Christmas Street Memories

Hi and happy new year! Just want to say thanks to all of you. You have given street kids and former street kids a wonderful holiday time. As you read all the things they've done, it seems "over the top" -- how appropriate for the poor. Here are some quotes from a couple of the kids about Christmas before Made In The Streets.

from Moses Mwangi: I was about five years old when I ran away. Sleeping on the streets was cold and scary but still better than staying with my uncle. On Christmas day, I saw a family that looked "well off"; I decided to visit them to get to eat a Christmas feast with them. But when I walked into the compound, the woman shouted at me, "Who invited you?" I tried to show her I was just a beggar, but she chased me away. On Christmas day, I starved. Everywhere I went, people chased me away."

from Mary Waithera: I lived upcountry with my shosho before life became hard. She was poor, like for tea, she would put just four spoonfuls of sugar in a big pot of tea without milk. We only took tea with milk

during Christmas season when relatives came for the holiday. I tried to behave well whenever we had a special meal, like rice and chapati (like tortillas) or spaghetti. I was not a glutton, but I ate a lot at those times. In fact, I only had spaghetti once in my life; it was a special meal for the relatives. But my cousin was afraid we had cooked worms and he would only eat the soup, made from potatoes and arrowroots. I especially liked fruit, because it was so rare to have it.

Thanks to all of you, the kids had lots of special food, and a lot of it! And our students all got stockings full of fruit, nuts, and candies. And they had fun trips! The boys got to see Western Kenya, thanks!

TEA PARTY by Darlene

It's December and I love giving parties. So on Friend Sunday, I asked Mbuvi to announce that all the church ladies were invited to our house Thursday at 4 for a Christmas Tea. OK, that was today. First, I was at the school, and Moses came to tell me there were women at the gate for me... for a tea party. In Swahili, hour 4 is our 10 am whereas our 4 pm is hour 10 -- confused? They were too. So I go home, make two big cakes, cut them into 15 pieces, and then, the rain started. Only if you've been here in Kenya during a rain will you appreciate how hard it is to walk in our particular kind of mud. I thought, "Oh, no. There won't be anyone for tea! Well, maybe 5 or 6." It continued to rain -- a lovely sound on our tin roof, and we really do need the rain. But my party..... Around 3 pm, I started making chai. I arranged chairs, etc. and I was ready, but not expecting many.

Well, by 4 pm, there were 33! I was thrilled! We prayed, and started the cake around. Then 5 more came. And another group, and another, and the rain keeps coming, and another 5. There are muddy shoes everywhere, I'm bringing out a pkg of cookies, making more chai, finding cups and chairs, and I stop counting after 50 women are in my house. I had no more milk or tea leaves for chai, no more food to offer, no more things we could sit on (Maureen even went home and brought all her chairs!) . And we were having fun!

One thing we did was share Christmas memories (around the small group of 50). As I listened to the women, they talked of sharing good food, special food like chapati and mandazi, and being with family and friends, and of going to church on Christmas eve. Not one mention of presents or busy schedules. I feel sorry for all of us with money -- we've been robbed.... in a very real way. There are certain advantages to poverty. We read Mt 2; Jesus' family sounds a lot like their economic situation -- and angels came for them.

Well, my guests left. The oldest woman, who had been a guest on Friend Sunday, gave me a hand woven basket; and I gave her a bag of our tomatoes and we were happy. We all sang "We wish you a merry christmas" I wish that for you all too!

A STORY THAT MAKES ME STAY

by Darlene

All of our students tell their "life stories" to Renee, and I put them in the computer. Tonight I was typing George Lokitoi's story. George came to us in August; he' s from the Turkana tribe, a tribe that lives far north, toward Somalia. His people are nomads, always looking for grazing for herds of goats and cows. It's a hard life, with dangers from lions or raiders from the Pokot tribe. So he ran away and ended up on the streets of Nairobi.

He came to MITS because a fellow street boy told him there was food here. He says he liked the Bible stories (a first for him); his favorite stories were a group -- the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son. When I read that, I felt my heart jump.

Eighteen years ago, Charles and I went with a small group to teach VBS in George's area. Before we went, I interviewed a Turkana man, seeking to present the Bible parables in a way that would draw them to it. With that input, I got a street kid to draw a Turkana woman who had lost a coin. She looks in the grass hut, sweeps with sticks, and finds it. We drew the neighbors who come rejoice with her. For the lost sheep, we had a Masai herder lose a cow and worry about a lion. They jump for joy when it's found. For the lost son, we have a kid who's come into the city and comes to Eastleigh (where our center is).

That said, I was touched (bumps on my arms) because this fits George so well. Just maybe I had that bright idea years ago because Jesus planned to use this to grab George and bring him to Himself and to us. George could feel the diligence with which the woman searches - and recognize it. And the lost sheep/cow -- George ran away because first he had lived through a lion attacking a herd, and when Pokot raiders came and stole two cows from him and whipped him, he couldn't bear to face his father, so he ran away -- he became "lost". And that lost boy came to Nairobi, to us. And he heard Jesus' stories of His love there. I dunno -- but I feel like God used my pictures to bring a lost boy home. This is why I'm here.

HONOR TO GIRLS

WELL DONE, GREAT WOMEN OF MITS

While the writer of Proverbs has much to say about the foolishness of men, his experience also teaches him that some women are hard to live with. In 19:13 he writes of a wife's words that are like "continual dripping of rain." We presume that the rainy season was not a favorite time of his.

Our work in street ministry shows us how hard it is for some women to live together in peace. We have worked hard with street girls to help them recognize how they could 1) get off the streets, 2) take care of themselves, 3) make progress of their lives -- just by several of them living together in an apartment in Mathare Valley or Eastleigh, working when they can, pooling money to pay the rent, and so on. But the girls cannot seem to find agreement; they would rather depend on street guys to give them a place to sleep at night in return for intimacy. They cannot seem to break free of dependence on men, and they can't get along with one another well enough to make it work.

At Kamulu our girls live together in 3 small dorms (maximum 10 girls in a dorm). They do well, but occasionally there are arguments, fights, and even conspiracies against the dorm supervisors. From time to time we have meetings with the girls, let them talk, and teach them more about living in peace. Recently we did a class on communication, listening skills and non-violence. We asked them to practice what they learned, then we gave them an exam a week later.

Four of our girls did very well on the exam, answering questions as well as describing what they practiced during the week. Two of the girls, Eunice Wambui and Mary Waithera, are pictured here. The four girls received an award for their performance. We are proud of them.

