SHOULD PARENTS DECIDE ON THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION ?

THIS IS NOT A PHOTO OF TESTIMONY KIDS.    It is merely a photo of a class of bright looking children from a school in Europe.
One or two of them did not do well in the Class they were in and parents decided to let them REPEAT.    This in order to let them mature a little, and gain better focus in their studies.
BUT these days the educational pundits feel that this is a wrong idea.    Children should go on,  no matter what.    For them to beheld up will effect them badly psychologically and give them all kinds of other 'hang ups' that will effect their attitude to school and learning generally.
KENYA, as it always does, follows the rest of the enlightened world, and is also now BANNING parents, or even School Authorities, to insist on a child repeating a Class.       I am, generally, happy to  go along with this.  I do believe it is more damaging for a child to have to be left behind, and see his/ her classmates pass on in front.   It is a special embarrassment and also an added reason for a child to feel inferior, or a failure.       BUT there are ARE cases were to let a child continue to follow and progress by fiat in an average school, might prove even more damaging.     WE, here in Testimony Homes often find a child with a special need or challenge in their lives, which adversely affects their aptitude in academic pursuits.      Currently we have four who have consistently been unable to cope with  with normal written studies.      Not retarded, but definitely either very without interest in academic studies - though with certain aptitude in various physical and even technical areas.     In the past we have been free to remove them from a class to assist them to 'catch up' under a special curriculum, prior to later rejoining their class encouraged and better equipped,   OR even removing them from formal school and putting them to a more vocational training in order for them not to wast precious years, and to provide a short cut to being prepared to earn their own living in order to secure their own life and Independence.      ALL of them are now facing a CONTINUANCE in formal school.     They have just completed their final year in Primary, all at the bottom of the class, and will now - according to the latest Directive from the Ministry of Education here - have to continue on to  High School.         This will definitely present us (and no doubt a large number of other caring parents) with huge difficulties, including the worry of finding another four years of comparatively wasted education in the wrong direction, with the prospect, of at the end, still having  to find a future for a child still unprepared or trained to leave home.      It is called PROGRESS.     As if all the learning and wisdom previously discovered had never taken place, and we are faced with NEW and advanced knowledge that has suddenly sprung in the minds of a new generation who have no previous awareness of how they managed to be where they  are.       AND, of course, this is just another manifestation of how The Rights of the Child  are slowly taking away the right of a parent to choose and have authority over their children.      It is, in truth, not the People who Rule, but just a few elected representatives who in the end promote their own ideas and view, often far removed from, and without even the understanding of those they are said to be speaking for!    So much for Democracy ..       God of course is rarely regarded.      And if He were, then there would only BE His Will to deal with.      A Tyranny?   Possibly, if HE were unjust and unrighteous and unholy.     He however IS all of these things, in Perfection.     He has the RIGHT to Rule, but we, poor fallen, muddle headed, selfish creatures, cannot in reality be trusted to Rule or Guide anyone, even ourselves.        Ah, how I long to see Him COME, and to experience HIS Kingdom on this Earth.

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TO THE RIGHT is  photo taken in 1983 when Esther and I, plus our three children, were in the U.K. for some months, visiting Stan and Doreen Hyde in Brixham Devon.    Many of you will remember that Stan Hyde, who was then pioneering Brixham Pentecostal Assembly, was my first and from then on continuous encourage-ment.    He and Doreen, and the saints at Brixham stood with me, my family, and the  ministry right from our first meeting in 1968 up to the present.     There grew a great affection between us, and we felt 'family' together .
Stan passed on to Glory five years ago, and we missed his letters and his exhortations, even though the Love of the Saints in the Assembly he began, continues to reach out in support and encouragement to us all.           I am saying thus, since after Stan's  passing, Doreen lived on until  2nd January this year, when she also passed on to be with the Lord.  She had not been well for some time, and contracting Pneumonia, the Lord had mercy and took her into his arms.    Our daughter, Elizabeth, who had always felt so very close to both Stan and Doreen, was able to be at Doreen's Funeral, even as she and her brothers were at Stan's.      We shall miss them, but not ever forget them, nor all the family Bob, Val, Jan, and Shirley who we also  love and pray for and remember.      NOW we look to the day when we shall ALL be together again as we meet in the clouds of His Coming.    What a DAY that will be.
Doreen was buried yesterday, 17th January.     Many of our children in Testimony Homes  will also remember her; her loving affectionate laugh, and gentle spirit, always able to be there for a hug and a little private prayer - always  together with Stan, a constant example, together, of Jesus being their life and strength.       We Thank our Father in Heaven for such companions, such good friends, and such a strong sister and brother in the Lord Jesus.

