Always Going Home Inside

Many years ago in Redwood City, CA, we learned a song called "I'm Always Going Home Inside." It expresses trust in Christ and a deep feeling of oneness with God, and we are always heading toward the real Home. When my mother lay dying, I sang at least a hundred songs to her, and this was one of them. She had not moved a muscle for more than an hour at the time. At the end of the song, which closes with "Take hold of my hand," I said, "God, I don't think she can, I think you need to take hold of her hand." I had my hand lying on top of mom's hand at the time, and all of a sudden I felt her hand close under mine. So I guess she could still hear me, and she was still able to make the effort. Either that, or God took hold of her hand, and she closed her hand on his.

Now the time has come for Darlene's Mom to make that journey home. Dorothy Wright died on Christmas Eve, just in time, as I told my granddaughters, to make it to heaven for the big Christmas party. She made a great contribution to the work of Made in the Streets. In this picture she is teaching Laurent how to read. He had never been to school when he came to MITS at 13 years old, and she was his reading teacher. He loved learning, and after a year he entered the 7th grade at a local elementary school in Mathare Valley. He finished the 8th grade, took the exit exams, went to a catering school in Eastleigh, got an internship at the University of Nairobi, and he continues to work there as a trusted chef and caterer. And he honors "Shosho" (the Kikuyu word for "Granny") for getting him started, and he honors God for getting him the place at the University.

She had many great adventures in Kenya, and this one with the monkey was both a little scary and lots of fun. She loved watching the monkeys, who would get in the house and eat everything if they could. They would also take things such as car mirrors and carry them around. This one was trying to get the corn we were preparing for a meal.

Francis Mbuvi, Administrator of MITS who has known Dorothy for 16 years, wrote yesterday, "The lives she helped to shape are testimony of her GREAT HEART. She lives on in our hearts and with God forever."

Besides the teaching and the encouragement she gave street kids from the time she was 72 until she was 80 something, she also gave sizable funds to the street ministry, blessing the work in many ways. Let this be encouragement to all retired folk that they can do far more than they can dream or think of - when God is with them.

At the last, Darlene and I, along with our daughter and son-by-marriage, were beside her to express our love and say "Good-bye." It is such a blessing to be here and not in Kenya at this moment. We know that many have prayed for this, and we are grateful that God has answered "Yes" for our sakes. God always answers "Yes" in Christ. That's one of the reasons we want to go Home.

by Charles Coulston, Christmas Day, 2010

2010 Holidays at MITS

Due to generosity of friends of street kids, our students are having a wonderful December. We don't send them away from MITS during the holidays, because we don't want them going back into that home situation that drove them to the streets in the first place. We do take them on a visit if they have relatives that they can visit for a day; a Team member goes with them on this visit.

One of the "perks" of December is a visit to Gikomba, the famous used and new open air market at the edge of Eastleigh in Nairobi. Charles and Darlene left some money for each student, and more was provided them out of the holiday money friends have sent. So each one had 900 shillings ($11.53) to spend. Here is a picture of Duncan Mwangi, who has gotten a quality pair of flip-flops.

Thanks to those who support MITS and help make a new life for street kids. We need this continuing support for 2011, since our budget has increased $2,700 monthly (due to having more kids live with us, our exiting student expenses increasing and a salary increase) and we plan to build a new boys' dorm and a multipurpose auditorium in 2011.

We would not turn down end of the year donations if the Lord has blessed you with an especially generous heart this year! And Happy Holidays to you all.

Promoting MITS

We are grateful to our friends who will promote the street ministry and help us bring light and joy in these kids' lives in Nairobi. The picture is the bulletin front at The Hills Church of Christ, where Amy recently started showing off jewelry and other crafts that the street kids make in their bookstore. In our next blog I'll show off some of the recent jewelry the kids have been making.

We would love it if congregations who are our friends would put the web site in the bulletin now and then so people will be reminded to look at recent news and pictures of the street ministry.

Thanks to many of you, the kids and Team are on a retreat to the Kenyan coast this week. They get to study and have devotionals together as well as go to the beach every day. They are staying at a church compound where they also have an extension of Nairobi Great Commission School.

Happy Holidays to you all. Our MITS kids are having a happy holiday in many ways. Some of them will also visit relatives (along with a Team member) during December. And they will have a party and feast on Christmas day.

Visitors at MITS

We said goodbye to visitors Matt and Nikki Wallace from the Denver area yesterday. Matt was with us in Nairobi 10 years ago with WorldWide Youth Camps (now YouthReach), and he brought a few pics with him this time. This one he took when here, and a couple of these young guys have been in our program.

Matt and Nikki work with Dry Bones Denver, which seeks out young people on the streets. They are now in Ethiopia working on the adoption of a baby boy named Kai.

Matt spoke one day to our Team for about 25 minutes and had an uplifting and encouraging message for them. He told them how being at MITS in 2000 changed his life. It was the inspiration for doing Dry Bones Denver. It led to their thinking of adopting an African baby. All through the years he has told Nikki about MITS, and she also wanted to come and see what meant so much to him.

