DANCING WITH DEATH ?

TODAY'S DAILY NATION'S front page headline reads

VIRUS !   WHY KENYA IS DANCING WITH DEATH...

This week, on Thursday, 239 Chinese flew into Nairobi direct from China.  They were immediately told to go and Quarantine themselves individually for 14 days.  Today we are also told that there will be MORE such flights from China during the coming week. This is causing UPROAR not only among Kenyans themselves, but also across East Africa.  Certainly it does seem as if the Government is 'dancing with death' -  playing Russian Roulette might also be another way of putting it.   Definitely not helping the people already made nervous and apprehensive by the world media coverage.   The very fact of planeloads of Chinese roaming around the Country, or at the most holed up in some place 'quarantining' themselves rather haphazardly, and even without real guidance or supervision, seems a clear invitation to the  VIRUS  to call on us all.

This has gone against the grain, and OUTRAGE at the casual attitude of the government is growing.

It has even been said that if a serious outbreak of the Virus hit Kenya we will not ourselves be able to treat victims, and that they might have to travel to South Africa.  If this should be the case then obviously the majority may find themselves unable to afford it, and may die.      Thank God that HE is able to be called upon to help and rescue all those who turn to Him in faith.        And today we have heard of a new Case that has been proved positive in Nigeria.     The Media have immediately jumped on this news and added it to all else to do with the THREAT hanging over the world - there is little doubt that the influence of all this is affecting the global Psychological status quo and paralysis of the global mind into accepting the worst.    We are facing a hopeless situation.    Global Warming, and the melting ice cap the ensuing Climate Change affecting weather, rending countless thousands homeless; the Immigration Problem of millions of displaced and homeless. desperately seeing refuge; disease and pestilence, and political unrest and violence -  THIS must mean Planet earth and US, are all facing the END of everything.    Even the  scientists say so.     The Bible has been predicting it for thousands of years.
WELL, and so it may be......but as for me I want to LIVE every day as it comes, looking to the One who I believe made me, loves me, and is  making a WAY for me.     I will not look at the events, or listen to the helpless and alarmist apprehensions of the carnal world; no I will trust in God.  BUT, I am not altogether a fatalist.    I cannot say 'whatever will be, will be' with total disregard to the truth that how I live my life in front of God and toward His Creation, matters.  Consider again Isaiah 24v3-5  'What a man or woman sows, so will they reap', and it is true MANKIND cannot escape the result of being blind or willfully in rebellion and denial of his responsibility under God, for what is happening around him, and how he handles it.       On our own we can do nothing - unless we do it with God in our prayers and in our daily life and thought.   I CAN look to God alone, and cast ALL my anxiety on HIM, but only will that profit me when I also  trust and BELIEVE in HIM, and in His |Overlordship of ME, and the world around me.      THEN, when we restrain ourselves, letting GOD have HIS Way, change be achieved,       Even if we DO face the End of all things, WITH GOD it is only the entrance into a new and everlastingly breath-taking LIFE.      All things will THEN become NEW, and the past forgotten in the Wonder of the Present.

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LAST WEEK I shared about a School in which 39 children were injured and 13 died due to a sudden disturbance as they left off lessons for the day and headed home.   Pushing and shoving like a herd of cattle down the narrow stairways to the outlets.   I also shared that our own school was fortunate in not having more than two floors, and no exterior veranders, or narrow stairways.

HOWEVER,  we did take a second look at ourselves, and we felt we still needed to update a few danger spots.    Our main High School Block contained four classrooms that were on the 2nd floor of the new building put up in 2013.    The classrooms were accessed from a long veranda, open on one side, and giving way to a double staircase down to the ground.

IN THIS PHOTO you can see clearly what I have described.    Daryl, looking at it as you see it here, felt that the verander was still TOO open and needed more enclosure, AND that the main EXIT/Entrance, from the staircase, needed security. A lockable steel mesh gate that could be shut during Breaks and out of class hours, preventing,students from entering, without a teacher, was decided upon.   Over the last 18 months we have suffered a lot of vandalism by students accessing classrooms out of class time.