A CHAPEL TO REMEMBER

At 8:00 AM each weekday Made in the Streets has chapel. One of the Team or one of the students will pick out 5 songs, ask someone to lead prayer and make a short talk, usually a story with a message at the end. Now and then there is a chapel that you want to make into an eternal moment. Or, as Darlene says, she would like to bottle this chapel and take it out now and then and enjoy it.

Thirteen of our students were back from being away 4 days to take the KCPE (the 8th grade exams in several subjects). Before they went other students had written "success cards" and prayed for them. During chapel they started reporting on their experience, and all of them shared. They said words like "I love you all" and "Thank you to all the teachers" and "Thank you for praying" and "It was hard, but not so hard" and "I'm grateful to my sponsor" and on and on. And all of us felt so great! Then the other students started to share, welcoming the 13 back and saying good things about them, wishing them success.

Taking the KCPE is really special, since most of these kids did not get to public school at all, or maybe one or two years, and they have from 1 to 2 years with us in literacy education. To have prepared for these exams is a great achievement.

I love these kids, and this is a moment with them that I could enjoy forever. With their attitude and confidence, they will make it. They will not return to the streets, and they will be able to find work, and they will have families. Praise God for this ministry, and for all those who support it. Pat yourself on the back - good job!

New People in Kamulu

THREE COME FOR BAPTISM

An exciting day for the Kamulu Church. Brian Ochieng, a MITS student who comes early every Sunday morning to set up the chairs for worship, Evans Wambua, another MITS student, and Mercy Wanjiru, a teenager who has been attending worship for about a year chose to be baptized into Jesus.

Just One More

A long time ago I heard a Tennessee preacher named Ira North talk about evangelism. He asked how many we should try to reach, and the answer was "just one more." And why that one? Because of the value of every life. He went on to say that he would swim the Cumberland River, he would climb Outlook Mountain to reach her, if that one more were his little daughter.

We have one more girl at Kamulu, a treasure from the streets. And she has come in time for the December Holidays -- that's a smart move on her part. Of course she doesn't know what a good time we have planned for the kids who live with us, to make them feel special, to give them new experiences!

Anastacia is 15. She seems glad to be at Kamulu. She speaks some English already and the other kids like her. She started out right away singing in chapel, and she is in the beginning literacy class for now. She also arrived in time to be in the class hearing the reading and retelling of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. We will have more info about her later. If there is someone who wants to sponsor her, she is available. So we have another one to call our own, and we will go to great lengths to find kids like Anastacia, like brave the Mathare River and climb Mt. Longonot.

Climbing Mountains

My family and I recently climbed Mt. Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa. It was difficult and challenging to make it to the top. We needed encouragement, assistance and advice to help us succeed in reaching the top of point Lenana. There were times when it was painful, exhausting and joyful. I fell down several times and then got back up again to strive towards the goal of reaching Lenana. We hired a guide to keep us on the right path. We hired porters to help us carry our heavy bags. People have attempted to climb the mountain only to fail, get injured or even die on Mt. Kenya. It is a risky adventure. We could not do this alone.
We needed the right equipment. We needed warm clothes due to the freezing temperatures experienced at the high elevation. We needed flashlights to light our path because the final ascent is done at night. The guide offered advice and feedback so that we could succeed. He offered his walking stick so I wouldn’t fall so often. His experience and skill helped him to help us to succeed. He has walked the path numerous times helping others to succeed in reaching the top. I experienced a lot of pain in my ankles as I climbed. Hollye got some very painful blisters on her feet. Micah’s hip was painful during the trek. Andrew was fighting malaria. Andrew and Micah encouraged Hollye and I not to give up although we wondered at timesif the trip was worth the pain.

We succeeded in reaching our goal. It was an exciting time when we reached the top. There were others who had reached the peak as well and we all rejoiced with one another. There were times when we needed lots of help from others. There were times we needed to hear someone say to us that we can make it. There were times I had to turn and ask the guide if I was on the right path or not. Reaching the summit wasn’t easy, there were lots of challenges but we rejoiced together when we all made it to the top.

A few years ago a climber attempted to climb Mt. Kenya

alone. He got lost along the way and eventually died somewhere on Mt. Kenya. His body was never found. Just imagine the desperation, fear and despair he must have experienced realizing he was all alone and perishing.

Now, imagine yourself a teenager, all alone on the frightening streets of Nairobi. There is no place to sleep safely or eat healthily. The streets are scary with violence and danger all around. Just imagine the fear, desperation and despair these youngsters must feel as they wonder if they are perishing.
At Made in the Streets we encourage kids living on the streets to reach their goals. They need help. The teenagers sometimes fall down and need encouragement to get up. Charles (or “Chizi” – crazy) was living in a broken down truck and going down the wrong path. He spent his days begging and collecting scrap metal in order to buy marijuana and glue to sniff to ease his discomfort. In his high states he was hit by motorist and another time bitten by police dogs. The path he was on was leading to destruction and despair. He needed our help to get him back on the right path. All of the kids living on the streets have experienced terrible pain in their lives. Many have buried

both of their parents. All have been abused. All have been misled by others. There are times when they don’t eat for long periods of time. What they do eat comes out of the trash heap or someone may offer them small amounts of leftovers. It is a very painful existence.

Anastacia was not equipped to succeed. She had dropped out of school and was living in poverty. After the death of her mother, she spent her days in the streets. She needed training and skills to reach her goals.

Made in the Streets equips children with a normal education,
skills to be employed, and the gospel of Jesus. She has completed her education and is now in journalism school studying to become a reporter. She has given her life to Jesus and has been baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of her sins.
Thank you for your part in helping to lead these precious children to the Guide, who will show them the path of righteousness
and truth and encourage them

on their journey to the Mountain of the Lord.

by Larry Conway

NEW BABY AT MITS!

Very exciting, and scary! Paulyne Adhiambo was taken to hospital Saturday night, and the doctors thought she would give birth before morning. But there was a problem, an finally the doctors asked her about surgically bringing the baby. She didn't really want to and was scared of surgery (a lot of these kids have never even been to a doctor and are frightened of everything connected with them).

The doctors told her, "The baby is getting tired," so she finally consented. They performed the surgery yesterday, and we have another baby girl. We don't know yet whether there was fetal stress or any complications, but both seem okay. A few minutes ago Augustina (who works at the Eastleigh Center as a cook and a sort of grandmother to the girls) was going to get water and take it to her. Even the water at the hospital isn't safe to drink! But in spite of the problems, the staff there does a good job.

So rejoice with us. And please ask God to bring life and joy to this baby, who will never have to live on the streets.

Multiple Assemblies at Kamulu

It's a peaceful and quiet rainy Sunday afternoon; I think I need a nap. After church we invited our MITS intern over for lunch, with burritos and raw veggies and apples with peanut butter. Then it started to rain again.

