MUTUAL RESPECT & APPRECIATON ?

LAST WEEK WHEN CONSIDERING MY OWN COMMENDATION MEDAL BESTOWED BY KENYA'S PRESIDENT, I came upon an article on the net in which I was advised that the Queen's Trinity Cross had been withdrawn, due to its offensiveness to non Christians! How can a Hindu or a Muslim put up with the Christian Cross? Mahatma Gandhi accepted Jesus Christ as a Man of God, and Muslims worldwide accept Him as a Prophet and Teacher. What's with the Cross bit? I don't mean or intend in any way to be offensive here!

The little I have seen of the form and design of my own Award suggests that part at least of the National Insignia of Kenya might appear on it - a tribal shield and two spears. As a peaceful, non violent, person I might feel that such a representation could refer in part to the violence involved in obtaining Independence from British Colonial Rule - I suppose I might feel a little offended - but would I / should I give up the Award? Every Nation's past is part of its heritage to some extent. What made it what it is today is important. The fact that Kenya may remember its past does not mean it hates, despises or under-rates the British! I may not agree with every part of Kenya's Nationalism, but I do appreciate, and feel happy to have been seen worthy of the Nation's Notice, and in particular of the President's Commendation. BUT, in any case, if I did feel strongly about it, I have the ability to choose not to receive the Award - and in doing so insult the President and Government of the Country where I live and work.......... THEN there is the whole question of WHY it matters what is on my Medal since it was bestowed in Appreciation of efforts seen to be useful to the State. To me it is not what the medal looks like or has inscribed on it, but the reason and spirit in which it was given. I say Thank You, Mr. President, Thank You KENYA! Why not say Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank You England, for noticing me, and appreciating me - even though we do not agree on everything, believe in everything together...!

But what is behind this offence about the Cross? Isn't because it is more than just a Christian Emblem. After all suppose we removed the Cross and put instead the sign of a Fish - also a Christian Emblem - would that be easier to accept? But the Cross represents Resurrection and a NEW LIFE and a NEW WAY offered to all people worldwide, purchased for all by the blood of the One that hung on the Cross. It is Jesus that is the problem; Jesus and Who He claims to be. It seems uncomfortable for some to be in any way beholden to HIM, or those that might 'believe' in HIM. Thus because of a few unbelievers on both sides of the matter the Queen has had to dismantle an Honour invented and bestowed out of an honest and grateful heart - and just because she approved of the Christian Faith that she herself adheres to. For the sake if what? To please the sensibilities of those that say they want to be British or part of her Commonwealth - but only on their own terms. Could I be Indian on my own terms - religiously ? Could I be Iranian ? And insist that anything offensive to my Christian belief be suppressed, removed, apologised for - or even abolished in order not to offend me? Can it happen? I do not believe so. Why should it happen in the United Kingdom? Why cannot we accept from one another unconditionally what is offered and given in good faith. To receive a medallion with a Christian Symbol does not mean I have become or am a Christian. It has no spiritual influence upon me, more than the Crescent Moon or other religious sign. I would be honoured to be recognised by any one of my fellow men if the honour was bestowed for a truly humanitarian reason, unbiased, and without any kind of racial discrimination. BUT of course I do believe God - the True and ONLY ONE God - loves all men equally, and reaches out to all with the same passionate desire to see His Love flow through them for one another. We may not only love our family, tribe, nation, but ALL men everywhere. Can you accept my love unconditionally without question, with appreciation? It is what God wants.

ABOVE , on the right, is a GOLD Sovereign and on the left both sides of a COPPER penny piece.

