I HAVE SUCH A LOVING FATHER!

TODAY is the first day of my 79th Year, having Celebrated my 78th yesterday!    And a very Happy Day it was.    Even the sun shone and the clouds and rain were held back.
Somehow, waking up on another beautiful morning, I have felt a Landmark has been reached - a new beginning opening up.    And as a person not known for optimism, this is rather interesting.   I Thank my God for good health,     My doc confirms I still have Diabetis, but my sight is good, my hearing sufficient, my mind intact, and my constitution strong.     My feet?   Well yes they are a little uncomfortable but I can still get about, and recently there has been a turn for the better.
And I have my dear Esther still with me, also in good health, and am surrounded by children, both ours and others, AND our grandchildren.........HOW very blessed I am.   
And TODAY one of our 'Girls', our daughter Betty is coming to visit us with her young man, Dan,  to announce their Engagement!    And so life continues and our family expands.    And so God interacts, and blesses us all against the backdrop of these Last Days.    Where He is, His Glory supplies our 'sunshine', and we are kept in peace.
We had not planned anything for my Birthday.     Funds for the Homes had arrived at the Bank on Thurday evening, but there was no room for any extravagance -  our needs were still pressing.

Sammy Kirui    

ON THURSDAY one of our 'sons' living in America and working for the Lord there, sent me a Birthday Gift  ---   and he said 'please use some of it to have a party with the Home's Parents and Daryl with yourselves.'      Well, we were SO happily surprised, and on my Birthday morning after prayer we shared with our House Parents that we would have lunch together.     And so WE DID, and had a very happy fellowship together - and I had a very special Gift of Joyful Company to celebrate with me.      Thank you dear Sammy!     Our Father in heaven truly spoke to you, and made you a real channel of blessing.     May HE give back to you running over!        Sam has been pursuing his Doctorate in Theology, and hopes to finalise soon.    He has been a close  part of our family since his High School days.    He attended Kenya Highlands Bible College and then pastored for some time before travelling to U.S.A. to further his education.     We hope he will return to Kenya once he finishes, but God knows where He wants him.

ABOVE we can be seen enjoying our lunch at a local retreat known as Poa Place.   Mainly chicken and chips and fish and chips.    Fast food?  Yes, of course, we had only limited time to leave the children, though for the most part they were in School.    But there were plenty of vegetables to eat as well, and in all we had value for money, and most of all - Good Fellowship.   THEN outside to the gardens for a group photo -

Left to Right - Grace, Warden Jean Potts Hostel for Girls,  Catherine and Mica
Yego (Tyndale Cottage), David and Doris Chumba (Jacafranda Cottage),
Hesketh Muli (Testimony Boys Hostel), Eunice and Francis Lahol
Drakeley Cottage, John and Esther Green, Daryl Green, Alice Muli
(Testimony Boys Hostel), and John Obiero, School Boarding Master.

--------------------------------------------------------------

LATER, THAT EVENING,    Daryl and his three kids joined for Cake and Ice Cream as a family treat.  Poor Carol could not be with us as a friend had called her asking for help as she felt unwell.    When Carol got there she found the lady extremely ill, so it was as well she went, but we missed her being with us.     Here below are a few photos taken that evening.

Top left - Daryl, Jeremy, and Becky.
Botdtom Left - John, Esther and Jesse

My Birthday Cake - we did have a limited number of candles, and I did have enough breath to blow them ALL out in one go.  Hurrah!    AND, finally me and my little wife, still together and still in love at the end of the day..... and for ever.       It was a special conclusion to a week that had been rather long and enduring!!  Praise the LORD - Everythng comes to those who WAIT!!

================================= 

MANU is in Nairobi looking for work, and was unable to be with us yesterday.      On Sunday he will travel, this time from Nairobi, to Tenwick Hospital for yet more Injections into his eyes.   On his last visit in March the Consultant had been pleased to note progress in both eyes, and reduced the number of injections needed for the next three months - Monday will be the first session of the 3 months now recommended.     Manu, AND us very encouraged, and we all Thank the Lord, for it it can only be Him who now works on his behalf.

TODAY we have re-admitted three children who were repatriated to their parents eighteen months ago.  The Father had been in Prison.   However it was thought he had thoroughly reformed and he and his wife got back together on his release, and he began to earn money.     The Children were then given back into their care.      However, the man went back to his alcoholism and tried to poison the children who are 4,6 and 7.     The father is now once again on the run from the Police for attempted murder.   The mother is a good, hard working woman, and we shall also try to assist her find some security more than she has.      Not easy for a woman on her own here.

TWO more boys 3 and 6 are also to be Admitted today into Jacaranda Cottage.    Both boys abused by their father who tried to violently to beat up and strangle the elder, whilst also beating up the younger.     Both quite in shock, and not speaking.    Their mother ran away some time ago, and so far has not re-appeared.

WE Thank God that He still looks down with compassion and enables us to remain a Shelter and an open house and home for the homeless children all around us.      Bless you all.

With our love in Jesus
John, Esther and Daryl Green