I haven't seen it, but I'm sure someone has written a book about "life's little joys". What I like is those little moments that come just because of what you are doing. Moments that are part of life itself, not only thoughts you have. I had one of those moments tonight. Anastacia is one of the girls we found at Grogan's Base in downtown Nairobi. There were several girls hanging around there, begging from passersby, getting and giving favors with boys, one of them with a mother and 3 more with an aunt who also lived on the streets and sold illegal liquor. She has been one of our smarter kids, and with Katera Bolander's influence, she has gotten fascinated with journalism. She interviewed a ranger when we went camping. She interviewed Red Cross workers at one of the internal displacement camps near Nairobi. And she has interviewed other students and teachers here and helped edit a newspaper for us.
Recently I set her up as a blogger (www.tashanjoki.blogspot.com/) so she could write every week and have her writing in public where she would be encouraged to improve and think about many things to write. And tonight I helped her write her first email. One of those moments to remember, to think of how far she has come. From the streets to the internet. And she felt great joy and a sense of accomplishment. Then we looked at her blog together and the comments she has received from readers in Texas.
Do something with a young person. You can live for a while on little moments like that.
peace and joy, charles
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Goals Set for 2008
1. We will strive to offer an even greater experience of GOD to our students in class, their dorms and everyday activities so more change can be effected in their lives.
2. Develop the program with young mothers and their children--house them in the Eastleigh Center and take them for skills training. Define this plan thoroughly for the Board and for direction of the Team.
3. Take willing street boys, girls and mothers to skills training whom we are not taking into our boarding program. We had success with 2 girls, 2 boys and 1 mom in 2007. We think more can be achieved this year. Define this program thoroughly for the Board and for direction of the Team.
4. Complete skills training building two (the Connor Brown Memorial Building) at the twenty acres and occupy it.
5. Increase our presence in the streets, Evangelism, organizing tournaments, trips, talent searches and build the 3 pm Sunday street youth worship time in Eastleigh.
6. Improve our teaching programs by keeping time, speaking English at learning center and counseling students. Book external exams for our students, both those in skills training and fast track.
7. Exit those who are 18, help them secure identity cards, attachments, jobs and find a new church to attend-- a total of 12 students this year.
8. Network with other organizations offering similar services as ours. This will help us improve and help a bigger number, including those with HIV and AIDS whom we come in contact with.
9. Follow-up on children who have been reconciled with their families to find out how they are doing as well as students who have left, for the same.
10. Lay irrigation lines at a section of the 20 acres, improve our productivity on the existing zones as well as taking better care of our animals.
11. Get internet connection at our virtual library and computer shop when cost is appropriate.
12. Create business and job experience opportunities for students; e.g, mechanics, sewing and woodwork.
13. Get electricity at the 20 acres.
14. Encourage both team members and students in church life and community outreach
15. Receive visitors to teach street children, students and the team. This has proven to be very encouraging and motivating in the past. In 2008 we expect Singing Oaks (Denton, TX) Church, Central (Cedar Rapids, IA) Church and Conejo Valley (Thousand Oaks, CA) Church and South MacArthur (Irving, TX) Church to bring groups.
16. Empower team members, students and other volunteers from the community to serve and to train others.
17. Add new students to replace those who will graduate and leave. 25 new students were added to Kamulu in 2007. We may add as many in 2008.
18. Hire new team members – to train in cooking and hairdressing, to operate the salon and tea house, and to work on the farm. One or more of these will double as a girls' or boys' dorm supervisor. Also add another person for the Eastleigh Center, either for supervision of street mothers or for child care.
19. Raise development funds through a series of fundraisers for internet access, a new bus, a boys' dorm at the 20 acres, a girls' dorm and new kitchen, staff training, a dining pavilion at the 20 acres, and a church building.
20. Submit a future development plan to the Board of Directors.
21. Plan to complete in 2008 buying the bus, finishing the girls' dorm and kitchen, building the 2nd skills training building at the 20 acres, gaining internet access at Kamulu and beginning staff training by sending two Team members to University. Save building of the church building, building of the boys' dorm at the 20 acres, the dining pavilion at the 20 acres, and additional staff training for 2009.
2. Develop the program with young mothers and their children--house them in the Eastleigh Center and take them for skills training. Define this plan thoroughly for the Board and for direction of the Team.
3. Take willing street boys, girls and mothers to skills training whom we are not taking into our boarding program. We had success with 2 girls, 2 boys and 1 mom in 2007. We think more can be achieved this year. Define this program thoroughly for the Board and for direction of the Team.
