CHRISTMAS IS COMING  soon  !!

SKY NEWS  a few weeks back was bemoaning the fact that Christmas this year, for the Brits, would be a lean one, with Few 'if any' Turkeys gracing the dinner table.     It seems now that the 'fear' of having to suffer serious food shortages is passing, and that all the expected traditional fare will, after all, find its way to the shops and supermarkets.   At the time, SKY made it sound a major crisis - as if a meatless Christmas would be worse than death. 

Here, in Kenya, probably less than 1% ever get to see turkey.      It is amazing just how much you can live and do without, and still be happy, and even content.      Perhaps there might also be a GAP in what one part of the population can afford to put on their tables, compared to others.  There is little doubt that 'one man's meat can be another's poison', when it comes to being able to afford it.     BUT, food seems to be a BIG part of Christmas to those with enough in their pockets, AND even to those who are poorer.

'Food, wonderful food

what is there more handsome?

Gulped, swallowed, or chewed,

still worth a King's ransom.'

But to listen to SKY NEWS the English are made to seem greedy gluttons, who put FOOD in front of LIFE.    I hope I  am right in thinking that this is not entirely the picture.     But, really, what IS Christmas all about, and who, among us all, take it to heart, and let it make a difference to our life and hope for the future?    WE, here in Testimony, do some of our shopping, weekly, at a Supermarket not very far from us and known as ' Chandarana,  FOOD PLUS' with the rider, as part of their name, adding '....more than just food!'      I like this, for it correctly makes food to take a back seat when it comes to the MORE that lies beyond the food.      And this is also so true of  Christmas.      Christmas can include the idea of exceptional FOOD, but it is NOT about JUST food.     There is MUCH MORE to Christmas than turkey and tinsel, Father Christmas, and fairy lights.

CHRISTMAS is the Commemoration of the Birth of JESUS CHRIST, the MESSIAH, the Promised one of God,  Who came from Heaven to Save us from ourselves, and show us the Way to GOD.      The early Christian Church did not officially institute this until 332 A.D. when they declared 25th December a FEAST day,  the Birthday of Christ.       BEFORE that there is no record of it being especially observed at any particular time, or day in the calender.     BUT, surely His Birth IS recorded in Scripture, and in detail, and there can be no doubt that those Who believed in Him, would have remembered about His Birth in Bethlehem.     It would have meant then, as it should now,  so much MORE than knowing, exactly,  which day it truly was.      In the Fulness of TIME, at the right time in history and time, GOD put Christ into the World, to SAVE it; all those who live on and in it.     All those who would trust in Him and commit their lives to Him.     He was born in Bethlehem of Judea in Israel at the time of the Census of the Roman Emperor Augustus.    It was the BEGINNING of God's Plan to bring all men to Himself.   It was the  Beginning of a NEW Age and Era; an age worse than any that had gone before, worse than that of Noah, when God looked down and 'saw that wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that the imagination of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually;  the earth was currupt before God, and filled with violence, for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. (Genesis 6v5-13)  And God said, I will destroy them with the earth.

JESUS Himself commented on this Age that we live in, and said ' it will get worse, and worse.'  He said that if He, Himself, did not return quickly he would find none alive.     All the world is in upheaval.    War, revolution, civil strife engulfs our world.   The very earth erupts more and more, as our climate changes, and nature is turned upon itself.   the FEAR of an end  of all things, GRIPS the people everywhere, and the world seems without leadership, unstable, unsettled, whilst the ROAR of the nations gathers more and more in anxious apprehension..........   Is there HOPE for the world?     ONLY if the One whose Birth we remember at Christmas, comes back to SAVE us.    BUT the world REJECTED Him ------will they RECEIVE HIM today,  this Christmas time

OR will we all be found looking to our own self-centered enjoyment as we take advantage from a Day provided for us to Remember GOD's LOVE to us, stick our heads in the sand, and pretend all is well with us?

