PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW...!

ON THE 29th NOVEMBER, OUR FOURTH FORM children in Secondary School concluded their National Examinations, and came together for a final Farewell Lunch with their teachers, and others.  In this photo Esther is cutting the Cake.   I am to be seen at the top table with a few others.    Daryl is taking the picture.
This is an Annual event, and it is always very special, and enjoyable.  Many of these students, including of course some of the Home's children as well, have been in the School for up to 12 years.   Now they must leave for University, College, or Employment!    A big Jump into the BIG pond of the world around them.     With continual shortage of jobs, and continual lack of moral integrity in our Universities and even Colleges, this transition is fraught with may dangers and anxieties for parents as well as their children.      And obviously this also is a matter of concern and challenge to us.   
The General Syllabus is also changing over the next few years.  At present we are expecting to consider whether or not we will continue to run Secondary School, or concentrate on Primary only.  This will only become clear as the next year proceeds.   We need to be very sure about this before continuing beyond 2019.
This particular event took place between the hours of 1 and 4p.m. on the 29th.   I was also able to share a final Word, together with others who were there with us.    We pray that God will watch over each one of these young people.

OPPOSITE IS A PHOTO of the Macharia Family - baby Esther, Agnes, Ben, and Joseph.    They came to us as family to run the NEW Jacaranda Cottage in July 2015, taking over from  Beatrice and Joseph Rop who had been with us eight years,  and were then retiring.
They fitted in really well, and won all our hearts.
Regretfully they have unexpectedly had to leave us at the end of October, whilst they were on leave with their relatives at home in Njeri.     We shall seriously miss them as whole hearted labourers together with us all, and for their spiritual commitment and input with the Jacaranda Family.    We hope not to lose touch with them and also that they will be able to visit from time to time.      PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR THEM.  BUT NOW we have to seek the Lord as to who might replace them.      We have already met a prospective couple, and they will be visiting again this Sunday when we hope they will spend some time meeting other of our community, as well as the children in Jacaranda Cottage.    They are committed Christians, and have experience in helping children and young people.   They are both in their fifties.      Hopefully I will have more to say next week.    Until then the children are being cared for by other of our staff.    They are safe, but rather sad to lose the Macharias.

JAMES MANU, OUR SON, attended the Eye Clinic a little early this time, but returned with better news than last time.    His Consultant says there is improvement, NOW, in the one eye, and even in the worst.   He thinks he will need to continue Injections for two more months, and that he may also have to do a minor op to re-attach a loose retina in one eye.    It has been a long and rather painful haul, but Manu seemed much encouraged this time, and we continue to BELIEVE for the Answer to all our prayers.

AND DECEMBER has commenced!      Christmas, which seems to have begun in September for most of the rest of the world around us,  is still to begin to be seen here in Testimony.     We have usually waited, for example, to put up any Christmas Decorations until about the 18th of the month, but we may start this coming week, this year, as we expected visitors to begin dropping in soon.     So far, in our Town shops, there is NO sign of Christmas.    Everything remains the same, other than the fact that shops are not as well stocked as they were, and prices are rising daily - all a sign of our continuing economic constraints.    BUT the sun is shining, and the skies are their usual stunning blue.
Daryl is about to take his Annual Leave, and all our School Staff are also away for the Holiday until the first week of January.
This week planning will begin by the Houseparents to look into Christmas needs, and especially the Christmas Week housekeeping.    As you will remember each house celebrates Christmas individually.       Also there has to be other matters to plan into the month free time, like family games and other communal activities, plus the Christmas Concert, and Carol Singing which usually take place just before Christmas itself.     All this whilst still trying to balance all our normal monthly responsibilities and needs.       Helen and baby Abigail should be here on Friday, and our son Steven also visiting on Saturday for a week or so from the UK.       Also our friend Paul White and son Joshua are hoping to join us for Christmas.        SO with a short staff, and Daryl away us Old Foggies will no doubt find ourselves On Call, and probably more involved than usual.     But we continue to Thank Father, for good health and strength - though I still have a few challenging visits to the dentist to fit in over the next fortnight or so.

I will try to put an UPdate AND a Christmas Card in the works before Christmas, but of course it may be delayed on the part of any I have had to post.      We covet your prayers over this period, and we Thank you all for your love and care.       We shall hope to continue to put up a word or two each Saturday as usual.     Let us lift up the arms of each other in the warmth of His Love, and the JOY of the Season.

Sincerely in Him
John, Esther, and Daryl Green