those who are alive at His Coming will not stop those who are ASLEEP!

HERE WE ARE AGAIN in a photo taken by Ian Hogley during their recent visit.    My dear Esther does not show her 73 years, but my almost 77 years begin to be 'felt' at last.    But God has blessed us together, and given us happiness together.      We truly Thank our Lord Jesus, and our Father in Heaven for keeping us well and strong all these years - not a small miracle when you think about it.

AND HERE WE ARE YET AGAIN - this time with our son DARYL.    As you may remember Daryl was invited to be the one to take over from me as Director of Testimony Faith Homes & School. This is his THIRD year in office.      Daryl is a good business man and administrator.   He is not perfect of course.   He also has a mind of his own, and full of good intentions based on his own innovative ideas.      NOT EASY for him, still, as he is sitting in my shadow.  Rather like Prince Charles and his great, great grandfather Edward V1th waiting to be really FREE to Reign for themselves.     And of course it may be a step worse for us since I am no longer 'king' but still hang around to make comments about the NEW Reign!  Neither of us always agree on how something should be done, but so far God has helped him - and me - and I believe that he will finally make the most of his opportunity in front of God.      He is a hard worker,  and has already been used of God to overcome difficulties we have had with Government and the Inland Revenue, and even in Banking.     What of his spiritual life?     Daryl continues to testify that Jesus is his Lord and Saviour.     He still fights the devil in his life.    Pray for him, and believe, with us, for him, and for his sanctification.     He will be 45 this year.      He has made mistakes in living his life, and is over conscious of those mistakes, as much as he often feels mistrusted in, and often judged, in the here and now.   BUT he needs encouragement.       I have not always helped him in this, being too demanding, and often unwilling to suffer change.     You need to pray for me too!     But he has a free hand under our Board of Management, and  without any sign of censure.       He is the 'New Man' in an old ministry - There is bound to be differences and changes in the way he Leads and Manages.      As long as JESUS is allowed to remain LORD and MASTER, all will be well, and Vision will be renewed and expanded.

Some whose name and testimony have been with us many decades are now passing on.   To the left is a photo of our dear friend Ann Lipson, for many years a supporter and Team Member of IcFem in Kimillili, and before that an enthusiastic and well used Physics Teacher in many of our Schools, not least at Lugulu           Girls High School, and in addition a well known evangelist and generous friend to many.       Ann and ourselves, although at some distance from each other,  met quite often.    We visiting her last School to preach and fellowship, and she visiting us in Testimony.     An amazing and very committed sister in Jesus she will be greatly missed by all who had to the good fortune to know her.      She was about 78 - a year or so older than myself.      She, as myself, had problems with her teeth.  Both our dentists said it was due to lack of calcium (probably being in need of milk) during the War years in which we were both growing up.    I lady I shall always admire and remember with Thankfulness.

TO THE RIGHT is a photo of The Rev. Dr. Henry Joseph, founder of Marinatha Ministries in Chennai, India.    Dr. Joseph studied in I.B.T.I., my old Bible College in Sussex, England a year before I arrived in 1966.      A man of Faith and Vision he founded a pentecostal ministry that raised churches, bible schools and orphanages throughout India.    A man of great strength and
christian character.
He is grandfather to Prem Joseph, our daughter Elisabeth' husband. We were blessed to meet up with him when we attended Lizzy's Wedding in 2000.     Already quite elderly and still missing his wife who had recently passed on, Dr Joseph was still full of energy and ministry.    A man who stood up for Jesus to the very end of his life on earth.
He will be missed among all his peers, as a true pioneer and champion of the gospel.    News of his Promotion to Glory has come to us just as I was writing the Blog.      Our sincere love and Prayers go out to all the family and all the many friends and associates who will be mourning his demise.

TWO WEEKS (approximately) BEFORE PASSOVER,   a Man called Lazarus, friends of Jesus, together with his sisters Mary and Martha, DIED.     The Gospel of JOHN 11-12.

And Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick - v2.
He was not far away when He heard; about 40 kilometers, BUT He made no attempt to get up from where he was and go to his friend, Lazarus.      He said, probably in a hastily written note sent by a runner to the family home in Bethany -

'This sickness is not unto DEATH, but that the Son of God

might be glorified.'

And He remained where He was for TWO more days.    He was just about two weeks from His Crucifixion - two weeks away from His Own Death.

He said to His disciples, after he had sent the note -

'Our friend, Lazarus, sleeps!

But I go that I may wake him up.

And His disciples replied immediately say 'Lord, if he sleeps then he does well!'

JESUS realising that they had not fully understood what He had meant, told them clearly, saying

'LAZARUS IS DEAD!

and I am glad, for your sakes, that I was not there, in order that

you might believe!'

MARY BELIEVED -but she had SEEN her brother DIE and be BURIED.\

Jesus said to her - ' Your brother shall rise again!

But Mary pointed out that he had been FOUR days in the tomb, and was already decomposing.

JESUS said to her  ' I AM the Resurrection and the Life.    He / or she / that believeth in ME, though he were dead - yet shall her LIVE.'

Mary and Martha went with Jesus to the TOMB.

The STONE was still in place, covering the entrance.   'ROLL THE STONE AWAY' says Jesus.

Then, as one and other went to move the stone, Jesus shouted out ' LAZARUS!  COME OUT!'

And, almost immediately, there Lazarus was, at the opening of the cave, and still bound up in his grave clothes, and a cloth tie around his face.

HE WAS ALIVE and well a week later, when Jesus spent the night in his home, and had supper with him before going up to Jerusalem, and the waiting Cross.  - 12v1     Tradition tells us that he lived another 30 years before dying in the Island of Cyprus where, it is said, he was by then Bishop of Larnaca.   BUT, although Jesus WOKE HIM UP from sleep, he did not rise up GLORIFIED, and with a new sin free body.  Lazarus had to finish his pointed sleep, and be finally woken up on the Last Day.

THE JEWS, even some of those where were weeping at the tomb, wanted to KILL him!!  12v10

They wanted to KILL Jesus even more.

The morning after the Feast at Lararus' home, Jesus found Himself sat on a donkey travelling slowly up to Jerusalem.    It was only about SIX days now to the Passover.   The Lamb of God was soon to be offered up for the sin of the world.     

ON THE WAY, two Greeks, tried to be introduced to Jesus, but He said to them nothing.   INSTEAD

He spoke to all those that thronged excitedly around Him, shouting and singing -

HOSANNA!

Blessed is the King of Israel

that cometh in the Name of the Lord.

He said to THEM -

'If any an serve Me, let him follow Me,

And wherever I am there shall also my servant be.

If any man serve Me him will my Father honour.

THEN, more quietly, He continued..

NOW IS MY SOUL TROUBLED.

And what shall I say?

Father!   Save me from this hour -

BUT for this reason I have come to this hour!

NOW is the judgement of this world;

NOW shall the Prince of this World be cast out.

AND I, IF I BE LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH,

will draw all men to Me.

BUT - THOUGH HE HAD DONE SO MAN MIRACLES.

yet they believe Him NOT

and changed their minds about Him

DENYING THEY HAD ANY KING BUT CAESAR

and crying out for the one they HAD proclaimed as King of Israel

TO BE CRUCIFIED!

