A TIME TO PAUSE

THIS WEEK I AM NOT POSTING ANYTHING!!      My mind feels a blank right now, due no doubt to a busy week of social engagements and both of a visiting and welcoming kind.    So I have paused, and in doing so perhaps might find new content and focus.     The LORD be with you all, and also encourage YOU to find time to PAUSE also, and to take stock.     Our love to you all in Jesus.

John, Esther and Daryl Green

KEEPING A WATCHING BRIEF

THESE ARE VIEWS of the front fence of Testimony House & School; in fact you can just glimpse part of the School between the 1st and 2nd pillars of the fence, in the far distance.    Elgonview Road is just noticed at the bottom right corner.
Did the fence collapse?  No, but it was very close to doing so; dangerously close.    The big Jacaranda Tree with its blue blossom had been putting out a stabilising root right under the fence foundation for more than thirty years, and slowly tilted the fence, along a ten meter span.  
Not a big thing, but costly.
The original wall'footing'
had to be removed, the offending root cut into, and then the whole fence rebuilt with the dismantled material.   Three days work.  We decided to take out only one of THREE roots in order not to endanger the tree.   The remaining roots will not expand more, and so the foundation was remade to accommodate them.     It would have been a shame to fell the tree or cause sits slow death.        One of the reasons for doing this repair was accentuated when local traders set up their fruit and vegetable table right in front of it. and made themselves a prime target for an impending accident!!    We have no entitlement to move such traders on, but if the Fence had collapsed on top of them we would have been liable to be sued!!

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TESTIMONY FAITH HOMES AND SCHOOL sit on eleven acres of land, most of it well built upon, and the whole land, buildings, and contents alike need a pretty constant and careful watch kept upon their wear and tare, to say nothing of unexpected conservation.      And, of course, the more one has the more one must spend to keep it all in good shape - progressively!    Rather like each one of us, and we are noticing this in our selves as well, as WE grown older!!        Sharing this just to show that behind our daily ministry we also get involved in propping everything up, and keeping it shining for Jesus.

We have been waiting for the RAINS to slow down in order to get on and paint Jacaranda Cottage Buildings roof.   Normally we have to repaint a roof every three to five years due to the weather conditions.     However it is too expensive to try and do this for all our roofs at one time;  we try to do one or two a year.    THIS week, the rains having greatly reduced, we have at last got around to painting the whole of the Jacaranda roof, which now includes the Day Care Centre and Jean Potts Hostel.  We had kept part of Jean's Gift to us for this very purpose.    So far the First coat of paint has gone on, but there will be another to finally complete.     AND THEN it will be time to think of Testimony House, and then The School, and then maybe even our cottage.    And so it will go on, and on, till He Comes.

On the left, taken from the road, we can see the initial paintwork completed, and on the right it is just beginning on the other side. It is a slow and difficult job due to the heat (very hot to stand on the iron sheeting) and also the irregular shape of the roof

TO THE LEFT another closer view of the one above, with one of our Painters perched on the ridge, just to give some perspective as to size and area.   This part covers the Girls Hostel. The 

part covering the Day Care is out of the photo, to the right.     Here the new tin panels we have put in to shut in the old dorma window can still be noticed but by the time painting is done we hope them to look one colour with the rest.   Quite a big job.      And again, it is something more going on, on top of our daily chores and costs.

And it is also upon DARYL, on top of his general duties, to be the one to 'notice' and then organise for all this Care and Maintenance to be attended to.    It certainly keep s him busy.

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AFTER REFURBISHMENT of the Poultry Unit, we have now commenced re-introducing layers into the project.     We had laid off taking layers, and devoted ourselves to breeding broilers.   However from now we shall be taking in up to 600 broilers, and 400 layers.     The first batch of chicks have just come in - they look so small, like fluffy yellow ping pong balls. under the lamp.

THESE tiny chicks will need careful watching and coddling as well before they are relatively safe and strong.   Regular attention to warmth ( our early mornings and nights are just now quite cold), food and water.    We hope to be able to provide for our own egg need, with some over, to sell.

So this week quite a lot has been going on, more than usual in fact, although at least something is always happening in relation to keeping a watch all the time..    In the end that is pretty well all we are WATCHMEN.     We are Watchmen over ALL that God puts into our care.      It is the prime responsibility of Man.     And we must, in the same spirit, be Watchmen, and women, over one another, from birth to the grave.     A very full time, and demanding occupation that does not diminish with age!    WE all have a Watching Brief.

