A GOLDEN JUBILEE!

Above is a photo of just a fraction of the 150 or so out of the two hundred and twenty of our Old boys and girls that have come and gone from the Testimony  Family since 1969   Those in the photo

are some of the oldest, and who also love and support the Family.

YES THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TESTIMONY FAITH HOMES FINALLY TOOK PLACE, and we truly rejoiced to see so many of our family, returning to join in the festivities on the 24th and 25th August.    MORE than the 150 who had grown up with us, since many came with their own families - husbands, wives, children, and even fiancees.    Then of course there were almost a hundred guests plus all of us who still live here at home - another 150.     In the end we saw almost 500 come and share our joys together, in song, word, and dance, as well as in heartfelt REUNION with one another.     It was a VERY special occasion.  We Thank God in Jesus Name for it all.

     

OF COURSE Esther and I were both there celebrating with the rest, as you can see from THIS photo, taken in one of the many Refreshment Tents.  I think we both look good in our matching RED Jackets ....... BUT this was NOT OUR fiftieth Anniversary -  this year, on 14th August - we had been together 48 years only!     Many seemed to think WE were the ones being celebrated !!  NO, not yet.      WE were celebrating 50 years of our Father in Heaven's Wonderful Love and Grace, building and holding together a Family where no family had been.     God in His Mercy found a way to provide for a whole host of children, and young people, a place of refuge and Care and HOPE.   It was only a handful compared to the millions in need around us - just over four hundred and twenty all told, including a hundred still with us and not yet grown.     A 'drop in a bucket' so to speak.   BUT for us it is as a BIG bucket, and now to see. already, so many grown to man and womanhood, with their own families, doing well, and loving God, OUR hearts are just SO  full of Thanksgiving and Happiness.      AND this year, the group in the photo at the top of this report, decided to install Solar lighting and heating into Green Cottage in an effort to bring down the funds we spend on Electricity.  If it proves successful, then the idea will be to do the same for the rest of the Homes.    TFH currently pays for OUR  electric bill, and so we shall be glad if this burden can be lifted, and maybe pave the way for even great saving.      Now that we are getting O L D  we do not want to be just  an extra expense in staying on as 'grandparents'.

Not all the photos are available to me yet, so will hope to send more later.  For the moment I just want to convey, first to the 'Family' and then to all those came to celebrate with us, our very sincere appreciation and thanksgiving to each and every one of you for just coming, and for letting us enjoy you.       What Happiness, What real deep satisfaction and JOY it was to us both, and indeed to all those here with us who have allowed their hearts to LOVE.

EVERY DAY through the month of August it rained, and was comparatively COLD, and inclement weather.      BUT on the 24th morning the clouds receded, the sun was revealed in clear blue sky.  The weather held all that day, until late Sunday.     AND THEN the rain came down again,  HEAVEN smiled on us all.      And we believe there was some gladness in Heaven even more than ours.

Thank you  all for your prayers.    We have needed them.

I will close now.     I apologise for not blogging for the weeks previous to this, but I was not feeling quite myself, and just decided relax a little.        We both realised we tired  more than we expected and perhaps were a little caught out in trying to take on more than we needed to, or should have done.

All is well now, and we look into the future with peace and quietness of heart and mind.

God Bless and keep you all

John and Esther Green