A HOME FROM HOME?

John Green and kids -1973

THIS IS HOW TESTIMONY HOUSE looked when Esther and I moved in on Boxing Day 1972. We had 28 children with us, children that had been slowly added to my family over a period of three years. This family continued to grow until it numbered 45 souls in all  - before we added Jacaranda Cottage in 1975.     Esther and I were to spend the next 26 years of our lives being Mum and Dad to this very assorted family of boys and girls with ages ranging from 0 to mid twenties! In all those years only ONE relative of one of our many children arrived to seek for his family member. After a period of getting to know each other once more, and all parties satisfied, the children were duly restored to their family via the Juvenile Court. There were three in the family, two boys and a girl. The parents had died, but the father's brother seemed more than keen and able to care for them - and after all blood is thicker than water isn't it?  . Initially all things went well, but eventually were to deteriorate. Both boys suffered, and one tried to hang himself in his primary school field. The girl became 'used' as a servant to her new found relatives, and dropping out of school drifted into prostitution. The experience WARNED us very seriously not to just accept the validity of a Proverb, or to follow the progressive sociological feeling that children need to be with their family.   They would have done much better to have remained with us.

OUR idea, when we began, was to make OUR own personal home, a home for children who were home-less and parent-less.    Testimony House was just one BIG family - not always 'happy', since 40 odd souls living together have to have moments when all is not as each one might desire.  BUT for the most part it was and continues to be a Family.

Children came to us then, as they still do today, from various family backgrounds and failure.   Children whose parents had died, and no other family member offering to care for them;  abandoned children - babes in arms, and other older ones;  run-aways from abuse and cruelty.   Children who had suffered all kinds of trauma, and who had learned to steal, lie, and indulge in drugs.   A mixed bag.      We hung on to most of them through thick and thin till they could finally finish their schooling and get a job.     We fought to make a home, a secure base, a dependable refuge for all.

When children were committed to our care by the Courts in those days, they were usually Committed until they attained the age of 18.     This was to ensure that we could safely look into the future and plan in the best interest of the child.     It also safeguarded the child from suddenly being 'discovered' by a relative on the make - suddenly wanting to take advantage of a child previously wilfully forgotten, abandoned or rejected.

THUS children soon began to settle down with us and to accept our home and family as their own.   This was of great psychological benefit to them.

A group of our girls including Lizzy on right - 1987

TODAY the sociologists in the Government are telling us that things must change.    Blood IS thicker than water, they say, and thus children must NOT be separated from it.     Indeed the whole aim must now be to reunite children with their roots and culture.     In order to achieve this no stone must be left unturned in an effort to discover any family member than can provide a home for any one child.    THUS, from now on, NO CHILD will be Committed to a Children's Home or other persons for longer than THREE years, in order that each child's 'placement' can be re-examined regularly to allow opportunity to update the best deal for the child.      Remembering OUR related experience, shared above, where the Authorities and ourselves both felt it 'best for the child' to allow a long lost relative to assume responsibility, we now wonder how many more mistakes will be made in the future.      ADDITIONALLY we wonder how any child  (being taught that it should continue to hope for such 'rescue' from an institution, and for 'repatriation' with its 'loved ones'), will  feel either happy or secure whilst enduring such an unsettled and uncertain temporary situation.       Children's Homes will no longer have the opportunity to BE a home, but will assume the designation of a RECEPTION CENTRE - a Half-way House...........(EVEN if the children never actually leave!)     Immediately, from just this ONE change in the Law, we see a very great stumbling block put in our way.     At best, in the future, we may only hope to be a 'temporary' home and family to a child on the run.        This is not just coming from Kenya Government but from the United Nations; it is policy that affects the world at large.      No doubt we shall learn to ADJUST to what must come, but we regret what will be an undoubted LOSS in the sense of 'belonging' that will now result in a child encouraged to always be looking away and beyond the Home.      

LOOKING back we are nevertheless encouraged to remember the years gone by, and the hundreds of children that have come and gone.    A myriad of faces and personalities that we have known and loved, been worried about, sometimes disappointed in during their stay with us.    YET today we see young men and women who have managed to survive the world outside, and become relatively happy and successful.  So many also now married with home and family of their own.    SO GLAD that SO MANY still keep in touch with us, and with those other 'Mums and Dads' of the Families they have been part of within TFH - Jacaranda, Drakeley, and Tyndale Cottages as well as Testimony House..       No matter what will happen we can find assurance that what we were led to augment in 1969, had good reason and purpose behind it, and most of all has profited hundreds of lives; hopefully continuously spreading Christian concepts of family life in our society.      Thank  you LORD!       And again THANK YOU ALL for standing with us.