So...thanks WWYC and its leaders, thanks to supporters of Matt and Nikki - he has returned the good that he received in his excellent message to our Team.

Talented Street Youth

Worship and Street Bases

This morning we drove in to Eastleigh to attend worship at the new church at our Center there. With us were Samuel Mburu, member at Kamulu and WBS student, who was on his way to Southwest Kenya with Larry Conway and Jerry Drennan (from Abilene) to officially open Sam's Place, an orphanage for deaf children sponsored by the church. Also our two former Aggies for Christ interns, Jessica and Laquita, and Phillip, our lead teacher at MITS who was to preach at Eastleigh. Traffic was already heavy with matatus and vans carrying people to church and to other Sunday activities. Dust on the roads and a really bumpy 2nd Avenue in Eastleigh.

As we came in, we were enthusiastically greeted by our guard Isaiah, and Larry Conway, whom we had not seen for two months. We were happily surprised to see not only quite a number of youth from the streets but also several families, including some refugees staying in Eastleigh. On the front row was Jane Njeri, one of our very first students at MITS in 1996, when we started at the Eastleigh Church, which is down the street from our current center. She lives in a small "village" of very poor people in Eastleigh.

Phillip had a great message. One of things he talked about was a visit he had made to a base a couple of weeks ago. The base was located not far from a police post, and recently the police had killed a few street youth at the base. There are women there with small children, and they are worried about their children, talking about how they could protect the kids and continue to care for them. Young women forced to sleep on the streets are as concerned about their kids as the rest of us.

And Phillip applied it to Jesus, as he prayed in John 17. He said that Jesus is like those women, that he cares for us, that he prays for us, that he will not leave us alone, that he will protect us and use even the troubles of our lives to bring blessing to us. And we can trust him and know him.

Now isn't that a good message for all of us today?

Mountain View Adventure

Last Saturday John Wambu, our property manager at Made in the Streets, and I drove up to the Mountain View properties. MITS has 40 acres there, which is now mostly scrub brush and small trees and lots of rock and sand. John says it has great potential as a source of sand and rock for construction in Nairobi. As we bought the plots over time, we have been dreaming of a place for a MITS Camp, where we can bring street kids and which church groups can use for youth retreats and camps. We have our own stone and sand for buildings, and it gives a wonderful view of the area.

We walked all the way around the 40 acres, over rocks and through thorn bushes. On the way we heard the distinctive sound of a hyena, which means he had seen us. The picture shows the hillside on the east side of our property, where hyenas gather at night and have a

den. We also found where someone had put in a fake boundary marker, trying to sell our land to some unsuspecting buyer, so we destroyed their marker.

We have a project now to build a stone fence all the way around the property. Today the government surveyor is putting in boundary markers where a few of the originals were removed. We have 8 men working on the property, breaking out stone and collecting sand for the building. They are also building a house for themselves, so they can live on the property while they work.

One of the most amazing discoveries about the property is that John found a waterhole, a spring, on the property, where everyone thinks there is no water except when there is rain. This picture shows the spring. We will eventually dig it out and enclose it in concrete, providing clean and safe water for those who will eventually use the property.

While there we met a man and his wife who were looking at properties there, planning to get a bank loan and buy 5 acres there. Someone was trying to sell him one of our 5 acre plots. Amazingly, they were asking him for 1.5 million shillings (a little less than $20,000 at current exchange rates). Considering we bought the plot for about $2,500, counting our registration and title fees, the land has grown tremendously in value. We are happy that we met him and could ward off that future problem. Now we need God's help and the protective stone fence around the properties to secure them for the future.

And we did not see the big python that lives under a tree above our property. But we did see Thompson gazelles and one giraffe.

Needed for Street Ministry

We have a few needs at Made in the Streets that are not covered in the budget. If your heart is stirred up to help even more in the ministry, then please feel free to send support for one or more of these items to Made in the Streets, 409 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027. Or make your donation online - see the web site www.madeinthestreets.blogspot.com

Please email Charles Coulston at charles.coulston@made-in-the-streets.org after you make your donation and inform him of what you are funding and the amount. Also write if you wish more information.

1. Holiday Events in December -

$400 Family Day - we invite any relatives of our street kids to spend the day with us

$600 The New Narnia movie - we'd like to take all the kids and Team to this movie

$400 Soccer tournament for street kids/youth in the Mathare slum

$600 Staff Retreat -- recreation and growth time for our Team working with street kids

$500 Home visits -- Team members will take some of the students to visit relatives

$600 Christmas parties for street kids in Eastleigh

$550 Christmas parties for students and Team in boarding program

$600 Trip to the water park for students and Team

2. Construction

$3,500 Building a small house on one of the MITS properties for a Team member to live

Also serves the purpose of property security from invaders and thieves

And serves the purpose of a training program for our young men to learn masonry

If you wish to do this, we will "name" the home after anyone you wish.

3 houses have already been funded - we want to build 2 more.

