He and I knew each other, and met quite frequently on various committees, and even in the course of daily life. On one occasion I had visited him in his Cathedral Office. It was my first time, in fact to go there, and even to meet him face to face on a personal matter. Arriving a little early I was shown into his office, and asked to wait. After a few minutes I got up from my chair and my eye was caught by a very beautifully carved Crucifix. I went and stood nearer, and as I did so the door opened, and the Bishop, dressed in a plain white cassock entered. Greeting me as he shut the door, he said '....you are first white protestant I have found admiring my crucifix........do you like it?''Well, yes I do indeed, Bishop Korir. It is beautiful!.
"Yes", he replied, "But I thought you Protestants prefer to see the Victory of the resurrection rather than the sacrifice of His suffering."
"True," I had rejoined, "but after all there would have been no Victory, without His Death. Even when I look to an empty Cross, my mind sees Him first, dying for me."
"Then we are brothers" he said, taking my hand. And so we sat down and fellowshiped for some time. Every time we met after that, it was always with joy.
Bishop Korir died when he was just 67, having been born in 1950, ten years my junior. It is said that he had High Blood Pressure, and was also Diabetic. Neither malady had been diagnosed early, and he had been taken suddenly ill, and was to be hospitalised, had he lived through the night. He was Ordained Priest in 1982, and consecrated Bishop of Eldoret in 1990. He was known and respected as a man of peace, and this is being recognised today by the Government, to day, in giving him a State Funeral right here in Eldoret. He will be interred within the Cathedral itself. He will indeed be missed.
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The WEATHER to day is very windy and a little cloudy but with at least a little sunshine. A cool, fresh day, But there is also just a little rain each day, and this is expected to carry on through the month. This is not likely to produce a good wheat, or even maize, harvest due to the lack of good dry weather to assist in drying out the crop prior to storage.
TO THE LEFT IS A PHOTO of Testimony House, as we found it a few days after we arrived in December 1972 . It was an OLD house even then - made of mud and wattle. Now, 45 years later, it is that much older, and showing signs of wear and tear. Originally built by a Dutch farming family who had 'trekked' up from South Africa; a family of 9. This house has 9 bedrooms, kitchen,dining room and an enormous nine hundred square foot sitting room! Since we came to occupy it it has endured an average of 40 pairs of feet continually tramping through every day of every year. The roof is of thick iron sheeting, still sound, but needing a repaint after more then five years, and the floors, made of iron wood, also sound, but also needing attention here and there due to wear, together with, here and there, some dry rot, and invasion by Safari Ants. The walls are all constructed from wattle and mud, also suffering from age and ANTS. Still a comfortable and roomy home, it all now looks tired, and needs a little re construction in places as well as redecoration throughout. The kitchen especially suffers from rain leaking in from a badly set roof, and also a complete refit. We would ask you to remember this house, and to join us as we pray for the Lord to assist us to give some attention and care to it, as days go buy.
Esther and I were Mum and Dad to 40 plus in this house from 1972 to 1998. We now live just opposite to it in Green Cottage situated at the end of the pathway leading to Testimony House. We look at it every day, and whilst remembering the very happy days of our being at home there, we also see that, like us, it is ageing. Unlike us, it is unable to take a little ease from its daily usage, but instead must continually endure exuberant and youthful life surging through it.
This week end we are being visited by two of our old girls, (Sarah Njeri and Francina Emsley) one working in Nairobi and the other in Mombasa area. Nice to have the with us, and to talk over old times. We also were recently surprised by a visit from Nicholas Kibet and his family. Nick works as a waiter in very popular cafe in the town centre, and his wife is a primary school teacher. They have three boys. Very proud of them all, and it was a great joy to have them with us.
It is now 3.15p.m. and the Bishop's State Funeral is just about to conclude, before his internment at the Cathedral, as planned. They have kept to time. I must also come to an end for this week.
Maybe I will share some dental news then! God Bless you all, and give you desires of your hearts as you live for Him, and for your neighbour.
Lovingly as ever
John, Esther and Daryl Green
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