OUR CHILDREN - is their future secure?

HERE IS ABIGAIL, just after completing her first week in 1st Grade of Primary School.   She will be SIX in March.  She and her Mummy, our daughter Helen, now living about three kilometres away from us.     Helen also teaching at Testimony Nursery School.  So happy to have them both close by, and able to see, every day.    Nairobi was too far, and we only met on School Holidays.   So happy for them both.    Wish ALL of our children were just as close by.   Our biological children, adopted children and ALL those we brought up in Testimony He from 1969-1998 who, although not able to be adopted, were non the less still very much OUR sons and daughters.     To all the others that have come since 1998 we have had a different relationship, but still close - as Grandpa and Grandma Green.
In the end, though, our hearts get entwined with each, and every one, and Oh, such JOY to see one and another still around us, AND even the more when one from the past pops in to see us and remember times spent together.       From first to last, all will be especially precious to us in our hearts

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The LAST of our University students left us today.    And it was with great happiness and Thanksgiving that we waved him off.    Last year, during his 2nd Semester, he had suffered what appeared to be a nervous breakdown, and he had to be admitted to hospital for some weeks, and then remained at home with us for a period of medication and rest.    He then returned to his University, returning to us for the Christmas break.       He seems quite recovered from all ill effects within himself, and very joyously returned to his Studies this morning.      A lot of prayer has gone up for him over the last nine months, and we want to Thank all those who joined us here in lifting up this young man in prayer.     Surely the LORD heard and has answered.     

BUT the Enemy, ever busy to bring confusion and frustration,  has yet again brought a threat to all those now returning to their University Courses.    THE DAILY NATION on the back page of their Edition for yesterday, 10th January, that -

LECTURERS vow to down tools over Ksh.8.8billion

 Lecturers will down tools as from January 20th

unless the Government agrees to honour a deal

signed last year.

The Lecturers feel the Government is running circles around their agreed promised Salary Increase of last year, of HALF what they were then owed ( Ksh.16..2 billion), and which to date has still not been received by them.        The Education Ministry of the Government is currently pleading that they do not implement this threatened Strike, but instead go back to the 'table' for further talks with the Government.       

The trouble is that the Government really does not have money, and the Lecturers now want action not more words.     This may be a 'reasonable' reaction their part, but it spells more than frustration to the students, who are continually struggling to get through their degrees.   On page 18 of the same edition of the Daily Nation is another article entitled  'Kenya's Higher Education Full of Uncertainty.'     The writer begins by stating ' The quality of education in Kenyan universities is declining in terms of teaching, research and student welfare.'         AND the added factor of suspended Lectures due to the whim of lecturers and a government strapped for funds, only adds to the cloud of DESPONDENCY that hangs over every student's head, to say nothing of the PARENT'S

anxiety and fear of losing hard found funds to pay for the HOPE they seek to give their sons and daughters, to find a future in our currently uncertain, competitive, and jobless world.

We are of course praying for all of OUR young people.    We have UNDIMMED HOPE in the help of our Lord Jesus.    Never has He been discovered unable to hear, OR to achieve the desire of our heart.

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THE WEEK has ended well.    |It has been a busy week, and thus a good one, since we all had things to do and  accomplish which kept our minds alert, and renewed our inner energy day by day.

The School \(our School) opened successfully on Tuesday.       All of our students returned, AND more than 25 new students in addition - a trend which has continue  through the week.     THUS yet again, we can say the Lord heard our prayer, since we had been hoping our own increase in our Fee structure would not have diminished our numbers.     We are indeed ENCOURAGED.

The Year has found ALL of us in prayer, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit.    We sense a new 'Stiring in the 'Mulberrry Trees'.     Hallelujah!!

God Bless and Cheer you all,  in the Blessed Name of Jesus.

John, Esther, and Daryl Green