DAY SUCCEEDS DAY

YOU HAVE SEEN THIS GROUP BEFORE!    A photo taken in front of Testimony House during December 2015.     These are Secondary and College boys plus some now waiting to find

Employment - all 18 and above, drawn from the original Family that occupied Testimony House, and from the other three Homes.     You will remember that we were forced to do this due to the latest Government Rules and Regulations for Charitable Homes which have now made it impossible to operate as we did.    Originally our idea was to take totally orphaned and destitute kids and give them, as near as we could, what they had been deprived - a home and family.    Each of our FOUR homes were commenced with this in mind - a married couple and their own children plus a group of 30 other children living together as one family under one roof.    We take children in from 0 - 10 and our idea was to see them through School and College, and then assist the to find a job before letting them go - regardless as to how old they might become.    In this photo Hesketh Muli is on the extreme left and his wife Alice on the far right.   Both had decided to stay on after the Family at Testimony had been re-distributed among the other Homes.    They became the first Wardens of what was now Testimony Boys Hostel.     However, it was not the same, and especially Alice missed the children.

TO THE LEFT above is a photo of the original Testimony House Family taken in front of their porch.It was not easy even for the children to be re-distributed to the other Homes and have to adjust to new Parents, and a new family group altogether. AND in August last year we had to do the same for the girls in the Homes who had become 18 and over.     For them we converted part of Old Jacaranda into a Hostel just for them, Employing a single woman as Warden.  Only TEN there currently, but it will take up to 20.     In a way they have all been able to adjust to the different situation, but it is not really the same - they are no longer at home.  

THIS MONTH it was decided to look for a WARDEN (a single man) to take over the Boy's Hostel.  We had done this for the Girls, and it has worked quite well.     THEN we will re-deploy Hesketh and Alice who will be coming in on a daily basis, and no longer be resident.  Hesketh will now be watching over the Wear and Tear and general needs of the the BUILDINGS, both of all the Homes, AND the School.     Alice, who is a trained Nursery Teacher is to now assist in caring for those students with a Learning Difficulty .    They are both very happy with this arrangement.  WE are also very glad since we had not wanted to lose them from our staff; they have given us many very good and appreciated years of service.   

Above is a photo of our younger children - all very happy to receive some slippers, for use in the houses and just running around.    This was a welcome and thoughtful donation from a local well wisher;.      God, we think, really does choose who He asks to help us.    The majority in England all send to us via AENON Trust, and the good offices of our dear brother in Christ, Allan Nicholls.    Apart from them, very few indeed involve themselves with us.     Only three from overseas, and only a handful - mainly Asians - from here in Kenya.     In all the world - in any one year - few than 50 souls are moved to take care of our needs as they are moved by God.     The fact that every years sees us provided for is no small Miracle.

HERE is photo of Francis Kulali, and his dear wife plus child - he has others as well!    Francis came to be with us many years ago.     He gave his life to Jesus early in his childhood, but did not shine academically in School.    We sent him to a small, boarding, polytechnic about 40 kilometres away.   They concentrated on training students in simple but needed skills and crafts - they are still there today doing the same.    Francis went for Shoe-making, and did well.   Well enough to make a living for himself making and mending shoes.     Now he is Church caretaker in the Town here, married with a family, and for all the many times of personal challenge and needs, he has clung to Christ, and lived an upright life.    We see him AND all his family from time to time, and we always feel especially blessed not to be forgotten ourselves.

TODAY IS A BUSY DAY for TFH.       The School is holding its Annual Parents & Teachers Meeting in the School Hall, and it will be packed to the walls.    Always well patronised, and always constructive and supportive, in that our parents especially have maintained good faith in our concept of School, and in our attention to morals and discipline.       We Thank the Lord our God for assisting us to holding on to His Word in all we do, and for putting Him first, giving us goodwill even from among many who do not hold our Faith.

ALSO today, The School is holding a Swimming Gala at the Pool, hosting between three and four 

competing Teams from different local schools.     Rather noisy and crowded!    But great fun and

excitement for all.   -   the weather ? -  HOT, humid, but a bit cloudy.   No sign of rain yet - or water of any kind!!
LAST night the 1st Quarterly Board of Management Meeting was held here.    It was the Meeting that also has to listen to our Auditor present the previous Year's Accounts.     All seemed satisfactory, and we had a good time of fellowship with our Members - 11 out of 14 attended.    Minutes or all our Meetings, copies of all Audits, and other matters have also to be copied and sent to the Government in Nairobi.    This week we also have to send our Annual Returns to Nairobi.   An eleven page Form; very tedious.

