THIS IS TESTIMONY HOUSE, NEWLY PAINTED!!

(as at July 2018)

We have been using this house as a Hostel for Boys who are 18 and over in age.    It had originally been our original First Children's Home, where Esther and I lived and parented an average of 35 kids as a family, from 1972 to 1998.     Our own three biological children plus another four we adopted into our own blood family were all brought up together in the greater family.    It was, and still is in our memory, home - both to ourselves, and those who shared it with us over those years, and the Flagship of all we have endeavoured to do.

I HAVE PICTURED IT TODAY AS A STATEMENT!

a statement of our belief in home and family for children who need both.

Nothing has really changed with the Government Policies regarding to the basic need of children everywhere.

BUT WE SHALL CARRY ON, one way or another, to offer what we have, as we have always done, with respect to the laws of the land, but also without allowing children in need to unduly suffer destitution.

Brave Words, but said with God, and the Bible, in mind, and realising that to achieve this, (and at the same time be a Testimony and example against the need to totally eradicate the idea and Vision of Extended Family Care in the general pattern, and principle that we have proved viable and successful over almost half a century of practice),  we must walk hand in hand with HIM.       There will be further discussion with government, no doubt, and maybe we shall have to adjust some of what we still want to be seen in this ministry, but we believe the Lord will be with us, and will guide us all to finally achieve what is best for children in need.     After all not ALL children can or will be fostered or adopted.     We remain with a very real option.

THUS we have virtually positioned ourselves at a New Beginning, and with the Repainting and Redecoration of the FIRST Cottage Home we restate our faith in God to be behind us, and in His ability to keep what we commit to His Keeping.   But we are not issuing a Challenge; not throwing down the Gauntlet to the government.   We are just digging our heels in a bit in order to make sure the Government might see reason to keep the door to çhange' still open. and perhaps, as I have often said before, not be led to 'throw out the babies with the bath water.''

Our friends from Tyndale Christian School in South Australia have now left us, having spent a wet, and cold fifteen days helping to achieve the bulk of the repair and redecoration to Testimony House.  They repaired, and re-painted an interior of some eleven plus rooms that hadn't been touched for more than a decade.
In this they have truly identified yet again with our history, and our Vision, and shared our determination to press on regardless to bring this as an ongoing Gift and Help to our Kenyan society.We could not have done this at this time, without them.
I was personally a bit crippled by two kidney stones that decided to be on the move from my right kidney, and so did not see a lot of them, except from a distance.    But I never saw them still for a  moment, and there is no doubt they wore themselves out every day.     This time we feel their visit was in a sense very encouraging and supportive at a moment when we had been feeling rather low, and out on a limb.   We received so much by their just being here once again, with us.     We pray they were themselves able to receive a Blessing.    HERE is the 2018 Group Photo of them all:-

The photo was taken in the sitting room of Testimony House just after it had been repainted. All the furniture had been removed of course. Some of the group also spent time with Joshua and Miriam Mbithe at Neema Children's Home just a few kilometres away from us.

A BIG THANK YOU to all of them, and for their School Management and their parents for being so willing for them to come to us, and for also trusting us with their care and safety

.===============

 Our Daughter Elizabeth's son John-Finney, 16, plus Steve's children, Eric, 18 and Tonia, 19, all arrived to stay for about a fortnight, all together with Steven - although Steven was only with us for part of the time, as he had business to attend to in Nairobi.    They were with us from Sunday 8th till the 21st.   The Australian Team were also working with us about the same time.   The weather was foul, WET and COLD for the time of year.    Still, on the whole it was a worthwhile time for us all, though regretfully I myself was quite unwell for most of the days.  I had awoken on the 10th with severe pain in the right kidney area; I could barely move.    I had the pain before in 1980 and I was apprehensive.    On the 11th I saw my doctor, and after an ultra-sound it was discovered there were two small stones in the right kidney causing the pain.     Nothing to be done but to DRINK a lot, and suffer.     Fortunately after a day in bed the pains subsided progressively, but I had to be a bit careful how I moved.     I felt very under the weather.     By the time the family came to leave I was feeling much better and relieved - but no sign of any stones passing.     We had really looked forward to fellowship with our grandchildren whom we had not seen since 2011, and I felt quite miserable not to be myself, and rather disabled most of the days.       BUT they all seemed delighted to have been with us, and want to come again soon!!   

(photo - left to right - Esther, Tonia, Me, John, and Eric. taken on the last day of their stay)

It was also the School Parents & Prize Giving Day on Saturday 21st.    I still did not feel well enough to attend it, but Esther did, and it seemed to be a very good day.  It even did not rain.

Then on Wednesday this week Daryl took me off to see the Urinologist who operated on me in 2010.

As it turned out, we were at the hospital some time, from 2 p.m. until 5.30,  having further tests.

We should get the Results some time today.  the consultant confirmed, though, that stones were in the right kidney.    They had been in the left one in 1980.   Can't complain really, since I have been free of them for almost 40 years!!   God is Good - ALL the time.    In all other ways I feel well and fine in myself.     AND Jesus, in Luke 10v18, said that He had seen Satan fall like lightening from heaven; He had seen Satan's authority and power weakened by the Power that was in HIM, and He had now bestowed that power on ALL those who Believed in Him as their Lord and Saviour - NOTHING would ever be able to hurt THEM because He had given them of His power, power over ALL the power of the Enemy.       So let us not fear;  Yes we are in a fight but we will come through into Victory - indeed, already we have passed from DEATH to Eternal LIFE, and yea, even though we might die, YET shall we LIVE on.    Nothing can keep us down no matter  how many times we may appear to be stricken.    In this knowledge let us face every event and circumstance, refusing to budge from our Faith,      The World around us, in which we live, is indeed very intimidating;  Satan full of persuasion that we shall be no match for what may come upon us.  But he is not only a liar, he is unable to destroy us in Christ.      All we need to KNOW is whether or not we are, in deed and truth, IN CHRIST.      Remember to take constant 'Rain Checks' as urged by Paul the Apostle, who suffered many things along the way of life on Earth, but yet was Victor over all things - 2. Corinthians 13v5-6

EXAMINE and test and evaluate your own selves
to see whether or not you are holding to your faith
and showing the proper fruits of it.
TEST and prove yourselves (not Christ).
Do you not yourselves realise and know
(thoroughly by ever increasing experience)
that Christ is IN you -
UNLESS you be counterfeits
disproved on trial and rejected?
BUT I hope you will recognise and know
that we (who say we are His)
are not disapproved on trial and rejected.