So Daryl got busy putting into place some remedy, which we all feel will be a definite improvement to student AND material safety and security

 

ABOVE you can see a detail of the new metal grills that have been added to the veranda retaining walls, AND the metal doors opening on to the Stairwell platform.

Here are views of the veranda. 
You can see the new metal grills on to of the retaining wall, and also a glimpse of the double metal gate at the entrance to the stair well platform. 
The next picture shows the veranda again, but looking inside from the opposite direction

Both photos clearly depict the new metal work that has fitted additionally to the veranda.  And of course a complete repaint has been carried out.everywhere.
The next photo shows the interior of one of the four classrooms leading of this veranda which are confined to the use of Form 1 to 4 of our High School section of Testimony School
Population per class is up to 36, but normally set at 30.
Floors of the Class will eventually be tiled with ceramic tiles.  Currently the are painted with a heavy duty industrial paint, on top of  the cement screed.   The exit door,  top right, opens onto the veranda.  Plenty of good window space at the rear, out of sight.
Good, light and airy space.

FINALLY is a view from the  stair-well, looking out over the laboratories.  These rooms had not had their roofing painted for more than decade.  Not a bad photo,, as you can see the school Offices and Assembly ground middle center,  and the  story Primary Block just behind.
Repainting, general maintenance, and upkeep is an expense that has increased on the school side over the years, but we are now putting in place a Five Year Maintenance Plan that will take care of so much Term by Term over five years, and then begin again.     THIS has been the First Term's phase for this 1st Year of the Plan.    We feel it is good for Teacher and Student to work and be part of a visibly clean and well cared for environment.    We feel this discourages depression and encourages a desire to be a part of the image in ones work and personal self respect.     We hope  that the result will reflect this in good academic attainments as well as in the outward  Image of the School as whole.

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OUR FRIENDS Ian and Diana Hogley are with us for the next week.  Great to have them with us

braving the Airways and Travel hazards of the time, and taking advantage of what appears to be a late time of Summer for us.      Kenya is still seeing rain  and clouds more often than usual, and the Locusts are still ravaging parts of the Country without much restraint.    But on the whole all remains the same friendly and beautiful Kenya we have known for fifty years.     We look forward to enjoy the week ahead, and to continue also enjoying working together with Jesus.   

We were VERY glad and relieved to hear of some material aid on the way to us from some of the Children of God.     Truly our Daily Bread for the weeks ahead.     God Blessing upon each and every one who has reached out to us in Jesus Name .

|Lovingly in Him

John, Esther, and Daryl Green

ONE THING AND ANOTHER

ON THE AFTERNOON of 2nd February, THE BELL RANG, to signal end of Classes for the as day.

Immediately, on each Floor of the three story Primary School, it was if a riot broke out.    Children, shouting, pushing and shoving each other, raced to the stairways in a 'stampede'.    39 children were seriously injured, and at least 13 died in the melee.     It seemed as if nothing, and one, was at hand to restrain the matter, and bring order.      This photo was taken minutes later, as parents began to arrive and to seek out their children.

ON THE FACE OF IT, looking at the structure in the photo, it looks well built, and safe, though we are not shown a shot of the actual Stairwells and exits, which is where the worst happened.   But one or two are reported to have also fallen over the balconies.      Where were the teachers?  Was it usual to just open the doors and let the kids storm out and away, any old how, without the slightest care or supervision.     Our own School does not have balconies and is only two floors.     Children 'are not allowed' to rush out of classes in a disordered fashion, and there are teachers always there to see that the don't.   Well all this just underlines and emphasises the fact that supervision is of primary importance in the ordering of academic life - all the way through to University - though it seems unlikely to  see it in the near future.   We thank God that discipline has, and remains one the pillars on which the School here is built and maintained.     It has in no way curtailed the happiness of the children, who are still exuberant and joyful children - just controlled.

TODAY  the sun is shining and the  temperature up in the 80f.    The Swimming pool packed with school children, and perhaps, after all, we might see just a little glimpse of our elusive DRY Season.  BUT the LOCUSTS are still enjoying or crops, rain or shine.