Our Love and Prayers in Jesus Name to each and every one.    God richly Bless you.

John, Esther and Daryl Green

GRAND CHILDREN

THIS IS OUR YOUNGEST GRANDSON - Liam - son of Michael and Janet Green.   Liam was three last year, on 28th June.    Looks a real lad!     His parents are kept busy making sure he keeps out of mischief at home.     Handsome guy!    The hat gives him a certain character between that of an American gangster and Frank Sinatra - hmm.       Can't be Mike that it all stems from, for he is such a quiet and unassuming person - must be his Mother our pretty daughter in law - pretty AND very mischievous person.     Well we have envied them both as they have watched him grow and develop into a real boy and personality.   And he looks a real 'winner', full of beans, and brain as well we hope.     We have not seen him in the flesh for over a year.     Well we do not get to SEE many of our grandchildren!  But last year we had the joy of having our eldest Granddaughter, Tonia who came to visit for a while last year with Steven Green, her Dad!   Tonia will soon be entering University.      We also hope, perhaps later this year, to may be have our Eldest Grandson, Eric, Tonia's brother to also visit.     We are proud of them both, and our only regret is, that due to the distance we are apart, and our own rare visits to the UK, we have not been able to be as close to them as we would have wanted.      Both kids to be proud of, and we thank God for them.      Rachel and John-finney Joseph, our daughter Elizabeth. and Prem Joseph's children we are also missing.    Liz was able to visit for a week last year which was a special joy, but she was unable to take the children out of School to come with her.     Nevertheless we rejoice to know that God has watched, and watches over all of them - sons. daughters, children and grandchildren.      We give all the Thanks to Jesus.

Perhaps a little unfairly (for the rest) we have been able to see our son Daryl, and Carols children grow up right here with us since they were born.   Jessy, now in College in Nairobi pursuing a Course in Engineering,  Becky just finishing her 1V Form in Secondary School this year, and Jeremy in his 8th Primary Year.     Certainly a little compensation for being so far from the rest of our children.

AND just this week our youngest granddaughter, Abigail became THREE years old on the 17th March.   She and her Mum, our daughter Helen, are living in Nairobi now, but we do get to see them during School Holidays.    Hope to see them both again soon for the Easter Holiday soon coming.    Abigail has grown a lot and learnt a lot since they moved away to Nairobi, and we are relieved to see that God has His hand on her, and on Helen also.

I must leave you all here.    I have been very busy and occupied through the week, and also a having a little problem with my tummy.    Caused me to be a little fatigued by today, and I had in fact felt like not purring anything on the Blog this week - But then I couldn't resist the thought of sharing my love for our grandchildren.    

At last I have been able to send the Year's 1st UPDATE - some will have it already via E-mail and others will have to wait it to arrive by Airmail sometime next week.     I have enclosed a little Note for those who may have been helping us financially via Aenon Trust through the last few months.   I do wish we could share the BLOG as well more frequently.

God Bless and Keep you all well and safe in the Name of Jesus.

John, Esther and Daryl Green

WHILE WE BUILD, MANKIND DEPRECIATES.

ELDORET NOW as seen from the top of our tallest Building pictured separately below.   The main photo looks down upon the main Uganda/Nairobi road which cuts right through the centre of Town, with Mount Elgon on the horizon marking the Uganda boundary.    

And this is a view of Aloo Street close to the Town Centre taken on a rather wet and cool day.