$5,000 Constructing a security fence on the Mountain View property - 40 acres

$2,000 Constructing security fence around the Children's Center property (3 acres)

Also training for our young men learning masonry.

3. Intake

Our plan is to increase our capacity to provide a home for 100 street youth.

Cost of intake is approximately $100 per person.

We will need to intake up to 50 street kids in the next year.

Total cost $5,000

Medical Needs and Street Kids

The streets have many hazards for young people -- spiritual, social and physical. The street sub-culture encourages kids to steal and lie, to satisfy sexual appetites, to use drugs. And there are many ways to be hurt physically as well. Dennis Baraza was hurt in an accident, his hand broken in two places, and the bones displaced. And he never went to a clinic or doctor. So it "healed" badly. Dennis is too old to come and live at Made in the Streets, but not too old for us to care.

A friend in Colleyville, Texas, supplied the funding, and our supervisor at Eastleigh, Jane Njeri, found Dennis and took her to the hospital. Initial surgery has been done, and it will be completed soon.

There are even hazards out at Kamulu, just as there are hazards in any home anywhere. One of our babies of a street mom, Hollye, swallowed a substance on Saturday. The Team members who were there trust Charles and Darlene, so they called them. Because we did not know what she swallowed, we encouraged something to drink so it would dilute or maybe she would throw up if she needed to. After a bit, she did throw up, and soon was walking around and had lunch and something to drink. Now we are engaged in an effort to make sure that the moms and all the team will feel confident about what to do and whether to do something when something happens to the kids. We need detailed steps to take, without people having to "fill in the blanks" on what to do. So we are at work on that now. Pray for our kids, that they will be protected from hazards, and that street kids will be blessed in the midst of hazards.

Street Moms Update from Mauryn

Subject: Mothers' Monday Programme on the 27th Sept 2010

The attendance was 15 mothers, and the class started at around 10 am with Jane Abuti. They sang choruses and we arrived at 10:30 am and started with games. We played three games of police case, my mother and Kabuti. We found three winners who were very excited and happy.

Sharing came from the book of Luke, a story about Zachaeus who was a tax collector and made many people sad, and his behaviors were not pleasing to God. His behavior is like us, but Jesus told him "today I'll go with you to your house and salvation has come to your house." Jesus is ready to save us with our family and give us a new life like Zachaeus who paid back four times to people he had taken things from them and also gave half of his wealth to poor people. When Jesus comes to our lives we will be completely changed for the better. Encouragement that there's no sin that Jesus cannot forgive and cleanse. We also read from Psalm 113 that God lifts poor people and also Jeremiah 17:5 not to put our trust in people but in God.

Then we ended with a word of prayer and served a hot meal - their favorite, ugali and beans. And their children had a cup of milk.

God is good.

MOSES OKOTH REPORTS

This general and very positive report was written by Moses Okoth, the MITS computer instructor, in September. It gives a general idea of what is going on at Made in the Streets.

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"John Wambu has given updates on the buildings. The new boys’ dorm is done, and the boys and supervisors have moved into the dorm. They are very happy, but some of the boys say they are cold. Now they are two in a room instead of four, and the rooms are bigger. Ben is also helping the supervisor with planting fruit trees and flowers on the boys’ compound.

The welding building is still in progress of being built. The boys who are learning masonry are building the toilets to be used at the training center. The girls' dining hall is basically finished and painted. Only the window glass and electric installation remain to be done.

For staff development, Francis has produced a seminar plan for the team in Eastleigh and the new staff at Kamulu to undergo a training period. Joel, Jackton, Irene, Renee, Francis, Moses and Larry led classes with the new team. We have seen this is needed because we have noticed issues at Eastleigh Centre thus the need for training and explanation of policies.

There was a breakin at the shop where the tailoring products are sold.

John has reported this to the police.

Due to unbecoming behaviour from kids going to additional training from Eastleigh, the team decided to bring Mugure and Dotrine back to Kamulu for monitoring. We also decided that those going to schools which are nearer to us should commute from Kamulu. Also Anastacia and Eunice are to look for their housing by next month.

Fast track classes have commenced for literacy students who will take the 8th grade exit exam in 2011, and the students are 12 in number. (note: all primary schools in Kenya participate in an 8th grade exam in several areas of study. Scores determine whether students will go on to high school and which schools. It helps the confidence and status of our students who can take part in the exam. We have been approved as a center for the exam.)

Virtual library is doing so fine, the two workstation are magnificent. The nursery is doing great and enjoying the flat screen TV. Terry has started going to Nargis’ salon for hairdressing and management training. Salon students have also started using the facility in skills centre. Ken Wambugu is doing great with the boys and generally with work assigned to him. He makes us proud all the time. We have been having a volunteer for the past three weeks now; Fiona Ondara has been teaching literacy classes.

Ben has gone ahead and dug a bigger fish pond and moved the fish to the bigger one.

John also wanted me to inform you of his purchase of his new pickup truck that he recently bought. Also the property painting is done. The sign posts are being installed in their places.

Joel reports that VBS was awesome, both at Kamulu and at Nziu."

