THIS IS THE TREE 

an Indian Mahogany Tree

About 100 years old now, and aging in front of Green Cottage.

A beautiful tree!

BUT IT IS DYING.    Naturally speaking it is said, as a variety of tree, to have a comparatively short life span - approximately only 80 years.    Yet it is not dying of 'old age' but from a Parasite, that will slowly deprive the tree of every drop of sap, until it dries up, and then the Parasite also, will die.   I talked about the Parasite a while back in the Blog for 24th January 2015.  The Parasite (photo to left) is called PHRAGMANTHERA CAPITATA.   It is in most of our bigger trees, and this week we have had to CUT DOWN the sister tree to the one pictured above, with was quite dead and dried out, and in danger of

falling.   THIS TREE stands BEHIND Testimony House, and clawes upwards to around 120 feet.    This photo was taken today, after two thick sub trunks had already been brought down.  To the left of the tree, out of sight behind Testimony House, is the School's Girl's Boarding Hostel, and to the right, opposite the Hostel, are the Science Laboratories.      Not much space to move, and the tree, as you see, spreads a lot.    SO far no accidents.   Three men have been engaged to demolish the tree.   They are quite expert and using ropes and a medium size chain saw they risk life and limb.   BUT the remaining half of the tree still has to be  dealt with - probably later today or tomorrow.     It is VERY  sad to see it go, especially as it is as old as the house, and a long time part of the sky-line.      The photo (right) shows how 'little' space there is to bring the remaining tree down.    You  can also see some of the lopped branches where they fell, just in front of Eunice's bedroom window.    

The foresters will now have to climb as far as they can and lop the top branches first, and then slowly descend lopping sections as they go.   

ooo0ooo

Well, not a whole lot to talk about compared with all that is going on in our lop sided world society.      Our College Students are all back in College for their 2nd Term, and our School has concluded its 2nd week of that Term, quietly and satisfactorily.       BUT Kenya is experiencing some little problem in finding further supply of Vaccines.     They may not be able to give those of us who have received their 1st Dose, their 2nd one.     Hunting high, and low for MORE vaccine.  From Congo, from ANYWHERE.      And of course the vaccine they find may be different to the one we started with - AND no matter what is said, a large body of the population will find renewed fear, and doubt, in contemplating mixing vaccines!!  Confusion or Chaos - or is just in-humanitarian GREED?       

BUT for us, it barely matters one way or the other.   Our Trust is, and only can be, in Jesus Christ.  We shall not be anxious but with prayer and supplication we will Praise God for His Goodness, and for His Promised Salvation and Redemption for all who put their trust in HIM.    Much Honour and Glory be to  His Name.

oo0oo

I was watching SKY news last night.    A Spokesman for HAMAS was being interviewed.    The Arab says Allah is God, and Abraham was His friend too.     In fact it is difficult to successfully keep away from the idea that the Christian and the Muslim have the same God.     The REAL problem is the differences between Christian and Christian, and Arab and Arab and their individual appreciation of who and what GOD stands for.    GOD says HE  is  LOVE.      Both the Bible and the Koran encourage their Believers to LOVE each other - I prefer the word ONE ANOTHER.     I was shopping this morning and believer in ALLAH wrapped himself around me with happiness, calling my name, and delightedly making the most of have a chance to Greet me.     I was momentarily taken aback, but then immediately was swept into his arms in mutual friendship and humanity.      Just a moment when LOVE, God's LOVE, broke through the man made clouds and dogmatisms that religiously and politically overwhelm and often even obliterate the REAL TRUTH.       IS Love, the Love of God, SO hard to find, and ACCEPT.        The Rockets and guns have stopped again for the moment.     But will they STAY silent?  Or will they once more break out from hearts that do not believe or understand the  fact that GOD made ALL men and women to BE like HIM?      I listen to some crying out crying for the Jew, when he is killed, ill used and lied about;  then I listen to others crying out for HAMAS and weeping for them.      IT IS RIGHT, of course, to CARE for the hurt, heartache, and pain of ALL men and women, whatever their tribe, nation or colour, or political opinion.       BUT will Man for ever want to Strike Back at those who cannot agree with him.     WHY not  FORGIVE, and LOVE one another instead...why not reach out to one another, and fall on each other's neck with loving emotion, recognising that he or she is a brother or sister created by our Creator, Who LOVES us both.

It is SO easy to disagree with each other....so easy to despise another's condition.....so easy to detest and to hate.       It is a basic cause of modern day mental illness, sadly being demonstrated by poor Harry Windsor.    -     Why not forgive, and reach out in LOVE.

God Bless you all again - in HIS Eternal LOVE - in the Name of JESUS CHRIST.

John, Esther and Daryl, Green