SATURDAY, 25th AUGUST 2018

130 of our Old Boys and Girls, their husbands, wives and children

plus house parents and others of our staff Celebrating 49 Years of Family.

Commencing in August 1969 in Maseno, Western Kenya, and moving to Eldoret in 1972 the numbers of young people and children helped within the family circles of Testimony Faith Homes, are more than four hundred - 130 of them still in residence with us.      From time to timed, we have tried to have Reunions for those who may have left and wanting to keep in touch with us.  The first was in 

1979 - our 10th Anniversary, then in 1994,  our Silver Jubilee.   Since then we somehow missed having any definite 'Family' Meeting, with so many just calling in from time to time.     SO this year we thought we would 'test the water' and see how many would actually be moved to accept a definite Invitation to lunch on this our 49th Anniversary.    If a fair number accepted then we would press on with arrangements to mark our GOLDEN Jubilee  in 2019.      We Invited 71 Old Boys and Girls who, having left us over the years, had remained in the locality.    Fifty Three accepted, AND arrived on Saturday, 25th August, many with their wives and children, and even some grandchildren to make a final gathering of 130 plus some of our staff.      It was a truly heartening and wonderful occasion, and so we are NOW beginning to plan for next year when we shall expect treble the attendance plus all the friends and well wishers we hope will also come.   None of those who have lived out their childhood with us, who now live and work in other parts of Kenya, joined us this time round, but next

year we will be inviting ALL of them from all over the State to where they may have gone.    So far about two hundred and fifty plus.     

The Weather, on Saturday managed to keep reasonably dry, but it was not too warm.    We managed to all cram into the School dining-room for Lunch of Roast Chicken, Rice, Beef stew, vegetables, and Chapati with Ice-cream and cake to finish, plus sodas, and tea.    Then we all repaired to the School Hall for fellowship from about 2 p.m. till 4.30.    I want to now fill up with as many photos as I can of those attending.     .

A few of our more recent Leavers, arriving.   They are all at the commencement of work, in Business, Information Technology and so on.   All young men, who still feel more than at home strolling once more around the place they have grown up in,     So good they feel free to come, and we trust that as they continue to find their way in the world outside that they will continue to want to keep in touch and keep us up to date with how things are for them.
And on to the School Dining  room where lunch is about to be provided by our Caterers

There were just too many to served at the table, and so all had to QUEUE with their plate and receive what they were ready to eat!     It was not as long a procedure as one might think, but not quite what you might have imagined for a Grand Occasion!    It often happens like this and people are used to is, even in hotels where one must often queue at a Buffet.

I am unable to put up all the photos that were taken.   Some were shot rather carelessly and people were out of focus or just not ready.   The photographer had a good camera but was not too hot on picture composition.   My apologies if you miss a photo you were hoping to see.    I am going to try and now include as many as I can, and which are fairly representative - only about 50% of those who were actually there with us,

Francis Lahol & family

Catherin Senge & family

Left - Francis Lahol who came to us when he was only ten, a Chef with his Wife and now houseparents to DrakeleyCottage. 

Miriam Peter and Joshua

Right  above is Catherine Senge, now YEGO, married to Mica and with a son and daughter. She was only a baby when she came to us in 1980. She and Mica are Houseparents in Tyndale Cottage since 2004.
   

Vincent Aluusa

Left is Miriam Peter (now Mbithi).  Miriam came to Testimony when she was seven, and trained to be a Nurse, married Joshua and returned to care for Jacaranda Cottage with him for 19 years before starting their HOME, -Neema Childrens HOME.

Right - Vincent Aluusa, a graduate from our Trade Training Centre in the 70s, and ever since our loyal and well loved Maintenance Officer.  He also did a stint at Jacaranda Cottage as a PARENT.    He is married.  He likes 'caps' like Mzee Oginga Odinga - not sure why~!

To the Left is Rev.Moses Ongonga who came to stay with us in 1971 aged  10.   He is now married with two children, and has been in the ministry of God's Word with Africa Inland Church for many years.   