Needed at Made in the Streets

Some of our friends often ask us, "what do you need at Made in the Streets?"

Holidays are coming! Christmas will be here soon! We have our kids year round and do not send them anywhere "for the holidays."

But we do want them to have the life experience that people with homes have. So we want to "let school out" and have a happy time together.

***a family day with any relatives invited out for a meal

***a trip to see some place in Kenya they have never seen

***a shopping trip into the city to get a present for someone else at MITS

***a picnic somewhere in Nairobi (crocodile farm, arboretum, water park....)

***a meal together on Christmas day with decorations and treats

***a present of clothing and a special meal for a few hundred children and youth on the streets

We know the economy around the world has not been so good lately. We also know that God has blessed some of our friends with a spirit of generosity. So help us if you wish. And thanks!!

As usual, donate online at the web site www.made-in-the-streets.org

or send check made out to Made in the Streets to

Made in the Streets

409 Franklin Road

Brentwood, TN 37027

From Francis Mbuvi

Yesterday we visited the Mutindwa Base and met with 18 boys and two girls. We observed that they were using the new drug called "kalaloo" which is like jet fuel. We went ahead and taught them to keep themselves clean from those evils since they are God's creation. We also took them to a kiosk nearby and bought them "madondo" (beans with ugali). One of them said after the lunch that they would elect me their MP!!! We were glad to bless.

Francis Mbuvi

Notes:

A "Base" is a place in the slum where street kids gather at night to share the food they have gotten (by finding it in garbage, by begging, by working, by stealing) and sleep.

"Jet fuel" was an illegal brew people in various parts of Kenya started making several years ago. It only took a small glass to make someone drunk/dizzy. But if they drank it once or twice a week for a few months hair began to fall out, wrinkles appeared and they began to walk with a limp - aged before their time. The team is worried about what this new drug, poured in the hand or in a rag, sniffed through the nose or mouth, will do to the kids.

"Ugali" is a firm cornmeal mush that most people in Kenya eat. It is made by pouring finely ground corn meal in boiling water and stirring while it cooks. It becomes firm enough to cut with a knife and is then eaten as is or used to dip into a sauce of tomatoes, onions, and maybe cilantro.

An "MP" is an elected government official.

MITS Youth in Church

Francis Mbuvi reports about Sunday morning at Kamulu:

"Hi, hope you had a good time in church. We did here. We had a good time sharing in our morning class about the tongue and teachers with their responsibility. We started by reading the text then shared. He did a "Turn to your Neighbor" and a question-answer time. We were blessed. This is a pic of the group reading James 3."

Mbuvi also reports that Ken Wambugu continues to grow in his ability to deal with students at MITS and in his leadership role. Here is Ken leading communion in the worship period. Ken is now 18, has finished his studies in auto mechanics at MITS, and he has begun to work for the ministry as an assistant dorm supervisor, as a driver and as an assistant auto mechanics teacher. As time goes by, he will become primarily a driver.

Kamulu Church Life

Greetings!! Hope you had a good time in church. We had a lesson from the book of James and it was very powerful. After the sermon, a woman called Barbara called me and said "Asante preacher -- hiyo somo ni yangu Leo" (thank you, the lesson was about me today.) We talked about how to overcome temptations and she is going through a
hard time with her husband living with his mother in Kipawa. She just cried as she narrated her struggle. Mauryn and I later visited her and shared some food with her.

Apart from that we also had a baptism. Pamela Obare had been taught by the women and today she decided it was time. It was so much joy.

Blessings, Mbuvi.

(Note: recently we made home visits to people in our community, taking them a candle and a box of matches -- because everyone here experiences blackouts and need candles at night. On the box of matches we put a phone number for the church and the message: "we are free to be friends." That is one of our objectives as a church -- to create community and friendship at Kamulu. Our other goals are to love children and to help people know God. Anyway, the women have visited people and continued to teach )

Difficult Decisions

In their effort to help street children and youth have a new life, the Team at MITS face hard decisions often. The basic policy about runaways from our Center is that "you are free, so you can run but you can't return." Normally we hold to that policy rigidly. But recently one of our more vulnerable and young girls, Prisca Kerubo, ran away at lunch time. She was quickly missed, and the team searched for her. She went back to Eastleigh, and Moses Gicharu, one of the Team based in Eastleigh, found her at Mlango Kubwa area. She was high on glue. He got her to return to the Center, but she ran again. When they found her next, they were sure she had been raped, so they took her to a local hospital. While waiting for the doctor, she ran again.

Then the Team found she had a mother, so they took her there. She ran again. Now her father has also shown up, but she will not stay with either of them. Mbuvi reports this about the Team working together to make a decision.

"Prisca was brought by her dad to the centre after she ran away from home on Monday. She looked high and both the dad and her begged tocome back to the farm. I told him of our policy, but also told him we could talk about it in our meeting. Most of the team would like for usto take her because they think she will not stay home. Phillip said MITS is the only place she has ever stayed for months without running away. He believes we can help her change. I think we will try her one more
time. Next week we will ask Moses Gicharu to start the process to bring her back."