This young man is LOOKING, but I cannot be sure that in  looking he is WATCHING.    Maybe he is just meant to be looking out on the world around him without any real involvement or concern.    To me, seeing him there with his hands in his pockets, he seems rather hopeless and helpless in lonely despair at what he sees.  This is not what God has in mind; he is looking for the 'Here I am send me!' response  found in Isaiah 6, and it is not a 'once off ' response, it is meant to continue, until nothing is left to be concerned for!


 
We should be on guard and alert at all times to observe the needs around us.    Not only the needs in my house, and my own life, but the needs of those I mix with, and of the world around me.   And I should be ready to identify the need, and to be able to point it out and to be involved about it.   In the photo to the left we see an aged wall, long neglected, and beginning to sag.    The Level has been placed upon it to clearly show just how evident the sag is.    It is a PRECISE OBSERVATION made with an appreciative eye.   It is a 'measured' observation made, not by a casual passer by, but by a dedicated STEWARD going about his or her master's business; ready to 'blow the trumpet' of Alarm, Make a Stitch in Time, and ready to step in to secure the matter.

TODAY it is not that we do not get involved, we have lost the interest and courage needed to do so. Rather we stand disconsolately inactive as life passes by.   Maybe this was the situation with LOT, that 'righteous man' who 'grieved his soul' watching the gradual deterioration of moral life around him that threatened even his own family, ineffective and afraid to initiate any effort to change it.    A man who KNEW what pleased God yet stood by and became overwhelmed by, and even willing to negotiate with, the evil around him.    Yes, I see a huge similarity with his situation and that of this present generation - As in the Days of LOT!    Yes indeed.    We need the SOUND of the Watchman's TRUMPET on every front.     We need to be aware of what is washing over us day by day taking us further and further away from God's Likeness.    A day to remember Romans 12v1-2 

WE have received news of an incoming Gift from AENON today, and we shall soon acknowledge to those who may have shared in it and the one preceding, together with a News Update.   May God our Father truly bless you all.     With our Love and prayers always with our deep appreciation

John, Esther and Daryl Green

SMALL TALK

AT  LAST proof that the Green-house is UP, and planting begun.   The intention is to plant Tomatoes in stages to give a fairly constant crop.   It is hoped to SELL as well as USE.   The Greenhouse is in the centre of the plot, and other veg is being planted either side of it.  It covers an area of 30 x 12 metres, and is sited on the Testimony House compound.   Thus we have completed all the preparation in setting up the various projects planned to assist us in helping with our Cost of Living.   This structure has been professionally erected, and we have had the soil tested, and planting is being carried out by the Forestry Department.     After that it will be up to our own staff to keep it going and in good shape.   It comes with two water tanks which feed the 'drip-feed' lines that keep the area watered.      The supplier has guaranteed the work for three years.     We shall see.    It is in a reasonably sheltered situation, but we do get occasional strong squally winds, and of course it gets quite warm at times.

Some weeks ago I shared that work was going on in our Nursery School in order to expand and improve the Toilet Facilities for the children.      This has now been completed, and we are happy with the outcome.

What you see here is the Boys section, the baby toilets separated by a curtain from the wash basins and entrance.    The photo on the right showing all six of the toilets from another angle.    The Girls Section is on the other side of the wall with its own entrance.     All are now in use as from Thursday this week, when the School opened, and once again it is the School Parent Body that have financed it..   This entire block of buildings was originally built by TEAR FUND from the UK, way back in the late 70's as a Training Course for Mechanics.      It was, with their approval, later converted into Primary School in 1983.

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THIS WILL BE A SHORT BLOG for this week.      We have had quite a lot of humdrum and very ordinary things going on day by day, including extras such as the Interviewing of more than ten shortlisted teachers to fill four vacant places on the School Staff, and also making unsuccessful visits to seek for places for our job hunters, and so on.     Nothing very remarkable or sensational.     I hope you will excuse me from just rambling on.    Hope to bring more next week, God Willing, and in the meantime we shall be remembering to pray for you all.     God Bless you every day.

John, Esther and Daryl Green

WHAT ARE OUR AIMS IN LIFE?

BRONZE,SILVER, and GOLD MEDALS, being presented Daryl Green, as CEO of Testimony Faith Homes who were hosting the Swimming Event for the East African Secondary School Games.     The Finals for all the Swimming Events were held yesterday, and were just completed before it poured down with RAIN!   Otherwise the weather had been good throughout.    I cannot at present give an account of the numbers of students competing from the more than six East African Countries taking part in the Games.    A good number, and those in the Swimming Event filled the pool so that not many spectators were able, or even allowed, to watch.   The area is enclosed and small, but well equipped and clean.    The Games Authority were impressed and pleased with it.    Their President and Vice President attended and also presented Medals with Daryl, and seemed quite delighted with everything.    The Table Tennis Event was also held on our compound in the School Hall ( one of the tables used was one presented to us some years back by the Westhoughton Pentecostal Assemblies of God - still in good condition and regularly used by our own children.