This morning when I went down to the MITS Learning Center to make coffee and set up my classroom, Brian Ochieng was already there setting up chairs and putting out song books for the worship. Later when it was time for class to begin, rain had come, so we undid Brian's work and put the chairs back in the Bible room. Then class met in the chapel room. We had a great class of 36 people, even 3 babies; with rain drumming on the roof, we had group discussions on 2 Timothy 2.

Often there are many in rural areas who stay home from church when it rains, and sometimes with us, especially since we meet outside. We kept our class and a few others in chapel, and Joel and others started worship in the Bible room. So, all of a sudden Kamulu had multiple services, and ours were simultaneous. Francis Wahome, one of our older students, led songs in the chapel room, while Joel Njue led in the Bible room. Francis Mbuvi preached his sermon after a couple of songs in the chapel room, while they sang in the Bible room. Then the children went out to Sunday school, and Jackton led the communion in the Bible room. After the

sermon, Francis went across the courtyard, and Jackton came to the chapel room for the Lord's Supper.

It worked out really well, so now we have a plan on rainy mornings. And we had 123 people, only about 10 fewer than usual. Besides that, we had 9 babies and 7 toddlers in church today. Since we have a single moms program, and our Team members have married and have children, 11 of them are our own. But that means 5 are from the community.

We honored one of our older students today for his service in the church. Francis Cugia has led in worship in prayer and the Lord's Supper for several years and has been a spiritual encouragement to younger kids. Here is his latest school picture. He is now in an internship in carpentry in the city.

New Life, New Experience

It's a relaxed day...Saturday...MITS students are washing clothes, cleaning the property, looking forward to playing soccer in the afternoon. It rained all night. We've washed the car and cleaned it, and we're not expecting to drive it in the mud. At least, not today.

The phone rings, and it is Moses, our IT man and computer teacher. He wants to borrow the car - after all, I am like Dad to the Team. But it's not for himself. One of the girls needs to go to the hospital. She's in labor, or something, he says. He is the only driver around, and the other vehicles are being used. In a few minutes Moses is at the house, and this is a new experience for him. I make him nervous by asking what he will do if baby is born in the car.

It's Paulyne Adhiambo, admitted to the single moms' program in late September. So Moses and Irene take her to Pumwani Maternity Hospital and check her in. The doctor says she will have the baby by morning, so she should stay. Now Moses gets another new experience. He goes to the store to buy all the things a baby needs -- blanket and oil and shampoo and diapers, none of which the hospital has.

So in a few hours MITS will have another new life among us, someone to love and teach so that he/she will never be "on the streets." And Moses knows what to do next time.

PRAYER FOR ENEMIES

We accept Jesus as Lord, but we have some problems doing all that He says. Many years ago Darlene invited Curt Cloninger to come to Redwood City where I preached to do his presentation of the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7. Darlene invited the community women whom she taught who were mothers of kids from the Preschool Bible Classes, several of whom were not involved in church life. The next day in their class Darlene asked what they thought of the drama. One of them said, "I liked the program, but I don't agree with everything he said." When Darlene told her he was quoting Jesus, she became very thoughtful.

If we are honest, there are times when we would want to say, "I don't agree with Jesus." One of those is when he says "Love your enemies...pray for your enemies." Because he meaning of that is deep and far-reaching. Love is for family and closeness...prayer is for God to use His power to bring benefit and joy and new hope. Give that to enemies?

In business it means that we pray that God will bless our competitors, giving them both profit and joy. In a community it means that we pray that God will bless our neighbors, even the one who builds a fence across the road and blocks access. In politics it means that we ask God to give long life and leadership ability to politicians who use their position to steal land and businesses.

We were treated to a great prayer at church in Kamulu Sunday. It was the prayer for the sadaka (the collection), and the young man praying was Titus Kioko. Anyone who has seen one of our MITS brochures has seen Titu

s, sitting on an old tire in front of our Eastleigh Center, under the influence of glue and drugs. He was that way all the time on the streets, and both Team members and visitors loved him and prayed for him.

So Sunday he prayed for the children of the church, that they might grow strong and be with God, and he prayed for the preacher, that his sermon might help us, and he prayed for the

leaders of Kenya, that

they might make Kenya a good place for people, and he prayed that God would bless

Waititu, the MP who led people to seize a portion of MITS land, and he prayed for Sudan and Somalia and America.

Here are two pics of Titus, the one when on the streets in 2007, and this year's school picture at MITS. And there are many who are glad to know him.

TEAM RETREAT

The Team of leaders of Made in the Streets enjoyed a retreat at Mountain Lodge near Mount Kenya. The weekend retreat was organized by Hollye and Larry Conway and led by Dan Spann of Knoxville, Tennessee. Here they are pictured having tea in the great outdoors, which they enjoyed very much, along with Dan's teaching and encouragement. The Team divided into two groups, with one going the first two nights. Then they were joined for one day by the second group, who stayed two nights also. They do this because MITS has the street kids in boarding 24/7/365, and there can never be time off for everyone. Darlene and Charles Coulston stayed with the kids for the day the Team groups overlapped.

The single moms from Eastleigh came out to Kamulu during the retreat so that all Eastleigh Team members could go on the retreat. One of the moms had her baby two days before the retreat, and little Yvonne (since renamed Hollye Wanjiru) did very well.

Milly and Kehl are shown here on the retreat in their matching T-shirts, which were given by South MacArthur Church during their "Camp Mtume" week with the students. The Coulstons have noted remarkable growth in Kehl in the past 2 months. Sue Dansby of Denton, Texas, is visiting with us now, and her expertise is child growth and nursery school. She is working with Kehl, with Milly and Jackton and with our kids in what we can do to help Kehl develop. We are so pleased that God blesses us with the people we need at the right time. Sue is also working with our single moms to teach them both child care and child development.

SINGLE MOMS PROJECT

Good News! Our single moms program now has the 10 that we wanted for our pilot project. We are excited that new girls with babies or who are ready to deliver entered our Eastleigh program last week. We would like to have sponsors for these girls, all of whom have been in hopeless situations until now. Someone for them to write to, someone who prays for them, someone who supports their growth at MITS -- this will help their confidence and desire to change their lives. Please write Charles Coulston at charles.coulston@made-in-the-streets.org if you wish to be a friend and sponsor to one of these girls with a baby.

There are six of them who need a sponsor. Here are pictures and information about two of them so you can see. If you write and ask for one of our girls with babies, we will immediately write you back and send a picture and additional info about how to be a sponsor.