Please pray for our Team's ability to make the best decisions for the kids. At least if they err in this case it is for the sake of compassion. Some decisions are more difficult than this one.

Mbuvi also reports that Joel Njue and the VBS crew are in Nziu leading a Vacation Bible School. His crew includes some Team members and some students at MITS. And that this week some of the students were taken to visit relatives at their homes.

Larry Conway Reports

Hello Charles,

Here is a photo of Jane Muthoni from the Lillyput base. She was baptized into Christ today (Sunday worship at the Eastleigh Center).

Moses is teaching the baptism/new Christians class (we started this class at Eastleigh since there have been several baptism since the church has been meeting at the Eastleigh Center, and these young people need lots of encouragement. They need to develop hope and commitment; please pray for them).

There were 30 adults and 23 kids there today (we also have a kids' Sunday school class).

Blessings, Larry

FRANCIS MBUVI Reports

Greetings,

The two new students, Peter and Mary, are doing well and are loving being in the farm. We are going on with classes and the masonry students have also had their lessons started. They say the stones are very heavy, and Wambu says they are determined. I hope we will have a good number of them love it so that they will use it to sustain themselves.

The team is doing well and they send their greetings. In the farm, victor is trying and working hard. I think with time we will see lasting improvements. The boys have not moved to the new dorm yet, Wambu says some doors and plumbing still need to be done and also he must install the tank. The salon training area at the skills centre has also not been occupied and Robin is working on the final touches.

Most of the sign boards have been installed as you advised and the two remaining will be done this week. Some areas still need painting like the girls' doors and the new dorm and the garage gate. All the others in the list that Darlene gave me are done.

A follow-up
I did ask Jane to follow-up with Dennis Baraza, the street guy who had a broken hand and we prayed for him during the last week before you all left. She reports that on the 2

8th of July, that evening, Baraza was brought to the MITS Eastleigh Center in critical condition. He apparently drank rat poison because he felt he was a burden and his chances of recovery were low. The team there rushed him to Kenyatta Hospital where he was treated. He was discharged a few days later. She said they are trying to locate him so that they can offer him the operation option and check on the prices too. Keep him in your prayers and the team as they try to help him and others on the streets. The picture is of Dr. Chad, who worked a medical campaign on the streets in July, inspecting our street guy.

The VBS was good and Joel Njue says they had an average of 87 kids daily.

John Wambu has gone to the Lands today to check on properties.

Mbuvi.

Street Base Work from Larry Conway

On Wednesday we visited the Jamaica base which is at what used to be a trash dump. They had been told by the police to tear down their shacks and rebuild them in another location. The MITS team pitched in and worked to help them rebuild their shacks. We worked for several hours helping them, and it was a great time to demonstrate the gospel in action. Francis, the administrator at MITS, was one of the first to start digging with his hands a hole for one of the posts to be installed. Some of the team members got dirty and others got blisters on their hands but we all enjoyed the opportunity to serve our friends at the Jamaica base.

Larry

Eastleigh Street Mothers' Program (by Mauryn)

16th August 2010

The attendance was 14 street mothers and 10 children. We started the programme at 10 am and had games together. We played my mother and your mother and Sarah Muthoni won the game. The other one was Kabuti and we didn’t find a winner because there were many who tied.
The last game of police case whereby we call names and you come inside the circle and dance.

We had some songs by individuals as they love that so much. Then I taught from the book of James, and the theme was the things that we hold to that don’t give us the freedom of Christ. They can have a better life which Christ died for, and it’s possible. They shared their
addiction to glue, prostitution and drugs, which they say they find it
hard to leave.

Veronicah, who had been at the centre hoping to be taken for skills school of hairdressing, ran away from the programme last Monday and today she came back and it was disheartening to see how she and her baby Stephen were looking. She was back on glue.

We served lunch for the mothers and children, and small children had some milk.

We thank God for the opportunity to be of service.God bless. Mauryn.

AND A NOTE FROM MBUVI ABOUT A NEW STUDENT AT MITS

Hi, it was a double blessing as Mary was also added to our family yesterday. She has shown desire to change by attending girls program always. She is 15 years and is 2 months pregnant. She will stay in the farm until 8 months pregnant, then we will send her to Eastleigh so she can go

to Pumwani Maternity Hospital. Please pray for her too.

Mbuvi.

Committing to Christ

There has been great interest in Jesus and living by faith lately at Kamulu and Eastleigh. In the first 4 week of opening the new church in Eastleigh, 9 people were baptized.

Out at Kamulu some of the younger boys asked Brien Ochieng, one of our older boys, about studying about Jesus and baptism. So Brian asked Darlene for some Scriptures and other information and started studying with them. The first session had 9 boys, and then in this picture from the second session, there were 15.

It is exciting to have a lot of young people interested in knowing Jesus, and also very gratifying that our older boys are trusted and willing to study with others. Here is a recent picture of Brian.

Pray for these boys and others who are ready to follow Jesus.

