O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME - OR YOU - GO!

SIMEON, became part of mine and Esther's family in Testimony House just two months after our Marriage, in October 1971.   He was just 8 years old.    Both his parents were dead, and he was apparently uncared for.   He was one of a group of five small boys.   Quite lively lads,  inclusive of Edward Majimbo, Abwao Ongondi, Moses Ongonga, and Jacob Otundu.    But Simeon was, perhaps, the quietest, although still into every boyish pursuit, including a lot of fun.
After coming to us he began School here, in Eldoret, at Kapsoya Primary School-1972-1980.    He did not do well academically, but apart from breaking a window in the school in his 7th Grade, whilst playing football,  he was never in any trouble.     His Primary Results were so low, that he did not continue on to High School, but looked for an alternative.  He was now approximately 16, not very tall, but strong and energetic.    We were running a Course in Motor Mechanics at the time, and so he joined it for a year and obtained a Grade111 Certificate - enough to get him into an apprenticeship.   He joined ETEC  and then after another year SAME-TRACK, but again did not stay long, and after a year or so called back home to say he was now a Gardener to a private family in Town.     In 1993 he married, and we donated a Tea Party in our School Hall for friends and well wishers.     Later that year we offered him a job as a Gardener for the Homes and School at a more attractive salary than he was getting at the time, and accepting the offer, he remained with us until the 18th November, when he passed away.        Simeon's marriage endured, and God blessed them with three boys, the eldest of whom has just completed University.  Simeon was tickled pink that he could have a son (who looks exactly like his dad) in University!    He loved his children and his wife, and though they were never to be wealthy, I think they enjoyed a fairly stable and happy life together.    I know he will be missed so much by them.      Born on the 21st December 1963 he was in his 54th year when he died.   He suffered a Stroke affecting his right side in 2013, and although he recovered fairly well, this together with the Diabetes he also suffered from, slowed him down.    Nevertheless he continued to do a full day's work and always finished his assignments - still with that smile which marked a happy and jovial life throughout.      He was never one to mope or moan.    Rain or shine, Simeon took life as it came, and enjoyed it.     We, shall miss him very much indeed.
He is to be buried today on a piece of land he purchased some 80 kilometres away.     Yesterday, Friday, Testimony Faith Homes held a Memorial Service for him in the School Hall, with his workmates, family friends, and a crowd of old boys and girls from  the Homes joined together to give thanks for his life.   (The photo above was taken when he was just 18).     He never seemed to grow any older in his appearance,  and his eyes especially always had a mischievous twinkle in them. -  He is the SIXTEENTH (as far as we know) that has passed out of this world, of the 400, that have at any time lived within Testimony Faith Homes since it opened in August 1969.

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, Esther and I together with our son Daryl,  visited with Joshua and Miriam Mbithi, at Neema Children's Home, as they Celebrated the Graduation from University of their son Mark Mumo.      It was a wonderful occasion, full of very real JOY and Thanksgiving to God for all that HE has done for Mark - and the family, which really ALSO included US since Miriam was one of our FIRST daughters, and as years have gone by has only become closer to us, together with her husband and children.     It was very much a FAMILY time, held in the sunshine and in their beautiful gardens, with all their extended family joining in with us.
So our day on Friday was quite a MIX, but in both the Joy and Sorrow, a lot of happy memories and the very real evidence of the Presence of God in the midst, and of His walking with us down through the years enwrapped us about.
AND ALL OF SO UNDESERVING!     Isaiah writes in the Bible in Isaiah 38v17 -  'You have loved back my life from the pit of corruption and nothingness.  -  for YOU have cast ALL my sins behind your back!"       We are all falling and failing, but HE CAN and WILL reach down to grab hold of us, and pull us back, when we call to Him !    Knowing our own willfulness and careless degradation, our Father, loves us still, and putting all our faults out of sight, brings us up and out of our darkness into His Glorious Light and Love.       Thank you Jesus.      Thank you for FAMILY!    As we live with one another, and observe each other, often with judgement in our heart, remember  how the Father and the Son joined together to keep us all together, and let LOVE keep us in Their Arms.

SURELY,  without the knowledge of GOD'S LOVE for all mankind, NONE of us can truly know how to be Human Beings, made in His Likeness.   We will never perfectly know how to Bless, Prosper, or Make Happy another person.     We might THINK we know how to forgive each others faults and failings, and to overlook them - but we DON'T;  we know nothing as we OUGHT to know it.   WE do not even know ourselves as GOD knows us, AND suffers us; ready to die for the love of us.    1. Corinthians 8v1-2 in the Amplified Bible Translation tells us -  'Knowledge may make a man look BIG,  But it is only LOVE that can make him grow to his full stature.     No matter how much learning a man may have, UNLESS he has LOVE he still KNOWS NOTHING AS HE OUGHT TO KNOW IT!!      And if a man HAS love, then God knows HIM!

AND, you know, when we come to understand LOVE from God's viewpoint, then it MUST affect our own Loving of one another.     Think of how many rifts, feuds, hatreds, and bitter separations within friendships, families and even Marriage, would be healed AND forgotten if we would only consider HOW God loves us, me and you.     If we could only stop and SEE how we ought to love one another as HE, (God in Jesus), loves us.    HE never accuses, but HE is always ready to forgive - not only when asked, but even BEFORE He is asked.   LISTEN TO THESE words of Paul the Apostle in 1. Thessalonians 2v8  -   BECAUSE we affectionately longed for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not only the Gospel of Christ, but also our own lives - Because you had become so dear to us.'
GOD'S LOVE, working in Paul's life found Him willing to die for the sinner, just because he had realised how beloved and precious in God's Sight was the life of EVERYONE;  HE wants no man, woman or child to die, to be given up to judgement, and DEATH.    HE would rather have MERCY.  Hosea 6v6 / Matthew 9v13
IF that Mercy is unknown to us then we will not have it for others, and we shall die in our own sin; we will have thrust from ourselves God's love for US.     We will have rejected letting it WORK in us, and repudiated Him in our lives.      The Devil would like us to remain LOST in our own self righteousness - and it is SO easy to satisfy him - when we rely on our own hard stony, and selfish heart.


Dear Friends, brother and sisters in the precious Family of God, we do Thank God for all your love that spills over upon us, and we lift up our hands in Praise of Him Who Loves us in your.    May He continue to deepen and widen our love for each other, and for the whole world.

Sincerely in His Mercy and Grace

John, Esther and Daryl & Carol Green