Both of the Edwardian Era - how monetary values have changed! Have other values also changed? Have our National and Christian values changed. I suspect that 'Britannia' is no longer 'politically' correct as she sits so confidentially strong, her hand upon the shield of faith - so many 'crosses' on that shield, upon our FLAG! Perhaps they will also need to be removed to pave the way for a quiet and peaceful death of the Kingdom of Alfred, founded as it is upon the Judeo/Christian faiths. Why is it that there is so much determination to obliterate ourselves, almost apologise for ourselves in front of the rest of the world? Have we ceased to believe in our roots, our history, our moral fibre - our own GOD! Are we who 'never will be slaves' now slavishly licking the feet of all and sundry in a desire to please and ingratiate ourselves, having no national pride or confidence. ARE we then at an end? SURELY NOT. Let us all arise and put on Christ! Yes, put on Christ as our national dress, and having done so to STAND against all comers in the MIGHT of His Righteousness, an irremovable memorial to everlasting TRUTH.

Hindus, Muslims, CAN live together and be a NATION together PROVIDED they do not make demands that prescribe the freedom of any one of them to be themselves without shame, humiliation or fear. Surely it ought to be possible to be British without without insisting all things Christian have to be covered up or relinquished within the British culture, or way of life.

TO THE RIGHT IS A PHOTO of 'Tweety Pie" or Helen as she is more properly known. Helen is our adopted daughter, and has lived with Esther and me since she was about ten months old. She is now 21 and has just begun her first job, after having completed initial training as a Pre School Teacher. She will continue her training as she works and earns. She is working in Nairobi, and seems to be quite happy and satisfied with her first appointment.

SO, yet another, not quite the last, of our children has fled the nest. MANU is scheduled to be the last one to do so. His Probationary period of a year comes to an end in May in his current employment with the huge Moi Referral Hospital here in Eldoret. He seems very popular with the patients, and appears to enjoy being there. We shall see.

On the WIDER FRONT we have started the year with a total of 137 children and young people in care. Quite a number of them will be leaving us before June to start out in life, having concluded their education, and now seeking employment. Possibly as many as 15 might leave us, thus giving us hope of offering more help to others waiting to come in. A never ending stream.

We wish you all a wonderful month ahead. Don't forget to pray for us all, and the many that are still needy and needful of love and shelter all around us. More than 80,000 children and young people in this Trilogy of Three Districts that we are in the midst of. God bless and Keep you Awake and Standing for Jesus.

John and Esther

DECORATED FOR ...?

THIS IS THE KENYA 'HEAD OF STATE'S COMMENDATION' MEDAL! This was Awarded to Me (John Green) on Jamhuri Day (12th December 2009) by His Excellency the President of Kenya, the Hon. Moi Kibake! At least this is what I read in the Standard Newspaper recently. No Letter, no phone call - just a rather dull looking List in the Paper. Not quite the way one would expect to get news of a President's Commendation - of any kind. And consider how long it took to let me and the other 188' Commendees' to know! And WHY was it Awarded? Nothing was said apart from the fact that it was for 'services rendered to the State'. A bit of a damp squib in some ways. Nevertheless it is still an Honour, and I cannot be other than Thankful for the notice given. I am now permitted to write HSC after my name (Head of State's Commendation). A little bit like getting the MBE without the style and grandeur, and perhaps without the sense of worth. It is still in Nairobi awaiting me to collect it. I am hoping that it might be possible to have it sent to me here in Eldoret through our District Commissioner. It would save the unwelcome necessity of going all the way to Nairobi................. I must say that I do not feel I have in fact done anything to deserve this Commendation. I am hoping, though, that I might get one from the Lord one day - not a medal but just a loving word of 'Well done!' I sometimes doubt that I will be found even worthy of that much. But I pray that He will help me yet, to still show myself approved in His sight.

I have been sent many Greetings and Congratulations from so many here, which has assured me that at least in the eyes of Kenyans I have indeed been 'importantly' appreciated. I have felt overwhelmed by this, and a little shy and humbled. I know there are those who have put my name forward and promoted me in front of others in order to receive this Honour. I cannot but thank them and trust that I might indeed be worthy of their trust and good will.