To the Right is The Venerable Jotham Chege, Archdeacon for the Nandi Hills CPK Diocese.      He is the brother of Rev. Francis Wainaina who was Deputy Director from 1972 until 79.  When Jotham's Parents died he and his sister came to Testimony House. Rev. Chege is married with children.

More than 14 children from Testimony have grown up to serve the Lord in one capacity or another.     A great joy for us all.

Pastor Wykliff Onganga, below left, seen with his wife Miriam, came to us when he was about 15 in 1975.   He trained as a teacher

and at one time was Headmaster of Testimony Secondary.  Eventually having left us for other employment he returned as the School Chaplain and Pastor to our Fellowship Church.

He has been very much engaged in evangelism within the Homes, and we thank God for the many who have turned to Christ over the years as a result of his patient, loving ministry.

Miriam, Wyckliffe's wife is Headmistress of our Nursery School.  They have two lovely children.

To the right is a photo of Purity Abwona, now married to John and with a recent addition to her family. Purity is one of four who came to us in 1996.   She is a trained Teacher.    Her husband works in Information Technology.

NB - might be of interest to note many of our boys see to choose wives who are teaches or chefs!

And, to the left again is DAVID Koech, who together with his brother Ezekiel came to us in 1976.   He is now married with two sons.   He is an Accountant and Business Man, and lately has gone into small scale farming.    He has always remained a close member of the Testimony Family, and is possibly one of the most enthusiastic long time supporters.     He brought his nephew to the Luncheon on Saturday, the son of his brother who sadly passed away some years ago.     Thanks David!

There are some 'families' that have stood the test of time, and that catch the eye when seen together at an time.  I will bring to our notice one or two more at this time.    

George Agusioma with his wife and young son.

George was a special member of our Family in

Testimony House.    A great happiness to have 

them with us today.

AND to the right is Richard Ochieng with his children.

Richard was with us from just a few months old in 1978.  He is a Business man, and is into Building and Road works.     He has known what it is to struggle, but keeping his mind on God, he has managed to keep going and to bring his family up in peace and strength.

You cannot imagine how glad and happy Esther and I have been to see them all.  Oh my!

ABOVE is Mwangi Macharia and his Family.     Mwangi was only about 11 when he decided to take my little car for a drive!  I still don't know how he managed to get his short legs onto the pedals, but he brought it back safely.   A bit of a cheeky lad!     But we somehow felt there was a future in him.      He is into the transport business these days, but I have known him when he was a butcher as well!     He might be said to be a man of many parts, but look at him now!   He came to us in 1976 - so still in his forties he is already a Grandfather!!!     I love this photo.   And I can see that Mwangi loves God, and loves his family two.    God Bless you some more.

AND TO WRAP IT ALL UP a final look at those who came, but from the opposite side.    Carol is now sitting in the front row at the left, and Daryl at the far Right.   Esther and me just to the left of the flagpole.      Now indeed we Thank Thee all, our God for all you have done in reaching lives and establishing families.  And it all began with an English sixpenny piece !

All our love to you all in Jesus Name


John, Esther. Daryl and Carol Green

TESTIMONY 

FAITH HOMES  and SCHOOL

JOHN and ESTHER GREEN

(CO-FOUNDERS)

WELCOME

ALL LOCAL MEMBERS OF THE

TESTIMONY FAMILY

TO A FAMILY

LUNCHEON

TO MARK THE

49TH ANNIVERSARY
of our Commencement
in August 1969

12.30 a.m.
Saturday 25th  August 2018
(Please be Punctual)

Testimony House as at Christmas 1972

OF COURSE THIS IS STILL A WEEK AWAY,  but we are still quite occupied getting ready for it, organising how to cater for what currently looks like a party of more than a hundred that will be with us on the 25th.     BUT it will be nothing compared to NEXT YEAR - 2019 -  our GOLDEN JUBILEE !!     The conclusion of FIFTY years caring for kids.      I will complete MY fifty years in Kenya THIS years 2018.     The years seem to have flashed by,     And yet there have been many children grow up here in that time;  more than 450 altogether.     AND many that joined hands with us in the practical daily reality of it all.     I will try to trace it all ------