Veronica Wambui grew up in a house with an alcoholic father who beat his children, including the third born Veronica, and then chased her from the house. One night when sh

e was chased she ended up in the house of a man who got her pregnant; she was 14 at the time. She came to Nairobi to be with her aunt, who chased her away when she found out she was pregnant. Later her mother came and found her, but the mother has been diagnosed HIV positive and no longer cares for Veronica. Veronica gave birth a few days after entering our program. At first the baby was called "Yvonne" but now she is Hollye Wanjiru (the Conways are dearly loved by the girls in the Eastleigh program). This picture was taken on her first visit to Kamulu; the girls come out every other weekend to be with our family at Kamulu. Her date of birth is September 2, 1993.

Cecilia Mwenza grew up in Mwingi, a small city East of Nairobi. A sister and brother have died, so she has one brother. She completed the 8th grade and took the KCPE exams. She got pregnant with a boy in her school class, but he had no way to care for her, and would not. She came to Nairobi to live with her mother, who is a barmaid in Huruma (next to Mathare Valley). Her mother came home drunk always, would abuse her and would give her no food, so she was left on her own with the baby. Her little boy is named Eric Mwedaka (birthday April 5, 2009). Cecilia's birthdate is June 3, 1994. She says she wants to be a dressmaker.

These are just two of the girls who need your help, encouragement and love. Sign up today!

Life at Kamulu with Street Kids

This report was recently written by Moses Okoth, who instructs skills students in computers and maintains our network and internet access.

"We are well, and the students are doing great, always with a lot of enthusiasm to learn something new in class and also out of class. The 4.30 classes are going on great. We have started a new unit 102 in the Business, Bible and Computer offerings. Irene alternates with Francis in the Bible course, and Joel still co-ordinates with Victor in the Business course. My classes in Computers are still a great challenge to both me and the kids. I still need some pointers on the curriculum for accounting on the business side. (note: anyone want to write some “computer business accounting for teens”? Just 20 forty-five minute lessons)

The electricity rationing is not all that bad. I have stuff to do with the skills students on these days...Monday. Wednesday and Friday. Mostly we go through the theory part, or just chat about successful people in the computer industry and make wishful stories of upcoming days. I have to say this group that are in computer skills training were really meant to be here. Imagine thay even want to know how animations are done, like in the movies Transformers and Ice Age. This makes me have to do more research and have something to tell them when they ask such questions. But all in all I am always enjoying it. As long as it’s computer related, that is me...

We used Coulston's little generator some during VBS, when there was no electricity. I must say that is one economical generator. We put in petrol on a Monday and it served us the whole week. If I could get something like that for the computers it really would be nice. So should I go ahead and enquire how much a generator costs? (note: anyone want to help with this, to serve the computer kids?)

We had a break-in at the café, losing plates and cups and utensils and sufurias (big cooking pots). It really make me feel like getting hold of the guys ad plucking their toe nails one at a time to represent the pain in all our hearts here at MITS. But better to suffer loss than to harm another.

I had a chance to visit Joseph Mburu at his place of work yesterday. I was in town with Hollye trying to network and get placements for our kids at different areas. Mburu is doing great; he now has a passion of going for further computer studies and wants to be doing that from next month. Joel and Francis will organise and maybe we can come up with something? What do you think about this? Now that he is earning, he can also take some responsibility in paying for things like his transport as he works and goes to school. Joel says he can start finding an apartment next year as funds are available. (note: does anyone want to help Joseph into further studies in computers? His job doesn’t provide enough to cover his expenses at this point, so his sponsor continues to care for his housing and food and transport needs, but he will need about $30 a month to go to school).

We have a volunteer called Victorine. She will be with us on the weekdays till Friday, then attends college in social work on Saturdays. After her classes she will head back here for the weekend with the girls. (note: since Moses wrote this, Victorine has become a regular with MITS at Kamulu, while continuing school in social work. She is with the girls and is teaching a literacy class on days she is available. Would anyone like to cover her salary while she is on probation with us, and afterwards assuming she stays? Cost is $100 a month)

Three of the single mothers are here at Kamulu now. We have tested them and put them in classes, after which they will do skills training. In the meantime Irene Mbithe and Victorine have been looking after the babies when they are not teaching. Jane Njeri, supervisor at Eastleigh, tells me she got another single mother.

Our boys’ dorm has been painted, for which we are grateful; now it looks nice. The gate has been expanded so the bus can pass through easily. We are planting more trees at the boys. We want it to look nice and be cool."

MITS Library and News

The following report is from Francis Mbuvi, giving an insight into one day at the Kamulu Campus of Made in the Streets. A few notes are included as explanation.

"Today we had a slow day because it was declared a public holiday.

We had Chapel at 10 AM and it was heavenly singing. Ken Owino shared with us and said we should take care of things as if they were ours. We had one hour in Library -- here are two pics of Jackline, Margaret and

Mwanahawa reading during that time.

(note: The Library is a special part of MITS. Each year when visitors come to work with us, we always ask them to bring some more books that are good for teenagers - to help them grow spiritually, to help them with English, to deepen their skills studies, and so on. We have almost 3,000 books now that the Coulstons have returned with a suitcase full.)

We also had our classes early. I talked with Akinyi and she said that the 4:30 classes were very nice. She said the students enjoyed them and that they learned much. She too said she learned a lot from the things she taught.

(note: Irene Akinyi is teaching the current Bible offering of the 4:30 Classes, which is Personal Counseling. We are teaching the kids how to recognize emotional and spiritual problems and how to develop themselves, with God's help, into secure and stable people. The 4:30 Classes are designed to help the students prepare themselves for life outside of MITS, in a job, in their own housing, in a new church)

We had some time in the afternoon to work in the farm. There was power

today so we had water."

(note: There is severe power rationing in Kenya because of the serious long-term drought the country has been facing. Many rivers can no longer support hydro-electric plants. When we have electricity, we have water, since we have a well that is 300 feet deep and has plenty of water for our purposes. We are grateful to friends in the USA who provided funds and expertise for our water supply.

Church at Kamulu

Francis Mbuvi's Recent Report

"We had such a good time in Church today. Joel and

Jackton were on leave, so they were not available to lead singing and translate. It gives opportunity for us to use other church members and the students. Titus translated for the Golf Course Road group of four that is here. I think that was nice and bold of him to do. Earlier Larry Conway had asked Evans, who works at the farm, to do it, and he said he was afraid.

Titus was nearby (the first pic is of Titus when he was still on the streets; he is in the middle with the big smile), and Larry told him to sit in between the visitors and translate what I said. Even though some of the Swahili words are hard, Titus did well. The visitors told me they enjoyed the sermon. What a great gift we have in the students.