OPPOSITE is a photo that goes back thirty eight years to February 1972. Me and Esther at Nairobi Airport on the way to UK, and with us is one of our first boys - Johanna Nanjelo. He is 50 now. At that time living in pre-colonial brick shacks on top of a windswept hill in Siaya Diistrict, Western Kenya. We were away nine months, and on our return we moved to Eldoret, where we have been ever since, growing from ONE to FOUR families of waifs and strays from all over Kenya. It was only a very LITTLE seed of faith that the Father in Heaven sowed in my heart, but it has indeed GROWN and so many have come to be blessed. God is Good. He has prospered us - with and through your prayers and help. You all share in my Commendation. Without Christ in you providing for all of us here, nothing could have been accomplished or seen.

TO THE LEFT is just a handful of those who came and went, and in going multiplied and became husbands, wives, mothers and fathers of their own. The majority living, and often visiting, and proclaiming that Faith in God works, and that He IS there if you call upon Him. ALWAYS there!

Next week I am sending out a Brochure (A4 triple fold) about TFH. It is almost 2 mega bytes. If you can receive it I can send it to you. I intend to send it to as many on my 'ordinary mail' address list as I can. I had not been sending updates as I had thought most of you would be able to access the Blog or receive via E-mail. It seems this may not be the case for the majority. This electronic world is slowly removing old skills and methods of communication whilst at the same time leaving many behind who have not been able to grasp new skills or even access the technology. But we do not want to lose contact with any one of you dear brothers and sisters - you have lifted up our hands, and you are the real expression of His Strength to us.

'...you also helping together by prayer for us,

that for the gift bestowed upon us, by the means of many persons

Thanks may be given by many on our behalf...'

2. Corinthians 1v11

We ourselves have prayed much for ourselves, but we have been upheld the more and provided for against those prayers by countless numbers of you who have spared even a thought for us. You may not have audibly or even consciously spoken our names - yet prayer went up on our behalf, and the Heavens were opened to us.

Thank you - Thank you for sharing all that has happened here, and receive HIS Commendation, with me, and be glad.

Much Love as ever from us both

John and Esther

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT PLANTING A TREE? Have you gone further, and actually planted one - or even more than one!? Our Planet's life depends upon the survival of the tree, indeed upon the survival of FORESTS of trees. Trees control our weather and our future. And we are collectively destroying them. It is not that we all go about with axes to chop down trees, but worse than that we do nothing and say nothing to stop others from doing it. WHY NOT plant some then? Why not compensate for the destruction?

KENYA has given away entire forests for gain, often very personal and individual GAIN. For decades trees have been the victim of politics until now the entire nation, once a summer paradise and agriculturally prosperous garden state, is now in danger of becoming a dried out rainless wasteland. AND ONCE AGAIN TREES are back in the news, and in particular ONE denuded Forest - the MAU Forest - has slowly been given away to land developers and ordinary landless folk needing a place to live, together with charcoal makers burning and selling thousands of acres of healthy, rain bringing trees. Recently the President and Prime-minister have taken measures to have the land restored and reclaimed to the end that it might be re-forested. TREES are needed to replant the enormous area in question. Not only HANDS are needed to implement this intention but sincere and determined hearts devoid of any political or material double dealing. BUT there is SO MUCH innuendo, political maneuvering, and even naked opposition to the whole idea, that so far not a lot has been done.

It is in situations like this that one realises how few - if any - world leaders there are amongst the nations. How few that are men and women after God's own heart, willing to put GOD and Godliness first in front of all things. Oh for a Righteous man or woman prepared to Govern and Rule in Righteousness - and yes in the Name and Spirit of Christ. There has been no other Man provided to give us the pattern and guidance needed. There is AND can be NO OTHER, whatever 'political correctness' might force upon us to confess and believe. I believe (without wanting to be called a Christian, a Muslim, a Hindu, Buddhist or any other) that GOD gave Christ for ALL mankind to learn and profit from. I believe when we observe Christ we do see GOD and all that He is and Desires. EVERYONE should be Thankful for Christ, and realise that He alone sets the right standards for us to live by.