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THIS WEEK has passed quickly and well.      Truly beautiful weather with cloudless skies, sunshine and warmth.       We have to be more than thankful that we live on the edge of Town still, and that although we are slowly being urbanised on all sides, we are still away from the noise and dust of the town centre.   We have relative peace and calm, and a fresh, untainted atmosphere to breath and enjoy.      Yes, perhaps it does get a little too hot in the afternoons, and the grass is beginning to show signs of turning brown.   This IS the DRY season - and in a way it is somehow comforting to recognise a Season, and to feel glad in it.   BUT I have just noticed a big black and white CROW perching on a standing water tap on the lawn outside - he is a canny bird; bending his head and beak to seek a drop of water from the tightly turned off tap.........     sometimes it does yield just a wee drop, and no doubt this bird has been lucky before    I think I must consider providing a Bird Bath or something.......

Esther has been enduring her sore throat and rather heavy head cold through the week.    Today it is much better and she had a better night, undisturbed by cough and volcanic sneezes!       Poor dear has sneezed and blown her nose epidemically over the last ten days.    Good to see her relieved today, and able to speak normally and laugh a little.   God is good.    

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WE ARE NINE DAYS away from our National Elections, the first since 2007.     The first since the New Constitution was approved and initiated.   The first since the Country has been deprived of its old Provincial Administrative set up, and divided up into Counties.  Big Administrative and political changes.   We stand poised at the edge of a NEW KENYA........yes, and we hope it will be a peaceful, and profitable change that will bless the whole Nation.     Please pray for us.       There is no outward sign of unrest in this part of the Country, but we are told that there will be no transportation of goods from Nairobi to Eldoret as from Monday until the week after the Election.     Stocks will no doubt run low, and we shall have to give some thought to how we will plan for the next two to three weeks.

The Government has recommended School Closure as from Thursday next week for two weeks.    We may close for a few days longer since we do not want to OPEN on a Thursday.       SO the children will all be home again for a slightly longer half term holiday.       We hope to make it enjoyable.    The YEAR seems to be RUSHING by even faster than the last!  - bit like the last of the bathwater going down the plug-hole.

 Our Love to you all.    We live day by day, a day at a time, and we know that HE walks with everyone that has trusted in His Name and who have put their hand in His.     Be confident!   Be CALM.

John and Esther & Daryl and Carol

RISE ABOVE THE PROBLEM WITH THANKSGIVING.

NOW IN USE - the new High School Dormitory & Classroom Block.     We think it has been well built, and so far we are finding no problem with daily running -  EXCEPT for one factor - WATER!!   Water comes onto our compound from two or three different lines, all of them laid down more than 70 years ago!!!     NONE of them brings water in with good pressure, and it has been found that this poses a problem to the Shower and Toilet facilities within the Dormitory Section.
Finally this week the Water Supplier agreed for us to tap into a newer and bigger pipe line to give us a stronger and more constant supply.   However this means we have to lay a pipeline of our own to where we can tap into the 6" pipe -     about two hundred meters away.    Extra work, but it will also mean that the Swimming pool will benefit from water supply from the same pipe.
As you look at the photo the ground floor comprises space for 60 beds plus Warden's bed-sitter.   The showers and toilets are on the same floor, to the left, just out of sight.      Above are four standard sized classrooms and a new Library with space for about 12,000 books with a study area. - at a cost to the School of some £92,000 at Ksh.135 to the £ sterling.       Roofing is of Gal-sheeting, (pressed metal) and the floors PSV and Ceramic Tiling.     Generally we can say we are very happy with the way it has gone up and been completed.     It is already attracting a lot of positive interest, and the High School population is now growing.    We now have room for 288 students in this section of the School, twice as many as we had at the end of 2012.    Currently we have thirteen Graduate Teachers with others still to join us as the year progresses.      High School comprises FOUR classes catering for four years of education for children aged between 13-17/18 years.    Thereafter students are expected to continue on to College or university.   IN FRONT of this new building are Laboratories for Physics, Science, Home-science, and Computer.    To the right, out of sight, is a another block of four Classrooms, thus making it now possible for the School to cater for TWO separate streams of High School.