Eldoret is a a growing city.    It is a City of contrasts; of huge new buildings and development, And it is also cheek by jowl with squalor, litter, and dirt.    It is a City of the rich and well to-do, and a City of poverty and sprawling slums.      And it is a City full of entertainment and temptation for both the adult and the youth.       Sex, Booze, and Drugs are readily available throughout society, and Crime also is on the increase.        This week, YESTERDAY in fact I was IN the Town doing some shopping with Daryl.    We were actually driving down this street from the top ( it is now a one way street with traffic restricted)    As we we came to the bottom we found a young man,  almost in the middle of the road kneeling on his knees and apparently praying!   I pointed him out to Daryl, and he said "Oh he is one of the new druggies.....he wants to be sick'.        THEN today I saw these photos of youths on British streets  -

 

The Report that went with these photos begins with 'RISE OF THE ZOMBIES  -   'Spice' turns users into the 'living dead' in MINUTES, and is ruining lives across Britain.'      Reportedly 'Spice' is a generic term for various mixtures of herbs and potent chemicals.    Until last May 'Spice' was openly on sale in Britain as a so called 'legal high'.    A powerful new strain has now emerged that produces a terrifying 'Zombie Effect'.        The photos above were taken in Manchester City Square and in the Piccadilly Gardens.     Not far from where my grandchildren are living and schooling.     As we wait to be visited and possibly invaded by Aliens, it seems we may have been taken over by them already!  

Remembering the sight of this young Kenyan kneeling in the middle of the road, yesterday, I am filled with a terrible foreboding of what is now facing the African Continent, as it, with all other Third World populations, continues to ape the corruptions of the West.        WHAT HAS GOT into people that they can SEE what is happening to the human race without horror and abject fear of where we are all being taken?       I was interest today to also read that an American Professor in Sociology has also noticed the rising interest in ZOMBIES.    Citing the increase in books, films and other social behaviour that has to do with Zombies, he suggests that it may have something to do with a general discontent with society  -  a kind of involuntary cry of hopeless distress at one's personal situation.      People whose condition makes them feel DEAD, even when alive.      Well, I suppose there may be a link.     Certainly the young man in the centre of the THREE photos above provides a quite pitiable and distressing picture of being yet alive, though dead;   of being dead, yet having to drag yourself around in a semblance of life.

============================== 

To finish off on a more beautiful note - a glimpse of some Hibiscus to bring us back to purity and Joy. The Fresh Wind of God is rushing around our compound right now, bending the boughs of the trees, hissing and rustling through a host of leaves, as it blows the azure sky quite clear of every cloud, the sun meanwhile bathing everything in the golden light of gladness.      Our Prayers and Love for you all in Jesus.     I have brought depressing thoughts today - but I have not meant to depress but to enliven us all to be aware of the Attack the World in in the thick of.    A War only Christ in us can WIN,  and Win we Will by His Grace and in His Day.     And though wickedness and Darkness in the proper use of these words press in upon us, YET let us be strengthened and encouraged by the Beauty of Holiness to be noticed in a single flour and PRESS ON toward Perfection.

John. Esther, and Daryl Green

LOVE ONEANOTHER AS MEMBERS OF ONE FAMILY

HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAMILY, on my wife's side.   Not Greens but KIBEs.  The Family I married into, and who welcomed and accepted me into their circle without a question and with an open heart in 1971.     The lady on the far right is Elizabeth Mugure.  She is our niece, the daughter of Mary and Joe Kibe,  Esthers sister and brother in law.    Her husband is Paul Waweru, with his arm around her. and right in front centre is GABRIEL their first born (now about ten months old) great nephew to me and Esther.     They married in October 2015.    They have just spent a few days with us, and it was great to have them with us.    Liz has a sister,  Catherine,  and two brothers, Tony and Martin, all married with families.    Over the years we have seen a fair bit of each other, and our own family kind of grew up close to each other, and are still very connected and 'family' together.    I have appreciated them all, and Thank God for them all as an 'only child' who grew up practically alone.

