!

THOMAS KOSGEI walked in upon us this week, yesterday in fact,     He is 33, married with two beautiful children, a boy and girl.     It was a GREAT happiness to see him again.
He was only 5 when he joined Esther and me in Testimony House in 1989.    He came to us then with his three brothers, Samson 12, Julius 10.  and Naptali, 7.    They all left us a while ago now.     SOooo good to have 'family' call in, and especially from the past, and especially from those who grew up with us.
Thomas is self employed working part of the land left by his Father, and also from rearing Chickens for Eggs, which gives him and his family enough to get by.      He is a hard working young man, proud of his own endeavour and of his family.     It was really good and encouraging for us to talk with him, and see that he is full of hope for the future.
It is a real blessing for us now, in our elder years to get visits from our children who were such an intricate part of our life and family.      We feel glad and happy to appreciate that on leaving us they took up the challenge of life here in the Third World, and did not flinch from pressing forward.    We are at once proud of them, and Thankful to God for letting us be part of their launching out into the world as we tried to replace their homes and families previously lost to them.     You all are a very real part in this with us.

The previous photo is of Testimony House as it was when we moved into it, January1973. below is a photo - circa 1983 - just ten years later.    Many of the children we moved in with have moved on. Nicholas Mwangi who was then my Deputy had been left behind with our Family whilst Esther and I were in the UK for a few month - our first visit since 1972.     The next one would be in 1994.  NOW most of those in the photo have gone on and away......but still around and about.   We also see a lot of Nicholas and his family.  He is not in business in town, living close by with his wife and children.

Left to right TOP Nicholas Mwangi, John Ngugi;  Moses Ongonga, David Koech; Joseph Kihara; Daniel Kenyanjui'
AnthonyWanyama; Mwangi Macharia; Peter Karuru (deceased)
Middle row left to right - Sara Njeri;  Catherine Senge
Bottom Row left to right - Jotham Chege,  Ezekiel Kipchumba (deceased), Samuel Macho, Christoperh Kosgei;
Peter Wangolo;  Anthony Kiprotich; David Senoga; Richard Ochieng; William Oyongolot;  Charles Salim;
Daryl Peacock; Samuel Kirui.

The photo was taken on the veranda of Testimony House, in front of the sitting room window, left of the front porch. We remember them all and pray for them still, and look forward to seeing ALL of them again whenever they are nearby, or hearing from them on Face Book. 

NOW THIS is a photo of the Jacaranda Cottage Family taken around 2014
Regretfully I cannot honestly identify everyone in the photo, but YOU may be able to do so.
Mr. and Mrs. Rop were parents at that time.  Still miss them.

I have included these photos as reminders to those who were here, and who have left and now living their own adult lives.       Many of you are still in touch with us one way or another, but if you have been away a while without contact we just want to say we are thinking of you still and would be very happy and comforted to know you are doing well   - and that includes all who are NOT seen in the photos.      LASTLY IS one taken also in 2014 ............

These are mostly still with us.

The Day here is overcast, but their faces and presence with us are a constant joy  -  yes, they are not necessarily all angels, but we can always find a reason to Thank God for them, and to be glad the Door was open for them when it was needed.

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JAMES MANU has just returned from his 3rd visit to the Consultant.      He is very pleased and happy with the progress so far.  Improvement in BOTH eyes.    He has TWO more months of injections, and still a long way to go, but the general picture is much more hopeful than initially.     He himself has been VERY encouraged by this, and we feel sure the knowledge so many have been in prayer for him has not gone unnoticed.    God is at work.   We ourselves do thank you all for sharing our anxieties, and in reaching out to Jesus with us.

Most of our staff have now been given time off to go and Register, and then VOTE in the Election which will take place on Tuesday 8th.    We pray that all will remain calm, and that the entire exercise will go peacefully and well.      We are of course remaining at home with the Children and Parents throughout, as we did in 2007/8.

God Bless you all.      Beware lest the Enemy lead you astray from God's Word and and from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.    He ALONE is the Truth, the Way and the Life.   He alone is the LIGHT of the world.        I wish ALL the Christian Church believed it, but GLAD that all the Church of Christ DO..        'Oh I want to SEE Him, to look upon His Face!.

With our love and prayers for you all in this confused and darkening world.

John, Esther, and Daryl Green