Looking from the veranda, above the front door, and forwards one can see the labs in the foreground and then, beyond, the rest of the School which comprises Nursery and Primary Sections with a current population of some 690 children.   ACADEMICALLY it is generally doing well, with a very excellent public reputation in respect of its Performance, Discipline, and Moral Standards.   It is popular with all cultural and social groups within our local society.    Testimony Faith Homes children ( 130 odd) are fully paid for by the incoming Fees from external children attending the school, thus providing FREE education from Nursery to High School for all our children.      The School has also, from time to time, voluntarily donated funds to the Children's Homes at times of special need.      It also offers up to 15 free places to bright students from poor families within the Municipality of Eldoret.     However no PROFIT is earned for any individual or private entity.  Apart from the donations mentioned above the School ploughs any surplus funds back into School development; there are no dividends, bonuses, or special allowances made or given to any.

TESTIMONY SCHOOL

FOUNDED

1981

nine years after we moved from Siaya District to Eldoret in 1972

The IDEA of a School as well as cottage homes for homeless children was there from the onset in 1969, but it just did not seem possible until 1973.     Perhaps another look into my Diary to get a idea of how it came about .........

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January 1981.    We commenced a small Nursery School in the compound of Testimony House.   It was begun because we could not find pre-primary school places for our 'homes' children in Eldoret Town.   There were 'schools' but nothing was taught in them - just play all day.   This posed a problem since all government Primary Schools demanded that new entrants had to have completed a set Pre-primary Syllabus in Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.!!!

(Jane Hotham, a young lady from England, was staying with us at the time, and it was she who set up the School and became its first Headmistress.   In commencing this 'little' private nursery school the DIE was cast....though we somehow did not PLAN to do more at the time.)

November 1983.   Received a phone call from one of the Primary School Headmasters.   

"Please come to my Office right away,  There is a serious problem facing us!" he said.   "Daniel and Joseph have been found smoking cigarettes in the school field - I shall have to suspend them from classes."

The next morning I took the two teenagers to School myself.    As soon as we arrived the boys were grabbed and led away to the School Parade Ground where they were paraded in front of 700 of their fellow students.; they were made to lay face down in the dirt, given a homily on 'ungrateful orphans who having no parents miss-spent public money.    They were then given six strokes of the cane on their buttocks each.      Suspended, socially stigmatised and publicly caned - for smoking a cigarette in the school field.        We returned home to Testimony House.

So why not start our own Primary School where students could be treated fairly without getting a public stigma, and where they would not be in danger of missing lessons?    We have spare outbuildings to start with - I will apply to the District Education Board.

January 6th 1984 - Received visit from an official of the Education Department.    He had come, at last, to inspect our buildings, with a view to giving us the 'go-ahead' for the School!   He liked what he saw, and WE began to pray and plan.     Of course we had no funds to implement any of our 'dreams' in this direction......    The 'buildings' need a lot of work and renovation.

(a year went by)

January 1985 - school set to open its doors for first time.     We have no chairs yet!

Received a gift  TODAY from UK, from a Primary School Teacher in Wales, a sister in Christ.  A Gift of £3000 - NOW we have CHAIRS for the two classes we will open next week!  Thank you Lord!

February 1986 - CRASH!    a slow, tormented creaking, and rending filled the air.   WHOOSH!  the ground grunted at the impact, and a hollow THUD stopped my heart for a moment.    That Gum Tree had stood for perhaps seventy years,  one of a stand of twenty giants that lined the top driveway of our compound where now we are to build School offices, and classrooms.

October 1986 - All the building is done.   Eight new Classrooms, Offices, and toilets all completed and ready for use.     NOW I can actually reach out and touch the stones that now comprise the buildings - the 'substance' of things once hoped for  - the EVIDENCE of things once not seen.    

In ALL of this 'development' we asked no man's help.    We prayed to God and HE provided what was needed.......

(In 1987 TEAR fund - offered (without application) to help the School forward so that in 1988 we could build FOUR laboratories, and a  School Hall to seat 400.     In 1991 they again offered to build a further EIGHT primary classrooms.)