KING ALFRED THE GREAT, King of England in the 9th Century was ONE man who set himself to Rule his Kingdom with vigour and integrity. His foundation was built upon the ancient Mosaic Laws and the Sermon on the Mount. He wrote - 'Now I, King Alfred, have collected these laws, and have given orders for copies to be made of many of those which our predecessors observed, and which I myself approved.....These I have collected. (and codified). I Alfred, King of the West Saxons, have then shewn these to my Councillors, and they have declared that it met with the approval of all ---so that they should be observed.' Here are a few extracts from these often referred to as

THE CODE OF ALFRED

1. Do not love other gods before Me.

2. Do not call out My Name in idleness. For you are not guiltless with Me, if you call out My Name in idleness.

3. Mind that you hallow the rest-day! You must work six days; but on the seventh you must rest! For in six days Christ made the Heavens and the Earth, the seas, and all the shapen things in them, but He rested o the seventh day. Therefore the Lord Hallowed it.

4. Honour your father and mother whom the Lord gave you - so that you may live longer on Earth.

5. Do not slay.

6. Do not commit adultery.

7. Do not steal

8. Do not witness falsely.

9. Do not unrighteously desire your neighbours goods

10. Do not make gold or silver gods for yourself.

It is on THESE laws ( and there are more than 38 more!) that England was founded. They were to be forcibly reiterated 400 years later in 1215 in what is known as MAGNA CARTA, signed half heartedly by King John, forming the very basis of the Kingdom's unwritten Constitution. Before his death Alfred, and later his son King Edward, entered into an Agreement with Guthrum, King of the Danes as they shared the new nationhood of England together. This Agreement or Legislation was strongly Biblical and Christian. It covered the worship of the one true Triune God, tithes, sanctuary, clerical transgressions, incest, suicide, Sunday Trade, Capital Punishment, Sorcery and Prostitution.

Alfred died in 901 A.D. Precisely a thousand years later in 1901, Lord Roseberry said of him, at Winchester during the celebration of the "Alfred Milennary', THAT with his name England now associates her metropolis, her fleet, her literature, her laws, her first foreign relations, and her first efforts in education. Alfred is, in one sentence, the embodiment of her (England's) civilization. ONE HUNDRED AND NINE YEARS LATER IS THIS STILL RECOGNISED? Is England still founded upon the 10 Commandments of God and Christ's Sermon on the Mount? Does it still abide by the tenets of MAGNA CARTA? Or is it sliding into that Abyss of Unbelief and Hedonism with the rest of the world? Where would Queen Elizabeth 11 now position herself in the light of her great ancestor? What Christian Stature or Tradition controls the Government of an already dissolving United Kingdom of Great Britain.
DURING the past week the DAILY NATION encouraged the concept of Polygamy, and even suggested that Adultery is now a way of life to be accepted. The President of Uganda has restrained Parliament from enacting legislation against the approval of homosexual behaviour - in order not to be out of step with Western Governments that seem to be working in an opposite direction! Our current world leaders stand by and permit corruption and destruction on every side to threaten their societies and peoples. They cannot even properly agree to PLANT A TREE for the general good! AND SO we look to our current leaders world wide, and must, perhaps say 'Oh, for an Alfred!' to come upon the scene, upon the throne of the world.

But do we rather wait for CHRIST? And perhaps we shall not wait for long!

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BUT WE ARE BLESSED in Kenya not be have been ice bound, snow bound, or housebound. The sun has shone, if a little coolly over the last week or so. Rain has eased off. Our new VOXY van is back with the side door that was smashed now beautifully repaired at half the cost of a new one. We thank God for leading us to good craftsmen here in back of the woods Eldoret. Our elderly Peugeot is also back on the road after a brief spell in the Auto Hospital for general servicing and replacements. God is Good.

Our children, all together, and ourselves have been glad to see Calvin and Kristy amongst us for a week or so. Calvin was Assistant Housefather at Jacaranda Cottage for some time, before leaving last year to get married to Kristy in Australia. Kristy is also well known to most of the children, as she has been visiting since 2007 with the children and staff of Tyndale Christian School in Southern Australia; Tyndale will be visiting again this year in June.

