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.