I GREET YOU ALL IN JESUS NAME!......I am not dead, or fallen as some may have wondered from our silence and quietness.    NO, we are alive and strong in the Faith that Saves and Strengthens us.     I warned that this year I might not be as regular as previously - but the Blog will still remain open, until He comes.......

Our Love to you all, and may His Love and Grace continue to wash over you, constantly refreshing and re-establishing your faith and the knowledge of Christ with you.

John, Esther, and Daryl Green

HIS (GOD'S) CHILDREN SHALL HAVE A PLACE OF REFUGE. Proverbs 14v26

CHILDREN'S HOMES WILL NO LONGER EXIST

UNDER KENYA LAW

STARTING NOW children in homes like ours, which has been a 'home from home' for children abandoned and forsaken by their own parents and family members, forced out of their own home by abuse and violence in their own homes, and deprived of the Love, Care and Protection which was their right, will now be repatriated to those 'homes and families' from which the Government rescued them.       This is the Recommendation of the United Nations, now supported by the Kenya Government via the Department of Children's Service.    This 'Repatriation' will only be undertaken after a proper review and investigation regarding the current suitability and safety of the family situation.    BUT children taken away from brutality and abuse might find it hard to believe in any change - and afraid to return.     As I related last week one such family of four siblings have been returned to us AFTER repatriation when their previously imprisoned father tried to poison them.         IF it is found, on 'exhaustive' investigation, that a child has NO blood relative living, willing, or able to be found, then the child will be put up for Fostering, or for Adoption - but it will no longer be able to stay in a Charitable Children's Home.   There won't be ANY still existing.   Either we agree to change into a kind of 'Reception Centre' where children come to be sorted and then redistributed as quickly as possible will all be closed down, (albeit gradually).        Already our Registration, renewable every three years, and which expired in March 2017, together with many others, has been with-held    Unregistered we have no legal right to continue, and can be closed down at any time.     Our situation is, to say the least, insecure.    Either we play ball or we close down.    After FIFTY years we find ourselves, and all  that God through his people have funded, and developed cast with disdain aside in favour of 'enlightened progress' dictated by another world.  Government has even stated that many C.C.I.s (no names or numbers) are engaged in Child Trafficking and Child Abuse, thereby discrediting all such homes.       Even as early as 2016 three of our major Newspapers published damaging reports on Children's Homes in Kenya, without identifying any in particular,  stating again that they were centres of Child Trafficking, and other abuses.         Yet in fact thousands of children have been helped over the years without a  word of appreciation or recognition of the worth of what any of us in Residential Child Care have done.  Until now we are told   -   "You should all look to the future and plan ahead, because soon you will no longer be able to do what you are doing.   You will be closed down"      Children are going to be thrown into countless unsuspected  upheavals that will once more set back their lives, and present them with new challenges..     

Some, indeed many, of our kids have been with us from when they were babies.    Most have been with us up to 12 years.  How will they deal with yet another big change?    Who cares?

The Authorities say it will be 'Good for them.'      Suddenly these children are going to be yanked out of secure, loving, settled situations into initially very disturbing scenarios.

Basically we do not disagree that the best place for any child is at home with its true parents and family.     They ought to find the best understanding and acceptance there.   BUT it is not always the case.    Not every abandoned baby or infant (we have had many of 3 and 4 years just left at a bus stop) will be welcomed by its discovered parents.    Not ever aunt, uncle or grandparent will want an extra mouth to feed or have to plan for.      
Foster Homes are the next recommended destination for homeless children.     But these offer no definite ongoing security to the child since they may still be adopted, or even passed on to other foster parents.    In many cases Fostering becomes just a game of 'ping-pong' where children are bounced from one family to another until the state of the child is worse then when it was first found in need.   But, again, we do not altogether disagree that a child fostered in normal family home can be better off than lost in an institutional crowd.  Provided it is not based on any financial consideration, as a reason to foster.

WE have been told that if we could agree to be a Foster Home, open to children coming and going, as they might be adopted, we could continue to operate.    To some extent we could see ourselves agreeing to this in principal, although it would still be the total opposite to the Vision we have toward helping needy children.       HOWEVER we are again warned that IF we did agree, we could only have SIX children in any one of our THREE Homes, which currently comprise of a family of THIRTY each.       Basically this rules us out, even if we agreed.    The COST of running one house for only SIX children would be far above our economy.

We have many Questions.     We have many real fears as to our changing society.  BUT, our Faith is in God.

The way things are going, it as if the desperate issue is to sweep all the kids without home or family under the carpet - almost ANY carpet that will cover up the fact that the Nation has a problem.    

This has been going on all around us for some time.  Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania have been closing Children's Homes in favour of 'fostering'.     Rwanda has done so on a big scale and is held up as a model example of how the future will be.      There are negative sides to this, but they do not hit the headlines. 

