Moses Gicharu Reports from Eastleigh

JANUARY MONTHLY REPORT

MOSES GICHARU

During the Month of January my fellow team members and I started working on the documents required for intake process of both boys and girls. I was compliing case histories for the potential teenage boys and girls to be admitted to MITS boarding program. We conducted home visits for street boys and girls who had relatives so as to find out more information from any parents or guardians available about the reasons for the teenagers running away.

Some didn’t want to visit their homes because of the fear of being beaten up by their parents or guardians or because their physical appearances was not appealing - dirty and untidy. We discussed as a team how to solve the issues of the boys and girls who were attending the program but their situation or cases were not fit to be considered as very needy since, at least they had a place to sleep at home. Their problem was maybe lack of school uniform, writing materials and other minor needs. We decided once again to give opportunities to be admitted at M.I.T.S. boarding program to those kids who were sleeping on the streets. We helped others as we could to reintegrate to their homes and assisted in buying necessities required e.g. Emmanuel Sifa, a class six leave out pupil from ST. Elizabeth school at Lunga Lunga, Maureen from Kamulu Kwa Ruben while others from Mathare slum we advised their parents or guardians on what to do in order to ensure that their children continue with their studies.

The teenagers we admitted at Kamulu farm were consistently attending the Eastleigh program for the past eight to ten months. There were sixteen students (10 boys and 6 girls) who were admitted at M.I.T.S Kamulu center on 31^st of January 2012. One of the girls tested positive on the pregnancy test. Shamim was about two weeks pregnant. She had accompanied other friends to the program at Eastleigh center, and when the Eastleigh team visited Mutindwa base we found only that she had been living on different bases for the last five years. Shamim is a hardworking and intelligent girl and it was God’s plan for her to be admitted at the Kamulu farm.

That the Blind May See

Until the 19th of January 2012, Geofrey had lived a normal life in the streets (n.b., as normal as that can be!!! You see how our Team thinks - life on the streets is not awful, but is part of God's plan to make something greater of the kids who end up there!!!). He had been used to hauling garbage from peoples' houses where he could get his money and possibly his daily food. But on the morning of the 20th, the unexpected happened "niliamka nikaona Giza" ("I woke up and saw darkness"). He was to go to his usual area and start his routine only that he could not see. Efforts to wash his face proved futile, and his friends helped him get to where he wanted. When we visited him yesterday at "Rounda" base, he was holding a tin with milk. When Byron spoke and asked if he knew who we were, he said "Najua ni odijo lakini sikuoni" ("I know it's the teacher but I can't see you"). He narrated to us how Evans had taken him to Kenyatta Hospital and how later he was chased from there. He had the hospital papers which on the top read "Urgent Please". Larry, Jane Njeri and I taught all the other youth there especially to be thankful, and we made plans to take Geofrey to hospital on Sunday. We hope it will be something the Doctors can rectify before it's too late.
Please keep him in your prayers as we continue to trust that God will work a miracle for him.

Time with God

This report is from Francis Mbuvi:

One of our greatest desires is to see our students develop a closer relationship with Jesus. Our classes, chapel and Church have provided the basis for it and we continue to seek other ways to lead them to God. We took a trip to one of our properties called Mountain view and asked each student and team member available to spend time in prayer.

Each person spent time either talking to God aloud or in their hearts, but whichever way they did it, it was more time with God. When we met together, Jackton read some scriptures and encouraged us to leave the burdens to Jesus. Just like we loved praying we also loved the lunch. On our way home, we saw some giraffes and Thompson gazelles!!! How great is our God!!!

Note from Charles Coulston: The property at Mountain View is 40 acres and is located near the top of a mountainous area about 40 minutes drive from Kamulu. Part of it is rock and a cliff face and part has grass and scrub trees growing. There is a spring on the property that may provide enough water for groups. We dream that one day we will build a camp for youth and others to use for retreats and seminars and "time with God." Please pray that this can become a reality one day. We will need to have a water tank, solar or generator power, kitchen and residence areas, as well as a sports field. This has been done many times before by people committed to have a place for youth to grow in spirit and in relationships, so we know we can do this, with God's blessing.

Teach a Kid to Fish

A few years ago Ben Mwami, MITS Team member who is responsible for landscaping, the animals (cows, chickens, goats) and the FISH ponds at MITS, consulted with the Fisheries people about growing talapia. He has helped several of our students from the streets to learn how to care for fish in an open pond. This week the Team pulled about 100 fish out of the first pond - so finally our kids will eat the fruit of their labor. Mbuvi reports that there are about 1,000 fish growing in our second and larger pond, so we have added nutritional and tasty food for the future. We want to teach our kids as much as possible about as many subjects as possible so they have great opportunities when they leave MITS at 18. We could have any number of fish ponds on the land that we have. And they taste good!