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The photo on the next page was taken the day of the Paul and Liz departure back to Nairobi, yesterday morning.     I was out when it was taken, but quite a number gathered to see them off -  On the far left is Esther, then Eunice Lahol (Mum in Drakeley Cottage;  THEN Alice Muli (who has been Mum in Testimony House / Hostel; then Catherine,/Senge/ Yego (Mum in Tyndale Cottage - then Liz.  THEN, Hesketh Muli, Joel Edaria our General Secretary, and Solmon Njugunah, holding Gabriel,  one of our old boys now working in our General Office.      I arrived back as they were leaving!

Such a good time, and, God Willing, we hope to see many more like them as the days go by with Martin and his family expected first, during April, perhaps for Easter.     We are indeed blessed.   AND I am also hoping we shall see something of our daughter Helen, (Tweetie-pie) and baby Abigail.    Abby (right) will soon be THREE this month, and is already enjoying Nursery School, and growing fast.

In 2012 we began caring for poultry and also commenced a project for Layers.     However, it lapsed after a few years.      Last Year, 2016 we restocked potential layers, and this month they began to lay eggs!      We have approximately 300 layers coming on, and it so good to have our own fresh eggs.once again.



Additionally our Broiler Project continues to produce meat for the children, and also enough to also sell.    About 400 every 6/7 weeks, and without any artificial inducements to make them ready to sell at the end of period.    The brown hens are the broilers.   We usually have then in TWO compartments but one is being revamped while the photo was taken.     They will soon be back to their normal less crowded condition.

THIS WEEK we also took delivery of THREE Silos as a result of having the demonstration and presentation mentioned in the Blog of 18th February.    We ordered them expecting to pay the full cost, but have been lovingly advised by the makers that they are to be given to us as a GIFT.    A truly amazing provision, and will help so much in allowing us to buy and store maize to our advantage.

The Lord has continued to provide water through the week!
We have even had  few heavy thunderstorms, but the river and the dams are still parched!!   And we still have March, and possibly April to go before we can expect the real RAIN to arrive.  It is by His Grace that we do not suffer the more.     The sun is shining, and temperature in the upper 70fs, and likely to get to the mid 80fs before tea time.    WE REJOICE IN HIM.     We believe you will be trusting in Him also though this week.    Writing to the Christians in Ephesus and Colossae, Paul assures them of his prayers for them - that out of the rich treasury of His Glory, they may be strengthened in he inner man by the Holy Spirit Himself, as He indwells their innermost being and personality   -   that they may be 'invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His Glory, and to exercise every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with JOY.'    This is a quote from the Amplified Bible.     We are trying also to bring these matters into our own prayers for you, and ask you to pray for us similarly - that we might all prosper and GROW in the Faith.

With our Love always in Him,

John, Esther and Daryl Green

EVERLASTING FRIENDS

HERE WE ARE AGAIN!    Diana Hogley / Esther, Me / Ian Hogley!   Here just for a week this year, but friends that go back to the time of our Marriage in 1971.    Ian was then teaching Maths Maseno National School, and I was still yet a singe man working with Trinity Fellowship, also in Maseno.      We have always been close ever since, and more recently we have had them visiting annually here in Eldoret.     To us they are as much family as any one, and we always appreciate their visits, and the knowledge of their constant presence and thought in our lives.    A 'constant' and consistant factor in our lives.       They also are good friends of Joshua and Miriam Mbithi, and visit them also when with us here.      Perhaps because of this double association the Lord has put needy children upon their heart too, and they have become deeply involved in a Children's Home in Nakuru, in which they also had a big hand in helping begin, and also in encouraging and assisting every since. In visiting Kenya they always have it in mind to visit all three of their interests, encouraging us all, and fueling their own prayers for ourselves and the children with us - quite a ministry.      And this year was the best, and we are missing them the most.
Opposite is a small photo of Ian driving an Earth shifter on Ground breaking day, when we STARTED preparation for the building of the NEW Jacaranda Cottage in 2014.   It was great to have him with us to join in the excitement of that very Special Day

RIGHT NOW, as am typing, the sky is blue and also cloudy.    Last night we had a downpour of rain!! And probably it might rain again tonight.     Suddenly VERY unpredictable weather again in the midst of an otherwise VERY DRY spell.     But certainly welcome.    After all we have been praying for RAIN, and it true JOY to see some.       It has been very windy still, through the week, and on one occassion a big branch from a nearby tree fell and made a tear in the far end of the Greenhouse.  It was fortunately not a big tear, and will soon be repaired..........And the temperature has continued to be up and down - say from 70 - 80f most days.    Nights have also been quite hot.

