D-DAY 

6TH JUNE 1944

AN INVASION TO PUSH BACK EVIL.

A GREAT SACRIFICE IN ORDER TO GAIN GREAT VICTORY.

but what a mess it must have seemed, what hellish chaos.

hundreds of Allied ships gathered in the early morning light, off-loading thousands of Allied troops into the churning sea.    The roar of gunfire.  Shells from the destroyers whistling over head, and the thunder as they found their mark on the enemy upon the shore.   Smoke, shouting, screaming, all amid the surging water, and bodies, already dead before they reached the beaches; left behind by their living comrades, committed to living and succeeding in overwhelming the opposing force entrenched upon the land beyond.     Surely God was with them.
More than 2000 from the United Kingdom, and 2000 from the United States
plus others from those Allied together with them,
DIED on that day, in that Action.
BUT THE GERMAN NAZIS WERE PUSHED BACK
and finally
DEFEATED.

I was then only four years old, part of my little time spent in London, and later in Yorkshire in the North of England.     I remember the sound of bombs still, one landing not a hundred yards from where I was living at the time.    I remember the Air Raid Sirens sounding off to warn the people to take cover; to run for their lives, to find shelter.     I wrote a little about this in the Blog of 29th April 2017.       I grew up feeling greatly beholden to those who fought so bravely, and who were to give up their lives in such numbers.    I have also always felt a sense of wonder and thanksgiving that they did it all with such comradeship and united vision, valuing their free heritage and Christian tradition.     I felt it again as I watched and listened to so many of those who were there at the time, and who lost so many of their comrades in the sea, and on the beaches and on the land that day.     To them their Memories remained fresh and forever, as their voices quavered and the tears ran down their faces, as they relived the scene and suffered again seeing so many dear comrades fall at their side.   THEY lived to tell the story.        Many of their own relatives and family had never heard from them the events of that Day until NOW.    Very moving, but I was myself moved, and also glad to see, so long after the event,  such human pride and thanksgiving for their achievement.     YET I CANNOT FIND A REASON TO GLORY IN WAR.    I cannot refuse to honour the bravery of the countless lives that fort against us, or the countless families left bereft and deeply wounded by their loss, even as we ourselves.    Indeed I have often found myself distressed for them.     WAR is nothing to CROW about, even when we might excuse it to be necessary.      God Himself, as it is written, has no pleasure or satisfaction in the death of any, at any time, for any reason.      Ezekiel 18v31-32    Friend or Foe.

The Kings / Presidents / Governments of the earth war together, but are seldom in front of the battle.  They call upon the common men and women to go to the Front and die.......'Cannon Fodder' they were, and may still be, called!      Not expendable, but not necessarily missed, they went gallantly and bravely forward to shield king and country.        I am glad to see them praised.    But it will not stop WAR.   Will not bring to an end the Differences of a Few using the generous good will of the masses to fight for them, and if necessaary die for them.      Not praiseworthy - yet necessary?    Perhaps, but God Himself is not happy with it - even when HE has seen it to be necessasry.

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Here is a photo of one of our boys who grew up in Jacaranda Cottage.    In this photo he is about to leave us and take up a pastorate with the African Inland Church, for which he trained.   He came to us when his legs were in irons, but still very mobile, and today he is without them, and his problem solved.     He is a very effervescent person, very active, optimistic, and cheerful.  He was 10 when he arrived.  Bright, but playful! His name is Mariko Epa, and he is taller by a few inches than me.
During his Secondary School years Mark suddenly turned from his playfulness and made a serious decision to give his life to Christ, and there after his life was transformed!    It was so marked that it really spoke to all his peers and the children he had grown up with.   On leaving Form 4,  and then in April 2016 he entered Bible College.    He is now pastoring in Kitale some 80 kilometers away from us, and God is truly blessing his ministry there.     He arrived this week to advise us that the Lord had found him a young lady who had agreed to marry him!   Well we had been in prayer for this, so we were were glad to hear the news.      |He will be bringing her to see us soon, then there will be a pre-wedding on the 31st August in Kitale before the expected Wedding in December.    Wow!      It was just yesterday he was 10, crippled, and unhappy.    And now he is 30 and healed, happy, and occupied for God.     All to the Praise and Glory of God.   How we Do rejoice for him, and in him.     Thank you Lord Jesus.

NB - More can be read about Mark in the Blog of 30th April 2016.

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General Matters

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THE WEATHER has now changed from summer to Winter; marked coolness, cloudiness, and SOME little RAIN.    But at least, although little, the rain is coming in pretty regular showers, so the immediate problem, at least in our area, has been relieved.    We have water back in the taps and we Rejoice greatly.

THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES have no far not replied to an invitation to meet with the Mangements of Charitable Chidlren's Homes in our County to discuss in greater depth what might yet be possible.

We are still pressing forward to encourage this to happen soon, and we are FAR from giving up hope that we shall see a door opening for the future soon.   Please continue to pray as we continue to take children IN to our homes.      AND YES, it IS incongruous that whilst insisting we are being 'Closed'

the Department is STILL sending children to us!!

50TH ANNIVERSARY IN AUGUST - Arrangement still going on.    We expect up to 500, visitors including our old boys and girls.     The main Meeting will be on the Saturday the 24th.   distant visitors are expected to arrive on Friday 23rd.   We shall be using School Dorms to accommodate some, and others may arrange their own accommodation with friends or family in town.    On the Sunday we shall have a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving in the morning.

The Brochure is now printed and available but will not be officially given out until that week-end.

Those wishing to have a copy, but not able to attend the Celebration, should book a copy NOW so that we can reserve one and arrange to have it sent or brought to you.

DRAKELEY COTTAGE -has been shut most of this year, and the family moved to Testimony House.

We had not been taking in more children since November last year, and the Floor at one end of the Cottage had begun to suffer subsidence.     This is now being attended too, and the entire house cleaned and made ready to receive more children within the next month.      Hesketh and Alice Muli will  houseparents.

Looking out of the window, the sky is BLACK with rain-clouds, and thunder is already rolling hidden their midst..    It is suddenly COLD, and any minute it will definitely RAIN.    The lawns now a lush green, are already grown more than 6 inches high - not close to an 'elephant's eye' yet though.

We are all much in prayer at this time on all counts, and we would humbly ask you to also remember to put a word or two in front of our Father in Heaven on our behalf, in Jesus Name.    God Bless you.

I have sent out Updates to all now, and you should all have received by next week.

Our love and Prayer always to and for each one.

John, Esther and Daryl Green