In all the years that have since gone by, we have seen hundreds of young people educated together with our own homeless children.       The School has grown, but has never been rich or in any way luxurious.     It has always maintained a 'family' atmosphere, and has been a foundation and platform from which the majority of its students have gone on to build solid and prosperous futures and lives.          THANK you Lord.     Thank you for the good AND the bad!

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ITS EASY to BE THANKFUL for good things after all - though some do forget even then.

BUT what about the hard, difficult, even unpleasant things..?   Do we say Thank you for THEM?         It is not, of course, that we can be THANKFUL for cancer, injury, loss of what is precious and dear  -   but nevertheless I am told to be Thankful in ALL things.      The words ALL THINGS are wrapped around EVERY thing in life that I must pass through.      Thank you Lord, for trusting me with this pain, this sorrow, this trial!     I AM your servant, and if this is required of me I will endure it with THANKSGIVING,  that in doing so I will declare that I AM your servant, and that you ARE my LORD, and that I DO BELIEVE that ALL THINGS (even the least palatable things) are working together for GOOD for me in Christ Jesus.

Looking at the SCHOOL today it is easy to smile and be thankful.     BUT there were days, there were times, there were false friends, that were certainly NOT enjoyable along the way and did not always bring a ready smile or hearty appreciation.   YET GOD in His Grace and Goodness,   brought about GOOD in and through those things .......YES we should AT ALL times be Thankful - Thankful that no matter WHAT, God is doing us GOOD; we can be SURE of it.     We can be without DOUBT about it.

I say THANK YOU Lord, today, for the CHALLENGES, the heartbreaks of life.    I say Thank you for wrapping my fragile life around with your LOVING CARE that saves me from ALL my anxieties and sorrows.         Isn't HE Wonderful?

God Bless you all

John and Esther /  Carol and Daryl

SHALL WE BE WISER THAN GOD?

'IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE MAN TO BE ALONE'     God the Creator noted this and took care of the matter.
HOW did He accomplish it ?    By providing a 'counterpart' for Adam who would at once fulfil ALL his need.     GOD brought EVE, a woman tailor-made to satisfy Adam, and they became ONE FLESH.       God Almighty did NOT bring more than one WOMAN to Adam.      ONE was to be sufficient in EVERY way.      He did not bring another MAN to Adam.      From the Beginning, the very DAWN of creation, it has been accepted that men  go with women and women with men.      A custom and practise initiated by GOD HIMSELF.        MOSES HAD IT FROM GOD HIMSELF.     The Torah and the Bible together teach this as God's PLAN AND PURPOSE in creating men and women.

JESUS,

in whom God walked and talked, who was in fact GOD

accepted this, strongly pointing out that in God's sight there is only ONE man

or one woman in any Marriage.

IT IS GOD'S WAY!

It should be the WAY for any man or woman who seeks to follow God;

IT SHOULD BE AN ACCEPTED PRACTISE

FOR ANY CHRISTIAN BELIEVER;

In the Realm of England it has been practise for more than 2000 years.

BUT RECENTLY THE LAW BEGAN TO CHANGE.

The British Parliament has Agreed to 'same sex marriage'

Once the Queen has Signed the Bill it will be LAW.

CAN the Queen go ahead and sign the Bill?     Yes.     Indeed, if she refuses she would have to abdicate as Head of State;   in a Constitutional Monarchy she is merely the 'Rubber Stamp' of Government, and must do as she is told to do.     BUT she VOWED to God when she was crowned to lead her people in the ways of Christ Jesus, and live as an example, as one committed to God, in front of them all.    She recently reminded the Nation - and the WORLD - of that Vow!      But IS SHE ABLE to stand against her own government?

In 1968 she signed the Abortion Bill and the Divorce Bill - legalising both.    Since then national morality has continued to slide in the abyss of promiscuity.       The Crown of England that once, for all the human failure of those that represented it, represented Christian Standards and Values, may now be seen to have a lot of holes eaten into its once impressive image.        And the wearer of that Crown is being seen to dance to another 'masters' tune; a master that does not put God FIRST.      How courageous can she be - to stand against the tide...against the personal pleasures of such a .mixed multitude?    I used the example of Aaron the High Priest, leader of another mixed multitude a few weeks ago.    A leader trusted but not strong enough.   