ON SUNDAY EVENING, having sent out the Blog on Saturday, we received a visit from a Pastor and TEN members of his Church, who had all together felt they should come to encourage us - the entire church had felt, in prayer, that Testimony was in need, and they put together a pick-up full of provisions for us, and brought them down to us - together with a generous CASH gift.    It was a miracle !!!

On MONDAY Daryl took Dan Ndungu to Nairobi for further medical review of his condition.  He had to attend a private hospital due the the ongoing doctor's strike within all government hospitals.   Micah Yego,  Dan''s houseparent accompanied them.    They left about 3am and arrived at the Hospital about 8a.m. The result of this latest Consultancy, and an array of further Tests, revealed that the hole in Dan's heart was between TWO and not all four of his heart's compartments, as we had previously been told.     ONE of these seemed to be in the process of healing itself!!     The other was considered closeable with surgery. This was AMAZING, and confirmed and encouraged our own faith that Jesus would intervene and HEAL.    Dan's next visit to Nairobi will be in three months time. Meanwhile he will continue prescribed drugs.     Thank YOU ALL for praying with us.     They all arrived home on Monday night about eleven p.m.

The electric power had been off all day.

THROUGH THIS WEEK we have been searching for a new WARDEN for Testimony Boys Hostel, and  also welcoming a new WARDENESS for the Girls Hostel.       Rosemary felt she could not cope with the work load after the first six months, and so we had been praying for a replacement.    A sister in the Lord has now come forward and has already stepped in to replace.    Her name is Gladys, and she seems to be already well accepted by the Girls.          With Testimony House we have not yet been so lucky, but in any case Hesketh and Alice Muli are still there.      Alice has not felt very comfortable trying to be a mother to 35 big boys and adults.      It has not been her forte, and this has left Hesketh holding the daily fort.     It is not that the Boys have been difficult to handle, but many of them have not grown up with her, and she has felt it difficult to have a mother' heart for them.      Hesketh and I had a long talk about it some weeks ago now, and so we decided to try and re-tool them and bring in a SINGLE man as Warden.        Hesketh will now be the Staff Coordinator for the Homes  School, whilst Alice will become responsible for teaching challenged children in the Nursery and also in other classes.    She holds a teaching diploma.    They have both seemed content and happy with this new arrangement.      BUT so far, two candidates for the position of Warden have had to be rejected. We have about three others to see as the weeks ahead goes by, but no urgency until the end of March. We are looking for a single man of approximately.   We are looking for a singly man of about 40 years, and Born Again, and able to handle a mixed group of Boy aged between 18 and twenty five - our Boys group is over 35 in number.
Not an easy task to be a father to such a group.   Hesketh has done well, and gained their respect as well.     The Lord knows, and we know you will be praying for us in this matter as well now.
THIS WEEK has also been our School HALF TERM.   It will finish as on Monday evening, and then they will all be back again. The Years seems to be gaining SPEED day by day!!

Esther and I have been keeping quite well,     We both seem to tire more easily that we did, and the days seem shorter!     I personally have felt quite weary by about four in the afternoon, but we both think the weather has something to do with it, as neither of us enjoy the hot weather too much.   And we ARE both quite busy, and we are definately older than we were.       But we are glad to be here, and alive.    Father assures our hearts and strengthens our resolve.        The week has SPED by and tomorrow is His Day once more. May God Bless you, and make you rejoice in and for us as we do for you.    

Lovingly in Him, and by His Grace.