TESTIMONY started of as a family refuge and then HOME to whoever we had room for.
Esther and I became Mum and Dad in our own home to whoever would come to the door.  Our own children found us already with children who would be their brothers and sisters.    Each new family followed this pattern.      We did not see ourselves as foster parents, or our home as an 'orphanage'.       We refused publicity, because we saw the need of privacy for every child as if they were in there very OWN home.     We refused the idea of 'adoption' out of our homes because we saw each child as part of our own family.    We expected to stick with them till they could stand on their own feet.    Each of our Homes is in every way an extended Family -  Father, Mother, their birth children, and those that needed to be ONE with them.     A totally integrated family living, sharing, and growing together.    For FIFTY years we have seen this work, and been proud to see children grow up and take hold of their lives with honour and respect.      I think it has been better than a foster home.     But we are in no way an enemy of those who DO foster children, or adopt them, and if we COULD see every child happily and lovingly united with their true blood parents and family we would be glad beyond words.
More than FOUR HUNDRED (not a huge number) have come and gone from the Testimony 'Family' over the years.     We are glad for them all.       They were not all easy to get on with all the time.     They made us glad; they made us cry; they gave us hope for mankind.     Even those who have left us are still family to us, to all of us who have stood as parents to them  in the various family homes they have lived in.    We are proud of them.    We still care about them, and are glad to see them, and come to know their wives, husbands and children.    And they are glad to visit and remember the safety and the warmth of having found a home and family with us.
I guess the Government knows nothing about it, since they have lived outside of it and have little idea of it.    They must be forgiven if, in doing what they feel is best for the child in a general sense, they sometimes miss the mark, and err.    BUT ................
In the mid 70s the then Director for Children, visiting our home, said he thought we might be the only home running as we did - he seemed impressed!? BUT with millions of children still in need -  WHY CLOSE homes like ours?    WHY rake up healed pasts and wounds, and snatch happy, settled, and secure children back into more uncertainty.  Why turn away FREE aid and assistance and loving care for one's children......Why?      
We can Thank God for all the years children have been able to come in and be at home with us, and who have left us with God.    We can be thankful for the four hundred plus that have come and gone, and who are for the most part still alive and well, and settled in jobs and with their own homes and families.   It has been a Mission that has been successful.     Nothing has been truly wasted.   Good is still being generated from it.

AND, of course, we may yet see the Hand of God raised against this Plan of Man - it may, after all, 'gang all astray.'

BUT we now have to seek the Lord to discover how we will use the Three Homes, and two Hostels we have been using for Faith Homes.      They were built with God's Blessing, and we believe they still have to be VERY relevant to His Plan.     We need all of you who know us, and who have supported us, to pray along with us all; with Daryl,  God's Man on the spot, and all those who currently work with us.     There may be a kind of 'transition period' but we have been given no assurance of anything.      We have to wait and see, but we must not wait unprepared .    

Testimony School

will not close - it will continue just where it is.

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

We believe that there are exciting DAYS ahead.     TODAY all continues as if nothing has been said.     The sun shines, the sky blue, and the children of our homes are all enjoying their half term holiday.    Life goes on.      And GOD walks with us.       
NEXT WEEK we are expecting our usual Team of students and teachers from Tyndale Christian School in South Australia to join us for some fifteen days of friendly labour and recreation among us all.      Some will also be with Neema Children's Homes just round the corner from us.     We are looking forward to their arrival, and to the intertwined 'Adventure' of just being here with us.        Their coming is an added confirmation to us, at this time, that God who holds us all in His Hands, is not seeing an end, but a New Beginning, to his Plan and Vision here in Testimony Faith Homes.     

We do not want any of you to feel depressed or weighed down by what I have shared here today.       We NEED your prayers, for the children, even more than for ourselves.   Deep in OUR hearts we know that this ministry was given to us by God FOR Kenya to profit from, and we know it is HIS ministry not Kenya's, and not ours either - it is ALL HIS.    And He holds it all together with the children and all of us in HIS hands.       The OUTCOME will be of His making and we are not in FEAR or doubt about that.       Thus we seek your prayers that we may all lift up our hands together, and SEE the Purposes of God demonstrated.

Our much love to you all in His Name.

John, Esther, and Daryl Green

   

HAVE YOU RECEIVED A MIRACLE YET?

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?   Or do you go for Fairy Stories?       I DO believe in Miracles.    They are all around us throughout every day of our lives; we are just so used to them they seem natural and normal, like the sunrise and the sunset every day.     Do we need Miracles?   Yes we do?; without them them we could not exist, but we only notice our need in moments of sheer desperation, when we are faced with a life or death situation.    AND in recognising a Miracle, it has to be an event beyond the normal; it has to be more than natural; it must be SUPER natural.      Not 'unnatural' not out of step with nature, but MORE than expected.
C.S. LEWIS in his Essay 'Miracles' written in 1942, writes - 'When the Old Testament says that Sennacherib's invasion was stopped by angels (2.Kings 19v35), and the historian Herodotus says it was stopped by a lot of mice, who came and ate up all the bowstrings of his army (Herodotus Bk.11. Section 141), an open minded man will be on the side of the angels.    Unless you start by begging the question, there is nothing intrinsically unlikely in the existence of angels, or in the action ascribed to them.    But mice just don't do these things.'  SO the engraving above is an illustration of an event which would have been unnatural to the known behaviour of mice, on such a scale.    185,000 men are said to have died on the occasion mentioned in the Bible.      If not, then mice ate through the bow strings of 185,000 foot soldiers without being noticed or prevented..........    YES, I know where I stand on this - I am with Lewis, and the Angels!      And I feel more encouraged and strengthened in my Faith generally, that this is the case.    But I am not saying that we can have, or see, a miracle on demand, or even when we may desperately need one.      This has to remain with God.

Here in Testimony Faith Homes, the Two Hostels, Three Children's Homes, and the School daily exist, and continue. miraculously at a common level and experience.      If God did not Himself take care of our needs moment by moment then we would fail.       There are radical times when there is no money in the Bank, and thus no immediate way to purchase our need of food for the day.    If we were to write and share our predicament with friends, or the world at large, we would go into bankruptcy before funds could get to us for our relief.     NO,   but our GOD knows what we need and has already provided for its provision to us - even before we ask and have seen the need ourselves.  And if at times we are found to actually be without - before we can cry to Man, God will have seen and provided.     Truly a Miracle of life that has endured now for almost fifty years.       It is not necessarily a smooth journey, but one that, though it might be up and down, is not ultimately prevented by obstacles placed in the way.       And quite apart from daily provision crisis can arise.    During the last weeks we have been faced with one or to.    We look to God for serious attention to our prayer, and we hope for Miracles to sweep away the worry and anxiety that currently has come upon two or our Staff,  both old boys of the Homes.         We all together KNOW none of us are alone or without salvation, and we trust in that Salvation day by day - even on days when the threat of evil seem greater than we can contemplate.       THEN we must WAIT - for His Deliverance - and it may need a MIRACLE.        We know one can be there for us in Jesus Name.