Her Majesty, Queen Elisabeth 11, is also the Titular Head of the Church of England.     Yet is not she, herself, that appoints the Bishops - not even the Archbishops.     It is the Government of the Day, who appoint those who will vote for them and for their polices.       When the current and recently appointed NEW Archbishop of Canterbury was being considered, the LAITY of the Church of England in the UK voted AGAINST same sex marriages in the church.     Since his appointment has been ratified the Archbishop has gone ahead in determination to see the Church change its mind!!    

WE ARE WATCHING THE DEATH OF A CHRISTIAN NATION.

We are watching manipulation by both Church and State 

in an endeavour to undervalue, dilute and destroy the faith of all, and to BOW DOWN 

to the idols of the flesh.

THE APOSTLE PAUL in Romans 13v11-14 tells the CHURCH (Those who have given their lives to Christ) to

WAKE UP out of sleep .......

The NIGHT IS FAR SPENT and gone, and the day almost here.   Let us then drop ( FLING AWAY) the works and deeds of darkness, and put on the full Armour of light.

LET US LIVE and conduct ourselves honourably and becomingly as in the open light of day. NOT in   revelling, (carousing) and drunkenness, not in IMMORALITY, and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarrelling and jealousy.

BUT INSTEAD CLOTHE YOURSELF WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NO PROVISION FOR INDULGING THE FLESH.. Put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature to gratify its desires, lusts!!

THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE is a LANDMARK in human development and procreation.    

It should not be dug up and removed,  Neither should it be vandalised and turned into something it was not meant to be.    MARRIAGE IS SPECIALL.    It is the only truly VALID and SAFE foundation together with God, from which to build a'Family'.     It is more than a framework to beget children in; more than an answer to loneliness, and human need of comradeship and understanding.    It is in fact a 'Mystery'.

I have no problem with two men living together in friendship and comradeship for life - or even in two women doing the same - but this is and cannot ever actually be taken to be MARRIAGE.   It should never be used as an illegal excuse to live in an 'unnatural' sexual lifestyle.   THAT is 'abomination' that would altogether make a mockery of a purely platonic relationship.

We must not tamper with  Marriage.   Must not mutilate it so that it is no longer CLEAR what it means and signifies.   If we do all society will ultimately suffer because of it.

The current awful conflict being caused by those with opinions such as I am expressing and even more could have very simply have been avoided by inventing some other kind of 'ceremony' to initiate a same sex union that is not consummated by sexual intercourse.

If our promiscuous, licentious imagination had not continued to reach for more and more it would still be permitted even in law for two of a kind to live as two brothers or two sisters.       NOW we say it is impossible for such a thing to be without sex, and thus we must make it legal - even though it is NOT legal (not right or LAWFUL in God's view).        Thus are all men being deceived and lied to.

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SINCE LAST SATURDAY, the days have become warmer and warmer once more with clear blue skies.  We are enjoying wonderful weather just now.       The new School Boarding Unit and five Classrooms was completed today, and the keys finally handed over.    It looks beautiful.      I know it has made a difference having a truly dedicated and spiritual man as our Contractor.    He has put all he has of Jesus into the building.      A photo next week perhaps.

We all, as a family, visited SIMEON MAJIMBO who suffered that 'stroke' I mentioned.     We found him sitting up with his wife and son and daughter around him in the hospital.   We had a good time of family fellowship and prayer together, and the next day he was able to go home.     He has to attend daily session of physiotherapy but he is greatly improved already.     The stroke was 'mild' and the doctors feel he will in fact be fine in a month or so.      Thank you Lord Jesus - we felt your presence there with us.

DARYL and I were both immured a good deal in the General Office Monday to Friday (in between a lot of other calls on our time and prayer).    Finally however we concluded the big bi-annual Statistical Survey of Children and Staff, and it has now gone off to the government.    This coming Monday I shall be starting the Annual updating of ALL 800 Files contained in a battery of  EIGHT four drawer Cabinets!    Should take me up until about Wednesday.     Glad I do not have to do this more than once in a year.     Not very addicted to filing!!

The KENYA REVENUE people have been very quiet since Christmas.    Joshua and Miriam have heard no more, and neither have we - BUT this in no way suggests they have forgotten - just their way of getting on with things SLOWLY.     Any moment they can just arrive and continue from where they left off - so please continue to pray for us.