The morning adult and teen class was nice too, and today it was extra full. I had to bring in some more extra seats. All the discussion questions were the same things I was to preach about -- things to remove or kill in our lives and those to put on (from Colossians 3). We were blessed.

This picture is a recent one of Titus with an Aggies for Christ visitor to Kamulu. They formed a special bond, as Alex has prayed for Titus since Titus was on the streets, and this year Titus was praying for Alex after he became ill with mono. Our ministry is truly mutual, and we believe that street kids have the ear of God.

Seeing the Glory

misery to ministry

Meet Agnes. She grew up in the slums of Nairobi in the home of a mother who cared for 17 children and a father who was a thief and who eventually was killed after a huge bank robbery. Her mother did not have money for food and school fees and so Agnes helped her family by sleeping with men to bring in some income. She eventually married and was very happy with her little family, having a successful husband in the advertising industry and two sons. Then her mother-in-law brought a second wife into the home. Agnes endured one very horrible year and left.

Agnes’ next lover lived in a back alley of Nairobi, amidst towering piles of trash. Agnes joined Patrick there and conceived his child. One day as Patrick was drinking, he got into a fight and was stabbed in the neck three times, loosing his life. Agnes continued to live on the base until she was taken advantage of by other men. She gave birth to a beautiful little girl named Marilyn. But Marilyn was born with cancer and a huge tumor. She endured 3 difficult surgeries, managed to wrap herself tightly around our hearts and passed away at 10 months

Agnes' life was so empty and she decided that she desperately needed and wanted the Lord in her life. A few weeks after Marilyn’s death she wanted to give her life to Jesus. She wanted to “be close to God, wanted to be cleansed from her sin and wanted God to be glorified thru her life, as her life is a true testimony.” She will tell you, “The day I was baptized, I changed”. And she has and it has been beautiful to witness. I like to tell people that one of my favorite parts of our ministry is having a front row seat on God’s miracles!

Barbie Jones contacted me and told me of an orphan with cancer from one of their orphanages on the coast that was brought to a hospital in Nairobi. He is here and does not know anyone. I went and met precious Nyale and God put it on my heart to introduce him to Agnes. She is now Nyale’s friend, who visits him, loves on him and meets his needs. Agnes’s heart is ready to bless others for God’s glory. We have more plans and dreams for Agnes’s life, as does God!

,

Thank you for praying for us and this ministry. We send our love, Hollye

News and Coulston Address

The best news for street ministry now is

*a new mother and baby at Eastleigh Center -- Lucy and Collins -
*4 new boys at Kamulu Center
*received funds to send Willys (who loves farming and animals) to school in agriculture
*a new Team member -- Jane Njeri -- working in Eastleigh and serving street girls beautifully

The Coulstons have a new address to receive mail. The family is now based in the Fort Worth/Dallas area. We are less than 20 minutes from DFW, so our flights to visit people on behalf of Made in the Streets will be easy to catch and centrally located.

Continue to donate online (see www.made-in-the-streets.org or www.madeinthestreets.blogspot.com for the online)

or send checks to Made in the Streets, 409 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027. But for mail about the ministry, or for sponsors to send mail for us to take to students, please send to

Charles/Darlene Coulston
P. O. Box 93165
Southlake, TX 76092

We look forward to hearing from you.

Email from Laurent Mogambi

(Laurent was a student in the early days of Made in the Streets when we began at the campus of Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute. He did well in our informal school, and our team enrolled him in a local elementary school in the 7th grade -- he had never been to school -- and he graduated the next year and took the National 8th Grade Exam. He then went to a cooking school in Eastleigh, got an internship at the cafeteria at Nairobi University and ended up with a job there for 5 years. He is now becoming our full-time cooking instructor at MITS. He married one of our girls -- Elizabeth Wangare -- and they have a little boy named Raymond. A side note is that all workers at the cafeteria were given jobs because they were related to University employees, with the exception of Laurent. When others would ask him who brought him, he would say "God brought me." When he would tell them he was a street kid, they disbelieved until he showed them a picture we took of him on the streets. I thought you might like to

read his latest email to us). peace, charles

Hi, Thanks for writing to and asking about how I am doing.

Everything is doing fine here and busy as usual.

About the girls at Nargis' shop - I only met with Caro; she came to our house and we talked a lot.

About Christ Jesus - I can't say anything less than to confess that He is still working in our liv

es and everything is good becouse he died for my sins and rose from dead and now He lives.

About the 20 acres - everything is going well though we don't have much time to be there the whole day, since I am still working at the University part-time. The kids are learning to cook.

About the shops and Jackton plans. I don't know much about Jack's plans. But about the shops, everything is doing fine, including the tea house.

Linda (nb: Benthall, intern from Otter Creek church) is doing fine and she came to our house and I shared a little about my life story.

About my catering students - Grace Wahu started her attachment last week at my boss' Restaurant. Brenda Adhiambo and Mercy Wanja are going for an interview this coming Tuesday at Carnivore Restaurant.

Ryan (nb: Matthews, intern from New Mexico) is already gone to USA.

And the Eastleigh program is doing good including work at the bases.

Finally I don't have much to add apart from saying that the LORD is good all the time GOD is always great for me and the MITS people. Praise His Name.

The Streets are Alive

The streets are alive with the sounds of kindness, with words of comfort and encouragement, because Made in the Streets is there.  These kids sleep against a wall, or scrounge for edible throwaways, or seek entertainment where it can be found.  

Now and then they settle back and listen, and question, and comment, and the gracious and kind Word of God that stimulates all that is good within a person is heard, as Kennedy and Anthony and Larry and Joel

 and visitors from USA churches speak and listen and love.  And buy a meal for those who stay to take part in worship and learning.  

South MacArthur Church from Irving, Texas, sent a group of 15 for two weeks, and they went to the streets and expressed their love and solidarity with the kids there.  And it made a difference as young people listened and took new courage.  

Thanks, South Mac, and thanks, Team members who do this day after day.  

CAMP MTUME

hi from Darlene.  We just had a wonderful ending to the camp put on by South MacArthur Church in Irving Texas.  We had a bonfire under the equatorial stars, and God was present.  After the singing and prayer, students shared what they had gained from the camp.  This brought back memories of other camps we've shared in California; what I know is that at church camp, there are ALWAYS teenagers who make life decisions.  Here too.  

For instance, Ken Wabungu talked about what he learned from Ben Copeland; because of it, he had made a commitment to always apologize when he had "bullied" someone.  He talked about "wanting to apologize" when he knew he had been too over-bearing, but was stopped by considering what they'd think if he did.  Now, he will, for Jesus.