TOMORROW, Saturday, Martin Shikuku, his wife and six children, two grandchildren, and two orphaned children from his greater 'Family' are visiting us. Martin was with us way back in the 1970s and now married, has a Children's Home of his own about 50 kilometres away from us. He wanted his family to see where he grew up, and to meet their grandparents ( Esther and me). It is a great privilege and wonder to see them all, and to have such a relationship with them. They will be staying to lunch with us here in Green Cottage, but will first go on a tour - mainly to see Testimony House, which to Martin at least is still 'home'. He is one of the 'sunbeams' that are part of Testimony Faith Homes with so many others. Some get hidden behind the clouds of life from time to time, but it is a very great JOY when suddenly there they are brightening our day. Recently we have had visits from JUSTIN KIPRONO, working for Jesus in South Africa, JAMES MBATI, working hard in chemical research in Nairobi, and also the daughter of GEORGE MUTURI how has been with us for the last few days - she actually left this morning back to Nairobi where she is working. She travelled with Helen (Tweeti-pie) who is also returning to Nairobi to commence her first position as a Nursery Teacher.

MANU is still with the Referral Hospital, and has been on holiday in Mombasa for the last week or so - should return tonight or tomorrow. We are expecting him to soon find his own digs and make a further step into an independent life. DARYL is now working for Dinyo Lessos Creameries in Eldoret. Have not seen him since Boxing Day! But of course Carol and the children are still very much daily with us as they come to school. Such is the ebb and flow of life.

God be with you all, with our much Love in Jesus

John and Esther

A HUNDRED YEARS ON - or back?

WOMEN seemed quite prepared to be confrontational, even 100 years ago! This one had even, seemingly, been before her time in getting acquainted with 'martial arts'. The rather embarrassed heavyweight constable was obviously totally flummoxed by the comparatively midget, yet mighty suffragette. In those days such women chained themselves to the railings of Parliament and 10 Downing Street in order to get noticed and promote their cause for equal Voting Rights. To day they are able to actually be allowed in - but some do not seem to stay long .... have women gained much I wonder - do they 'really' have equal rights in practice - and perhaps what is more important are they supposed to have them in the ways they want them? Kenya's many cultures generally believed the women's place was in the home, and that men were the prime movers and superior sex. It is STILL so in many places, but obviously Colonisation did make a difference, and Independence has brought about progressive equality for women. BUT with equality has come about a disparity in roles and achievement - especially in marriage and the family. I guess we cannot have it all ways.

The 'grandeur' of those days has also reduced. The British Monarchy remains, but perhaps not so GRANDLY as before. More watered down to fit in the modern vogue and to prevent them being held in too much awe. In the painting of King Edward Vll and his wife, Queen Alexandra we see that equality seemed to be with them in their situation - but HE is the one standing whilst she sits back and lets him lead. NOT so today. In fact it is becoming hard to find men with Leadership qualities. There ARE, of course MORE women than men in our present era. And MORE of them are being found in Leadership positions as Heads of State, Universities and Schools, and almost every other institution. Even Family heads.......are the angels confused ? Yes, I am sure they are, and I feel often confused myself. BUT then I am one of those oddities in the world that sees things from the point of view of the Word of God. Regretfully even the Church is slowly departing from this Guide Book and becoming increasingly compromised by worldly standards.

BUT Esther was Headmistress of our Primary School for many years! Was she good for the School? Yes, she was, and achieved progress and acclaim. However, she was not Head of the School overall. The Overall Principal has remained a man. Am I being 'chauvinistic'? I hope not! But some principles need to be observed, considered, and even practised with the Word of God in mind. Esther has now been replaced with a male member of staff as Head of Primary, but a Woman has taken over as Head of Secondary from Zacariah Mbatia who has retired - but still under the Overall School Principal, Anthony Ndungu.

