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)
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 ------
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.
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.
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
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.
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| 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.
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| 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 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.
 |
| The Secondary School |
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'.
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.
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