Also, Mercy Wanja talked about prayer.  She said she always prayed short prayers like "thank you", but this week, in the camp "quiet time", she said "I really prayed!  I talked to God.  I can't say enough about what this means to me."

And Titus Kioko had that morning asked Jackton to pray for him -- he is depressed with memories of his mom who died long ago.  Everyone gathered to pray for and with him and continued encouraging him during the day.  As he was reading his Bible today, the memories came and he felt a pulling to stop reading; he responded as Charles had suggested and said in his heart, "No, I want to read my Bible."  And he said, "My mind cleared and I could read. I'm thankful for everyone here, for loving and praying for me."

To all who wonder,  "are visitors really helpful?"  YES.  God uses all of us to serve his children.  Thanks to all of you who help in so many ways, just wish you could have been here at the bonfire.  Please know that we are all a part of what happens to these kids.      

The Same Yet Different

Two years ago I was part of a team from South MacArthur in Irving, Texas that came to MITS. This summer we have returned to hold a camp with the students. As soon as we landed in Nairobi, many things felt very familiar. The Nairobi airport was still crowded and slow, the roads bumpy and congested and the sky dark. Sun sets here at about 6:30 and it gets dark almost immediately. The city of Nairobi has lights but not like we are used to in Texas where it never really gets dark enough to see many stars. That all seemed so much like the last trip, but when we arrived at Made In The Streets, I was suddenly aware of just how much time has passed. The kids are taller, and they have more the appearance of adults. As we talked I noticed immediately that their English much more complete and advanced. Student who two years ago would barely talk could stand and carry on a good conversation. Monday they wore their uniforms and they no longer look like rescued street kids, but just students with smiling faces. The students have more confidence and assurance. Man of the students are advancing to job training and have such pride as they share their plans for the future. But their smiles are still the same. Their joy in life still the same. Feeling the hand of God in this work- it is still the same. It just doesn't get much better. (submitted by Susan from South Mac)

Day Two at Camp Mtume

Morning of day two at Camp Mtume came early, but I was excited to see the children again and get the opportunity to teach the children about the twelve apostles. Yesterday (see yesterday's blog by Stephanie), I went into Eastleigh and saw the terrible poverty that the street kids live in every day. That experience broke my heart and gave me a new appreciation for how far the kids living at MITS have come-- and the huge changes that they have made in their lives.

We broke up the kids into eight groups and each group has a camp counselor. My group is the blue team. We have different colored bandanas to denote people in a group. This morning, after giving each child a new bible with their name engraved on it,we learned about the apostle James, son of Zebedee, and his brother the apostle John. How they both had changed so much from the point when Jesus called them to be diciples to greater maturity in Christ. The children in my group talked about how James and John were excellent examples for being a good disciple, and related stories about their past on the streets and the differences in their lives now that they are at MITS. They are so thankful for what they now have. The kids related their individual stories of how Jackton and Francis and others came to the streets and told them the good news about Jesus Christ. I was humbled to hear these stories and greatful that I could help teach them in my own small way. However, I think I'm learning much more from them then they are learning from me. This is such an eye opening experience for me and is helping me in my own struggle to walk with Christ by turning everything over the Him.

What a blessing from God this experience is for me! I pray that He will turn me into a better servant for these wonderful kids.

(written by Benjamin Copeland - visiting from South MacArthur Church of Christ)

First day of Camp Mtume and teaching moms in Eastleigh

The first day of Camp Mtume (Camp "Apostle")was exciting and fun.
The children started out the day with chapel and then a movie (yes, Transformers 2 is the hot movie here in Kenya as well :)
While the counselors and kids watched their movie, Ben and I went to Eastleigh to work with the mother/baby program they have there every Monday. With the help of our most excellent translator, Mama Angel, I was able to teach the moms more about nutrition and several other health topics. The mothers were full of interesting and tough questions. Our conversations revealed that the usual necessities we take for granted, like formula, diapers, and multivitamins, are extremely expensive relative to the resources these moms have. Just day to day living is a struggle. I was also able to examine two of the children who have been having health troubles and they were so beautiful. The staff in Eastleigh is so hardworking and amazing in the work they do with limited facility and materials.
Afterward, we all returned to the Learning Center and continued the Camp Mtume activities. There were weaving crafts, group games/sports, and small group time.
The kids enjoyed learning about the meaning of their names and started bonding with their group leaders. Overall it was an amazing day and I know that all of us who are visiting Made in the Streets have been blessed already by the the children and staff. Keep praying for this great ministry!

(this entry blogged by Stephanie Copeland visiting Made in the Streets from South MacArthur Church or Christ)

We Arrived

We are finally back, and some here for the first time. We left Irving excited to see friends and arrived in Nairobi jumping at the sight of Jackton and 4 boys waving franticly through the glass windows. We are very grateful that all bags arrived on time with us and all materials were still inside.

The welcome was overwhelming last night as we arrived at the girl's dorm. While we were sitting in the bus waiting for the gate to open we were greeted with loud chants from the girls. Then once we got out of the bus we were literally mobbed with hugs. I don't remember who all I hugged because girls were hanging from each limb of my body. We felted truly loved.

This morning we had the pleasure of attending church here at the learning center. To really understand the voices, the songs, the smiles, the hand shakes, and the wonder of God there is only one thing I can say....you must come visit! It does not matter if we understood the language or not we all found ourselves singing the beautiful words of God, in swahili. A group of the girls got up and sang a tribal song that spoke of heaven. While being surrounded in their precious voices all I could think of was "wow, these are my beautiful sisters and one day we will be in heaven together." I feel at home here.

Molly

Love It When They Get a Job

 We have many goals for students at Made in the Streets.  We want them to walk with Jesus and trust God with the whole heart.  We want them to have good friendships and become good husbands and wives.  We also want them to get a job.  And we are thrilled, we feel a sense of victory when it happens.

Last week Moses Okoth, our computer trainer, went to a store in the city where we earlier bought the monitors for our virtual library.  He talked with the owner and told him about the street ministry and how we are training some street kids in computers.  The owner said, "Some people are doing good work, you are doing a great work!"  Then he asked Moses to bring in a student.  So on Monday Moses went in with Joseph Mburu to introduce him to the owner.  The owner said, "I thought you'd forgotten."  Then he told Moses to go away, to step over to the side.  He pulled out a laptop computer that had not had software put on it.  Then he sat Joseph down at the table, handed him a CD and said, "Install this program."  And Joseph did it!  So the owner hired him on the spot and put him to work.  That is, after arranging with Joseph for his salary, and he also agreed to pay Joseph's fare to and from work.  