I am currently prayerfully considering the eventual replacement for me, if the Lord tarries. Will it be a woman? Am I looking for a woman? No I am not consciously looking for a woman to take over from me ....... I would be surprised if it were to be a woman who does so.

OH DEAR.......what AM I saying? I believe that God has planned for the MAN to be seen as top dog in the order of things. The woman may sit with him in his throne, but never take his place or even worse, obscure him or usurp his authority. The man may delegate his authority but not be robbed of it. Her real and true purpose is to bring honour and enhancement to the man at all levels without being seen as inferior to him or set aside by him as having lesser worth. A hundred years of 'progress' has not seemed to see the Bible view of men and women adopted - but perhaps the more discarded. This will bring its own rewards and regretfully perhaps also a great deal of dissatisfaction.

AND SCHOOL HAS BEGUN AGAIN. We opened on Monday with a full house -540 students; a hundred and twenty of them boarding. Everyone of them glad to be back after the long holiday. Parents all bubbling over with excitement and joy because of the good National Exam Result the School attained. The new Primary and High School Heads seem to meet the approval of the students as well, and all seems set for a good year of academic progress. BUT it is raining when it should be hot and dry. Part of us rejoices to receive RAIN, and part of us looks at the leaden skies and shivers in unaccustomed low temperatures.

TWENTY TWO of our older youngsters have also re-commenced their College and University courses as well, the Lord wonderfully providing the Fees for each one of them. We have been so amazed and thrilled - and each one doing well.

TO-DAY sent off my Application for Re-newel of my Work Permit to Nairobi. My current one expires in March, and it will take at least that long to get a new one! Thankfully my dear brother in law, Joe Kibe, will take it in to the Immigration Office and keep an eye on it - he lives in Ngong and works in Nairobi City. Also concluded the Annual preparation for our financial Audit and sent everything to the Auditor. Also completed Annual Returns to the Children's Office and the Non Governmental Bureau with whom we are registered. A LOT of work but it is VERY relieving to know it is done, and that I did it all on my own - though I confess that I have truly missed Daryl, and feel just a little jealous of the Yorkshire Cheese-maker that he is now working for.

That is about all the news for now. I have been writing this in Green Cottage, with the rain pattering upon the tin roof and against the window pains. Esther has been with me sewing and making P.E. shorts for some of the children - very busy, but it is nice to be able to be more together since she 'retired' from administering the Primary. We plan to do a whole lot more together.......

LASTLY we have realised that out of an Address List of more than 300 we are in touch with only a handful, and are unsure who still wants to be in contact with us and the work of the Homes. We see that about 100 read the Blog weekly. But we have no idea what effect it is having, or how many feel benefit from it. We have ceased to send E-mails on a regular basis for the same reason, and had ceased to circulate everyone on the List by normal post again for the same reason - no acknowledgement from the majority. HOWEVER, as a letter writer, I also know how easy it is to misplace letters and circulars and just 'forget' to write back. We do not want to discourage anyone from praying for us. SO sometime soon you will receive a CIRCULAR through the normal post - if I have a physical address. This Circular will be a questionnaire to determine how many of you want to stay in touch and by what means. We hope all will be able to give a reply to this circular either by Airmail, or E-mail, so that we can know how to organise our correspondence for the rest of 2010 and onwards.

Our affectionate love to you each and every one, in Jesus Name. I AM very behind with letters and acknowledgements and do apologise if you have not heard personally from me for a while. I WILL be writing. This is ALWAYS a very busy and demanding season for me administratively, and I just HAVE to attend to necessities myself since at this time there is no one else here with me to actually do it.

God Bless and keep you

John and Esther

AND INTO 2010!!

JOY TO THE WORLD - PEACE ON EARTH! We hear this said every year at Christmas. But how much real JOY do we have, and carry forward with us into any New Year?

