Perspective on Problems

HABAKKUK STORIES -  A PERSONAL LIST OF COMPLAINTS AND PRAISES

  by Hollye Conway

Recently, I finished a Bible study with some friends. One of the final things we did was to write our personal “Habakkuk list” from Habakkuk chapter 3, verse 17 & 18. I must admit I enjoyed the pity party! Here was mine:

~ though we have not had water in our taps for a week
~ though my dryer, car, stove burner are out of order
~ though my contact lenses did not come in on time
~ though the neighbor'S 18 dogs in the kennels are driving me insane
~ though my injured ankle is slow to heal
~ though I can’t be with my mom for her upcoming surgery
~ though I am missing important events in Andrew’s life across the ocean.
~ though too many people I love are experiencing deep pain
~ though so many we love refuse to accept Your salvation
~ yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior

The following day, Larry and I were at the Made in the Streets program at Eastleigh and my coworkers who usually lead the girls' program were unable to be with us. I had not come prepared with a lesson, but with the Habakkuk list fresh on my mind, we studied Habakkuk and then I asked the girls to write their own list. I told them the list was between them and God and they would not have to share it. Janet (16 years old) was the first to finish her list and asked me to read it and keep it. Here is Janet’s list:

~ even though my brothers and sisters and I do not have school fees to attend school
~ even though my mother has not paid rent
~ even though there is hunger in our home and sometimes we go to bed without dinner
~ even though my father has abandoned us
~ even though my grandmother died last week
~ even though my brother is sick
~ even though we beg for rent, food and medicine
~ even though all this, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior

Perspective is such an interesting thing. I felt ashamed of most the items on my list. May we realize that we are more fortunate than we imagined and deserve.

Please continue to pray for Larry and me as we attempt to connect the people we work with with the One who can absorb their pain with His love and that we can be channels of the Holy Spirit's love, grace and encouragement every day. Thank you. Hollye

This is Janet!

Eastleigh Streets

The core work of Made in the Streets is done on the streets where street children and street youth sleep.  Team members are there every day to meet new kids, to evangelize older youth and to find young teenagers who are good candidates for our boarding programs.  

They often find older youth sleeping or adrift on drugs at the bases.  When they find sober youth, they teach Bible lessons and 

give testimony about God's love and power in their own lives.  

Often the bases are up against a wall of an apartment building, and sometimes 25

 to 30 of varying ages will sleep there -- from 7 years old up to 25 years old, a

nd some of them will have babies or toddlers.  In this picture Kennedy Ouma has been teaching Bible and conti

nues to share with the young people; Anthony sits nearby - he usually gives a testimony of honor to God for His work in Anthony's life.  

Anthony prays for a young man who wants to make a commitment.  He has asked for help and for prayers that he can stop using glue and other drugs.  He wants to have a fresh start and be able to learn a skill so that he can leave the streets.  As long as he stays on the drugs, he will be stuck on the streets. 

Thanks to Larry Conway for these pictures, taken on this week's visits to various bases in Eastleigh.  

Larry Conway Reports

We have great appreciation for Larry and Hollye Conway (and the 11th and Willis congregation in Abilene).  They work primarily in the Eastleigh ministry with Ann Mwangi, Kennedy Ouma, Anthony Owino and others.  Larry is comfortable and effective teaching on the streets; Hollye has deep compassion and gives careful thought to the street girls and especially the girls with babies. Larry reports on February 15,

"We visited the Roundabout Base; I spoke about the hardships Paul willingly went through to follow Christ.  Francis Mbuvi spoke about who our real neighbors are.  Kennedy and Joel offered advice about how the guys can get their national identity cards.  A young man from the base recently died and they are still struggling with the government paper work to get the body buried.  We helped purchase the coffin.  

  We also visited the Redeem Base; there were men there and we taught on the same topics.  Francis preached a wonderful sermon yesterday at Kamulu from the first chapter of Ephesians." 

Burlap Bag Project

  Two years after Garry Bortz (and others) of the Campbell Church of Christ in California developed the Burlap Bag Project, we have continued to have people use it to bless both their congregations and Made in the Streets.  The most recent comes from Nina Moates of the South Yukon Church of Christ in Oklahoma who writes, 

   "Our elementary Sunday classes had class discussions and have done the Burlap Bag Project with their families.  It was so good for our children to realize their blessings and see the needs of others.  All of us are impressed by the wonderful things done by Made in the Streets and we pray for continued success."  

  She enclosed $763.22 for the street children's ministry.  We are truly blessed by people who see not only the needs but also 

hope for street children.  

KEHL OMONDI UPDATE

Here is the latest picture of Kehl, Jackton and Millie's baby.  They returned to the hospital last week for a checkup, and all is going well.  The shunt, which is under the skin and running from his head to his abdomen, is working, so excess fluid is being drained.  He is nursing well and has none of the bad symptoms, though they are having to watch him carefully and the stress level is 

high for both parents.  

  Jackton told us he will need help with medical bills.  I have asked him to send us details on amounts owed at both hospitals and to doctors.  We expect it to be around $2,000 but are not certain.  Anyone who wishes to help may send to Made in the 

Streets, 409 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027, with a note that it is for Kehl.  

