AT PUMWANI BASE

Francis Mbuvi reports on a visit to a street base called Pumwani....

"At pumwani base on Tuesday, there was A guy who was being shaved with a naked razor! It was one of those hard things to watch. He had his "msii" (a potent brew for huffing), and every time he tried to move, the razor cut him! Byron gave some tips but the guys there just wanted to see a clean shine - I think whatever the cost. We asked them to wait for a minute as Terron prayed, then we left. As we walked to the next base we could not help but wonder how he felt. At the same time we should not overlook how much care they had for him - if we can call it that.  Could pain be part of Love? Just wondering."

Francis

STREET KIDS COME TO THE CENTER

Francis Mbuvi reports on activities for boys at the Eastleigh Center....

"The programs in Eastleigh for 2015 started last Monday with 38 boys coming; the following Tuesday 40 came. Yesterday, 56 boys came. Most of them are coming from Mutindwa and Globe bases.

We had a discussion as to why there was such a big number, and it occurred that they like the food we prepare for them! Some of the boys had told the team when they visited Globe - "Napenda Chakula mob -- chapo, mandazi, ndengu na dodo" (“I like the variety of choice -- chapati, mandazi, lentils and beans").  They are able to eat and even carry some for later.  All that plus the extra fruit and tea they have at the Center in the morning makes it worthwhile for them to walk two or more miles. Moses and Byron have been alternating in teaching, and they say the kids understand the Bible stories they teach.

We praise God."

Francis

MBUVI AT HIGH RISE BASE

Francis Mbuvi reports on a recent visit to the "bases" where street youth and kids sleep...

"While visiting the High Rise base, we came across Mercy and her three children. As you know, it's never easy living with kids in the base. She had told Monicah (5) and Wairimu (3) to sit by the roadside and beg for money. Since they know our team, the kids tried to run from us mostly because Monicah had a bottle of Msii in her mouth!  Mercy was sleeping on the side of the road with young James (1). Larry bought Juice for the two older ones while Byron and Mary woke up Mercy.

I talked to Jane Abuti, who told me that we had helped Monicah into a Lutheran home in Pangani, but the mother had gone and taken her so she can use her to beg for money. The team decided to take the child back and beg for her return to school and thankfully she was re-admitted.

The Team went out of their way to help Monicah and felt great that she would be safe. But even as they celebrate Monicah going to school, they know Wairimu and his younger brother are headed for danger. We keep hoping to find some way of helping the others.

Blessings, Mbuvi"

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS - COULSTON

It's a gray and rainy New Year's Day, and I am going to write New Year's Resolutions.  I have not done this for 23 years, since we moved to Kenya.  When we arrived in Nairobi, we felt so useful and we were very busy with teenagers and with the technical college and later with street kids - there seemed no reason or time to write resolutions.  But this year is different.  We embark on another grand adventure this year -- with plans to take Made in the Streets to another country.  It is necessary!

Necessary because street kids everywhere need a redeeming presence.  Necessary because churches with mission points need to know for sure that doing street ministry along with church planting is do-able and adds tremendously to the mission.  We want to see other churches sponsor street ministries in the many heavily populated poverty-ridden areas of the world where thousands upon thousands of children live outside, without hope and home.  So....my resolutions...

1. I resolve to help MITS raise $1 million in 2015 to take street ministry to another country.
2. I resolve (and Darlene agrees) to give back $10,000 of our 2015 salary to MITS to do this.
3. I resolve to find 99 other people who have $10,000 to give for street ministry in 2015. 

YOUR $10,000 WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.  

Thanks, 

Charles

Don't you want to see all street kids end up this way?  Caroline came from a
terrible situation.  She has now worked full-time for 8 years, owns a piece of land,
and is about to marry a youth minister.   They are standing in our yard holding a book
on how to help a good marriage.   

Francis Mbuvi Says Thanks

Hi, 

It has been a few months since the Pepperdine group blessed us with their presence and lessons on nutrition and science. For many street youth, getting a balanced diet is a tall order. So when you provided us with funds to improve their nutrition, the team was happy. This is one among many of the times that both young and old people from the bases have been reached with a needed item. 

Today the young boys had bananas in the morning, while for lunch they had kale and ugali. Am told the mothers and their children got milk and fruit yesterday. 

In short, your gift is changing and improving lives here in ways we are thankful for. 

Asante sana, Mbuvi

THE NEXT STEP

It makes sense to me to plan for the future, to look out at what the problems will be, to plan how to meet the challenges, to set forth what we can become - and then to do it!

There is a NEXT STEP for Made in the Streets.  The Team under Francis Mbuvi's leadership have proven themselves to me and to many others.

• They know how to reach the hearts of young people who sleep on the streets and have all the emotional scars from their upbringing, or lack of it.  
• They know how to work together in ministry and keep their friendships alive. 
• They know the value of the church and the Bible and a life of prayer.
• They know how to train others to do street ministry.  They have trained many, including 19 people at once in 2006.  
• They know how to live frugally and stay within a budget.  

So...the next step is calling out to them - "come over and help us."

  The NEXT STEP in Nairobi Street Ministry is to take it another of the great cities of the world.  I can see it already -- a church in a poor neighborhood, alleyways and obscure places where homeless kids can gather, a small group of Kenyans who have moved in and can live as cheaply as the locals and who can train locals in street ministry.

The challenge is to raise the funds to make that happen.  Made in the Streets has a GOAL OF $1 MILLION for 2015.  Reduplication is our first goal for use of those funds.  During the year we will make plans for the specific city and location, while our friends (YOU) hold fundraisers - 5K runs, dinners, lemonade stands, Life Group giving, parties - whatever it takes to raise the funds needed.  We expect that $300,000 will provide for training and living costs of 10 new street ministers, transport to the new location, costs of setting up a training center and salaries for two years.

So...launch out and help us make a difference in the lives of desperate young people in another place. And please let me know what you are doing -- charcoul175@gmail.com

Peace and Joy,

Charles Coulston

A picture from that first year in an alleyway - where
God goes to find his own.  We can do it again! 

OUR YOUNG ONES

As of the beginning of October, we have 11 girls who are 14 years and under.  They are great girls, and we love them.  How joyful it is that they have been brought off the streets and alleyways of Nairobi into a new life!

Recently a friend of MITS sent some funds so these girls could have $10 each to spend on a shopping trip.  They were so thrilled when we told them, and two days later they went on a shopping trip and got the money in shillings and bought things they needed.  One of the girls' supervisors told me that these girls own much less than our other girls at MITS, so this was a great blessing.  

Thanks to all those who help us in so many ways to bring joy and hope to these young people.  

And maybe my next blog will be the 10 new boys who came to their first chapel TODAY!!! God has blessed us with an opportunity to bring new life to them.  Please pray for us and them!!