FAKE NEWS ?

THIS is an illustration from the last Century, and shows that, even then. the Press were known for  excess in their reporting - and by excess I mean a mix between carelessness and embroidering when writing their articles.       Just recently, as I have previously shared, we have had a gross example of this in the Here and Now.     I am sure those sent to Interview me meant well.    They were very polite, and showed great interest, but it seemed they lacked the art of making sure they wrote down what was said rather than what they 'remembered' or hoped had been said.

The Article in question was entitled 'A MAN WHO CHANGED PHILANTHROPIC GAME'   I regret to say they meant me!     I have not changed anything, as far as I know, and certainly NOT a 'game'.   It was meant to tell my story, and how I came to be in Kenya, and how Testimony Faith Homes & School came to be.      To  those who had no idea who John Green is, or Testimony Faith Homes, for that matter, it was probably harmless enough, even if the facts DID stray from the truth.      BUT for me, it was very sad that they did not just print what I said, instead of something else.    For any who may read this article, printed in the the Daily Nation Business News on 23rd April 2021,  I will now set out basic facts that may contradict what was published.     I do this solely to ensure that no one is led astray in what they may be told about me or Testimony Faith Homes & School.

First of all concerning myself.

I was born in West Dulwich, London on 11th May 1940.

I was immediately given up for Adoption, since my birth parents did not want me.

I was then Adopted by William and Edith Green, who were childless.

William was given to drink and was violent.  I grew up in this violence.

William was a Civil Servant of the Government and was often posted, and we moved with him.

I attended 4 Primary Schools, 5 Secondary Schools.

I left Secondary School when I was 15 and got a job sweeping floors.

I attended Night School, and was able to improve my Academic standard, and finally  went to a Commercial College for two years, qualifying in Accounts, and Commerce.   I worked with Stratton Sons and Mead in Melksham, England first of all.    I also worked with Cambridge University as an assistant Bursar to Magdelane College, and finally with Beckenham Borough Council, in the Treasurers Office.

I then felt God seriously speak to me, and I gave up my work in 1965 to attend Bible College.

In 1968 I arrived in Kenya to work with Trinity Fellowship  in Maseno, as a volunteer missionary.

I was not paid any salary, and trusted God would provide, as I confided to Him alone my needs.

I rented a mud house in Maseno Missionary Hospital Compound.   

I was appointed Chaplain to the Hospital and also to Siriba College - all unpaid.

In August 1969 I came cross two boys.   One 12 and other 8, his brother.   The eldest was hospitalised with a broken foot, which he had willfully injured whilst under the influence of Marijuana.    They were both homeless and without support.       I offered them home and education.

They both came to stay with me, and this was the BEGINNING of Testimony Faith Homes.

Then Esther entered my life

I married Esther Wanjiru, my wife, on 14th August 1971.    She was a High School Teacher of English and Home Science at Machakos girls High School.

IT WAS AT THIS POINT that WE, as a married couple, sought the face of God as to how we would go on, and we were led to decide to continue the work of helping needy children, but in our own home and with our own family, (God gave us 3 children of our own) as ONE EXTENDED FAMILY.      Every  Home we have opened since, and we now have 4, we opened on the same plan - A married couple, Mum and Dad, in one house with about 30 children from 0 to as long as it took to put them all through school, and college, find a job, and be ready to stand alone.

In 1972, Christmas, we all moved, lock stock and barrel, to ELDORET with 28 boys and girls.

All of this time I received no salary, and my wife having given up Teaching to be Mum when she married me, also gave up her salary.    We only had our Faith in God, and that He hears and answers our prayers.     He did it for US, and for all the children He brought to our door.    We have never made our need known or held Harambee or any kind of Fund Raising activity for the needs of the Children's Homes.      BUT  the School depends on the Fees from those outside, who want their children to learn in Testimony SCHOOL

In 1981 we gained permission from the Ministry of Education to open  one Class of Nursery School.