Here in Testimony Faith Homes, and School we love Christmas.    It is a Family time, and we ever hope to see family members visiting, and reconnecting relationships at home with us all.   I time of reaching out to each other,     A time also of reaching out to others, not members of the family, alone, uncared for, unloved.     A time of peaceful happiness and security ......ALL of this drawing our thoughts and hearts to GOD, who sent Jesus to SHOW us what Family  IS, and how those without family can be loved IN to our own home and family, just as God sent Jesus to bring us back in our own original Family, into its Warmth, its Strength, its Confidence without divisions of any kind.

This year the School Holiday will be short - just ten days.

We will see decorations, even a Tree, appear in our four homes.    Christmas Cards will shine out again, saved from years before,    Each day nearer to THE day, joyful excitement among the children grow, until on Christmas Eve we all come together, as usual, in front of Testimony House, our first family home,  to sing carols, share our thoughts about the Night, and to partake of a hot drink,  and a bun, all under a night sky glittering with millions of stars.      Suddenly we will all find ourselves, old and young, together, conscious of the Night, this Holy Night, that was so long ago the moment the Saviour of us all, was BORN, with the Shout of the Angel, and the Praises of the Angelic Host, and the proclamation to the World.

JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME!

Let Earth receive her King;

let every heart prepare Him room,

and Heaven and Nature, SING!

THIS is the FOCUS of our thoughts as Christmas nears once more.

The World may be staggering in its course, and Nature trembling on the brink - look to God, in Jesus Name, to COME more clearly and really into our lives, to steady us, to make us ready, to ensure our faces reflect no fear or terror but only our confident, and assured, JOYFULNESS that God  is with us. And, that if He IS with us, then who, and what, have we to FEAR.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

OUR WALL, ALL 23 METERS OF IT, REBUILT

It is now stronger, and better, with new metal strengthened posts

every two meters.   Still a little to clear up but otherwise perfect.

This week we have had the first member of our BIG family, visiting for Christmas, though he may not actually be here to Celebrate, as he has to return to the U.S.A. where he will continue to now minister God's Word, having successfully completed his Doctorate.     This is our dear son in Jesus, the Reverend Doctor Sammy Kirui.   It has been real delight to have him stay with us in Green Cottage; very happy fellowship indeed.    Sam was last with us FIVE years back, and has been in the U.S.A. for about 15 years, but he has always kept in touch, and is very close to us all.      He also surprised us with a Love Gift for the Family - provision for ALL, for the next two weeks, and at a time when all our cupboards were bare!!     God is so loving, and loves to see family loving each other.   Thank you Sam,  you are ever an inspiration and encouragement.

Sam also to too us all out to  lunch this week, something we usually cannot do, and we enjoyed a change of scene, and really good fellowship.   In the photo, right to left can be seen Daryl Green, Eunice Lahol, Senge Yego, Esther Green, Alice Muli, Hesketh Muli, Mica Yego, Pastor Mike Kyalo, and Jacinta Kyalo, Sammy, and Me.

Right now the weather here is good,   Much blue sky, and warm sunshine, tempered with a cool breeze and occassional cloud and showers, mainly in the evenings.     The School has just concluded a brief half term break, and are are now back until 23rd December, when they will have TEN days holiday before commencing 2022 on 3rd January.

TODAY  we had news of further Love from friends and family in the UK via AENON Trust.   We had the news at Breakfast, with Daryl, and we once more found ourselves rejoicing, as our waiting was rewarded by the outpouring of LOVE for  us all.     Truly our hearts were warmed and comforted in knowing how many there are together with us, and with the children.    Thank you and Bless you all.

ALSO today we have heard that what is being called the Botswana strain of C.19 is making itself felt in Europe, and that the U.K has put South Africa, Botswana and other nearby States on their RED list.    So far Kenya remains OFF - but for how long we do not know.      We are wondering now if Steven will be still feel able to risk coming out to us in December - that is if he will not in any case be prevented.

UPDATE on KENYA c.19  Cases as on 25th November

New Cases 46        Newly Tested 4,913    R. 0.9%

Total Tested   2,816,173

Total Positive   254,862

Total Recov      248,070

Total Deaths         5,333

 The Government  is also  trying to make it compulsory for everyone travelling from one County to the other, within Kenya, to be Vaccinated.      MASKS continue to be word in public places.