FRANCIS, the husband of Eunice, houseparents in Drakeley Cottage is under attack by our Enemy.
Francis has for a long period of time, over a year, been suffering from a Sinus infection which would not go away, and which recently caused him to suffer an operation.   The doctors at this time decided that a growth needed to be removed.   They were unable to remove all of it.      NOW the infection has spread to his right eye, and this week he will start a series of SIX treatments of Chemotherapy.
The doctors (two separate consultants) have diagnosed Cancer.        CANCER is still considered even more frightening that Satan himself.      It caught Francis off guard, and all but brought him to despair.      His Treatments start this week.      We are, of course, all standing with him, and with his dear wife and family.    We are all encouraging each other, and BELIEVING together that Jesus will bring this Cancer to nothing.    Pray with us.    AMEN.         Francis became part of mine and Esther's family when he was 10.       Now in his Thirties, he has given many good years to the Lord working as a Houseparent with his wife.   They have a boy and girl of their own.

STEVEN, another of our old boys, who has been working for
the Homes for some years assisting with our Poultry and Farm Projects, suddenly attempted to take his own life about a fortnight ago.  He is now in hospital recovering.        Steve has been brought up in Jacaranda Cottage with Miriam and Joshua Mbithi.  He has been with the Homes since he was six, and is now also in his Thirties.   He has always suffered from depression.      He knows and loves the Lord Jesus, but we now see that all is not well with his soul.      He lives outside now, of course, and it seems that unbeknown to us he has sunk into bad company and lost his way in life.     He needs a miracle!     Please join us also in our prayers for him, and also  pray that we may be guided as to how to help him on.

Happenings of this kind can find their way into any family, and individual.     Our world is in fact full of degeneration in relation to the general health of the population at large, and also into the standard of life, and fearful prospects of life in our society.      Serious illness, old and new, increases and more and more cases of suicide arise, and at young and young ages.      Satan's 'Tide of Iniquity' is rolling in.     Despair confronts us.      The People who KNOW their God need to rise up and DO GREAT EXPLOITS in Jesus Name as a Witness, and Rallying Post wherever God has put them.

TODAY IS MADARAKA DAY, a National Holiday.     It commemorates, every 1st June, the granting of Independence to Kenya from Colonial Rule on 1st June 1963.    Everyone on Holiday,including School Teachers.       It has been peaceful, pleasant day.

When I began writing this Blog today we were quite without money even to buy a biscuit.    This afternoon we were notified (late) that funds had in fact arrived at the Bank yesterday afternoon but we had not been notified.     We Rejoice.      Yet again, proof, that He has everything in hand.

God Bless and keep you all through yet another week,

John, Esther and Daryl Green

WORLD STEWARDSHIP - FOR GOD!

THIS IS A RECENT PHOTO of deforestation in Kenya.     This has been going on here for decades. President Daniel arap Moi was one of the first to try and control it, and augmented a determined effort to stop logging and plant more trees, with himself visibly at the fore.    It did not last for long, and is now worse than before.     Currently President Kenyatta has put a 90 day ban on logging, and has called for a national investigation to discover just how bad things are.    They are BAD.

Lake Nakuru

And it is not just the forests that are being cut down but our freshwater lakes and rivers are being polluted and diminished.     If the world is concerned about plastic waste in the oceans and rivers, WE should be no less concerned about our own waterways and lakes, which have also become dumping grounds for man made garbage and waste, including chemical and factory waste.  Wild life is now appropriately at risk and even radical danger.    Kenya has not seemed too successful at controlling the environmental pillage that goes on every day.    Taken together with the continuing problem of damage caused by poaching of our Wild Life, we seem doomed to being more and more impoverished, until we shall become a total desert land.      So sad.    So irresponsible.
We ourselves feel so blessed to live on a well watered gift of land with beautiful and varied trees that seem to just draw down the rain.   Truly blessed.   Everything so green and lush just now.    How good it is to cultivate a caring attitude for what God, in His Grace, has given us to protect and guard.

A while back I was asked to comment on 'Conserving the Environment' during a Conference here in Eldoret.     Nothing has changed really since then - circa 2014.

'IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE?
According to the World Science Congress, meeting in the U.S.A. recently (2014), NOT MUCH!  They say that by 2046 Planet Earth will not be able to support life as we know it - without a 'miracle'?   (the projected date given here has not changed).

HOW has the Environment become so endangered?   Through indiscriminate de-forestation worldwide;   though Pollution of the Air;   through pollution of the rivers, lakes and oceans of the world.     WHO, or WHAT is responsible for this?     MAN himself.   He is responsible.  He has FAILED to be the CARETAKER he was Appointed by God to be.

Prophesying about the Last Days, in Isaiah 24v2 of the Old Testament of the Bible, Isaiah says

The land and the earth shall be utterly laid waste

and utterly pillaged.  For the LORD has said this.

The land and the earth mourn and wither;

the world languishes and withers.....

They are defiled by their inhabitants, because they 

have transgressed the Laws,

discarded the Statutes, and broken the

Everlasting Covenant.

THEREFORE, a curse devours the land and the earth,

and they who dwell in it suffer the punishment of

their guilt.  THEREFORE, the inhabitants of the land

are scorched and parched under the curse of God's Wrath,

and few will be left.'

YES, it is Man that has defiled and spoiled the Earth, and its Ecology.  He has broken the Everlasting Covenant.

He has done it progressively as he has turned away from, and refused to keep God in mind, ignoring His Laws and Statutes.