It is said that Kenya and its neighbours are suffering the biggest invasion of desert locusts in 70 years.  One such swarm has been recorded in Kenya as being 60 km in  length, and some 40 km in width.    It can be assumed that more than 200 million locusts comprise this cloud, and will steadily eat, eat , eat, till nothing is left, and they die!    And WE shall go on to suffer real hunger.
Our cabinet Secretary for Agriculture in Kenya, Peter Munya got up on the 17th of this month and told us all not to worry.    '"don't be worried.  They (the locusts) area going to die."       The Minister has remained silent.
The Locusts continue to invade our land, and also now in Somalia, Ethiopia and Uganda.     It seems nothing and no one can control THEM either.

BUT there are places and ways for KENYAN's to still find fun and happiness.    I could not resist including this photo of a family rding a camel on the coast near Mombasa recently.    We see camels even in Eldoret - ever so rarely - and they also thrive in Naivasha.  Interesting animals, but on the whole I have never felt tempted to get too friendly with the. But they probably have every reason to look and sound a bit sour and grumpy - considering how they are treated, and the loads they have to carry.

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LAST SATURDAY, Esther and I were together with all our co-workers, sharing Jesus together as we all gathered in the School Hall - about 110 of us.     Starting at 9a.m. it usually continues till 1p.m..    Initially it is Praise and Worship, and opportunity for as many as may wish to, to share and proclaim how God has proved Himself to them over the previous three months.   A very happy, joyful, and encouraging time.   Then a short break and back again when groups come to the front to sing, or act together.  For example all the Office staff form such a groupl, and also the Houseparents, Grounds staff, and Cleaners, as well as the Nursery, Primary, and Secpndary Teachers.

Of course each group also meet in between this Termly Get Together, for prayer and even Bible study.      This keeps all us close to each other.......     We thank God for it.

To the left one of our ladies really going strong, leading her group in a very joyeous  number, and on the right another group of somme of the Office Staff. A lot of real happiness, laughter and satisfaction as each group presents what they have.

To the left again are some of our

Secondary School Staff, the Head master taller than the others!

And to right a group of our Nursery School teachers.  They all  choose their own piece to present, and rehearse and make ready in their own time.

It has been God's special Blessing that in the midst of so much work day and day out, among the children in the Homes and in the School, that we find time for each other and for God.    We truly are one BIG family.         Daryl was with the music section playing his guitar with Stephan Wathika, also a guitarist, whose son we Dedicated last week.

BUT WITH THE SMOOTH often comes rough moments, as on Tuesday this week. Esther was across at Jacaranda passing the time of daya with some staff and children, near road gate.   Inside Old Jacaranda Cottage, our pastor was holding a Bible Study with some of the older children less than  fifty meters away,    C R A C K!!!!! Suddenly, without any warning an old Jacaranda Tree decided it was its hour - and it fell down, all of it, from the base, its branches coming down on the roof just above Pastors head.      Not a soul was touched, inside or outside, and although many came to a very sudden standstill with mouths wide open not a hair of any head was lost.

             

As you  can see it was no small tree, and had been growing there for the last 50 years as strong and flourishing as ever, year after year.     In face I have never known a Jacaranda Tree to fall down of its own.    BUT you can see from the bottom photo that this tree seemed  to have had NO real root at all.  It could have come down at any time, even killing someone.   It fell across the path from the gate inwards, and its branches reached the wall of the old bathroom of Jacaranda Cottage.    Not a window broken.     Just three iron sheets on the roof  slightly dented.      Surely God was watching over everyone.     But I hate to see a tree fall down.

SUCH A SUNNY DAY!    And the Week has ended well.     

DARYL attended a Meeting or our Area County Advisory Council for Children on THURSDAY.

He was told that the Government has NOW decided to allow all those Children's homes that were Registered already in 2017 to remain OPEN and to be RE-REGISTERED forthwith!    SEVEN in our Area - out of almost 40!     Of course this includes us, and we have been delivered.     The LORD in his Grace and Mercy has powerfully intervened once more,  and we REJOICE!

We were first warned that we were to closed in 2014.    A long time waiting and wondering, and seeking the Lord.