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James Manu, our son, has just returned from his latest visit to the Eye Clinic.    He has to attend at least one every month.      His good eye is still suffering an infection which is proving difficult to eradicate.    The drug needed to be prescribed cannot be given safely so far, as Manu's liver is also showing a weakness.     However,  this is said to be only temporary, and as soon as it has improved the new medication for his eye will commence.      Good hope for his right eye therefor is still believed for.     His Epilepsy has eased under medication, but his medication for this has also affected his liver!    It also tends to make him sleepy -  BUT his doctor and neurologist both feel a different drug will improve this situation, and he will start with it soon.    He is very patient, but even so often feels depressed by this, and by the fact that he still cannot find  regular work, and yet is responsible  for himself.      We continue to love him, and to believe for him, that he will yet come to trust in God's love for him, and even discover healing.     Thank you for remembering him, and for praying for him.

This month has seemed to be somehow a long one; we are still only half way through it.    School has opened, and now most of our kids are IN school, but we do still have a good number waiting to begin their College Year, and a number more waiting to START out on a Course for the first time after leaving High School last year.      Always a bit of a Hurley burly, every January.    But we are ALL well, and generally there is good and happy spirit pervading the Homes and School together.  We DO thank God for His Grace and Mercy, fresh every morning to us all.

God Bless and be with you all, and uphold you day by day, constantly proving His Presence with you  in JesusName

John, Esther and Daryl Green

OUR CHILDREN - is their future secure?

HERE IS ABIGAIL, just after completing her first week in 1st Grade of Primary School.   She will be SIX in March.  She and her Mummy, our daughter Helen, now living about three kilometres away from us.     Helen also teaching at Testimony Nursery School.  So happy to have them both close by, and able to see, every day.    Nairobi was too far, and we only met on School Holidays.   So happy for them both.    Wish ALL of our children were just as close by.   Our biological children, adopted children and ALL those we brought up in Testimony He from 1969-1998 who, although not able to be adopted, were non the less still very much OUR sons and daughters.     To all the others that have come since 1998 we have had a different relationship, but still close - as Grandpa and Grandma Green.
In the end, though, our hearts get entwined with each, and every one, and Oh, such JOY to see one and another still around us, AND even the more when one from the past pops in to see us and remember times spent together.       From first to last, all will be especially precious to us in our hearts

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The LAST of our University students left us today.    And it was with great happiness and Thanksgiving that we waved him off.    Last year, during his 2nd Semester, he had suffered what appeared to be a nervous breakdown, and he had to be admitted to hospital for some weeks, and then remained at home with us for a period of medication and rest.    He then returned to his University, returning to us for the Christmas break.       He seems quite recovered from all ill effects within himself, and very joyously returned to his Studies this morning.      A lot of prayer has gone up for him over the last nine months, and we want to Thank all those who joined us here in lifting up this young man in prayer.     Surely the LORD heard and has answered.     

BUT the Enemy, ever busy to bring confusion and frustration,  has yet again brought a threat to all those now returning to their University Courses.    THE DAILY NATION on the back page of their Edition for yesterday, 10th January, that -

LECTURERS vow to down tools over Ksh.8.8billion

 Lecturers will down tools as from January 20th

unless the Government agrees to honour a deal

signed last year.

The Lecturers feel the Government is running circles around their agreed promised Salary Increase of last year, of HALF what they were then owed ( Ksh.16..2 billion), and which to date has still not been received by them.        The Education Ministry of the Government is currently pleading that they do not implement this threatened Strike, but instead go back to the 'table' for further talks with the Government.       

The trouble is that the Government really does not have money, and the Lecturers now want action not more words.     This may be a 'reasonable' reaction their part, but it spells more than frustration to the students, who are continually struggling to get through their degrees.   On page 18 of the same edition of the Daily Nation is another article entitled  'Kenya's Higher Education Full of Uncertainty.'     The writer begins by stating ' The quality of education in Kenyan universities is declining in terms of teaching, research and student welfare.'         AND the added factor of suspended Lectures due to the whim of lecturers and a government strapped for funds, only adds to the cloud of DESPONDENCY that hangs over every student's head, to say nothing of the PARENT'S

anxiety and fear of losing hard found funds to pay for the HOPE they seek to give their sons and daughters, to find a future in our currently uncertain, competitive, and jobless world.

We are of course praying for all of OUR young people.    We have UNDIMMED HOPE in the help of our Lord Jesus.    Never has He been discovered unable to hear, OR to achieve the desire of our heart.

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THE WEEK has ended well.    |It has been a busy week, and thus a good one, since we all had things to do and  accomplish which kept our minds alert, and renewed our inner energy day by day.

The School \(our School) opened successfully on Tuesday.       All of our students returned, AND more than 25 new students in addition - a trend which has continue  through the week.     THUS yet again, we can say the Lord heard our prayer, since we had been hoping our own increase in our Fee structure would not have diminished our numbers.     We are indeed ENCOURAGED.