NEWSBREAK at Made in the Streets

The timing was right to start the congregation meeting at the Eastleigh Center of MITS. Today was the fourth Sunday. The first week Victor confessed faith in Jesus and was baptized. The third week 5 young men from the streets stated they want to live for Jesus and were baptized. Today Mary, who stays at Hope Center, and Peter, who sleeps outside at Jamaica Base, stated their desire to walk with Christ and were baptized. We are glad for these young people

This is not a numbers game, and it isn't really even about baptism. It is about Jesus reaching into people's hearts and transforming them, especially giving them courage and heart and confidence. Then they will be able to get off the streets and into a new life. There is no end to what they may do with confidence and hope, brought to life by faith.

Rejoice!

Children's Center

Made in the Streets has been blessed by our Street Moms' program. It has brought many small children to Kamulu, forced us to open a Children's Center, and blessed us all. It is so great to see our young men who came from the streets gently playing with and carrying the kids around. And the moms are getting skills training in sewing, computers, cooking and auto mechanics. This picture shows some of the kids in front of part of the wall mural that Cathy Stephens and Susan Pratt from Conejo Valley Church in Thousand Oaks, CA, recently painted.

And here is a picture of Ron Stephens in the fort with the kids; he built it for them, and we all enjoy seeing them play in it.

New Church in Eastleigh

Made in the Streets was blessed with the building on 5th Street in Eastleigh Section 2 in 1999. During the past 10 years we have encouraged young people from the streets to attend other congregations in Eastleigh and Mathare Valley, but it has been difficult to get them involved, either because they feel uncomfortable or because they were not accepted. Finally we have opened a church in the Eastleigh Center; it has now met three Sundays. Attendance has been 67, 55 and 70, and six young men from the streets have been baptized. Jane Njeri, Evans Ouma, Moses Gicharu, Francis Cugia, Augustina Muli and Jane Abuti are the staff at the center. Augustina cooks and mothers, Jane teaches little kids, Francis is one of our former street kids from Kamulu, Evans is a World Bible School student who was baptized a few years back, Moses once lived on the streets but did not come through our program, and Jane Njeri is a grandmother who was in the Kamulu Church and began to volunteer in Eastleigh 3 years ago. A great team doing a great work, together with Larry and Hollye Conway.

Larry Checks In

Larry and Hollye Conway are doing a wonderful work serving on the streets of Eastleigh and working with young people at the MITS Eastleigh Center. Often after going out on the "bases" to find the street kids, and the young men among whom Larry evangelizes, Larry will send us a note. Here's the latest:

Hello Charles and Francis, I wanted to write and tell you that Cugia is doing a good job. He is eager to please and seems energetic. I have noticed a positive difference lately.

Today, we walked to Majengo slums to see a street boy who has been badly burned on his buttocks and genitals. I had a hard time understanding what happened but basically, he was high, someone was burning plastic, and the burning plastic fell on him. It is so sad, we are trying to help him with a visit to the clinic we use in Eastleigh.

We then walked to Kariokor to see some street kids we have seen several months before. My son Andrew, Cugia, Moses, Jane and I walked there. We had to tiptoe over and above a ditch full of muck, oil, sewage etc. to visit these boys. Moses knows some of them. While we were there two men from across the street came over and started yelling at us and telling us to leave. Someone pushed one of the street boys who lost his balance and bumped into Moses. They both fell down into the awful muck. I thought I would just tell you that Moses handled himself very well in a tough situation. Cugia thinks one of the guys who came over may be with a sort of youth mafia sect. Anyway, I felt so sorry for Moses, but fortunately, he didn't get injured and he didn't have his phone with him so basically his white shirt will probably not be wearable again but that was the worst that happened. I was so impressed with Moses and his attitude.

God bless, Larry

(nb: Cugia is one of our own who came from the Eastleigh streets. Now that he is 18 he has begun working the streets with our Team. It is great to hear he is doing well. Moses is a young man who volunteered at Eastleigh for more than 6 months and has recently joined our Team.)

The picture is of Andrew Conway sitting at the first meeting of the Eastleigh Center Church of Christ with Kelly, a young man who came forward and asked the church to pray for him to escape drug addiction.

WANTED: A Few Good Recruits

Jackton Omondi, he of the tender heart, was in Kayole a few days ago getting parts for the big bus. He came across three street boys - Sam, George and Isaac. They say they are 8, 10 and 12 years old, all of them younger than the ones we take to live with us at Kamulu. The government doesn't want us to mix teens with younger kids, and our focus has always been on teenagers. But Jackton talked with these boys, and he cared deeply about them. They are in a homeless and hopeless situation. Jackton said, as he has before, "Isn't there something more we can do for these kids?" He got them something to eat and talked with them while they ate.

There is something that could be done. Please pray for it. And it isn't terrible difficult, because some of what is needed is already in place. At MITS we already have land where boys from the streets aged 5 to 12 could be housed, if someone would build the housing and take care of them. At MITS we already have leaders who have the ability to train other leaders in street ministry, in living with and loving and educating boys from the streets, and in helping kids progress in their relationships and faith.

