TESTIMONY FAITH HOMES is completing FIFTY years this coming August, and each one of those years has been engaged in demonstrating that GOD ALMIGHTY, in and through JESUS CHRIST, is ALIVE, and RELEVANT in the world of today.     Every day we have Believed and Trusted that in God, and Him Alone, is all that is needed to see us through each hour of our lives.     Coming to Kenya with that belief leading me, in 1968, I found myself totally unsupported, and a stranger in a foreign land.     I made no appeals for help to any friend or foe.    I trusted in the written Word that is in the Bible, which Word was lived and demonstrated on this earth by Jesus Who IS that WORD.     I had arrived in Kenya with nothing - only an English three-penny piece coin fell from my trouser pocket as I made ready for bed, that first night.     It was ALL that I had in all the world.    It was to be the 'earnest of all my expectation'  for my life's daily provision for the next fifty years, and not mine alone but for hundreds of homeless and loveless children that were to come to live with me.
In 1971 I was joined in this visionary adventure by my wife,Esther, and together we have, through thick and thin days proved to ourselves, and those we have lived in with us, that God, in the Name of Jesus LIVES.    He Lives!      We KNOW He is alive because when we talk to Him, He hears, and when we share our needs with Him, He answers those needs.     If it had been an experience of perhaps only a day we may have had little to say, but this has been our together experience of fifty years.    And I still do not own or posses any personal security for myself or family, more than that first three-penny bit!


AS 2018 DREW TO A CLOSE,  I was wondering where the Homes might be headed.     What would there to be said of the FUTURE when we met to Celebrate our Golden Jubilee in August.    We have seen our current demonstration of God's practical, living interest toward those who trust in Him, reach out to hundreds of destitute children, NOW put in jeopardy by recent Government policies.  Our idea of providing home and family to those who have lost both, setting up  Cottage Homes for groups of boys and girls cared for by a married couple living in with them with their own children as one integrated family, may soon be prevented by legislation!   What was acceptable to Government here, in 1969, has radically changed in the last ten or so years, until now the Government has declared all orphanages to be closed down by 2030 and the children to be fostered or adopted.   We have continued on.    No more children are being sent to us by the Children's Department,  but on the other hand none have been removed from our care yet either.        Shall we close!      If we should be forced to discontinue the family program we have enjoyed, and which has been such a powerful witness to God's Reality, then we need to be looking to what comes next.

YES, we realise we are not the ones to either revise or even renew the Vision God first gave to us.  No, we have to lay all of this matter in front of Him in order to discover what His Will might be today, and for the next fifty years.       God's Visions, ideas and suggestions, often come with definite parameters.   Moses was shown how to set his people free from slavery, and taken right up  to 'The Promised Land' where they could begin a new life.     When THAT had been accomplished, God continuing to unfold His plan laid out the NEXT STEP to the next Man.    There came a change of  leadership and a change of focus.      We are in that place of transition now, here in 'Testimony' - a NEW leadership and new Vistas into the future.     Definitely, we feel, the beginning of a NEW Chapter in the story.     Our only concern would be for us to miss our way, or be too slow to recognise we are at a turning point, without ensuring that it is GOD'S Holy Spirit that we have with us in finding direction and guidance.

B.C.Forbes, 1880-1954, a Scottish  born American, was a financial journalist who founded the Forbes Magazine, believed in the need for 'Vision'.   Without vision a man will die, he quotes, and then adds the need to also ensure that our visions are not based in our dream world,
No!   We must, instead,  'undeviating, press toward our vision's accomplishment, with determination and ACTION.'       An IMPRESSIVE EXHORTATION indeed.   I have no reason to suppose Forbes was a Christian, merely someone who agreed with Bible in seeing  a set and determined goal in life to be paramount.    BUT then I would have to add, that we need to have a GOD GIVEN vision in front of us rather than our own.  We need to seek God's Will and Purpose in our lives and not in a generalised, but particular sense.
WITHOUT such revelation we are truly just groping blindly about!
We should ALL expect God to show us what to do, where to go, and how to serve Him in this life He has put us to live on Earth.   We can treat this a a JOKE, but the reality of it is SERIOUS.

