FAMILY

HERE IS A PHOTO OF SOME OF THE GREEN FAMILY TAKEN IN 2014 AT ESTHER'S 70TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

Back Left.  Anthony Bones, |(Pastor), Richard, (Business-man). Lucky, (Civil-engineer) Christopher (Pastor / Business-man)  Michael (Programmer) Bottom Left,  Francis  (Chef / Houseparent in Drakeley Cottage)  Daryl (CEO-TFH), David, (Accountant / Farmer), Steven, IT specialist.

They are all close to us, and support us as good sons in the Family.    All except, regretfully, Francis who sadly passed away to Glory last year.   But these all grew up together with us, and with each other, and the ties that bind them and us together are very close indeed.    BUT they are only a handful that represent so many, many others, now scattered from us in the U.S.A.,  Australia, England, and of course throughout Kenya.    THE GOVERNMENT says it is closing us down with all other Children's Homes because we destroy the concept of family life.   WELL in August we hope to demonstrate OUR Family Life as we all come together to celebrate 50 years of Happy Memories and strong ties of affection, and support for each other.      Blessed BE the Name of the LORD Who brought us all together, and continues to be our Guide and Teacher, making a family home where there was none.

 a glimpse of the 'Many More' but only a glimpse!

Each year there are more, and will be more.

Even IF the Home were closed, 

THE FAMILY

will live on, and go on expanding.

And we shall continue to Celebrate Family year by year.

++++++++++

THIS IS A PHOTO OF MY SISTER PAT, AND ME TAKEN IN APRIL 2011 on her 72nd Birthday.   We had never met before. Both us had been  separated due the breakdown of our parents marriage.   I had been adopted, and did not discover I had a sister until 2011.    We found ourselves to be very alike, and we 'clicked' straight away.    We both had missed so many years.   She had been taken away by her Father when she  was two, and he remarried.    What a nightmare 'Family' can be!
Our mother also remarried.    Pat's new mother did not like her, and she had a hard time for the next eleven years.  And my adoptive family was otherwise a childless marriage, and already on the rocks.  So much for family life - nothing is perfect, and certainly humanity is not.   We both suffered away from home - our real home with our real parents.    She ran away when she was 14,and worked as a shop girl...........Much later she married - and that marriage lasted fifty years before her husband died of a heart attack just before
we met. My adoptive parents separated, and my adoptive mother ran off with another man, taking me with her when I was ten.  For seven years we then ran from place to place, unable to pay our way anywhere. I seriously missed having a Father, and my sister missed a good Mother. But we both made good and found a home and family of our own. I found Esther, and after 48 years are still in love, and happy in our marriage together.
Family IS something important and desirable.   A happy stable marriage with each partner keeping their promises to each other, and willing to suffer and even if necessary endure one another, makes for a stable and secure home for children to grow and learn in.    Yes, and even the occasional problem does no harm if the marriage is secure and stable.     I think WE both missed 'home', and we certainly missed a parent who loved us.     BUT we  did not find ourselves In Care, in an institutional Orphanage - and we did not miss it, for all the problems we went through 'at home'.

When I took my first two boys in I did not think of building an institution, and when I asked Esther to marry me 2 years later, we both agreed that we wanted a family, not an institution.   We wanted to offer children without a home and loving, caring parents,what they lacked - a happy, secure home, with loving parents.    Our home and family would open up to whosoever God sent to us with such a need...............NOW the Government has become soured with what they feel is the average Charitable Children's Home, where they say they have found generalised incidences of peadophilic and institutional abuse, far removed from family..       Are they right?     They rarely identify the actual institution they accuse, and there is no doubt there may be some.  BUT surely not ALL.
Nevertheless, they DO have to act with proper responsibility toward the safety of children.  They have decided to Re-integrate all children who may have been committed to Children's Homes who may still have parents or relatives able to give them a home.    Or, failing this, to have children currently in care to be either Fostered or Adopted.      Yes, on the surface we accept this could be preferable to being institutionalised.     BUT none of these intentions might always lead to success.
Also the Follow up, in order to assure children are still not abused, or used, even in their new placement, might be difficult to ensure, due to lack of personnel available to actually  do it.  THEN also the initial upheaval caused to the children themselves, and the added trauma to what they may already have been exposed to, might cause an even greater injury, to the 50,000 or so currently in Care.

We are not an Institution, and have not suffered any incidents in the families we have set up, so that I dare to say children (accepting that they are NOT in their own homes) have lived happy, secure, and (apart from normal restraint found in any well ordered family) peaceful lives in stable surroundings, with loving foster parents living in with them night and day.

We no not mind being SHUT DOWN as a C.C.I., if that must be the case, BUT we would like an opportunity to be re-scheduled as a FOSTER HOME / Reception Centre.    The numbers needing care are STILL rising.    Surely all those of us honestly offering FREE care and protection should not just be told to Go Away - You are not needed?        We ARE needed,  we should be taken advantage of for the sake of the children.      Right now we need to PUT THE CHILDREN FIRST, and all the sociological arguments second.    After all, it is certain not ALL the children can be returned to families that have already been labelled unsuitable, OR to foster or adopt.   Some will be too old, too ugly, too sick, .........   WHERE will they go - to an INSTITUTION.       Surely not.   TFH would like to remain a refuge for needy children - even they might be the most unwanted dregs.   Oh LORD help Kenya Government to talk with us, and those of like mind with us, and find a way to USE us for their children's sake.   We ask it in JESUS Name!     And we Believe you hear us, and it will be so.


Our  Love again to all of you, our dear even wider family of friends and supporters in Christ.   Make our prayer your prayer also on our behalf.   Let us storm the Gates of Heaven, together.


Affectionately always in His Love, Mercy and Grace

|John Esther and Daryl Green



NB - We shall be sending our our 2nd Update next with with acknowedgement.

         If you WOULD like a copy of the Jubilee Brochure please let us know before the 24th August in order that we can  assure  one will be available.