4. Complete skills training building two (the Connor Brown Memorial Building) at the twenty acres and occupy it.
5. Increase our presence in the streets, Evangelism, organizing tournaments, trips, talent searches and build the 3 pm Sunday street youth worship time in Eastleigh.
6. Improve our teaching programs by keeping time, speaking English at learning center and counseling students. Book external exams for our students, both those in skills training and fast track.
7. Exit those who are 18, help them secure identity cards, attachments, jobs and find a new church to attend-- a total of 12 students this year.
8. Network with other organizations offering similar services as ours. This will help us improve and help a bigger number, including those with HIV and AIDS whom we come in contact with.
9. Follow-up on children who have been reconciled with their families to find out how they are doing as well as students who have left, for the same.
10. Lay irrigation lines at a section of the 20 acres, improve our productivity on the existing zones as well as taking better care of our animals.
11. Get internet connection at our virtual library and computer shop when cost is appropriate.
12. Create business and job experience opportunities for students; e.g, mechanics, sewing and woodwork.
13. Get electricity at the 20 acres.
14. Encourage both team members and students in church life and community outreach
15. Receive visitors to teach street children, students and the team. This has proven to be very encouraging and motivating in the past. In 2008 we expect Singing Oaks (Denton, TX) Church, Central (Cedar Rapids, IA) Church and Conejo Valley (Thousand Oaks, CA) Church and South MacArthur (Irving, TX) Church to bring groups.
16. Empower team members, students and other volunteers from the community to serve and to train others.
17. Add new students to replace those who will graduate and leave. 25 new students were added to Kamulu in 2007. We may add as many in 2008.
18. Hire new team members – to train in cooking and hairdressing, to operate the salon and tea house, and to work on the farm. One or more of these will double as a girls' or boys' dorm supervisor. Also add another person for the Eastleigh Center, either for supervision of street mothers or for child care.
19. Raise development funds through a series of fundraisers for internet access, a new bus, a boys' dorm at the 20 acres, a girls' dorm and new kitchen, staff training, a dining pavilion at the 20 acres, and a church building.
20. Submit a future development plan to the Board of Directors.
21. Plan to complete in 2008 buying the bus, finishing the girls' dorm and kitchen, building the 2nd skills training building at the 20 acres, gaining internet access at Kamulu and beginning staff training by sending two Team members to University. Save building of the church building, building of the boys' dorm at the 20 acres, the dining pavilion at the 20 acres, and additional staff training for 2009.
Ministry Overview
Street Ministry Three Team members live at the Eastleigh Center and daily minister at street bases and at the Center. They find new streed kids to take to the Kamulu boarding program, they do First Aid at the bulding and on the streets, they teach Bible and make friends at the bases, they help older youth get national identity cards, and they go with street kids to visit family members. Currently a focus of their work is to find young girls with babies to take into the Eastleigh Center. They are also working on a plan with the administrator to find a way to care for older girls with babies. On Sunday they lead worship at 4:00 PM at the Center. Each Monday several Team members spend the day in Eastleigh visiting bases, hosting a large group of girls at the Center, and working with street kids (and our students) on legal documents and family relationships. Larry and Hollye Conway also spend Monday through Wednesday in Eastleigh, Larry at bases and Hollye helping with mothers and girls.
Education/Skills — basic literacy for all incoming students in English, Math, Computers and Bible. Rotation lasting two months in business or skills training after students are 16. Internships in businesses to teach them how to do the skills needed, how to run the business, record-keeping and so on when they are 17. Vocational counseling and encouragement to go out and find a job. External training schools to teach skills not taught by us at almost or over 18. Attachments (apprenticeships) in businesses to further develop skills and ready students for the job market.
Shops - continuing and developing businesses in which students may function and learn skills and grow in confidence. Currently include Tea House, WoodWorking, Hair Salon, Computer Shop, Sewing Factory and Water Sales.
Farm — almost 4 acres under dripline irrigation. Another 7 acres plowed and planted near boys' center. 20 acres has about 5 acres cultivated. 18 goats. Two chicken houses with 100 layers each. One cow and her calf.
Development — Ongoing construction of 2nd skills training building (Connor Brown Memorial Building), beginning planning for church building, first training building is now on 20 acres, water well is installed on 20 acres. Renovation of girls' center begun to allow housing 8 more girls.
Student Life — dormitory living for 50 teenagers, spiritual life development in the church, assisting in teaching Sunday school, daily chapel, evening programs (LifExciting Class, Public Speaking Class, Wednesday Evening Devo, Counseling Class, Cell meetings for sharing). Regular chores for each student, regular work on the farm. Playground open to public.