The original 'Testimony House' in Maseno

1969 -  John Green began to care for 2 children in MASENO, Kenya.    He was 28, and the children were 6 and 12 respectively.  In 1970 John met Esther during a School Crusade in Machakos, four hundred kilometres away from Maseno;   in 1971,  August 14th they married.    The number of children by then had risen to 28, and had moved from one house to another, first on the compound of Maseno C.M.S. Mission Hospital, then to Ramula in Siaya District, and then in 1972 to ELDORET; our own  firstborn son, Steven, having been born in June of that year whilst John and Esther were visiting in the UK.      Whilst they were away the Children were being cared for by Duncan and Christiann MUNN, who on their return went to Congo for a lifetime of Bible Translation work.

In 1973 John and Esther were joined by Francis Wainaina, and in 1975 Francis married Elain Johnson, from Bispham, Liverpool, England and together they set up our 2nd Home (Jacaranda Cottage), just across the road from us.   They were  to be Houseparents in Jacaranda until 1977.    Francis then left us for the U.K. to train for the Anglican ministry,  became an Anglican priest in the UK.   He and his wife are now retired, and still in the U.K.
Nicholas Mwangi took on the task of being my Assistant after that, and remained with us until 1984.

1.   TESTIMONY HOUSE     -   Houseparents  -   1969-98 John and Esther Green / 1998-08 Daryl and Carol Green /
2008-18  Hesketh and Alice Muli    /   2018-   Francis and Eunice Lahol.
2.   JACARANDA COTTAGE (Old)   Houseparents  -   1975-81 /  Francis and Elaine Wainaina  /  1982-84 Hans and Sonja Jensen  /  1984-87 Bob and Joy Grahamslaw  /  1987-05  Joshua and Miriam Mbithi    /    2005-06 Phillip and Roseline Nzomo    /   2007-15 Joseph and Beatrice Rop   /      (New)  1915-17  Joseph and Agnes Macharia   .  1917-     David and Dorris Chumba
3.   TYNDALE COTTAGE - Houseparents -  1904-up to date   Mica and Catherine Yego
4.   DRAKELEY COTTAGE  - Houseparents - 2004-11   Steven and     Situma

As from 20 14 all those boys and girls in the four Homes who became 18 or over had to be removed form the respective Homes to other premises in line with Government Directives, messing up our entire Family System and Concept for the Homes.
1. THE HOSTEL FOR BOYS - took over Testimony House from 2014 to 2018 with the rest of the Testimony House family moving to DRAKELEY COTTAGE.     Mr and Mrs Hesketh Muli became Wardens for this period.
In 2018 the Boys Hostel was moved, still with the Muli's as Wardens to DRAKELY COTTAGE, whilst the Drakeley Cottage Family moved into Testimony House 
2. THE GIRLS HOSTEL took over part of the Old Jacaranda Cottage under the name of THE JEAN POTTS HOSTEL FOR GIRLS from 2014 until now.    The warden is Mrs. Grace Wangari
        
By the 31st June 2018 the FOUR homes had cared residentially for 408 children.    137 more are currently still Resident with us.

Of the total cared for to date 103 have been girls, approximately 1/3rd.

John Green assumed the position of Director over all until he retired in 2010, having set up the Administration in accordance with the Laws or Kenya as he found them in nineteen sixty nine, with a Board of fifteen Christian men and women of good reputation, which is self sustaining.   

In 2010 this Board Appointed Daryl P. Green as Deputy Director Over all.

He was confirmed as Chief Executive Officer in June 2018.

Here are some 'reminders' of past and present family groups --  To the left is Testimony House with the Muli's.

To the right is Drakely Cottage with the Lahols, and below is Tyndale Cottage with the Yegos.     Roughly thirty kids in a house shared with Mum and Dad, all under one roof, as an integrated though extended family

The Work of the Children's Homes has always been dependant upon God for its Provision, and Guidance.