In 1983 we gained further permission to open Primary Standard 1 - 3.   We opened this up to the Public on the understanding that Parents wanting a place would have to pay a Fee to cover Teacher's Salaries, and normal daily consumables PLUS a % toward to the cost  of given free places to the Orphans in our care at any one time - averagely 130.

In 1987 we opened Standard 4 to 8 in NEW buildings donated freely without or request by TEAR Fund in England.   John Green did not build the School,  GOD - through TEAR Fund, did.

In 1994 to 96 we opened Form 1 to 4 or High School - again all this, was done in answer to PRAYER.

Still NOT John Green who built it.

( I should lay to rest a local belief that EVERYTHING to seen here under the name Testimony Faith Homes and School - the Land and the Buildings ALL belong to John Green, and his descendants).   THIS IS NOT THE CASE.      It is all tied up under the Lands Perpetual Succession Act, and is all in the hands of Registered Trustees.     None of it can be sold for profit, or for the financial gain of ANY individual.

TO DAY Testimony School is better known than the Children's Home.     In many ways it stands apart from the Homes, and is of course Financially independent from the Homes.    It's  future reasonably settled.

But the Children's Home seems not to be the way the Government is thinking, and we are faced with closure with all other Children's Homes across the Country -  DEFINATELY IT CAN BE SEEN, that John Green, HAS NOT CHANGED THE PHILANTHROPIC GAME  -   maybe he tried to find an Answer, but that answer, so far, has not been seen as the way forward by Government.

400 boys and girls have passed through our hands since 1969.     We have 125 still resident in our Homes at the current time.      We are still in touch with the majority of those who have left us, and we are glad to say that only 5% are known to us as having fallen into criminal activity due to the use of drugs or alcohol in their adult lives.      We are constantly visited and contacted by those who are now married, with children of their own, and making their own lives by their own effort.     AND we are especially glad to say that the majority can say it is GOD who has made it all possible.    HE is the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever.

THIS fairly deals with any discrepancies in the Article mentioned above, and it allows me to feel at ease to have set the record right.       BUT the photo that was published with the Article, was good enough for me to print again here.     Esther was laughing at something I had said to the Reporter when he was asking me to hold the photograph higher !.     At least THIS was  REAL, and we are there to prove it;

John and Esther holding their Wedding Photo.

taken 14th August 1971

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WE ALL CONTINUE WELL with no sign of Covid 19.    God as been, and continues to BE, very good to Kenya and we have to Praise Him with much Thanksgiving, that so little a number of our people have seemed to die from the Virus;  only 2,800 since March 2020.     Putting that next to the 30,000 dead in a day that we were told India suffered yesterday, we feel too privileged.     Our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters in India, and the awful tide of death and panic that has been rolling across the Nation.

DARYL has continued to be a bit 'under the weather' this week, with various aches and pains, and a general sense of unease.    But he is also undergoing a series of dental treatments, and we think that together with the possible influence of his 1st Vaccination shot, this may have affected his general system.    We all have 23 days left before our 2nd Shot.

JAMES MANU visited his Eye Clinic again yesterday;  he was in such discomfort in the eye they operated on a week ago,      However, all seems well.    The Clinic did a thorough check, and found all was well, and most of the pain had to be expected.    There was just a slight infection - expected - in the nerve.    He is home again, still in discomfort, but at least much cheered to know all is going well.  Please do continue to remember him in prayer.

ITS LABOUR DAY, here today.     Such a pity.    All the joy and happiness of MAY DAY  seems to be replaced with the 'sourness' of  labour issues.     But, thankfully, WE can forget these issues and enjoy a day of SUNSHINE and children's laughter all around us.    A Spring Day.    A DAY to be encouraged and lifted UP, and above the clouds.

Our Love and Thanksgiving to all our friends and family everywhere.   God richly BLESS you and keep you SAFE.

John, Esther, Daryl and all at Testimony Faith Homes and School