What we need is someone to take the lead. We need 2 or 3 American Christians to raise support for themselves, to raise money for housing, food and a program led by Kenyans, to come to Nairobi and develop the program. Our Team can recruit and train the Kenyans who would do this ministry with you. And MITS will provide the land to build on.

It's just the thing that God wants to do. He himself goes to the garbage dumps and lifts the beggars out of the dirt and gives them a new life. And all you need to do is go along with Him and do your part. He is good and will not fail you.

And we will be your cheerleaders! So come over to Nairobi and help us rescue these kids. When you are through with them at 12, they can enter the regular MITS program and end up getting skills training from us. You are welcome.

And Jackton will be ever so grateful.

She Listened!

She Listened!

by Hollye Conway

Most days of the week several team members of Made in the Streets move from base (place of residence on the street for the homeless) to base. They stop and greet their homeless friends. They find out the news since they last met. They share a thought of hope of salvation. They encourage change towards obedience to God’s ways. They ask for prayer request and pray with their friends. They remind the people of how Made in the Streets would like to be of service and help to them. They invite them to our center for programs, showers, first aid, counsel, aid and prayer. The visits are appreciated.

Yesterday a visitor from California who is also a MITS board member went along for one of the days of visiting bases. She shared a beautiful thought of how our hands can either bless or curse others. She affirmed her love for these who are considered the most unlovable. She spoke a blessing over each new friend.

She noticed a woman with a tear running down her cheek. As she studied her she noticed that the woman did not have any shoes. This precious sister proceeded to remove the shoes from her feet and give them to our downtrodden friend. She still had a 3 mile walk back to our center thru mud, sewage and trash heaps with no shoes.

Later that evening we were tenderly sharing this with a friend and she exclaimed under her breath, “She listened!” We all have those moments when God nudges us to do something outside our comfort zone and we quickly turn up the noise in our lives to suppress His desire for partnership from us. She did not. She listened!!! I am challenged to listen … and act. Love, Hollye

15 Year Anniversary Celebration

The sewing skills students made a banner for the 15 Year Anniversary Celebration. And we did Celebrate!

Tables were set up in the Learning Center

courtyard for lunch, while the event took place outside the L.C. in tents rented for the occasion.

Our guest of honor was Nargis Manji, who operates an upscale

salon in a shopping center. She has taken in 6 of our girls and trained them in hairdressing and manicure/pedicure, sending some to Revlon School. Here Nargis is with Darlene and Charles and speaking about responsibility and learning to do quality work. She was very encouraging to the kids and Team, and she obviously appreciates the street ministry.

The students and Team working on the Celebration for several weeks, and their work was rewarded. Several friends of the ministry attended, including some preachers and the staff of Good News Productions, who have produced some of the music written by our own street kids.

The catering skills students baked 17 cakes so everyone would enjoy. Nargis and Darlene cut the cake together, and Nargis did what is a regular custom at big events here - she fed Darlene a piece of cake, then brought small pieces around to everyone in the speakers' tent.

Some of the girls sewed their own dresses for the occasion, and they looked great.

On Monday following the Celebration we talked after chapel about how good all of us feel. 30 former students came back for the Celebration, and it was a delight to see them. Some are married and have children. Most of them have jobs. And all of them were happy to see other former students and to see the Team. Some wrote letters which were read at the Celebration, expressing their happiness at being loved and cared for at Made in the Streets.

MITS YOUTH AT CHURCH

Here the youth group from the Kamulu Church are meeting after the assembly. The Made in the Streets youth make up about 75% of the youth group. As a visitor to MITS once said, "Oh, I see what Made in the Streets is. It's a perpetual youth camp." In some ways that is true, but we also have the everyday life of study and chores and the ordinary life of being with the church.

A great number of our young people are doing very well in their spiritual lives -- and in service. They teach Sunday school, they lead songs and prayers, they serve communion and come to the Sunday morning Bible class for adults and youth. And they are in chapel every weekday before classes and skills training begin, where they lead songs and make talks and confess sins and encourage one another. Some of them occasionally go back to the streets with our Team members and encourage those who remain on the streets.

Later this year we will have a Vacation Bible School at Kamulu and then some of our Team and students will go to Nziu on the way to the coast and help lead a VBS at the Nziu Church of Christ. Please pray for these kids, that they may grow in spirit and wisdom, pleasing to God and others.

Street Moms at MITS-Kamulu

Here are the 7 teenage girls with babies who are in our pilot program for street moms. We had a meeting with them to talk about their life together and plans for the future, then took their picture. Their children were all at our Children's Center at the time, so the moms can attend classes or skills training.

Last week all 7 of them and the kids moved into the same house, which is located next to the girls' center. We bought individual double size beds for mom and child together, and we repainted the house and repaired everything. They are all very excited about the new house, and it is great for them to be near the girls and the Learning Center.

Mbuvi Can Still Cook

Since our Anniversary Celebration for 15 years of ministry to street children in Nairobi is coming up, we have been sharing some of the history of MITS with the students at Kamulu. Some of them were not born when MITS started!