It has never made any public or private Appeals to either Government or the Private Sector of the Public - either Spiritual or Other.        The Homes, each one, has been financially supported entirely due to Faith In God to Provide, as a Testimony that He hears and answers prayers.     Thus the Name  "Testimony Faith Homes".

===============================

In 1981 the Homes set up a Nursery School on a non profit making basis to assist us care for that age group among our own children.

     In the year 1983 the Homes opened a Primary School in addition from 1st to 3rd Grade.

Nursery School

In the year 1987 the Homes opened 4th to 8th Grade in Primary School,

In the year 1994 the Homes opened Secondary School in Forms 1 - 4

The Headmasters of the School have been as printed here below:-\

John Green, Dip.Th., (Admin. only)        1983-88

Thereafter Headmasters were duly appointed on merit, and Interview.

The School admits children from the Children's Homes free of charge.

Children from outside of the Homes, pay a Tuition Fee, plus other charges for extra services that may from time to time have been added for the convenience of the parent and improvement of the student.

The Primary School

It has run well, but has not been run for profit in any way.  ANY Surplus of funds made at any time are  been ploughed back into the expansion and improvement of services.

The School is, perhaps the most visible part of our ministry.   The Children's Homes are more hidden away, which is what we have hoped would be the case, so that the children would not feel 'on show', as can so often become the case where an orphanage is concerned.     BUT, again, the School kind of built itself, and in its own special way,( although we made no appeals for help in building it), the fact that is is with us, and that it IS quite attractive, gives is little doubt we had help.       TEAR FUND of U.K. certainly helped us with the building, though not the design of it.     And not through any purpose made Appeal to them.   Indeed they happened upon us by 'accident'.   GOD built the School.

The Secondary School

The last photo to the right is one of the main Secondary Block
which was built in 2013, at the same time that the Swimming
Pool was laid down.      It is a favoured school.     We are sure that it will continue to do well, and if, in the end, we are not allowed to help orphans residentially we would like to help the academically to have a better chance in life by providing as many as we can with FREE education.      We shall be talking very much about the future of Testimony with our Old boys and girls on the 25th August.

And so we have once again taken a brief glance into our little work for Jesus.    We seem to have been here no time at all, and even remembering the labour and years that have been taken to bring us to where we now are, it scarcely seems possible that 50 years have come and gone.     Only when we look at our children that are now men and women, many also mothers and fathers with children of their own, are we forced to accept it, and to marvel at the Miracle.

IT IS STRANGE, THOUGH - like the END of a book more than just a Chapter.     Nothing will be the same here without the children, without the families; without the original REASON for us all being here 'growing up'.

Some of the children from ALL the four Homes, most of them
still with us today.   What will become of them now
we wonder?

God Bless you all, our dear friends and co labourers and part of our precious 'Family' who have all walked along the way with us all.     God will be with us and with them.        Accept of our combined love and Thanksgiving in Jesus Name

John, Esther, Daryl, and All of us.    We will continue to serve Him always.

PICTORIAL EDITION

Just to bring a few photos taken on Baptism Sunday

and also on the 49th Founders Day

Above, A photo from Baptism Sunday taken on 15th July 2018.   We usually Baptise those who have newly come to Believe in Jesus about this time annually.    The Australian Team is usually also with us, and Mike Potter, leader of the Team is seen here baptising one of our boys, with Pastor Ondanga.  We use the shallow end of the Swimming Pool for this function, and all the Homes, and School Boarders plus Church Members attend after the Morning Service has ended.    Regretfully this year I was not able to attend being unwell.

Classes for those wishing to be Baptised, commence each January under the  care of our Pastor, Wykliffe Ondanga., and continue on week by week till June.     We do not see Baptism as a ritual, but as a personal testimony of those having believed that Christ Died on the Cross for their sins.   It is their testimony of having died to sin with Christ, and risen to a new and eternal life, cleansed and forgiven. 1. Peter 3.v21 

The photo above, left, is of one of our 14 year-olds from Tyndale Cottage, Victor Omondi, who was SO blessed and excited he almost looked as if 'heaven came down, and glory filled his soul,.