So we say, "well done, Moses" and "hurrah, Joseph."  And thank you, Lord, for another blessing.

Of Losses and Gains

   There is no lack of excitement at Made in the Streets.  Some of it we like, and some we don't.  We didn't like it this morning, when Eliza arrived early in the morning at the Tea House on the highway to find out the lock had been broken on the kitchen.  The cooking pans, dishes, tea flasks, cups, knives and forks were all taken.  When John Wambu brought the police over to report, they said there were other break-ins last night, including a hotel down the highway at Kingori's.  

  This break-in shut down our Tea House for at least today, until we can get new equipment.  Please pray for us and for Kenya.  The economy is not good, and lawlessness is becoming worse, with theft on the increase.  John plans to weld plates to go over all our locks on metal doors on the property to make it very difficult to break a lock.  We are also trying to get as many circular locks as possible, because they are much harder to break or cut. 

  There are good things happening too.  Laurent and his cooks-to-be are having a good time.  They get to eat some of what they cook, so they are likely to start gaining weight.  They baked bread last week and brought it around to sell to various ones of us to recoup the expenses, and the bread was great.  

  We are planning for Vacation Bible School again. This year we will have it the second week of August, so Joel Njue and several students will put together the classes using materials friends brought from the USA.  After that they will travel to Nziu, where we have a great congregation, and lead a VBS there as well.  In another year, Nziu Church will be able to do its own VBS if they have supplies and materials.  If anyone wants to help Joel and his kids with the VBS, please send a donation to Made in the Streets, 409 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027, or use our new online donation option.  The cost of our VBS plus that of Nziu will be about $450.  

4.30 at MITS

  We are so excited about the 4.30 Classes -- we are doing month-long units in Bible, Business and Computers.  Our skills training students come weekdays from 4:30 to 5:15.  We are doing 5 units in each area (that is 20 classes per unit) -- Bible is 1) business ethics, 2) personal counseling, 3) relationships at work, 4) serving Jesus on your job and 5) relationships outside of work.  Business is 1) getting a job, 2) keeping a job, 3) accounting without a computer, 4) marketing and 5) secretarial.  Computer is 1) personal finance, 2) small business finance,   3) business English, 4) appropriate use of technology and 5) office computing.  

  We have someone writing Bible 1 and 2 and 4, Business 1 and 2 and Computer 1 and 4.  We need you to help us with one of these courses.  Essentially it is a one-page lesson plan for 20 days for a Unit, with a Scripture for memory, a purpose statement, methods to use in class, activity /discussion /small group, etc.  

  Please look at the blog at  www.made-in-the-streets.blogspot.com  at Moses Okoth's great article about the 4.30 class in computer that he is teaching.  You will see how valuable it is.

HONOR                                                                                                                                                                                        

   

We try to give honor where it is due.  This month Joel Njue, our student affairs director at MITS, is receiving an honor in church for his role in the Sunday school and in development of Vacation Bible Schools at Kamulu.  He has also taken students on many trips to do VBS at village churches, and they have been happily received.  

Besides leading worship at Kamulu Church, Joel also spends some time in Eastleigh each week on the streets.  Here he is a Rounda Base - he's the one on the left in the white cap.  

We are truly proud of the men and women who serve, at low pay (we call it ministerial, but not the kind in government), the street children of Nairobi.  How wonderful the feet of those who walk through garbage to tell the Good News!

The Children of MITS

Made in the Streets is now a place of children.  Besides the four children of the Moms living in the Eastleigh Center - Brian, Mutua, Larry and Mna -- and the children of the 40 or so Moms who come to the Monday program, we have our own children.  And Darlene loves being the Shosho (Granny).  Kehl is Jackton and Milly's baby, born with hydroencephalus, he is doing very well.  Kehl has not suffered any of the setbacks or problems with the shunt that the doctors were concerned about.  Each week now he goes in for physical therapy.  He has been using his legs to kick with but not to stand with, but he is beginning to test them.  He recently began to find his mouth with his thumb, and he chews on the Shosho's toys as he sits in her lap on Sunday morning.  They came to the Coulston's house for dinner last week, and Kehl is pictured here on Dad's lap chewing on broccoli.  

   Raymond is Laurent and Elizabeth's little one, and he is a delight, and very talkative.  He is really glad to be living at Kamulu - such freedom to run around.  And we have Sunday school, and he has friends to play with.    Here he is standing with his Dad singing in church; and he has all the hand motions

 down also.  

                                                        

Jonathan is 3 years old now, and he has a little brother named Jeremy, and Francis and Mauryn are having a great time being parents.  Jonathan is in nursery school.  When he comes home in the afternoon, he often comes over to his nearest neighbors, Darlene and "Kulu", to visit, because he just might get a cookie.  He likes to follow Charles around and watch him work in the yard or with tools.  On this day Charles was trying to repair a sprinkler, and they were accidentally sprayed once.  Jonathan liked it so much that he started running through it, then he just stood in it and got completely wet.  When his Mom came over, Charles said, "You may not want to see this."  She just laughed, whatever she was thinking.  

  We also have Amaria, Irene Mbithe's little one, and John Wambu has lots of children - Susie is now 9 years old, and most of them are out of high school.  And Ben Mwami has 3 children.  And Kariuki (he works on the farm) and his wife have two children now.  So we are a place of children and enjoying it very much.  

FOREVER CHANGED by Alex Jackson

     There are few places in the world where one can directly see the changing power of our Lord. Made In the Streets is one of those places, it has forever changed my life as it has forever changed the lives of its students. The street children of Nairobi are perhaps the most lost souls I have ever encountered. Their countenance is one of despair and their stories full of injustice. The first time I visited MITS during the summer of 2006, I left with a bitter taste in my mouth. How could God put his children through such an upbringing? If he loves all his little children how can he introduce them to drugs at such a young age and how can he let them starve in these cold, dirty slums?

    Upon my second visit to MITS (summer of 2009) my eyes were opened and my opinions changed. I witnessed the grace and mercy of God first hand. I still don't know why God puts children through street life but I do know now that there stories are not full of despair but rather hope. Seeing children in Kamulu whom I first met on the streets showed me how much God loves these little children and how much the power of our Lord can change their lives. Kamulu lets children robbed of their childhood be children again. The smiling faces, laughter, jokes and games has shown me that the Lord has a purpose for every one of them and, through their experience in the slums, is preparing them for amazing lives of service. These kids are the light of the Lord and I am forever changed by my time with them.