John, Esther and Daryl Green

KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY!

• 

THIS IS A PERSONALIZED GRAIN SILO for the storage of MAIZE, in particular, but also for BEANS, and even other grains.
The one you see here, presented by Paul Whiteman, who is actually making these silos at Open Arms International here, close to Eldoret. This one shown in the photo measures 72cm x 173 cm with a storage capacity of 525kgs or 5,75 sacks.. However, these Silos can be made to measure, according to the need, and are specially designed to be a money saver to families or small farms.
They are made from stainless steel and would normally stand either on a cement or timber plinth about a foot from the ground. Grain is poured in from the top, the outlet at the bottom being closed.
Once the grain has reached almost to the top a small candle is placed ALIGHT at the entry port which is then CLOSED and sealed with a rubber seal.   The candle will burn safely inside the closed silo until ALL oxygen has been consumed, when the flame will extinguish, and no weevil or other pest will be able to live.      However it is recommended that no grain is withdrawn for consumption for TWO weeks, to allow all grain to have been made rid of all life.
After two weeks, grain can be removed via the outlet at the bottom, and then resealed with the rubber sealant.          GRAIN should not be put into the Silo unless VERY dry  -    13 at most.     This should be carefully and exactly measured.  Mr. Whiteman had a gadget with him that measured moisture in grain.      This gadget can be obtained in Nairobi for 80,000/ but sells in USA for 22,000/- !!!   If you have maize measuring a moisture content of up to 13.6, then you must first (if the weather is sunny and warm) lay the grain out to dry for three more days.
WE have been suffering in trying to store gifts of maize safely.     We shall definitely now put these Silos to the test, and will start off with THREE for the Homes.     They will be larger that the one illustrated - with a capacity to take 20 sacks of maize each.    We know this innovation will pay itself off quickly, and continue to save us a great deal of money.

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THE WEEK HAS BEEN A BUSY ONE, and the weather, continuing to be quite hot and dry, has not helped us feel relieved from pressure.     On the other hand it HAS been beautiful weather and we have enjoyed it.     And we needed the brilliant sun and the glorious sky to lift up our spirits as days unfolded, and the cool breeze to calm us in the midst of sudden and unexpected issues.
On Monday we had Christian fellowship and a meal together in our little cottage with two friends. involved in Christian Education, Mark and Kathy Lessig.    It was very refreshing and challenging time.     Esther and I had been feeling for some time that we needed to come against the Enemy who we felt had been making inroads upon the ministry here in TFH.   The condition of Dan Ndungu with his hole in the heart has been on all our minds, and although he has managed to be up and at school we can see how wan and weary he has become.     On Monday NEXT week Daryl will be taking him to a Hospital in Nairobi specialising in heart problems in the hope of taking things further.   Much prayer going up for him.
But additionally we seem to be seeing more cases of Marijuana creeping into the School  and also petty theft, all involving some of our children in the Homes.      School books are now being taken from desks and sold in the town.    We think that the book selling is linked to the Marijuana as a means of purchasing more supplies.     Of course serious investigation is going on in order to try not only to discover those responsible and involved, but also to STOP it altogether.   A very worrying situation.      So far most of the children discovered are among the most academically clever, but also religiously disinterested.       We have begun to actually 'feel' an 'atmosphere' like a small depression hovering over the place.      Very disturbing.
As we fellow-shipped with our friends the Lord just seemed to be suddenly very present and giving us all an overwhelming Call to Arms.  

Sound the battle cry!

See, the foe is nigh;

Raise the standard high for the Lord.

Gird your armour on,

stand firm everyone

Rest your cause upon His Holy Word.

Redemption Hymnal 436

Please, all those of you who may also feel the drawing of the Holy Spirit, join us in prayer and intercession that we might overcome all the plans of the Enemy against the children and the Vision given to us.    

Our love and prayers to you all as always.      Indeed how our hearts go out to you!!

John, Esther, and Daryl Green