Finally another little dip into my Diary!     This time January 1976, some six years further on than last week.

January 1st 1976

Calculated the current finance needed to pay our current bills to be 36,000/- (about £1,200 sterling at that time),     Nothing to be done about it.     The Lord in Heaven knows all about it, as He knows also about us. I shall just leave it with him.

(Nothing happened to relieve us until the end of the month when an unexpected give from Denmark arrived that totally cleared the sum total of the debt.     We still do not know who sent it.!!)

January 6th   -   Called away to town to see the owner of a Butchery!!?     Once there he sat me down with a cup of coffee and proceeded to ask me to let him use some of our outbuildings (old barns) to store some 'ivory and animal skins' (all procured from illegal poaching I suspect.)   Of course I refused, but I will let my lawyer know about it - just in case someone is trying to 'frame' us.

January 7th  -  Esther and I were about 150 kilometres away today in Western Kenya, not far from where I began in 1968.  On the way back at Luanda Market place, getting petrol, we noticed  a very emaciated child of about 12.     On closer examination we discovered he was unable to speak coherently and that his right arm was somehow paralysed.     He was obviously just a beggar.    We were told by passers by that he had 'fits' probably epileptic.     We felt very sorry for him but decided we could not help him.

Received 800/- from Denmark !    Thank you Lord.

January, 8th -  A VERY stormy night.     Felt worried about the boy we left in Luanda and I travelled back with one of the older boys the 150 kilometres or so to see if we could find him.     We did, and being informed he had no home or family we brought him home to Testimony House.    Later we discovered his name was HOSEA.     He had FIVE fits before that day finished.     He was unable to communicate.

January 9th   -  Travelled to Kitale (84 kilometres) away with Hosea to see a retired British surgeon.  He examined Hosea thoroughly and said he thought it was case of gross neglect.     He thought that love and patience might work wonders.

January 10th  -  Hosea endured four Fits since returning from Kitale.    We took to prayer for him, laying hands on him.      No apparent result.

Manager of Eldoret Emporium called with a friend who brought us a box of 2 dozen toilet soap!

God is SO good.

January 11th  -  Hosea had three more fits overnight.    He does not lose consciousness though.   Still does not speak - except for a kind of grunting when he wants food.   His many wounds (from being kicked around in the market place we think) are healing well.

£7 from Pastor Hyde in Brixham

At 6.30pm  Hosea passed a major toilet sitting on a potty - NO CONVULSIONS!!  Seems much brighter in himself.     Prayer continues.

As the month continued we still saw an occasional FIT come upon Hosea, but they finally disappeared altogether by the last day of January.    He began to move his arm, and was able to stand on his own without falling for the first time since his arrival.     He began to smile then to LAUGH.      He regained the power to speak, and grew  up to earn his own living, and most joyfully WONDERFUL of all to recognised and KNOW Jesus as His Saviour.       A miracle indeed.

AND on the very last day of the month (one through which we were all kept rather spartanly) the Lord sent that amazing Gift that wiped away all our bills .       SO FAITHFUL was He to us in those days, and through ALL the days ever since - even when WE sometimes became fearful, and full of doubts.   |Yes He is MERCIFUL and long-suffering towards us.     How GREAT Thou ART.

Have a wonderful week ahead.    We shall be giving Thanks for you, and for the PAST that continually encourages us to BELIEVE for more.

Our Love in Jesus 

John and Esther & Daryl and Carol

FROM MY DIARY!