The Year has found ALL of us in prayer, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit.    We sense a new 'Stiring in the 'Mulberrry Trees'.     Hallelujah!!

God Bless and Cheer you all,  in the Blessed Name of Jesus.

John, Esther, and Daryl Green

ENTERING INTO 2020 AND THE UNKNOWN FUTURE

AND SO HERE WE ARE INTO 2020, AND A VIEW OF OUR SCHOOL FIELD ONCE AGAIN, some two months since the last posted on 9th November 2019.     May not seem much progress, but in face WE can see a huge difference.   The whole plot though still with a slope, is now comparatively LEVEL and beginning to grass over.     The planned Track that will surround the field is now mapped out and we hope in the net month to lay a surface on it.    We have until March to have it ready for use..       Our team of some twelve grounds staff, and Daryl  himself, all worked very hard to do what has been done, and not a rock or a stone in sight.       BUT you CAN now see clearly the MANSIONS on our boundary that are being built.    The owners are now busy building high stone walls to keep our foot balls - and maybe a little noise - from intruding upon their from lawns.
It is being built up all around us; and imagine when we arrived 47 years ago there was literally nothing but open fields and forest around us as far as eye could see.
TO THE LEFT we are looking to the right of the one above, toward the Primary Boarding Block.
The Field extends to about an acre in this direction, and Daryl and his team have already put in a full Basket Ball Court in the foreground and also marked out further areas as Volley Ball. Net Ball and Tennis Courts.      It will all take time to complete but the progress so far is very encouraging, and we feel proud to own the  work of our own selves.     We thank the Lord for the dedicated labour and joyful team work that has gone, and will continue to go, into this project.and school OPENS NEXT TUESDAY, for the 1st Term of the year.      Our adopted daughter, Helen who has been teaching Nursery School in Nairobi has just joined our school and will be living not too far from us with her daughter Abigail who will be 6 in March.   Time flies, but it is nice to have them both nearer.         Both Primary and Secondary School did well in the National Exams this year and we hope to see increased interest and patronage for the School from our locality so that our own children will continue to enjoy free schooling all the way to Form 4 of High School.  Everyone helter-skelter to buy articles of school uniform and footwear - always a last minute rush every year, and then, at the same time, added effort to find College places - and fees - for the thirty who will be continuing with further and hopefully 'higher' education with us this year.    But some will be concluding College this year as well; for example Pauline who is our first NURSE will be Graduating this year, and quite a few others.   

TO THE RIGHT a view of Nursery School with its playground, and a double story block of 4 Primary Classroom in the background, and another block of EIGHT Primary  classrooms to the extreme centre right, also behind the nursery classes.....we have 107 students in Nursery aged from 3 to 51/2 and 7 classes altogether
To the right - midway front - you can just glimpse the two room that used to be a duo one room staff house when we arrived in 1972.  We added to it in 1976 to accommodate a Mechanics Course, and then in 1983 it became the beginning of the Primary School until it moved to new buildings in 1987.

David & Absalom

THIS SUNDAY I shall, God Willing, be sharing with our children and staff on the topic of 'Forgiveness and the Family'
I shall be using a well known text from Deuteronomy 21v18-21.
Over last year a few of our more difficult teenagers (yes we DO have them from time to time) tested the patience of some of our house parents, and were told to LEAVE the Homes.    They were not  prepared for this and it was a real trial for them  WHEN we began we felt any child coming to us had been brought by God, and that our welcome into the 'Family' was for better or worse, until the were old enough to find a job and find an independent life for themselves.    WE, me and Esther, were tested on many occasions by some who had come to stay.    We let two or three GO, but they all came back, and we let them in.   Some of them were to remain  a trial until they were ready themselves to brave a life own by the sweat of their own brow.
I have been a little troubled in my heart bout losing others more recently.    We offered a HOME and FAMILY not a halfway house, and to now renege when a teenager is tugging at the leash seems NOT to be what family is about.       In the Scripture quoted the text begins with the word IF - raising the question as to whether it could actually happen, and it has been said  that no such case is as cited has ever been brought to light as having actually occurred.      Others have said that it could not have happened if the parents had brought their child up with God in mind.      The Scripture merely wanted to underline the importance of respecting our parents and emphasising the awfulness of not doing so.       And it seemed it did not happen.
This led me to remember David's trouble with his son Absalom, and his forgiving heart , all the way to Absalom's death.         So I have felt to share on these thoughts and to hope that our teenagers and parents in the Homes, and even our Director, will see the Lord more carefully and unselfishly in those instances when their human endurance and patience is tested to the limit.   


So let me close once more.      We continue yet again to Wish you all, God's richest Blessing for this New Year, and the Patience to endure where it is needed along the way.     You are all remembered by us all, and appreciated in our hearts always.

John, Esther and Daryl Green