Of course one can remember moments of real happiness and joy in a year, but often they are truly only 'moments' and do not make up the major part of the days that pass by. 2009 was, for me in the main, a year of considerable disappointment and at times frustration, often bringing me to tears, and certainly close to despair. YET, looking back I know that in the most difficult times I was comforted and encouraged to press on...... THAT actually, in the end, translates into real JOY, the joy of inwardly never being alone, forgotten or abandoned. IN Christ, we are NEVER alone, always ASSURED that our heartache, hurt, or exasperation with oneself is being secretly, patiently SHARED. Yes this is FULLNESS of joy. Happiness has to be founded on this understanding and knowledge - that without Christ in our life WITH us we shall BREAK. He makes the difference always. He is not just the Anchor that ensures our confidence, in the midst of the turbulent waves that so suddenly come to disturb us in life's sea. He is the CONSTANT unseen companion that walks and communes with us, giving us balance, inner strength and fortitude, along the way. I have been so grateful for such a friend during this rather turbulent year for me personally. My dear wife has had her part in the support I have needed of course, but there are times we cannot confide in the closest friend or relative the churning thoughts and emotions that can suddenly come upon us as our plans and ambitions seem thrown into confusion. So hard to talk, to explain, to admit defeat!!! BUT there is no such problem with that One closer than any brother - the One who lives in my heart by the Holy Spirit. He is always there IF we turn to Him. Always there! Thank you Jesus, and as you have been with each one of us through the years that have gone by, be with us NOW as we enter a new year and a new decade of our history. Give us that JOY, that deep seated empowering comfort springing from your Presence with us, that will enable us to ENDURE whatever may befall us in the year ahead. We of all people should be able to smile through to VICTORY, and progressively learn how to find the 'Silver Lining' within the darkest times. Perhaps as we REMEMBER these things our Happy Moments will be extended and expanded.............

Esther and I rejoice to enter this New Year in good health peace of mind. We both have a sense of 'New Beginnings' and perhaps even Renewed Vision, for the work here, and certainly Ready for Anything!! Not bad for over 60s - life in the old dogs yet!!

100YEARS AGO it was once again the end of the first decade of a new Century. King Edward VII died that year and the end of yet another era - the Edwardian Era - came to an end in England and the world. His son, became King George V, the grandfather of our present Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II. In the hundred years gone by there has been much change. Change that has altered the world. And NOW, in the first decade of a new Millennium, life and culture is changing almost day by day.

The first TEN years of my life, found England in the midst of the 2nd World War. Yet within the United Kingdom, life still seemed, as I look back now, to have been quietly undisturbed and unchanged by the thirty years since King Edward died. Of course fashion had changed, and to a certain extent no doubt custom and manners had changed. But for all that one did not feel in the least threatened or pushed out of a lifestyle based on Christian concepts and timeless cultural tradition. It altered in the 50's, and accelerated in the 60's until now one can barely find old moral and cultural values. Why the very way we see ourselves has changed as our history has been forgotten, and our national spirit suppressed and overwhelmed by the import of other exterior cultures and ideas. It seems that what I was taught England stood for no longer goes. We have a 'new' England - perhaps no England at all.. Every thing in the world, and the world itself, seems to be in the melting pot - perhaps humanity itself as well. Perhaps the END of all things IS not far from us. This last week I have seen TV Documentaries about the MAYA's of South America who we are now informed put the End of the World at the year of 2012! Yesterday it was news of a NEWLY discovered book by Nostradamus which also - apparently - predicts the same year as the climax and end of human history. NOT very cheerful thoughts? Depends how you see it. An END that might be a NEW Beginning, could be Man's only REAL hope, and after all the World as it is now unfolding, seems to have little hope in it, only increasing fear, anxiety, violence, and despair. IS our world better, than it was in 1010? Perhaps not!

TODAY IN KENYA, things also have changed since Independence. The biggest change has been from a virtually rural to URBAN society.