NOW to the 49th Founder's Day, to which I was also prevented from attending this year.     But Esther did, and represented me as well.    It was a very good Day, and as usual, overflowingly attended by more than five hundred, parents and friends.

This year some of our swimmers put on a demonstration at the Pool, and the Guest of Honour's Party were poolside to observe and cheer, whilst others were crowding the Stadium behind.   The Guest of Honour, Bishop Patrick Waweru of Life Changing Ministries  was dressed in blue.  Esther dressed in a maroon gown.      The School has a Team of swimmers representing them at both national and international levels, and they are doing very well indeed.

To the left can be seen a few of the 100 or so Nursery children taking part in the Afternoon Concert.   They all enjoy themselves, and are usually very popular as performers!!!
They usually have about fifteen minutes to fill with dances, skits and recitations.

Immediately below them is a photo of some of our Primary School children performing a dance.  This is something they love to do at all levels, and usually they choose a dance to reflect or represent  a particular culture. 
Thus the photo to the right shows some of our older primary Asian girls in an Asian Dance - always very colourful and different.     The School welcomes students from ALL backgrounds.

 As I have mentioned we had good attendance from all the parents and friends of the School.
They usually arrive about 10 .a.m. and walk around the School, meeting teachers, viewing class work and exhibitions, until lunch time when they are offered a free sit down lunch.  Then at 2p.m. the School Concert, and Prize Giving.
The School Hall seats 400, but on this particular day it overflowed, and more than another hundred crowded at the doors and widows, until the end at around 5 p.m.  Luckily it did not rain.

During Event, between the end of the Concertand the Prize Giving, the Guest of Honour is introduced and gives a brief Address, and also the Director of Testimony Faith Homes,
now Daryl Green.
Prizes are then presented to all classes from Nursery to High School, Form 4.    It is a long day, but everyone seems to really enjoy it.

The photos to the left were taken at different times and of different sections of the hall where guests were all seated,

The photo to the right is that of Bishop Patrick Waweru of Life Changing Ministries, based here in Eldoret.  He gave a greatly blessed Address, though perhaps took
rather longer
than was anticipated.    Still very appreciated.

Mr. Emajong, Primary Headmaster, Ester Green, and Mrs. Omobe, Secondary Headmistress

Mr. Victor Wafula, Secretary,  and Mr. Daryl Green

====================

HOW DOES HE GET AWAY WITH IT?

just reading this week that President Trump stated that Her Majesty the Queen 

was LATE when he visited her for Tea.

I was unable to move that particular day and sat watching all the state antics of the day

including the live SKY coverage of the said Royal Tea Appointment.

I SAW Her Majesty enter the Castle alone, and walking through the Entrance and thence to the prepared dais and two chairs awaiting the President's arrival.

Having reached the dais she stood, waiting for 15-20 minutes BEFORE 

President Trump appeared!!

HE WAS ALSO LATE IN ARRIVING

at Blenheim !!!!

THE QUEEN is NEVER late.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

MY THANKS 

to all those who have been praying for me!

In the last Blog of 26th July I mentioned we were awaiting the result of the CT Scan.

They arrived, and stated that ONE stone less was noted in the right kidney - the second one that had previously been seen seemed to have vanished - or passed unnoticed.

So now I still have one SMALL stone unwilling to move but so far not giving me 

much discomfort.

For the rest, the Scan showed that all is well with the kidneys generally, 

and that I am fit to live - as the radiologist said - for another 30 years.....!

We Praise the Lord that dwells within us, and Who is our Health.  Amen

AND THE SUN IS AT LAST SHINING, AND NOT A CLOUD TO BE SEEN.

but is is not very warm; quite cool in fact.

WE pray that the RAIN will relieve those parched and thirsty areas now being suffered

in Europe and Scandinavia.   

God Bless you all!

Our Love in Him to Everyone. 

John, Esther, and Daryl Green