SO, now that we have been approved of we have to put together a 165 page Application to be Re-Re-registered.    The last time we did this was in March 2017, applying for re-re-registration for the next 3 yrears, until now in fact.    It was compiled and sent, but never acknowledged, nor a Certificate given, nor a Receipt for the Fee paid.        NOW we have to do it all over again as from today for the NEXT 3 years...........Quite a lot of work and we have only been given one week to do it all.    THUS I have been hard at it all day, and probably tomorrow as well - so I decided this evening to get my Blog off early again.

Our Love to you all, in the midst of much prayer for the world at large, suffering as it does.

God Bless and uphold you all.

John, Esther and Daryl Green

BY THE GRACE OF GOD - we live.

ABOVE is a photo taken at Nairobi on the 11th February during the State Funeral 

of President Arap Moi, who passed away at the age of 96 on Tuesday 4th February.

I watched it all on television.    Hundreds of thousands packed the Stadium, and Statesmen and Presidents from all over also attended.    It cost the taxpayer Ksh.300,000,000/-  to arrange and put on.  Too much?  Probably!  Worth the Cost - a matter of argument.  BUT it was good for Kenya to note his passing, and to be able to revalue their opinion of him.

During his time as President he was blamed and accused of many things, including a number of truly awful atrocities and social corruptions.     However, on the other hand he maintained peace and security in the Country at large, without tribalism, and saw the Ecomony stabilise and improve.  He also permenantly, and publically mainained his Witness to Jesus Christ, as his own Saviour.    NO, he certainly was not perfect - but he WAS respected, and even honoured.      The Country has not seen such leadership, or enjoyed the same security, since he peacefully handed over as President some years back.      His presense will be missed, and not only by those of his own tribe.     

I personally never met him, or spoke to him, or received a letter from him, but I must confess that my final assessment was rather BETTER than worse.    I admired him as a serious man politically, and spiritually.     But he was not always personally as strong as he might have been, and on many occassions was not in full charge of all that happened during his term of office.    HE did what he could, and Kenya was in fact blessed, and improved by his Government.   

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ON SUNDAY, THE 8TH,  I had woken up after a very disturbed night.    I have for some time now been enduring from what my doctor thinks is Peripheral Neuropathy.   It causes ones feet ( in my case) to tingle, and be inflicted with flashes of pain; like being stabbed with pins, or burnings.  Not pleasant,   However, it had been less of a problem previous to Sunday.    Then, when I awoke on Sunday morning, and put my right foot to the floor, my HEEL felt so tender I could not stand on it.
I managed to get dressed, shave, and finally put my shoes on.   I could walk, but very tenderly indeed.    And so I went to church to witness THE DEDICATION of little Nathan Kiptoo Wathika.

Pastor Mike was officiating.      By the time I arrived in the School Hall I was ready to sit down again.    I could not bear to stand for the Worship......    THEN I found Mike calling me to the front. He wanted me to stand with him and assist with the Dedication.      Ahh!    I nearly did not make it.  BUT I did.     It went well and I have a photo of it.     However, Mike had taken the infant from his mother to pray for him, but somehow ended up with the child lying across his arms.    When I went to lay hands on him, I could not get both hands to where his head was and ended up with one hand on his little head while he lay peacefully in Mike's arms.   Mike could not get a hand on him at all.    Well, but the Holy Spirit was with us, and all went well amid great rejoicing.      My photo did not show Nathan very clearly, but I will include another of him as well.  He was born last July.

I hobbled home, and my heel worsened.     Monday I refrained from walking altogether, and rested.     I could  still manage to get around, but very painful.    This continued though Tuesday.  I talked to the Lord about it.     Immediately the pain subsided.   That night I slept right through with any discomfort.     Thank You, Lord, with all my heart  -   and so today I was able to do our weekly shopping with Daryl.     A cursory search in Internet provided a possible hint that this sudden heel pain could have been an incursion of something known as Plantar Asciliitis.      Amazing!    I hope it will stay well away.     SO, right now, I feel well and normal, and am happy with my Valentine of 49 years - still as beautiful as ever in my eyes!