Local Church — leadership primarily MITS people. In December 2007 average of 120 in worship period, 52 in Sunday school.
Hosting short-term mission teams to benefit MITS and the local church. 2008 will host groups from Central Church in Cedar Rapids IA, Singing Oaks Church in Denton TX, Conejo Valley Church in Thousand Oaks CA and South MacArthur Church in Irving, TX.
Education/Skills — basic literacy for all incoming students in English, Math, Computers and Bible. Rotation lasting two months in business or skills training after students are 16. Internships in businesses to teach them how to do the skills needed, how to run the business, record-keeping and so on when they are 17. Vocational counseling and encouragement to go out and find a job. External training schools to teach skills not taught by us at almost or over 18. Attachments (apprenticeships) in businesses to further develop skills and ready students for the job market.
Shops - continuing and developing businesses in which students may function and learn skills and grow in confidence. Currently include Tea House, WoodWorking, Hair Salon, Computer Shop, Sewing Factory and Water Sales.
Farm — almost 4 acres under dripline irrigation. Another 7 acres plowed and planted near boys' center. 20 acres has about 5 acres cultivated. 18 goats. Two chicken houses with 100 layers each. One cow and her calf.
Development — Ongoing construction of 2nd skills training building (Connor Brown Memorial Building), beginning planning for church building, first training building is now on 20 acres, water well is installed on 20 acres. Renovation of girls' center begun to allow housing 8 more girls.
Student Life — dormitory living for 50 teenagers, spiritual life development in the church, assisting in teaching Sunday school, daily chapel, evening programs (LifExciting Class, Public Speaking Class, Wednesday Evening Devo, Counseling Class, Cell meetings for sharing). Regular chores for each student, regular work on the farm. Playground open to public.
Local Church — leadership primarily MITS people. In December 2007 average of 120 in worship period, 52 in Sunday school.
Hosting short-term mission teams to benefit MITS and the local church. 2008 will host groups from Central Church in Cedar Rapids IA, Singing Oaks Church in Denton TX, Conejo Valley Church in Thousand Oaks CA and South MacArthur Church in Irving, TX.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Spiritual Life at Made in the Streets...
There are two aspects to spiritual growth in our students and Team. We find many of the students who are very happy to "learn about God" and who enjoy all the faith activities. One aspect of the growth is personal. The kids are encouraged to know God and to pray. Many of them want to have Bibles in the dorm so they can read regularly. Many of the faith activities at MITS are designed to encourage this personal growth.
So the second aspect is the faith activities. We ask the students to be part of the church and encourage them to be in a Sunday Bible class as well. Many of the older boys come to the adult class, and the younger teens go to the over 12 class taught by Joel Njue. All of the students attend a Sunday afternoon class that is a Bible study with "practice principles" which they give talks about in class. Several of the students are helpers in Sunday school. Many students have gone on Vacation Bible School trips, teaching children in other congregations on weekend or holiday trips. We have chapel each weekday morning, and students are encouraged to present inspirational stories, lead prayer and select songs to share.
The students then take the opportunity to practice their faith. Some of the young people share and serve in the assembly - songs, Lord's Supper, collection, prayers. And they often ask visitors to read the Bible with them. Not all the kids respond wholeheartedly to the spiritual life, but a surprising number of them do. Almost every student decides to be baptized into Christ. Our dream is that they will all be part of an active church life when they leave us. That dream isn't fulfilled with every student, but it is with enough to make it all worthwhile.
So the second aspect is the faith activities. We ask the students to be part of the church and encourage them to be in a Sunday Bible class as well. Many of the older boys come to the adult class, and the younger teens go to the over 12 class taught by Joel Njue. All of the students attend a Sunday afternoon class that is a Bible study with "practice principles" which they give talks about in class. Several of the students are helpers in Sunday school. Many students have gone on Vacation Bible School trips, teaching children in other congregations on weekend or holiday trips. We have chapel each weekday morning, and students are encouraged to present inspirational stories, lead prayer and select songs to share.
The students then take the opportunity to practice their faith. Some of the young people share and serve in the assembly - songs, Lord's Supper, collection, prayers. And they often ask visitors to read the Bible with them. Not all the kids respond wholeheartedly to the spiritual life, but a surprising number of them do. Almost every student decides to be baptized into Christ. Our dream is that they will all be part of an active church life when they leave us. That dream isn't fulfilled with every student, but it is with enough to make it all worthwhile.
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