Look at Deuteronomy 28v15, also in the Old Testament of the Bible.    Moses says -

'It shall come to pass that if you will not obey

the voice of the Lord your God, and in being watchful

to do all His Commandments and Statutes, 

then these Curses will overtake you.

Cursed shall you be in the city and in the field.

Cursed shall be your basket and kneading trouble.

Cursed shall be the fruit of your body, of your land

and of the increase of your cattle and your sheep....

....The Lord shall make the rain of your land 

powdered soil and dust; from the heavens it shall

come down upon you till you are destroyed.'

Without GOD in the equation of life, the result will always be VERY negative.

IN THE BEGINNING - in Genesis2v15 of the Old Testament of the Bible, we find that  -

The LORD tool the Man (Adam) and PUT him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it, whilst at the same time obeying God's Commandment.

ADAM failed, in that he gave in to selfish temptations, putting his own interest before God's Word....and by doing so lost Eden.

LATER we find Adam's son CAIN having murdered and buried his brother, Abel.

God asks Cain saying 'WHERE is your brother, Abel?'

And Cain answered God, and said 'I do not know - Am I my brother's keeper?'

YES, of course he was; we are ALL, not just responsible for the world around us, but also for the welfare of each other.   The fact that we are IRRESPONSIBLE clearly demonstrates how far we have strayed from God's original Plan and Purpose.

It is as we FORGET God, that we come to destroy ourselves and our environment.

WE become the ones at fault.   Instead of TAKING CARE, we have exploited (selfishly utilised) God's Provision till it has become totally exhausted.

We have winked at what is against God's Holy Ordinance, and laid ourselves and the Nations open  to evil and even a Curse.

ISAIAH, talking of these days says that the problem will be........

'As with the people, so with the priest.'     

Yes even the people of God will be found having deserted their responsibility as Watchmen and Watch-women to the rest of Mankind, failing to Blow the Trumpet of Alarm, and Wake Up!
JEREMIAH 3v2 says ' Lift up your eyes......and SEE.... you have polluted the land with your harlotry's, and your wickedness/ THEREFORE, for this reason the showers have been withheld, and there has been no latter rain'    It is not just the exploitation Ecology that causes a decline in our Stewardship of the world environment, but but the erosion of our moral fibre.
The People of God - especially - are meant to WATCH, and to ALERT the people, and to avert the Judgement of God by bringing men to repentance ( a change of heart and mind ).
This Nation of Kenya, stalked and hunted as it is by Corruption, sickness, and famine, has seen serious change in its climate; a change linked to its own carelessness in considering the Ecology.   We have suffered, increasingly (and continue to suffer year after year), increased drought in many areas, with human lives, and even livestock perishing.    Ours forests cut down and not replenished, our rainfall either too much or too little, and our industries using our rivers and lakes as dumping ground for poison and chemical waste.    
The Scientists, looking at similar neglect throughout the world, say there is now no hope!   Life as we know it will soon be impossible on this Planet.   Man has run out of answers.      Indeed with all the talk we now hear of trying to colonise OTHER planets, it would seem Man has given up thinking there is a way out, and that if he is to remain alive and well, then he must seriously look for somewhere else to GO.     There is very little ACTION being taken in order to reverse the situation on Earth

AND IT IS TRUE, without God in our thoughts, there is virtually NOTHING that CAN be successfully attempted.. ....
Nothing that can truly IMPROVE the Harvests or the Industrial  growth rate.  Nothing that will conserve the Environment.    And the Scientific World is not hiding the Truth from us.  Things have gone too far.    -     There may not be time to make a Remedy.

BUT WITH GOD.......

With GOD something might be done!

Look at 2. Chronicles 7v14  -   'If My People pray - if My People that are called by My Name pray - (If the JEWS. the CHRISTIANS - out of all the peoples of the Earth - would pray........SOME may want to limit this answer to refer ONLY to the Jew and Christian only, but I would rather put it another way still, and say  -IF ALL THOSE who will seek ME, with all their heart, and believe they have found Me, whoever and wherever, they are in the world, - and humble themselves and Pray, and seek My face, and turn away from their wicked selfish ways, THEN........

THEN I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and HEAL THE LAND - (The Earth).

JEREMIAH 29v13 says - 'And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart - and I will be found of you.....'      We all, each one of us, can decide to look for God, and when we do so sincerely wanting to discover His will for our life in the world we live in, then we have opportunity to find Him, and to become a tool in His Hand.

Prayer is not enough on its own.   We have to humble ourselves, and to see ourselves in need of CHANGE; of repentance; a turning around of our life and vision.
The Bible says that IF we would commit ourselves to DOING God's Word, then the first verses of Deuteronomy 28 will take effect --
Every Blessing will come upon us and overtake us, so that BLESSED we shall be in the cit and the field.  Blessed shall be the fruit of our body, the fruit of our ground, and the fruit of our beasts.   Blessed shall be our basket, and our kneading trough.    Blessed shall we be, in abundance, till the Lord shall make us to have a surplus of prosperity.

If we fail to arouse ourselves, to DO this, and to SEEK God's Will, then we shall have nothing to hand on to our children and grandchildren except a worsening world climate and society, that in less than fifty years will make it impossible to live.
We MUST turn back to God, and serve HIM, rather than ourselves.   THEN with HIM by our side, we can perhaps make a difference, and delay what is coming upon the Earth and Humanity.    We may even prevent it altogether.
There is no other way to Conserve the Environment, and to see Agricultural and Industrial growth of any permanent or ongoing nature.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE 2014, but we DO see a worsening, and there is already a world anxiety and unrest that is bringing even now 'distress of nations in bewilderment and perplexity (without resources left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn......
Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world..........(The Gospel of LUKE 21v25-26 - The Amplified Bible)

GOD BLESS and be with you.      Keep Awake, and BE Ready to be Court Away The Holy Spirit at ANY time.

John, Esther and Daryl Green

HI, BROTHER & SISTERS! JESUS IS ALIVE RIGHT HERE AND NOW!!!