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TOMORROW, Saturday, is our Spiritual Emphasis Day, when ALL our staff come together from 9a.m. to midday to seek the Lord and to also hear His Word.    It is a Termly Fixture and all staff in the Homes and School are required to attend without fail.     It is always blessed and uplifting, and it is also a continuing incentive to improve our unity and togetherness in the whole work.   It is purely for us adults working together, and not for the children - but they will all be well occupied and safe.

For this reason I started writing the Blog this afternoon (Friday), in order not to find myself out of time.

This Afternoon the Wind is BLOWING gustily around us.    Not a hurricane, but  certainly gale force.

The sun is shining in a blue sky, but clouds are building up on the horizon.     Not hot, but not cold.

This evening School will close for Half Term.    It will open again Tuesday next week, in the morning.   Quite short.    But these days holidays tend to get shorter in favour  of more and MORE lesson time, and we seem to sinking into an 'All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy' phase of education.    It isn't doing so well, we think, but with the Lord we might win........

Having been almost stationary for most of the week I have been able to read a little, and also spend more time than usual on the Internet.    Did me good; I am almost still so caught up in local matters within the Homes and School that I rarely have time for real irresponsible pleasure.    In the Bible I have decided to read through, once again, the Book of Micah.    SO good, and so very rewarding to read again.    Then, on the side, I came across a book by Heather T. Forbes, and B Bryan Post, first published in 2006 by Beyond Consequences Institute, Orlando, Florida -  'BEYOND CONSEQUENCES, LOGIC, AND CONTROL' (A Love Based Approach to Helping Attachment Challenged Children with Severe Behaviour.      I have found it immediately interesting, challenging, and still very much up to date with current problems with children who have come through varied problems in their background and family. It will be helpful to US here, I think.

THEN in browsing around in the Internet I accidently found my self connected to the Oxford Union and a whole world of oral comment and debate on a host of subjects by a galaxy of well known and not so well known celebrities, politicians, philosophers, theologians, and even adventurers.   I was delighted!      It was a Window, suddenly opened to my rather stagnant mental mind.   And I was also refreshed and emotionally moved to weep and laugh by good oratory and use of words.     

It could have been a rather dull few days for an old duffer like me, laid aside and useless, but instead it has been like an INJECTION and a re-awakening, to something missed, and almost forgotten. It did me good,      BUT I am still busy reading, and will no doubt continue to be, whereas my free  time with my computer may disappear quickly as my feet, renewed, take me constantly away from it.

Esther and I send you all our love and prayers.       We hope you are constantly able to push your way up and through the layers of atmospheric pollution,  political theatre,  ecological challenge, and the fear and dread of invisible viruses and germs.    Go on thrusting,  up and through them all.    There is unfailing SUNLIGHT above it all; clear skied, clean air, incisive clarity to see and plan by. God will be there, above all. Call out to Him, take hold of His hand, and let Him pull you up to where HE is, above the smog and infections of the Earth we live in.

God be with you always

John Esther and Daryl Green          

HERE once more is a photo of our current TEAM caring for all the children in Testimony Faith Homes - the orphans in particular.   

From the Left you can see, Daryl Green, the current Director,

Grace Mwangi,  Relief Houseparent;   Hesketh and Alice Muli, Parents of Drakeley Cottage;   Esther and John Green;  Eunice Lahol, Mum in Charge of Testimony House;   Catherine (Senge) and Micah Yego, parents in Tyndale Cottage;   and lastly David and Dorris Chumba, parents in Jacaranda Cottage.

I have this photo on my Desk Top to remind me always to pray for us all; our constant desire is to be more, not just team, but integral parts of a family to which each of the children in our care belong.  We are quite a mixed bag of individuals, but all plucked up and brought together by the LORD.

Please do remember us in  your prayers.   Daryl, as Director carries the weight of administration, Esther and I, as being semi retired from official responsibility, are none the less also still caught up in the daily ebb and flow of life, and each of our Mums and Dads, constantly needing the love, wisdom and faith to see each child  brought safely  through to the day they can leave us and stand on their own. 