Pray for Kehl

JACKTON AND MILLY'S BABY

NEWS FLASH:  We spoke with Jackton Monday night -- Milly and baby are at home, they were both asleep when we called.  Baby is nursing well and gaining weight he lost after surgery.  Meanwhile, school uniform business is taking off.  People from 8 schools are coming in for uniforms; school started today.  Staff is busy sewing.  Jackton will return to Rafiki Orphanage this week to do additional measurements for every kid they have.  He is doing all this on very little sleep.  Please keep asking God to bless them.  

  A little more than a week ago Milly went to the hospital feeling badly.  The doctors decided it was important to go ahead with the birth, so labor was induced.  When Kehl was born, his head was enlarged (congenital hydroencephalus), and the doctors determined that a shunt was needed to drain the water from his head.  He suffered cardiac arrest and was bleeding, so a transfusion was ordered and they waited for the surgery until he was stable.  He was moved to the hospital at Kijabe, where many Americans we know have had their babies.  Milly has been pleased that the doctors talk to her and tell her everything.  Surgery was performed yesterday and reports are good.  The shunt is working, and they think Milly and Kehl may come home within a week.  Thanks to all who prayed; we trust God whatever happens.  We will be so pleased if Kehl can grow up healthy as a playmate to the Mbuvi's new baby Jeremy.  

Notes from Mbuvi on 30 December -- 

  "We had chapel today and the kids are happy.  I told them you (nb. Charles Coulston) said you love them and the girls mostly giggled.  It has been a great family time here."

  "Tomorrow they will go for the Ngong hike and they are undecided whether to go and hike and come back or to spend the night!"

  "Church was wonderful and we had 6 newcomers.  It was nice because it was the last Sunday of the month, and they shared in the fellowship meal.  During our morning class we read Acts 21.  Bernard, one of the young men who came, was very polite and cheerful, and we were told that his house was burned.  This is because a neighbor has always wanted the plot where he lives since he is an adopted child.  He lost all he had and even had his hand cut.  During church we decided to give a portion of the collection for his needs.  Keep him in prayers."

  "John Wambu and I talked and we decided to write a letter to the Provincial Commissioner, the District Commissioner and the District Officer and copy it to the Police Commander telling them that the invaders have abandoned the building project and that we intend the fence the property again and take possession of the whole property again.  We will also explain to them the use we plan to make of the whole 20 acres in our skills training program.  We hope they are not part of the problem and will approve and be helpful."

  "Joel and some of the students are visiting Milly and baby Kehl today." 

  "We are yet to move into our house.  It takes a long time to complete and we don't have all the funds, but we will move in and finish later.  Mauryn has already packed!  Jeremy nurses well and is growing quick.  Jonathan is all over but likes his brother."

  "John Wambu told me the amount for Susan's surgery is 80,000 shillings (n.b., $1,200) at Gertrude's Children's Hospital." 

  "We love you much. Please pass our greetings."

                Mbuvi

When You Give A Party

The Gospel of Luke records Jesus counseling us to give parties, but to be careful about who is on our guest list.  Our daughter and son-by-marriage give a New Year's Eve party every year, in California on New York time!  That's so families can have the hoopla at 9 pm Pacific Time. and still get their kids home and in bed by 10 pm.  They invite people of all kinds -- from church, from work, from the neighborhood -- and they especially think of three types of people -- 1) lower income, 2) people without family nearby, and 3) dear friends.  

We are grateful to all those who support Made in the Streets.  They make it possible for us to "give a party" to lots of street kids.  We give parties in Eastleigh to kids, girls with babies and youth who are sleeping on the streets.  We give parties at Kamulu to former street kids who live with us and who are in literacy studies or skills training or preparing to leave us for life outside.  We give parties to Sunday school kids and to the community at Kamulu.  

Francis Mbuvi reports that the Team and kids at Kamulu (plus all the ones livingat the Eastleigh Center) spent Christmas day talking and listening to music and having a great lunch together -- with roast goat and stewed goat and rice and beans and corn and chapati and other good things, including dessert provided by the Conways.  Here are Mna and Brian, two of the children of our young moms living at Eastleigh, at the Christmas lunch.

Oh, yes, I was going to mention Jesus' guest list.  Essentially it is "whoever is not able to pay you back."  These kids can never repay you -- you have done it Jesus' way.  Thanks! 

Holiday Highlights at MITS

This picture shows part of the crowd who came for the Christmas program at Made in the Streets - Kamulu.  For the first time we made a serious effort to go out into the community and invite people to come in and experience the holidays with us.  Our motivation was that we have had people spreading bad rumors about the ministry around Kamulu, and we were advised by a law enforcement officer to "get into the community and let them know who you are."  To our happy surprise they came -- 150 adults and 80 kids.  Francis Mbuvi reports that Jackton shared about the work of Made in the Streets with street kids while Francis himself did a sermon from the Gospel of Luke about Jesus coming into the world to be our Savior and made a call to them to respond.  Several of our current and former students from the streets performed, with the RTGz and Christ Warrior groups singing, with several students doing acrobatics and with Ken Wambugu juggling (Mbuvi says they were awed by his ability!)   We are grateful to Josh Horton of Thousand Oaks, California, for his training in juggling earlier this year.   

All in all, it was a great experience.  It let community people experience our kids and our Team, to see where the church meets and to hear what we do and who we are.  By God's grace, that will help in our relationship to the community and lessen the impact of those who would damage the ministry with their words.