As part of that history we have told them that our Administrator and the preacher for the church at Kamulu, Francis Mbuvi, started out as the cook for us when we were located on the campus of Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute (KCITI). We said, "Look at him now. There is no way to know what you may be able to do, with God's help and your commitment."

Francis regularly goes in to the Eastleigh center and meets with the Team members there, and he goes out on the streets on those days as well. On this day there were cooking a meal for some street kids who were in a program at the center, so he picked up his old trade and helped cook ugali (it's kind of a hard corn meal mush), which is a staple of Kenyan diet.

First Quarter 2010

The following report was turned in to the missions committee at Otter Creek Church and to the Board of Made in the Streets. We thought maybe all of you would like to see a summary of events in the first quarter of the year. The 2010 Goals are listed first.

MADE IN THE STREETS

FIRST QUARTER REPORT 2010

MADE IN THE STREETS MINISTRY GOALS 2010

· STUDENT POPULATION: Increase our boarding program students total in Eastleigh and Kamulu to a maximum of 100 students.

· SECURITY: Ensure all our property is fenced and planted with kayaba (thorny bushes) and trees where possible; get dogs for all properties and take other measures as they prove cost-worthy and do-able.

· SKILLS TRAINING: Work on getting the skills classes increased to at least double capacity with the addition of catering and hairdressing. Both skills training and the children’s center be open to the public, depending on approval from the Board.

· CONSTRUCTION: Multi-purpose hall built that can also be used by the church. Ag/Weld Building to be completed on the 20 acre property. New Boys’ Dorm to be completed on the Boys’ Property. Girls’ property to be refurbished and enlarged – building a wall to enclose the house Mbuvis lived in and building a dining hall/lounge in front of the kitchen

· CHURCH: Plant and help grow a street youth church in Eastleigh.

· FARM: 50% or more dependability on farm produce for basic foodstuff.

· TEAM: Develop a staff development program in consultation with the Otter Creek Church of Christ and our advisors.

FIRST QUARTER EVENTS

STUDENT MATTERS

· We made a timetable for the first 3 months for the Education Department, scheduling where each student will be. We have two literacy classes. Learning continued in Literacy and skills in the Kamulu centre.

· We moved five young mothers from Eastleigh to train in skills at Kamulu – cooking, hairdressing, sewing and auto mechanics.

· We kept former students Francis Cugia, Kenneth Wambugu and Mercy Wanja to train on the job in the street ministry, auto mechanics and the cafeteria respectively,

· Willys Odhiambo (farming at Brookside Dairy), Grace Wahu (catering), Francis Wahome (mechanics) and Joseph Wambua (mechanics) found internships.

· We had a new girl join us from Mlango kubwa base named Priscah Kerubo.

· We had a day camp for one week with Andrew and Katera with the main theme being “Reveal your true identity in Christ”. This culminated in a concert on the 20^th of the month. There was a guest group called Teen Challenge.

· 12 students were baptized—Alex Atemai, Anastacia Njeri, Mercy Mugure, Dennis Kamau, Dotrine Zainabu, Florence Moraa, Jane Njoki, Michael Mackenzie, Cecelia Mwenza, Lucy Achieng, Mary Njoki and Francis Ndungu.

TEAM MATTERS

· In keeping with a new plan for staff development, we are hiring the following people:

o Hellen - a nursery school teacher

o Terry - a salon worker, helping in girls’ dorm

o Phyllis - a salon trainer, helping in girls’ dorm

o Magdeline - a catering school teacher

· We moved Millicent Omondi from the cafeteria and put her as a helper in the nursery.

· Mbuvi met with every team member and urged a recommitment to serving students and street youth.

· One of our team members was suspended for a month -- Anthony Owino. The ministry is considering whether to dismiss Anthony after the month is over, during which he will meet with Mbuvi and other Team members.

PROPERTY MATTERS

· We started using the nursery school building with 9 children.

· Repairs were done at the girls’ drainage system.

· All the irrigation zones were prepared, seedbeds planted and new chicks ordered.

· The gate at the 20 acres was widened a little because it was small.

· We installed wire mesh at the learning centre court grills and side doors so that we can use the dogs inside the compound.

· Fencing of the 20 acres was completed. This was done because the fence had been torn down in September 2008 when the area member of parliament and others invaded.

STREET MATTERS

· 14 street youth were sent to various schools or job sites for training in skills.

· Friendships, visits and evangelism were made in the streets with two new bases visited, Kayole and Ngara.

· Base visits and evangelism continued as well as the street youth programs in Eastleigh with a street “couples” meetings being initiated.

· We had one street girl baptized----Margaret Wanjiru.

OTHER MATTERS

· The church continued to meet outside along with the Sunday morning class and Sunday school, in spite of sometimes heavy rains. Each last Sunday of the month the church has a fellowship lunch or snacks after worship.

· We had Katera and Andrew from China and Joel Reed and his wife and Mike and Trisha Hyodo from Lighthouse church visit us and work with us for a while.