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Testimony School

I must apologise for not putting anything UP last Saturday, and also for not letting you know.   But I have often said that I may not always be regular.     My previous publication shared a challenge we were facing regarding the cross over from Primary to Secondary Education.     In particular in relation to three of our children who, having concluded Primary, attaining little or no progress academically, now found themselves being forced into four more years of Secondary Education.        We were told they had no choice and neither did we.      We APPEALED and finally managed to get the local Ministry of Education Inspectorate to have the three children we were concerned about Assessed.

The result was that they agreed that it would be better to keep the children back from the need to go on to Form 1 of Secondary School, and rather seek some practical training that might better assist them for the future.        Thank you LORD, and a big sigh of relief.      The two boys will now be able to find trade training and the girl has already joined a Tailoring course not far from us.     A STORM in a teacup?   Yes, in a way, but if we had not stirred ourselves a lot of damage would have been done.
THEN, the Head of OUR school said he would not take 4 of our Primary leavers into the High School because they had not obtained the necessary pass mark the School had set for Admissions!!
They (the children) then faced being sent to an OUTSIDE School of inferior standards.     Daryl felt this was going against what the School had been built for - to provide superior education facilities for needy and deprived children in order to given them the best base for their future.    The object of the Headmaster was to ensure the School progressively improved its overall Grade in the National Exams years by year.    It HAS been improving generally - even though we have been accommodating children who are not especially clever.           Many of our kids in the Homes have had difficult beginnings which have often impaired their scholastic ability - especially early on.    The School was built to accommodate them, and give them the best assistance, and chance, to re cue their losses and face the future with hope.     Some still do not take advantage of this, but many have and DO.       The Headmaster apologised and has now accommodated the four.   Glory to God       Even after fifty years we find ourselves still having to PUSH our vision for our children against the tide of material concepts and ambitions.      These children, if pushed to another, and inferior school, would have suffered, feeling somehow segregated from the rest of the Family- they would not have done better, and instead sunk lower.      Schools should always put their pride and aggrandisement last, and the welfare and success of the child first.      Not MANY wise in heaven!
But many who have been judged below average end up at the TOP,,,, and by God's Grace many will BE in Heaven.

LAST SATURDAY we were all waiting on God;  funds were very low, and as usual we found ourselves looking up, from where our help comes from - from God Almighty, our Father in Heaven.
The weather did help a great deal as it was very chilly for the time of year (usually the HOT and DRY season) and the sky grey and the ground WET!  (Even as it also today as I write.)   And, of course, as with the opening of any School Term, we had found our normal outgoings more than stretched by School expenses ........
On Sunday the 26th, I felt I needed to just be alone with God, and spent the morning in prayer instead of attending the Morning Service.      I was so greatly blessed, and assured during that time.   I had also been enduring some discomfort in my left kidney area for some days, but as I closed my Bible and rose up from my chair every vestige of discomfort left me.       Late that evening, checking my E-mail, I found a message advising us that funds were on the way to us - enough to keep us all going into February.      How very good and gracious is our God, in the Name of Jesus.      We have never been in control of our income in any way - no way to KNOW when or even IF our needs would be supplied or taken care of.     We have only walked with the Lord in trust that He would not forget our sharings with Him, of our life and needs.      God has bent down His ear to hear us, and to answer.   Indeed before we even said a word, HE had known our need, and already set things moving to supply them.       We enter the Year ahead standing confidently holding on to God's Word as it is found in the BIBLE.         And with all the world whirling around us all, seemingly breaking up physically, politically and spiritually there IS only ONE safe place to be - safe in the nail pierced hands of JESUS.         AND He, the KING of ALL, is coming.      Let us not fear His Coming if we know Him, but let us wait with patience, kept safe by His Power.     Let us not look down or around us, but instead let us look up with expectancy  and longing - and let us also recall the words of Psalm 91 and trust in them to be as true and reliable as when they were written to all who will BELIEVE and TRUST in the living Name of JESUS Who is God indeed.

Our love to you all as ever as we cross over into another week full of the unexpected!

John, Esther and Daryl Green