TESTIMONY FAMILY

THESE YOUNGSTERS,  ARE THE LATEST members of The Family, and make up a total Family number of 300 others who came before them, and have now gone on to independently begin their own lives and families  - 423 altogether.     A LARGE family.   The Testimony Family, born out of a God inspired vision to provide home and family to children who had for some reason been deprived of both.

TO US

'FAMILY MEANS

having someone to love you unconditionally,

in spite of you, and your shortcomings.

Family is loving, and supporting, one another,

even when it's not easy to do so.

It's being the best person you could be,

so that you might inspire others.

Family doesn't see colour, race, creed or culture,

it sees heart.

Family isn't always being connected biologically,

but sees all members as equal in value and quality

Family is a secure, reliable refuge,  and acceptance.

Family isn't just important, it is most important.

(Marvin Lazenbury)

We are Four Families in ONE

Testimony House, Jacaranda Cottage,

Drakeley Cottage, and Tyndale Cottage.

(The Testimony Faith Homes Family)

                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                            FOUR FAMILIES TOGETHER AS ONE

Four Homes, four families of some 30 boys and girls,

aged from 0 to whatever. each with a mature man and wife,

totally integrated as Mum and Dad, together with their own children if any'

as a Family in each House.   Each House a Family and a Home.

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IN 1981 we started up

TESTIMONY SCHOOL

We began with Nursery, then in 1983 we opened

Class 1 to 3 of Primary.

Then in 1987 we opened Class 4 to 8

And finally in 1994 -96 Form 1 to 4 of High School

The School was started to assist the children from our Family Homes, many of whom had been deprived of education and were without any prospects.     We felt a need to have our own school where our children would not be looked down upon, or conversely picked upon because of their orphan status, and also where we could offer a stable education within the 8-4-4 System.    To DO this we had to Register the School privately in order to be in a position to choose our own Staff, and avoid Government 'postings'.      Of course this meant WE had to pay for the Teaching Staff.       Thus we had to offer places in the School to the general public on a Fee Paying Basis; these Fees to cover the full cost of the School's running cost, AND free places for our Homes' children.       Parents are aware that part of all fees paid include a percentage given to the cost of OUR children's education. The School is non-profit making and does not contribute in any other way than previously mentioned to the upkeep or well bring of the Children's Homes children or Staff.       For THEIR costs we make no Appeals, or even advertise our needs, but share them in faith,  that our all seeing God and Father in Heaven will see and hear our Prayer in Jesus Name, and provide.       HE is our only security.    We have never been let down, or made to be ashamed.   We have not become rich, but moderately content and satisfied in His Grace and Mercy.  

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THIS IS THE FIRST BLOG OF THE YEAR

There are a number of reasons for this

GENERALLY, since the advent of the Covid Pandemic in Kenya in March 2020 life has slowed down for us in many ways.     Many necessary changes and innovations to contend with, and many challenges to our original Vision.    BEFORE Covid arrived, we were feeling the way we operate was in danger of being derailed by new Government changes in the way they view the whole matter of homeless, and destitute, children in Kenya;   this has not only affected TFH but other Charitable Children,s Ministries across the Country.     I have covered most of this in previous Blogs from 2010 to last year, when finally  OUR Registration as a CCI with Children's Services was finally renewed for a further THREE years, after a wait of almost five years since our previous Registration expired in 2017.       We are still open for business.     BUT with reservations.     

We are advised Children will not be committed to our care for longer than is needed to get them Fostered into the care of individual families.      This will virtually mean that we will become a Temporary Reception & Placement Centre, with a constant turnover of children in and out.  The government believes that it can get ALL orphan and destitute children in Kenya either Adopted or Fostered to Kenyan families.     The have been declaring for years now, that by  2020 ALL residential homes for orphans will be shut, and all needy, homeless, children will have been fostered or adopted.

BUT it hasn't happened yet.   Still approximately 400,000 (minimally) unsheltered children in Kenya.    Without help we do not see the Government seeing its plans materialise for some time.

Our original Vision was to take in children without home or available parents of their own, and make them part of our very own family - john and Esther's family.     As part of our family we would treat treat them all as own own offspring, seeing them through childhood, teenage schooling, and on to College or University.  All this through thick and thin times, regardless of how they developed until the day came that having completed education as far as possible, they would find a job and leave us for an independent life.      We wanted to be their home and family full stop.   God did not always send us 'little angels' and we had to learn Patience, and even long suffering with it.    BUT Patience is a perfect work.

it trains true 'love' and love never actually fails to achieve.

It HAS worked out, even to having added three more similar Family Minded homes to our own.

But now, also, Government says Those reaching 18 years must leave Children's Homes - even if they have not completed their education, even without the means to fend for themselves.    They say  that under 18s are at risk of abuse from those who are over that age, and should be separated.     So 'unnatural'.    BUT we tried it out, putting ove18s from each of our Families into Hostels.    It did JOT work out, and we saw these young people drop in their School grades immediately and even turn to drugs and depression.      We put them back into their Families, and saw them pick up and go on!

SO far we remain as we began, (but now with 4 Family Homes catering for up to 30 children and young people, each, as we have carried on these 52 years.     A few HAVE left us.  Some decided  to just GO 'throwing over their traces'  onto the Streets when they reached 18.      We seem to be in a situation of almost 'Touch and Go'.   Much against us, but much still for us.       We have not given up seeking talks with Kenya Government, to see if we can persuade them that our ministry in Testimony Faith Homes, proves that we have much greater success than a good many Foster Placements in civilian families.      Currently, from the four families; we have 4 in university, 27 in College, and 100 in Nursery to Form 1V.       NONE of our children or staff have contracted Covid 19 since it arrived in Kenya, or before, except for two of our staff who contracted a mild Omicron variation, and were quickly returned to duty fully recovered.     God's Favour remains with us.

AND SO HERE WE ARE IN FEBRUARY

2022

Current Covid 19 Statistics

as at 27/2/22

New Cases today    24   Positive out of 4,459  Tested 

Total Cases      322,930   Positive out  of 3,368,063 Tested so far 

 R = 0.5%         Cumulative Deaths  5,639   

 Masks are still to be worn in all public places,

including Schools

Spacing seems to be generally relaxed.

 

AND NOW, AT LAST, 

after letting the School use it as a Boarding House,

our flagship family home

TESTIMONY HOUSE

will be 'home' once more at the end of March

WE know that many of our Family Members, who felt sad to see their old home 'occupied' by the School, and will be more than glad to see it return to what they remembered as a child.      Many attending our 50th Anniversary in 2019 complained that by using the House as anything other than a home (their home), they were left with no 'home to come back to' in their mind's eye.     Well it is back, just as it was, and soon to be spruced up again to be the family home it always has been,

Due to changes in School Terms and also Syllalbus, Vacations have also changed, so that temporarily our normal LONG holiday of 6-7 weeks happens about now instead of in November    So, this year we close on the 4th March, and open on 25th April.

The Form 1Vs are now commencing National Exams for their Finals instead of later in the year, and  Primary School Class V11 V111 will both conclude this year; and then in 2023 this year's Primary Class V1 will go on to be (without any EXAM) 1st Year of Junior High School which will continue through three years and continue three more years as Senior High School  before continuing to University or College as opportunity might provide.   Quite a change over.   From 8-4-4- we seem to have 6-3-3 now.

I want to finish here - for the moment.

We send to you all,  who know us, pray for us, and keep us in your hearts, out sincere and very Thankful hearts and Love in the Name of Jesus..

John, Esther and Daryl Green, and all our staff, and all the children or many 'sons and  daughters' whose lives and loving care you all share with us.