Also from a more caring and intimate family life to one often fragmented by the need for both parents to work, and be separated from each other and their children. In the SATURDAY NATION of today the photo here displayed goes with the caption

'WHAT KENYAN TEENS WISH PARENTS KNEW'

- 'They feel UNLOVED, viewed with suspicion, and in the words of one, left on their own to figure out 'this ADOLESCENCE thing'. Their parents, they say, CONTROL whom they fraternise with, but ironically, provide little or o guidance on growing up, relationships, and sex.'

There ARE serious gaps between the up and coming generations and their parents and grandparents. Much of this is because of the leaps forward in fashion, manners, and material acquisitiveness brought on by advances in technology. This current generation - at least that part of it with the money available from parents or even their own labour - is leaps ahead of the previous generation in knowledge and experience. Generally also the slow erosion of of traditional cultural value and religious faith has contributed greatly to increasing change in moral outlook sexually and even in matters of personal honesty and integrity. Parents that are in business have little time for their children who, for the most part, are in boarding institutions and fraternising with their own age group away from home and the influence of their elders. A completely NEW culture is therefore in danger of developing and blotting out even the memory of what their fathers fought for during Independence.

PARENTS may provide little guidance or help to their children regarding sex and adolescent problems but partly this is the fault of the United Nations and governments worldwide who have more and more acted as 'Nannies' and taken more and responsibility away from the parent. Parents, instead of rebelling against this, this have taken advantage of it, and spent time upon their own interests often letting the distance between themselves and their children increase until there is hardly any real relationship left. The increased and increasing breakdown in Marriage due to unfaithfulness has also increased a lack of respect for that institution, and for the promises and vows made within it. This in turn has led to greater promiscuity amongst the younger generation. Indeed with the changed attitudes being adopted toward the Gay Community, it seems there are no longer any moral boundaries left.

Children and young people, for their part do not want to hear that their own lifestyle is needing correction or discussion. They believe they are better informed and advised; generally wiser than their elders, and REFUSE to discuss any life issues with them. This is something that has been encouraged by the knowledge that their parents, teachers, and elders generally have had their disciplinary hands tied by - yet again - the United Nations, and the rise of Human Rights, Children's Rights plus plus! The known and proved structures that OUR parents and grandparents ordered society upon have been removed, weakened, and almost done away with to be replaced by what is often termed the 'New Freedom'. I cannot see the problems now being raised being changed or answered in the near future. Rather it is likely that there will be a general increase in chaos as the knowledge and experience gathered through thousands of years of progress and development is discarded and thrown away.

To bring up your children well you will soon need to be anti establishment! Indeed to actually love your children, give them affection, guidance and correction will make you an enemy of the state........... Huxley may have been wrong in his date of 1984, but there is no doubt that we are seeing MANY of the evils of his 'Brave New World' replacing the ethics and faith of our Fathers. With or Without Christ it will take courageous men and women to stand for the Old Ways and Standards, that have guided humanity and family life in past ages.

I believe that non of us should be men pleasers, but willing to offer ourselves to speak up for what is Right and True for the sake of our children and grandchildren. Happy New Year?

YES indeed, that must BE our wish for each other - but we need to know that our 'happiness' has to be deeply founded on He Who is our LIFE, and upon ALL that He represents of the Word of God. As long as we regard and DO the Word of God then we SHALL have JOY and SATISFACTION within us - even though we may often suffer humiliation and scorn in a world further and further removed from Righteousness.

A somewhat sombre message from a very WET and rather COOL Kenya. May I say - in mitigation - that within our community here there IS joy and contentment, and that relationships between our children and young people AND those who act as parents and teachers has not been better. This cheers our hearts indeed, and even gives us hope.

SCHOOL opens on Monday, with the highest enrollment yet. The Graduating Class did very well, and we have been encouraged to see all our students attain good marks without exception.

This also has been an encouragement to Esther, now retiring effectively from being Head of the Primary School. She feels she left without seeing the School failing in any way. NOW we are waiting to see what she will turn to NEXT!

Our much Love in Jesus to you all. Lift up your heads - and let the King of Glory IN. Who is the King of Glory - the Lord of Hosts - He is the King of Glory.

John and Esther