IT CAN BE GOOD TO LOOK BACK.   It may sometimes be humiliating to remember the past, but at the same time we can learn from it.   At least we can, if we are willing to see our NEED to get back on track!       I have been reading my Diary for January 1970.      I had TEN children with me by then, and we had been together for five months.  I looked to God to answer my prayers alone.  I was without personal support then, as I am still today.  I needed, and those ten boys needed.   Could God PROVIDE?    Well that is what we had set out to prove, and WERE proving day by day.  We were a 'testimony' of 'faith' that God was able to sustain us and our 'home' together.  
1970 - January 16th  -   No post today.   Finances are in a depression.   Gilbert, one of the young men we support in High School, returned home.   The new headmaster is demanding fees.   I sent him back with 300 shillings.    This leaves us with 75 at the Bank and 34 in cash in hand.   Things have been worse.  However nothing is 'expected' since we have had no word warning us that funds are on the way.  God alone IS our hope!
January 17th  -  At mid-day today, Thomas arrived back from his School (he is another boy we help outside of our 'family').   I saw him arrive with some apprehension, but in any case I knew I was not in the position to pay more Fees.   As it was he had a story about having received 'a vision from the Lord' and that he had LEFT School to serve the Lord full time.   I must say I found myself considering other reasons why he might have left!
January 19th  - Pastor Fitzgerald wrote saying a that a UK£5 Money Order had been sent to us from England.    It may take weeks to arrive (it took 3 weeks into the future in fact).
Paid  30 shillings more in School Feees and 52 for maize meal.    We now have, possibly, two shillings left.
We have enough to eat today.    We prayed together.
January 20th  -  A large post today!     Nothing financial though.   Situation becoming rather critical.
January 22nd  -  There was fierce storm in the night, and the rain continued on through until about 8a.m.
We had been given 20 shillings yesterday, and the Note was in my shirt pocket against purchase of bread later in the day.    I felt quite light hearted and happy.
A old gardiner from Siriba College has just come to ask me to help him pay his son's School Fees.  I had to explain that my situation was such that I could not.   He persisted in his asking none the less, and said that even twenty shillings could be a help at the least.   I told him that it was impossible that I could do even that much, and so at last he left - bent and worried.
As I sat on in my chair scribbling a letter, one of the boys came up and sat on the arm.
'Dad!    Dosn't the Bible say that you should give to the one that asks?'
Why, yes, indeed it does!' I replied, quite blind to where I was being led.
'Then why didn't you give that 20 shillings you have in your pocket - I can see it showing through - to that old man?'
I was cut to the heart.   Surely the Word of God is sharper than a two edged sword.    I gave my boy the bank note and he ran off after the man with it.    What NOW, I asked myself.   Now that there IS nothing but YOU, Lord - what WILL happen?
Much later in the morning - about 11a.m. - the morning post arrived and in it was a sealed letter from Denmark which had come by SEA.    It had taken almost three months to arrive!   Inside was a letter from a sister in Christ enclosing the sum of US$45, which translated into a enough Kenya Shillings to keep us all for the next week, almost!     Truly before we call HE answers us.   Comforting and challenging.

In those days we were never in DEBT.      We were often on the brink of WANT, and never with MORE than enough for a day or two ahead.    BUT as we prayed, and as we increased in number, God found ways and means to PROVIDE for us.       HE IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOR EVER.   So how is it we fell by the 'Wayside' and found ourselves in debt after all?
We got tired of waiting longer, and longer!    Our faith fainted!    We decided to save ourselves. One thing led to another - our 'guard' was down, as we looked another way!

GOD never tires of disovering just 'HOW MUCH' we trust and believe in Him.     It is not merely saying' Lord I Believe!     No!     He will always seek to find out to what extent I believe, and WILL believe in Him.
That old mixed bag of Egyptian Refugees trudging through the Sinai Desert, were allowed to weary themselves for FORTY years just in order that God might know what was in their hearts - their thoughts - concerning Him.    God tested Abraham's faith by asking him to give up his ONLY SON by himself putting him to deaath!
With God the faith I had yesterday is not enough for Today, and the faith I might have today will not be enough for tomorrow.    God will always bring us further and test us more.   He is seeking to bring us ALL to a place of TOTAL dependence upon Himself - often by trial and error - but inevitably onwards to perfection.     Without Faith I cannot please Him.      Faith is the SUBSTANCE of things HOPED for, the EVIDENCE of things initially invisible!          When I touch a stone in a building once only dreamt about, and when I take the hand of a child now grown to manhood, I find myself confronted with the SUBSTANCE and EVIDENCE of  what I hoped for in Jesus;   the PROOF of  the REALITY of a LIVING and relevant GOD Who hears and answers the cry of a helpless and dependant child!        AND YET, I can still find it difficult to make the NEXT move onwards in a NEW step of faith.      I can still find myself 'anxious' when He takes LONGER than usual in answering my cry for help........ AND my Enemy, or one of his minions, is always near enough to take advantage of those times, to turn my eyes AWAY from Jesus to the world around me and to thus arrest my faith.    
WE ARE GRATEFULLY 'BACK ON TRACK' by His Grace and His Mercy.   We are marching onwards and forward in RENEWED Faith and Trust - our eyes straining, and our hands reaching out to see and touch the SUBSTANCE and EVIDENCE of our very present and believing HOPE.     Rejoice with us for this renewal, and rejoice with us for every man, woman and child here with us that has the daily opportunity to see and partake of the TRUTH of GOD with US.    PRAY on for our Witness and Testimony to remain BRIGHT and CLEAR to all who might pass by us, or look in upon us.          AMEN!!

