Francis Mbuvi Reports

We hope the Board meeting went well and lots of good decisions made. Thanks for being there.
We had a good time in church, with 3 groups of 7 to 10 in our morning class. In church Alex Atema is one person who seems to be coming up. He did the Lord's table and even had googled the material he talked about -- very thoughtful. James Mwangi led us in giving.

Brian Kweyu came to church and he even asked that we forgive him and bring him back.
The youth are at the Youth Conference in South Nyanza. We eagerly await to hear about the trip.

Blessings to all, Mbuvi

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!

The Church at Work

One of the girls in the Kamulu Church Sunday school had no uniform for school, and her mother appealed to the church for help. The school makes kids go home until they have a proper uniform. It is really great that we have a uniform shop and a factory that makes uniforms at Made in the Streets, so the church could easily buy a uniform for Damaris. Now she is a happy little girl, back in school, and her mom is happy too. We are happy we can do some good works for kids and for people with sickness in their families or other serious trouble.

Sunday Report from Francis Mbuvi

"We had a blessed time in church today. It rained through the night and was still drizzling some in the morning. Class started late since by 9:00 only Anto, Kennedy and their friend had arrived, but we still covered much. I told Joel we can have two services, meeting inside in two of our classrooms instead of the courtyard, but he said people may not come due to the rains. Jackton led the Lord's table and offering and I did the sermon from Mark 3. Today's message was that we should not forget Jesus like some of the Pharisees had, and we looked at what we can do not to forget. We had over 120 people, even with the rain.

We have a date for the 15th Celebration Anniversary of Made in the Streets, the 26th of June. We will start giving out invitations to government people and others by the end of the month. We will work to get all of our former students at the Celebration -- a MITS Family Reunion.

Tomorrow is our first day in classes for the new term. We have met as a Team, looked at how well we did in our 2009 Goals, set new goals for 2010, and set up a timetable and schedule of classes and events for 2010. We hope all goes well -- there is lots to do."

Church at Kamulu

Francis Mbuvi's Recent Report

"We had such a good time in Church today. Joel and

Jackton were on leave, so they were not available to lead singing and translate. It gives opportunity for us to use other church members and the students. Titus translated for the Golf Course Road group of four that is here. I think that was nice and bold of him to do. Earlier Larry Conway had asked Evans, who works at the farm, to do it, and he said he was afraid.

Titus was nearby (the first pic is of Titus when he was still on the streets; he is in the middle with the big smile), and Larry told him to sit in between the visitors and translate what I said. Even though some of the Swahili words are hard, Titus did well. The visitors told me they enjoyed the sermon. What a great gift we have in the students.

The morning adult and teen class was nice too, and today it was extra full. I had to bring in some more extra seats. All the discussion questions were the same things I was to preach about -- things to remove or kill in our lives and those to put on (from Colossians 3). We were blessed.

This picture is a recent one of Titus with an Aggies for Christ visitor to Kamulu. They formed a special bond, as Alex has prayed for Titus since Titus was on the streets, and this year Titus was praying for Alex after he became ill with mono. Our ministry is truly mutual, and we believe that street kids have the ear of God.

WHY PEOPLE COME by Darlene

   We are curious at times as to why people come to Kamulu Church of Christ; we got some answers this past week.  Our women's prayer group was at our house Thursday.  There is always chai (Kenya tea) to drink, and cake at our home (other homes, they serve bread with margarine). We began talking about how they came to this church.  All but Maureen and one other came because of their children enjoying our Sunday school.  The other woman came because the women came to her when she moved in and invited her.  What a valuable asset our children's program is!  Here is a picture of one of our Sunday school classes. 

  The women also talked about Mbuvi's preaching.  They all agree that "Mbuvi preaches to your heart."  

  These women have dedicated 

themselves to pray and act so that the community will know about the church and the street ministry and dispel rumors.  And they hope in talking to their neighbors they will also gain people coming to church.  So this Sunday there were 3 visitors - the one family I talked with came because of Sunday school.  They are new to the area and the man asked about Made in the Streets - Charles talked with him and he is really interested and pleased.  He said, "I have been to several churches looking, and here the preaching is quite different and good. I like it here."  He had his three children with him, and his wife joined the women after church for prayer.  

Church Life in Kamulu

It was Sunday morning, April 26. As Darlene and I walked to the morning Bible class, it started to rain.  Brian Ochieng, a responsible 16-year-old and one of our students, had already begun setting up the chairs outside for church, which meets in the patio of the Learning Center.  As we started class and our study of Ephesians 5:1-7, it began to rain hard.  Since they could hardly hear a discussion, I broke the 31 people up into small groups and gave them a topic to discuss.  

Brian hurriedly began to get the song books and chairs inside, and I went out to help him, along with another student who arrived.  We set up to have the church meet in the largest inside space we have available.  After class it continued to rain a little, and people dribbled in to worship.  After a few minutes of singing, there were so many people they couldn't fit in the room, so we decided to move outside, since the rain was stopping.  

The boys wanted to sweep all the water away, so the movement of chairs and people was a dance for a while.  Finally we all settled down; there were 104 present in the assembly. The communion leader gave us a challenge: "will you stand by the road and claim Jesus?  Or will you be afraid in this time of opposition to faith by many?"  The one who led the collections of money for the regular "sadaka" (offering) and for the building fund told a story about 3 men who were drinking in a bar, were given free rounds by someone they didn't know who left his briefcase, and whose motivations and greed led to great trouble for all 3.  Interesting!  

After worship, Robin told me his Sunday school class was "full of kids."  His room holds about 45 kids squeezed together on our small chairs.  It was fellowship Sunday, so everyone stayed around for a cup of tea and conversation.  

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

Becoming Followers of Jesus

We continue to rejoice at the response that our young people in Made in the Streets, as well as community people, are making to being taught clearly about salvation, the work of Christ and baptism.  

Last Sunday, two more of our students were baptized -- Willys Odhiambo from the Kamulu program and Catherine Ndunge from the moms with babies Eastleigh program.  In this picture Francis Mbuvi is baptizing Willys, who was very happy.  He came to Charles Coulston recently to say that he has a girl friend whom he wants to marry some day, but that he is only 17 and know he will not marry for several years -- and he wants to do the right thing, so he has decided to be baptized, knowing God will bless him and keep him doing the right thing!  

Catherine was afraid of the water.  When we went to the Coast, she was reluctant to do down to the ocean!  So baptism was a fearful event also, but she was willing.  

These young people are so precious, as well as the community women who have been attending the Kamulu Church of Christ who have been baptized.  This makes 36 people in the past two months.  

This week we have prepared a small flyer to take out to the community telling about the congregation and what our spiritual life offers to people.  Please pray that we can distribute these to people who have need of the Lord and whom God is calling to himself.