YESTERDAY, MANY WERE WATCHING THE 'WEDDING' - the Wedding of Prince Henry of Wales and his fiancee Meghan Markle, who will from now on be known as their Royal Highnessess, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.         An amazing spectacle and, I suspect perhaps a radical turning point in British Social Life and standards.     There was a 'Euphoria' about it all that reminded me of the funeral of Princess Diana   - especially where this affected the general populace;    not funerial at all, but a kind of general 'family - familia' attitude.     And this was added to by so many American cousins attending and appearing in a similar 'holiday' - and even 'identification' with the -  spirit and mood of the Day.      Certainly a Royal occasion, though somehow compromised at times by a kind of T.V. Soap Opera atmosphere.    One of those commenting was heard saying that she expected the Wedding to be 'both an example of tradition and modernity.'     Both words sounded empty of 'sincerity' and spiritual meaning.    A film set scenario, very interesting, and thought provoking to watch.   And the Sermon was outstanding!!     BUT I AM NOT intending to comment more on this topic - at least not just now.

AT THE END OF THE BLOG for last week, I mentioned that we had received some more young children into the Homes.     I thought I would enclose photos of just a few this time round, and add a little more about them, and how they come to be with us.       For a year or so the Authorities seemed to ignore us, and we had NO Admissions from the Children's Office; it is, therefore, encouraging to find a slight thawing in their view of us, and a willingness to bring children to us.     I am unsure as to why this should be, but it may be the Government is finding plans for closing Children's Homes not quite as straight forward as was first thought.      Certainly the number of children in need of help is not diminishing.
In October 2015 we received three children from Eldoret Rescue Centre, - Faith 12, Emmanuel 8, and Beckham 7.     Their father had taken them to the Rescue because he said the mother had deserted the family, but in fact he had abused her, and she ran for her life.     He was imprisoned thereafter.  On learning where her children were, the mother visited and continued to visit.   She is about forty and has started a small business selling vegetables.     She also visited her husband in prison, and on his release they set up home together once more.    He also found a job, and during 2016 he and his wife applied to the Children's Office to have their children (still with us) returned to them.    We met with them also, and in 2017, in August it was agreed that their request be granted, though we continued to help with school fees for the children, near to where the parents lived.     All seemed to go well until this year.      Suddenly the mother appeared to say her husband had returned to his abusive behaviour and had tried to poison the children, and had now deserted.     She was again destitute and helpless to care for the children alone.       After discussion it was agreed that once again the children be brought under our care until she could improve her situation.     They arrived back last week as already mentioned  before.     They are SO happy, and already behaving as if they had never left.      We are are helping their mother to re-establish herself in small business (the one she had had to cease due to her husband's determination to have any money she made for himself.)       We hope she will be able to get herself secure.    Until then she will visit the kids at week-ends.     She seems a serious and level headed woman, anxious for the safety of her kids.

Then,. on the 12th May we Admitted Emmanuel Kemboi, 3, and his brother Moses Kibet, 6 into Tyndale Cottage.    Both children come from the Kaptagat area, about 20 kilometers from Eldoret.  The case was brought to our notice by the County Children's Department..    The children's mother had left home when Moses was just three years old, due to her husband's abuse; she left both children behind her with her husband, who then went on to abuse the children.  During one incident he drunkenly attacked the eldest child, Moses, and attempted to strangle him, prevented only by the intervention of a neighbour.  Both children where then taken to Eldoret Rescue Centre.     They spent some weeks there before being transferred to us.     BOTH children had been seriously affected by the treatment of their father (now on the run from the Police) and are still quite withdrawn.    I enclose photos of  Moses obtained from the Rescue Centre when admitted there, and you can clearly see the marks left at that time of his father's attempted strangulation.   
We especially ask you to pray with us for 3 year old Emmauel
who though not so physically hurt, suffered considerable mental upset and apprehension, having had to see his brother so brutally treated and having no way of escape from a truly terrifying situation.  Both children need spiritual healing, and without the loving help of the Holy Spirit may take some time to remove from their memory all they have been through.

In letting them join Tyndale Cottage and Micah and Catherine-Senge, we believe that the Lord Jesus will quickly be able to help them feel loved and cared for, and that their sense of security and well being will be restored to them.  The Tyndale Family is a fairly young family with not too many teenagers.     Also Micah and Senge will just lovingly reach out to them both.
MOSES may carry the scars on his neck for life, but we are in prayer that they may be helped to heal up completely with the help of that ' Balm of Gilead' Bishop Michael Curry referred to in his Wedding Sermon on Saturday.    Blessed BE the NAME of JESUS.

Emmanuel & Moses

'There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin sick soul.'

NB - in the Photo of the boys together, Moses still looks a bit down and sorrowful.   He had just arrived, and now both he and Emannuel are beginning to gather confidence and happiness in their new home and family.       Both are already playing and making friends. 
BUT they speak no English, and so they will have to work hard to fit into School where teaching is in English, generally.    But we feel sure they will catch up.    Emmanuel will be in Play School, and Emmanuel may have to attend the Top Class of Nursery before transferring to Primary 1 later.     God's Holy Spirit will help them.

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THE MONTH OF MAY seems to have flown by!    Weatherwise it has been a 'grey' month of cloud and rain and comparative cold!   Still the same today, as I sit typing this out.     I have to take time as it comes these days, and thus no longer can guarantee a regular Saturday Blog - just one whenever time allows.     With the opening of the 2nd School Term on 4th, the student tide rolled back in from the neighborhood.    But having gone on holiday spiritually on the up and up, they all seemed to returne devoid of their joy.     Usually on a Sunday morning the Church is packed, during Term, and when given chance to testify and otherwise share in the Service it is hard to hold them back.   Not so on their return.     Almost a dearth of spiritual life smothered us.      This Sunday I was the one ministering and chose 1.Peter 2v11.  'What are we doing - Where are we going?     I sat down without making any Appeal.    Pastor Wykliffe then got up, and just said one word, beckoning with his hand...