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THUS we are very much on the alert, as we seek God together, not to miss a Word from Him as we continue to follow our original Vision planted in us by Him those years ago; a word that might need us to see a change of emphasis or direction whilst continuing to live by Faith in HIM.

Above is a photo of us all in 1987 - all of them gone today, but still very much part of our Family, and all doing well.     The Primary School was still not finished being built when the photo was taken.  Each one of these young people have gone out from us with good memories of home and family. And they have gone with the Word of God in their hearts ready to bring forth a harvest.........

And here almost 30 years later all our under eighteens, most of whom still remain with us

so far, despite Government threats.     As long as one remains then the Vision that started us on this road continues, and is productive.   In God we Trust!  With God we Walk!

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AND SO THE BLOG IS BACK ON TRACK and we hope to be sending out news and comment and hopefully also Encouragement, to all our friends and family members every week.   This week I will conclude with a few updates, and news items.     But first let me assure you all that Esther and I are well, and in pretty good shape.    The sun is shining upon our School and Homes, and everyone is  glad to see - at this dry time - a few showers of rain to lay the dust, and to refresh the flowers and lawns.    We are Blessed

FOURTEEN of our boys, over the years, have chosen to serve the Lord, and enter the pastoral ministry - only one falling by the wayside morally, and falling into the grave.    The others all continue to proclaim God's Word, and Serve the Risen Lord in different parts of the Country, and with different denominations including the Anglican Church of Kenya, The African Inland Church, and the Assemblies of God.     He is Glorified.

Another, Wykliffe Ondanga,  who came to us when he was fourteen (he is now 63) Went to Bible School at Kenya Highlands obtaining a B.Th.   He then went into teaching, until 1988 when he joined Testimony School as a Teacher of Christian Religious Education in the Secondary Section of the School.   He rose to the position of Headmaster, before resigning  to become School Chaplain and Pastor of our Church Fellowship.     He is now leaving us (having reached retirement age) to take up a post of Administrator of another newly opened Christian School.    We shall miss him very much indeed, but we shall be keeping in touch - he will only be an hour and a half away from from us.  

DAN NDUNGU, is now completely recovered from his heart operation of last year, and is quite restored and back to normal, progressing well in School and in every other way.    It is a very special joy  for us to be able to observe this great change and healing.    It has been the event of his life, and of the lives of each one of us who hae been privileged to witness this healing..

JAMES MANU GREEN - Manu's eyes continue to need very regular treatment, although there has been some improvement in the one eye.    His last visit to the Eye Clinic at Tenwek was last week, and they were fairly satisfied with progress - apart from a tenacious inflammation that continuously attacks both eyes and for which he has to treat with copious drops daily.    Still he was otherwise happy with the visit.

Manu also moved out into his own pad during February.    Still in Eldoret, but on the other side of town to us near Hawaii locality on the |Iten Road.     He seems quite happy there - just three rooms, and it has been good for him again to regain his Independence and freedom.    For our part we miss having him with us at home, but he visits frequently and we feel that generally this 'move' has been a blessing to us all.       He is still unemployed!    He is able now to take up a job, and this now the focus of prayer on his behalf, as he himself is anxious to get back into the work force.

And this is where I will close.       I do not want the Blog to ramble on too much, and will be doing my best to keep it shorter than before.    It will eventually settle to a regular slot in the week, but initially may be just a little irregular .     All our hearts are fill with Thanksgiving for you all, and we have known HIS EVERLASTING ARMS around and under us as you have reached out to us in supportive prayer and substance.     May Father eve sustain YOU and strengthen you as you also serve Him in the daily conflict with unrighteousness

In His Love and Mercy,\

John, Esther and Daryl Green