    Perhaps no story is as powerful as Titus Kioko's. When I met Titus in 2006 he was skinny, high, disrespectful, angry and mischevious. One afternoon we decided to buy some sandals for the street kids at one of our relief camps as none of them had shoes, we couldn't imagine climbing through the trash piles and walking among broken glass barefoot. We were handing out sandals through the gate at the Eastleigh center, but when Titus stepped up to get his sandals, we ran out. Titus looked at me with furious eyes and spit in my face. I was livid, and while we bought him a pair of sandals, I wanted nothing to do with him. However, Titus has a personality that draws you in, and I couldn't resist forming a friendship with him. When I left Nairobi, I prayed that God would work in Titus' life and he most certainly did.

    My trip this summer was full of hills and valleys as my health really hindered my ability to serve. When I got out of the Aga Kahn Hospital, the first thing I wanted to do was see the kids. I was sitting in a chair in the Learning Center and I heard someone say, "man Alex, you're alot weaker than the last time I saw you." I turned around and saw Titus just laughing histerically. It was such a joy to see him taller, well dressed and in good spirits. He then said, "I have been praying for> you ever since I heard you were ill." It stopped me dead in my tracks, Titus Kioko is praying for me? This last sunday Titus served communion, led a prayer, and sang with the praise team, I am so proud of who he has become. The Titus I spent time with in Kamulu is a true servant of the Lord and his story will be a blessing to anyone who hears it, he resembles the Titus I met in the streets only in appearance and humor. If God can change Titus he can change anyone. Saying goodbye was hard, but I am so excited to hear where the Lord takes him, I have no doubt that Titus will do great things with his life.

    Titus' story is just one of the hundreds of stories of reformation among Made in the Streets students. The world could use more programs like MITS.

Show Honor To One Another

On Sunday we honored two members of the Kamulu Church of Christ for faithful service.  

Brian Ochieng is one of our students at Made in the Streets.  He lived on the streets as a young teenager and has been with us for 2+ years.  Each Sunday morning he comes to the Learning Center where the church meets outside, gets out the benches and the chairs and lines them up and sets out the song books.  He received a certificate of honor for faithful service and a cash award.

Jane Njeri has been a member of the Kamulu Church for 3+ years.  She was formerly an alcoholic and is open about her past and her struggles.  She made a decision several years ago to change her life and did all the right things to make everything right with God and to build a new life.  For the past year she has volunteered for Made in the Streets at the Eastleigh Center working with street mothers who come to the Monday

program.  In recent months they have served 40+ girls each week.  Jane has proven to be a good teacher, has good rapport with the girls and serves as a good example to them.  She also received a service certificate and a cash award. 

The Library at MITS - Kamulu

We love our library.  We now have 2,868 books.  In the recent container sent from Tennessee we received 573 reading books for the kids, 501 Bible books, a box of board books for babies and some of the National Geographics that we did not have.  Thanks to a Bible professor at David Lipscomb, to the Otter Creek Church library, to someone in Irving, Texas, for the NGs, and to those kind people from Otter Creek who collected and boxed the books at Healing Hands!  Darlene and visitors from Pepperdine have categorized and taped books and typed titles into a computer file.  

The library is going to be of great help as we are upgrading our literacy training and our Bible, business and computer offerings.  In addition to the 13 "fast track" students who are preparing themselves for the 8th Grade Exit Exam in December, we are beginning a new class called 4.30 in which we will give our skills students (34 of them beginning June 1) additional knowledge in Bible (especially morality in the marketplace, but also in regard to marriage and friendships), Business (getting a job, keeping a job, starting a business, relationships on the job) and Computers (personal accounting, accounting for a small business, using the internet wisely and efficiently and advanced English studies).  That's a long sentence; hope you can make it out. 

A unique organization By Jessica Barnes

   I came to MITS almost a month ago to serve in the catering department, building ovens and teaching lessons. As I left my friends, family, and newly received degree behind, I thought I was escaping from everything in America. However, I quickly received new friends and family here and, much to my surprise, my education in organizational communication followed me here as well. I have quietly and sometimes obtrusively, through interviews, studied this organization. My conclusion has left me captivated. I am enthralled by the the stories of strife, love for the unloved and continual encouragement that this place provides all who come into contact with it. 

   I have heard about the body of Christ for many years and in countless sermons, and even though I thought I fully understood the concept it was hard to see it in practice. Yet, the iconic picture of the body of Christ is so deeply manifested in this sacred place that it almost knocked me off of my feet. "Finally," I thought, "this is what Jesus meant about the body of Christ." Each staff member here has a unique gift that is used to serve others and in turn, serve the Lord. As each person uses their gift they uniformly create a unifying place of love expressed through service. In a sense, this place is a utopia; everyone uses their gift to benefit the whole. Let me explain. I see Nzioka building the furniture for the kids to use, while close by Jackton works to make school uniforms for the kids and also to sell them in the MITS shop. Laurent teaches catering and the students all take turns at their dorms preparing the nightly food for one another. The food is gathered from the farm where Ben quietly works early in the morning and into the evening collecting eggs, milk, corn, and other vegetables to be used in the dorms and in the cafeteria. The food and well water that is sold funds continual planting which ensures the future nourishment of the precious children living here. 

   As I have conducted two organizational communication workshops with the team I have left each time in awe of how clearly God hand-picked this staff. This staff cares for each other more than most families I know back home. MITS is such a unique place where the staff use their gifts to serve the Lord daily. This is so much more than a job. I think of a job as a place to make a living and when you clock out at the end of the day you are finished. The job here is never finished. Most of the staff here also live on the premises and their influence on the students does not have a time card. The staff here are a constant encouragement and influence on these students and even under the student's watchful eyes there are no slip ups... only love and compassion expressed in more ways than words would say. I was told to always work like you don't need the money and I finally know what that looks like. I wish others who squander their gifts in jobs unfit for them would not be drowned out by the world telling them that a job is just a job. I wish that everyone had a chance to see what the soul fully alive looks like, and maybe then their lives would reflect the beauty of our Lord. My prayer as I leave this place is for the staff here to know how precious they are and how planned their lives were for this place. Yesterday, as a group prayed for the food we were eating, I was holding Jackton's hand. I was overcome with humility and honor knowing that I had the privilege to know someone whom God is especially close with. My fear is that I will never find a place that expresses the body of Christ so wonderfully again and that my experience with MITS has created expectations for an organization that may never be replicated. 

Thank you for letting me be a part of the place. 

(Note:  Jessica came for a month to MITS as part of a team from Pepperdine University who have taught cooking (primarily baking) and outdoor oven-building to staff and students.  We at MITS are happy with the relationship we sustain with Pepperdine.  This year our administrator Francis Mbuvi taught a class at Pepperdine Lectures and was honored with a service award at the Men's Fellowship Dinner.)