'COME!.........' and more than half of the congregation of 300 stood up and came to the front, many of them in tears.     It was quite wonderful...........and instead of finishing, the Meeting found itself in prayer and worship and re-dedication.      Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Our son JAMES Manu, is currently in Nairobi where he has been job seeking and also visiting friends.    His latest visit to the Eye Clinic was not so encouraging, as the occulist found too much pressure in his left eye. This has been persistent over his last three visits, and they have not discovered WHY.    On the other hand there did seem improvement visually, and although on this occassion Manu suffered some discomfort for some days afterwards, he now seem happy, and his eyes quiet.      This has been a long haul for him, and a worrying one.     BUT he is encouraged, and it has been good to see him looking forward into the future with a prospect of once more being an independant and employed member of the community at large.   This is a healthy change.       He has been much inspired to know so many have prayed, and are praying for him, and I know he would have me Thank you all, as Esther and I also do.      We believe Jesus will bring him through not merely to see, but to SEE God's vision and purpose for his life.        He could have died the day he was born, but God gave him LIFE, with an intelligent mind, and a generous and warm heart.     

Our Daughter in Law, JANET, married to our son Michael, has been told she must have a 'pace-maker' and will have one installed very soon now.     This is the culmination of many months, indeed years of illness which has taken some time for doctors to sort our.     It is not something she would have looked for, and in many respects is a huge disappointment for her.    Currently her Mum is there with her from Kenya, and so this will be of comfort and help.     Mike still working hard, and Liam, now four years old, also growing well and strong.     Please remember them all, as your remember us.
STEVEN, our son, may be visiting Kenya on business in the course of the next week or so, and if he does then he will surely try to fit in a visit with us - however short - and he is still hoping to be with us in July with our grandsons Eric Green and John-Finney Joseph.     We are blessed.

THE MINISTRY OF TFH continues in the Strength and Power of Jesus with your own fellowship and participation.      It is all by His GRACE.     We are Witness to His Faithfulness at all times.   Just now is a time of material challenge and spiritual dependance.     God Bless you all, and keep us ALL waiting on HIM who is yet to come.....
Lovingly in His Name,
John, Esther and Daryl Green

I HAVE SUCH A LOVING FATHER!

TODAY is the first day of my 79th Year, having Celebrated my 78th yesterday!    And a very Happy Day it was.    Even the sun shone and the clouds and rain were held back.
Somehow, waking up on another beautiful morning, I have felt a Landmark has been reached - a new beginning opening up.    And as a person not known for optimism, this is rather interesting.   I Thank my God for good health,     My doc confirms I still have Diabetis, but my sight is good, my hearing sufficient, my mind intact, and my constitution strong.     My feet?   Well yes they are a little uncomfortable but I can still get about, and recently there has been a turn for the better.
And I have my dear Esther still with me, also in good health, and am surrounded by children, both ours and others, AND our grandchildren.........HOW very blessed I am.   
And TODAY one of our 'Girls', our daughter Betty is coming to visit us with her young man, Dan,  to announce their Engagement!    And so life continues and our family expands.    And so God interacts, and blesses us all against the backdrop of these Last Days.    Where He is, His Glory supplies our 'sunshine', and we are kept in peace.
We had not planned anything for my Birthday.     Funds for the Homes had arrived at the Bank on Thurday evening, but there was no room for any extravagance -  our needs were still pressing.

Sammy Kirui    

ON THURSDAY one of our 'sons' living in America and working for the Lord there, sent me a Birthday Gift  ---   and he said 'please use some of it to have a party with the Home's Parents and Daryl with yourselves.'      Well, we were SO happily surprised, and on my Birthday morning after prayer we shared with our House Parents that we would have lunch together.     And so WE DID, and had a very happy fellowship together - and I had a very special Gift of Joyful Company to celebrate with me.      Thank you dear Sammy!     Our Father in heaven truly spoke to you, and made you a real channel of blessing.     May HE give back to you running over!        Sam has been pursuing his Doctorate in Theology, and hopes to finalise soon.    He has been a close  part of our family since his High School days.    He attended Kenya Highlands Bible College and then pastored for some time before travelling to U.S.A. to further his education.     We hope he will return to Kenya once he finishes, but God knows where He wants him.

ABOVE we can be seen enjoying our lunch at a local retreat known as Poa Place.   Mainly chicken and chips and fish and chips.    Fast food?  Yes, of course, we had only limited time to leave the children, though for the most part they were in School.    But there were plenty of vegetables to eat as well, and in all we had value for money, and most of all - Good Fellowship.   THEN outside to the gardens for a group photo -

Left to Right - Grace, Warden Jean Potts Hostel for Girls,  Catherine and Mica
Yego (Tyndale Cottage), David and Doris Chumba (Jacafranda Cottage),
Hesketh Muli (Testimony Boys Hostel), Eunice and Francis Lahol
Drakeley Cottage, John and Esther Green, Daryl Green, Alice Muli
(Testimony Boys Hostel), and John Obiero, School Boarding Master.

--------------------------------------------------------------

LATER, THAT EVENING,    Daryl and his three kids joined for Cake and Ice Cream as a family treat.  Poor Carol could not be with us as a friend had called her asking for help as she felt unwell.    When Carol got there she found the lady extremely ill, so it was as well she went, but we missed her being with us.     Here below are a few photos taken that evening.

Top left - Daryl, Jeremy, and Becky.
Botdtom Left - John, Esther and Jesse

My Birthday Cake - we did have a limited number of candles, and I did have enough breath to blow them ALL out in one go.  Hurrah!    AND, finally me and my little wife, still together and still in love at the end of the day..... and for ever.       It was a special conclusion to a week that had been rather long and enduring!!  Praise the LORD - Everythng comes to those who WAIT!!