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THIS WEEK the weather here in Eldoret has been the worst I can remember.    This is the DRY SEASON, and for this past week has been the WETTEST!!      This is the HOT season, and yet it has been and remains the COLDEST;  I am cold in my bones.      The'Time of Year' and  the 'Season' no longer seems SET.  All is at sixes and sevens, unpredictable, almost chaotic.       And this might be said of weather the world over in these days.       The dependable regularity of winter and summer, springtime and autumn,  the content of monsoon and drought, the hot and the dry, are all awry, and the very elements running amok as if themselves distracted and filled with apprehension at the coming of the KING, the JUDGE of all the Earth.

Micah and Senge

Micah and Senge returned yesterday from their few days retreat, after the funeral of Micha's brother.  We are glad to see them safe and sound and no worse for their adventure on the road or the coldness all about us.

Simeon Majimbo

SIMEON MAJIMBO one of our boys from the 1970s, and now gong to be fifty years old this year, and who has worked for us as a Gardener over the last ten years or so, suffered a stroke the night before last.  He woke up unable to move his right side.   He is  now in hospital.   He is married with two children.  Simeon was only 8 when he came to live with Esther and me, and always of a quiet and peaceful disposition, but not very able academically.      He has generally worked as a Gardener, and become quite adept at that occupation.   He worked many years way from us, for others, but then took advantage of a vacancy here ten years back and applied to fill the position.    Unfortunately he then contracted Diabetis, although he has continued to work well and industriously under medication until this week.    Daryl is there in the hospital with him as I type this, and we shall be visiting later.     Please remember him in your prayers.

TESTIMONY HOUSE is beginning to show its age - especially in one corner.     As you remember it is built simply of mud brick baked in the sun, and supported with wooden lathes.    It is just over one hundred years old.      The front outside wall of the wing where Paul Ngugi used to sleep, has begun to crack, and we suspect the entire wall may be ready to collapse.     An exploratory look will be taken next week by our long time friendly contractor, to see what we might need to do.    The weather is not helping right now.   We think it will stand, though with increasing weakness.    It is just not easy to join mud to cement or concrete, and once we start it could be we would find ourselves continuing onwards into increasing repair.    One day we will be faced with demolition and rebuilding - if the Lord delays His coming long enough.     I hope He will come quickly instead, and thus we may get away with a Quick Fix.

THE KENYA NATIONAL ELECTION  will, God Willing, be taking place during early part of MARCH.

Testimony House

The President, Governors, Senators, Representatives and so on will all be elected during that time.  Already they various Parties are on the move with their appointed nominees holding NOISY, excitable and very distracting meetings everywhere.    Unfortunately for us, many of them have come to know that there is a vacant PLOT near us - right next to Jacaranda Cottage in fact - where they can come to hold their Rally.

They bombard the entire community with high powered amplifiers blasting the neighbourhood with the bombastic trumpet of a multitude of Candidates insisting that all should Vote for them - guess we have to ENDURE this for the forthcoming month with greater and greater intensity - and GRACE.

BUT there seems, for the most part a fairly equable and peaceful atmosphere - at least in our part of Kenya.   There ARE other parts that do not seem quite so settled, but again this may not necessarily be to do with the Election.       The nation continues, as we also do, in prayer.       Please also join with us and pray for the PEACE of KENYA.

THIS YEAR is a year of statistical surveys and other administrative matters that crop up every second year. We have both been busy, and this has interrupted letter writing, but our Thanksgiving for all the prayer and support we have received through December and January are in no way diminished and we hope soon to be able to acknowledge it personally to each one.        May God Bless and take care of you all through the coming week.    You are in our thoughts and prayers...

John and Esther & Daryl and Carol