The LORD or God be with you all.

With our united Love in Him, as we pray with and for you all daily.

John, Esther, Daryl, and all our co workers, and the children here in Testimony Homes.

ON THE 7TH AUGUST THIS YEAR I wrote about A LEANING WALL.

We had wanted to bring it down BEFORE it fell, but were unable to avoid paying a heavy License to the County Council.    The Bye Law says that we cannot erect any structure, even a temporary one, and even if it is to assist us repair our own wall, at our own expense, if the said structure stands on  County land.     We had no choice but to hang on.

Days and month went by and the Wall,  continued to lean, progressively outwards.

THIS SATURDAY, it FELL.     23 meters of it.    It  collapsed totally, the whole span of it at once - and with a THUD that shook Green Cottage.

Fortunately it did not reach the road, and more fortunately, no one was walking by, on the grass verge.

We are already on the way to clearing the area, and have already built a Screen to protect our back yard (now exposed to all and sundry).      We have built the screen on our land, inside of the fallen wall.  The length of wall fallen stretches as I said above some twenty three meters, from the back of our house right up to the Director's Officer.

The Wall was build in 1987, just 34 years ago.    We hope that the rebuild will last much longer.  At least we trust the builders will make sure it will stand, and not just do a quick job without honour or care.

The original builder did not ensure the footing, or foundation, of the wall was properly laid.    It is  of the utmost importance that our foundations are strong, and well founded.     The Bible tells, for example, that there is only ONE foundation for any one person to build his or her life upon.     That Foundation is JESUS.    If HE is in your heart and mind, you will NEVER fall.      There is a cost!

There is a COST to everything.      A cost to stay on course, and apply oneself to keeping ones integrity.  Not a very popular occupation, since 'integrity' is best noticed under stress and challenge.    One cannot but wonder how many Heads of State, and Government, attending the Glasgow Summit will keep their integrity, or even if any of them possess it.      We are told the World will DIE if WE do not DO something.     IT is a life and death issue.      But look at the Coal issue for example, and the Brazilian Rain Forest.      Some states have determined to do nothing NOW, but have hinted they 'might' do something by 2050 or even '70.      Perhaps by then they are hoping to have gone on a trip to Mars or the Moon and thus escape what the rest of us will be enduring by then - IF the planet can even support us by  then.     Their REASONS for doing nothing, are purely economic;     They cannot do without COAL in their Country, without a major inconvenience, and a very expensive one, that will cause everyone in their Country to suffer.     Well, surely, we will ALL suffer - even if we all together DO something - the Answer WILL cost us all, born and unborn.      After all whose fault is it that the Planet has been ruined and exploited?    It is surely the fault of ADAM, the Race that was handed the Responsibility of CARING and TENDING this 'Garden' of Earth.       Man has ever been SELFISH.

The Brazilian President, seeking his own comfort and esteem has 'promised' to stop cutting the Forest down by 2030  -    BUT how much of it will be left BY THEN?       HE is no better than NERO playing his lyre as ROME burned in front of him.     It is a sad and bitter thing to be alive in these days.

It may be the World IS dying.     What then?    The Judgement.     So many times Man has kidded himself that he can do anything......HE. like the devil of old, wants to run things on his own.   But did Man make the Earth on which he stands?   Does he now control its very stability as it circles the Sun, spinning on its own axis?      And will he, CAN he, really put himself out to GO WITHOUT his own comfort to  even TRY to restore and heal what he himself has brought to such a pass?

AND will the CREATOR wink at THIS for ever.?

And if not then maybe NOTHING can be done, and we will all face the music.

 

GOD Bless, Strength, and comfort you all, and help you through all the storm and typhoons of life that Satan my have permission to throw at you - Remember, 'he' is not allowed to touch the lives of those who have God in their heart, and God will not expose us to satan's vileness without knowing us, and that we will keep our integrity, as Job did.     We are trusted, and believed in.    And the King of Life walks with us, and will always deliver us.       WE are all well, and thankful to be alive in the world at this time and in this age.     Our love to you all always.

John Esther and Daryl Green, and all here in Testimony Faith Homes and School