Our middle aged housemaid, Alice, plus our son James, also attended to the supply of Refreshments during the actual competitions.   In the photo you can see them with Esther in the FOOD Tent - right.
THEN below various views commencing with the Starting end and spectators pavilion.   This gives a little idea of the venue as it was.
These photos will have to do for the time being.   Swimming Events are not easy to photo in a way that proves visually exciting, and in our case there was more Splash than splendour.   Nevertheless it was a great opportunity to declare the Goodness of God for US, and to open up chances to point to God's reality and faithfulness as we shared with our visitors.

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Last February we were approached by a 'lady' who is a member of our County Legislature.     She also runs a private school some kilometres out of town.    She told of a family of four children living not far from her School whose mother had deserted leaving the children without food or aid of any kind.    We talked some time with her, and said that although some of the children were older than we would usually take, we would be prepared to take all four provided, she approached the Children's Office, and permitted them to visit the 'family' and then provide us with a Case History confirming her story.    The 'lady' assured us she had already done this, and that a history would be given to us.   We then stated that all we would then need was a Court Order for each child, and a copy of their Birth Certificates.      She left us full of grateful thank, and not long afterwards the children and all the papers we requested (except for the Case History) arrived, and the children were Admitted.    The Children's Office assured us a Case History would follow.

BUT RECENTLY, some of the children Admitted began to share their own version of their history. They said that their mother was still at home, and that she was the sister of the woman who had brought them to us.........and on further investigation this proved to be the truth.    They were not in need (the mother still at home and with many well off brothers and other family).- it was pure and simply an attempt to get them into FREE care and education.      When we shared this with the Children's Office and they faced the woman, she denied everything.   But she lied.     Thus is the average level of our national honesty and integrity.      The fact that we, as a Charity have housed, fed, clothed and educated four children at our own expense when we had no need or reason to do so seems of no consequence, even to the Children's Office, who now say it was OUR fault for not making our own investigation before the children arrived.       Very disappointing.      The matter is still going on and the Children's Office think it may be another two months before we will know their recommendations - whilst we continue to pay the piper!        Both the woman and the Children's Office seemed to have co-operated to 'push' the children into the Homes.      We trusted them, and were misled.       The children have been happy enough with us, but the youngest who is about 7 has been very unhappy, and is missing his mother seriously.      

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TO THE RIGHT is a recent photo of FRANCIS and his wife Eunice.   It was taken recently at a supper party arranged for us all by Sammy Kirui.

Francis is the younger brother of Simeon Olumzee.    Simeon collapsed almost a year ago and has been unconscious for most of the time until about a month ago.  ( I had mentioned this in previous Blogs).  He remained still unable to move.  A blood clot had entered the brain causing what doctors think was a Stroke.    Simeon then suddenly died in early August.  He was 51. The Hospital Bill had become very high, into millions of Kenya Shillings, and the Hospital Management were very anxious to be paid.     The Kenya Army stepped in on behalf of their deceased member, and paid a big chunk of what was owed, but still leaving a lot to be found.     All this was upon Francis' head since none of the remaining family, including Simeon's wife, could afford to pay anything.      Then last week an arrangement was made so that the body could be buried, but the eldest sister to Simeon and Francis took the body from the Mortuary and buried it secretly at night in the public cemetery without even a Service.      Now the wife, who also wants the body to be buried elsewhere, has reported the body to have been stolen!      It has been a very unpleasant and unfortunate saga.      No one is sure what will happen now.     Francis has felt really stressed about it all.     Please spare him a prayer, and for the whole matter to be straightened out properly with agreement on all sides.        The Enemy really knows how to disturb our peace.

TODAY IT IS STILL RAINING AND COLD.    The Primary School Standard V111 students and their parents were called together with the Staff to pray for the National Examinations which are to be held in November.     Normally this event happens nearer the Day, but this year the Government has banned all public Meetings within the School precincts (nationwide) in order to prevent importation of drugs AND also advance copies of the Examination Papers.    Our Meeting this morning starting at 9.30a.m. was very well attended by the parents, and ended at 12.p.m.     

SO that is about all for this week once more.      School begins on Monday for the 3rd Term of the year and this time will be quite short - two months.    Thus the Christmas Holiday will be VERY long indeed.       God Bless you, every one.      Keep looking UP!

John, Esther, and Daryl Green