================================= 

MANU is in Nairobi looking for work, and was unable to be with us yesterday.      On Sunday he will travel, this time from Nairobi, to Tenwick Hospital for yet more Injections into his eyes.   On his last visit in March the Consultant had been pleased to note progress in both eyes, and reduced the number of injections needed for the next three months - Monday will be the first session of the 3 months now recommended.     Manu, AND us very encouraged, and we all Thank the Lord, for it it can only be Him who now works on his behalf.

TODAY we have re-admitted three children who were repatriated to their parents eighteen months ago.  The Father had been in Prison.   However it was thought he had thoroughly reformed and he and his wife got back together on his release, and he began to earn money.     The Children were then given back into their care.      However, the man went back to his alcoholism and tried to poison the children who are 4,6 and 7.     The father is now once again on the run from the Police for attempted murder.   The mother is a good, hard working woman, and we shall also try to assist her find some security more than she has.      Not easy for a woman on her own here.

TWO more boys 3 and 6 are also to be Admitted today into Jacaranda Cottage.    Both boys abused by their father who tried to violently to beat up and strangle the elder, whilst also beating up the younger.     Both quite in shock, and not speaking.    Their mother ran away some time ago, and so far has not re-appeared.

WE Thank God that He still looks down with compassion and enables us to remain a Shelter and an open house and home for the homeless children all around us.      Bless you all.

With our love in Jesus
John, Esther and Daryl Green

GONE FROM HOME, BUT STILL FAMILY, AND LOVED!

LAST SUNDAY, 29th April, at our Morning Service, we said 'Farewell' to FIVE of our children who had grown up in the Homes -  mainly in Jacaranda Cottage, and one from Drakeley Cottage.
They had all completed their Education, having left Form 1V Secondary for College, and now having also completed their Courses, must begin an independant life.
Most have not yet found full employment.
On Sunday we Prayed for each one, and presented them with a Bible, and Ksh.10,000 (approx 70 pounds sterling)  NOT a fortune, but just a small Gift to help start them off.    TODAY, Tuesday 1st May, they have all left us..   A BIG step, and one not much smaller to them, than getting to the Moon!  Remember to pray for them, and for their future.   God has hold of their hands.   I am not telling a lot about them, and am not sharing their full name for ethnic reasons, so that as fairly as possible you can love them and wish the best for them.

To the left is RUTH.   She actually left us a few weeks back, and is employed in a Bank.   She had taken Accountancy as her preferred subject, and she is thrilled to have landed a banking job.  Ruth joined the Tyndale Cottage Family in 2004 when she was just ten years old.   A good student at School and one that loves the Lord as her Saviour and Friend.  We are very glad for her - and proud of her!
TO THE RIGHT IS DAVID.    David is the elder of two brothers we assisted.    On completing his Schooling he chose Electrics and has completed a Diploma in Electrical Engineering.   He had begun his education quite late, and is now about 30 years.    He has done well in his studies, being resident with us for some 9 years, commencing in Drakeley Cottage and then to Testimony House Boy's Hostel....He has not yet obtained full time employment,
TO the LEFT again (overleaf)is FRANCIS.   Francis came to the Jacaranda Family with Joshua and Miriam Mbithi who were then parents there, 25 years ago, when Francis was only nine months old.    Truly he can count TFH as his home, and it was especially poignant for us to see him leave us.     He has completed a Diploma in Purchasing and Supplies, and we feel he will do well.    He also trusts in the Lord as his Saviour and Friend, and is a very capable and energetic young man.  He is also artistic and quite a good draughtsman.
NEXT IS HILLARY.     Hillary is 25, and came to us - to Jacaranda Cottage - in 1999 when he was six years old.    He has completed a Diploma Course in Information Studies (Librarianship), achieving Credits all the way.  He has part time employment so far, but is hoping for something better soon,.A very competent and reliable young man.

And then we have ZEBEDEE TO THE RIGHT!.  Zebedee has completed a Diploma Course in Mass Communications, and  has enjoyed every minute of it.    He is also a very bright young man, and we are looking forward to him getting settled in a job that will suit his talent, and provide him with the challenge and adventure he thrives.      He is 27 and came to us in 2000, and joined the Jacaranda Family.
IF WE HAD pushed these young people out when they were 18 as the Government wanted, they would not have been able to complete their education and finally leave with hope of a future.    It has been worth the risk of offending, in order to give them every chance of success.

FINALLY,  to the left is, ELIUD.   Eliud has completed a Certificate Course in Social Developement, and has done well.     Once he has found a job we hope to help him continue, whilst working, to complete his Diploma also.      He is a serious young man, and he is a dependable young man who is reliable and trustworthy with a very good natured and friendly nature.   He is anxious to find the right nitch for himself, and we are sure he will be successful.

So altogether six have gone from us, the FIVE young men, as I have said, left TODAY,  perhaps  a bit fearfully, but WE are still here, and we shall do our best to keep an eye on them and be here for them in case of need.
We prayed for them, with the Church, on Sunday.  They have not gone ALONE, but with God.   Please remember them, with us. and if any should read this report being in Kenya, please keep an eye open for a JOB Opportunity for them.

================================

YES!   Happy May Day to YOU all.      If I remember this Festival, for so it is, it goes back beyond the days of the Romans, and probably was the Day to mark the beginning of Summer or SPRING as we might think of it today.    I remember when I was ten, way back in 1950 actually dancing round the May Pole, much as the children above, on some village green near Cheam in Surrey.    Seems a long way back now.      I wonder if the Day is still celebrated in this way.     So much more to the point than LABOUR DAY.      Why celebrate Labour, when it is but the fruit of God's Curse on Man's disobedience and rebellion.

IT IS COLD and WET still here in Eldoret.     NO there is no flooding near us, Thank God, but in other places it has been quite disastrous.    It is NOT like an English Spring in any way.  Our river. the Sosiani River is flowing full  and free just now.       But we are straining to catch sight of one of those life saving 'ravens' that Elijah also looked for.     But thank God we are all well. and full of Faith and Hope.

God, our Father in Heaven, watch over you and us all together.

Lovingly in Him

John, Esther, and Daryl Green