20 Acres Update

Greetings!  So many good things happen among us at Made in the Streets, and we have only a few bumps along the way.  And the bumps always turn out to be good for us, for our kids and for the ministry.  Jesus wants this street ministry done, and He leads the way.  

As to the 20 acre bump, we have a hearing in high court on November 11 -- mostly to issue a judgment as to whose property this is.  We have all our documents -- allocation letter from the Drumvale Cooperative, Lease Title from the Department of Lands, a confirming letter from Drumvale that we are the only ones issued rights to the land, receipts for taxes paid... 

The people who have invaded the land continue to build - they have now filled in the foundation area with stones and today they delivered ballast.  They still have to bring in cement and sand for the concrete for the foundation. It is likely they will get the walls up before the court date.  That is a little worrisome for us, but the lawyer has told us of numerous cases in Nairobi where people have built on other people's land, then had even large apartment buildings torn down by bulldozers after a court case -- he says not to worry.  So, we are trying to do what a lawyer told me a long time ago in Redwood City about a court case regarding a home, "Let me do the worrying."  

We trust God, and the promise is that the best will be done for us, however human, earthly and material affairs work out.  After all, this is His land, and he holds the stars in His hand.  

Marriage and MITS

Aah..marriage is a wonderful thing.  And there is marriage in the air at Made in the Streets.  When I was 20 and ready to get married, I only knew one way to do it.  Two decide to get married, he asks her dad, then they tell everyone, arrange for the church and the preacher, get a license at the County Court Clerk, have a wedding, and rent an apartment.  In Kenya I have found there are other ways.  You can get a license from the government and have it signed by someone authorized by the government to perform your wedding.  Or you can schedule a wedding at a church, and it's legal and acceptable whether you have the license or not.  Or you can even have a community wedding, which means that you announce to and get the permissions of all the important people in your life and you are then married.  There is no inheritance guarantee with this last one, but it is acceptable in society.  

At MITS, we have a joyful event about to occur.  No, it's not one of our 5 Team members who have fallen in love and are looking forward to marrying one of these days (I won't mention who those people are here, other than to say that two of our women and two of our men are looking forward to marrying, so they will have to move out of the dorms into their own homes).  Our joy comes because two of our former students from the streets will have their wedding on November 15 at MITS-Kamulu.  They actually opted for the community wedding three years ago and have a son who will be 2 in November.  But they did not go through the complete process of the traditional wedding, which involves a face-to-face meeting of any parents the young people have who then announce their agreement in favor of the marriage.  In this case there is one family background that is almost impossible to deal with.  As a consequence, they have not felt truly and fully married.  

Today (Saturday, 25 October) they came to visit at Kamulu and made the decision to not only have a church wedding but to seek to get a license signed and registered also.  So we got out the wedding dresses that friends in the USA have sent over, as well as the wedding rings that have been donated, and Eliza tried them on and chose one.  And Laurent says she is beautiful.  He also said he has always heard that "a good wife is a blessing from God," and he knows that he is a blessed person.  

We met Laurent near the very beginning of Made in the Streets; he was 13 years old and had been living on the streets in an alleyway for three years.  He loved learning; Darlene's Mother, Dorothy Wright, taught him to read during her visits in Kenya.  Our Team introduced him to a head-teacher at a local primary school after he had been with us about a year and a half. He was admitted to the 7th grade in spite of never being to school because he had learned English so well. He took the 8th grade exam the following year, and the Team enrolled him in a local cooking school.  When he finished in 2003, by God's grace he obtained an attachment (apprenticeship) at the University of Nairobi cafeteria, where he continues to work.  Once he cooked a meal at the University and served the President of Kenya, and this year he cooked at a meal attended by the President and the new Prime Minister.  He is well liked by his superiors and fellow chefs, and of course we are very proud of him.  

Laurent continues to support his mother, using about 1/4 of his total earnings for her monthly support.  He contributes part of his salary to a pension fund, so there isn't a great deal left for them to live on, but they have an apartment and recently managed to get a DVD player to go with the TV.  And there are many stories of his generous spirit with others, especially toward kids on the street.  

So...on November 15 Laurent Mogambi and Elizabeth Wangare will be able to feel complete in their marriage.  This is only one of the reasons why we think doing street ministry is exactly where we ought to be.  

20 Acres Update

We are making progress in our effort to stop those who invaded the 20 acres.  The local police commander has stopped the construction until the case is settled.  Our attorney has visited the farm and has all the documents and pictures; he believes we have a strong case and says this judge will take a strict view on protection of land.  The local authority that surrendered this land to us has written a letter stating that MITS is the only party that the land was surrendered to.  And today representatives from two television stations (KTN and KBC) came to take pictures, view the land and interview staff and students who were present at the invasion.  They think it will be in the news Monday.  

Meanwhile, life goes on.  For the past two weeks Darlene Coulston has been teaching the Bible classes at MITS.  The class was in the Gospels and ready for the work of John the Baptist.  The students were interested, so Darlene has carefully studied every New Testament passage on baptism.  Then today 4 young men were baptized -- Francis Cugia, Francis Wahome, Titus Kioko and George Mwenda.  After the baptisms, Charles Kimani said he will be baptized tomorrow.  Then in the afternoon Frederick Otieno told Charles that he will be baptized next Sunday.  So...Good News at MITS!  

Land Problem Update at MITS

Thanks to all who have written comments and emails in regard to our land problem at Made in the Streets. Francis Mbuvi, our administrator, sought an injunction in high court on Friday to stop anyone from entering the premises at the 20 acres or interfering with MITS life. However, the judge wanted to leave early since it was Friday, so the case was not heard. Francis and the lawyer were allowed to enter all of the MITS documents and the plea, so that the case will be heard on Monday. We will wait until then to pursue other avenues. The people who invaded the land have begun digging a foundation. We are trusting God to be at work to protect our work for the street kids, to soften and change hearts and to make the right way for us.

Life at MITS goes on...Charles and Darlene are almost finished with the house and hopefully will move out of the girls' center by October 10. This week has seen the installation of window glass, painting, spackling, electrical wiring and installation of lights, drainage system and a few other odds and ends. Five of the young men at MITS are painting -- they are doing great work and have such a good attitude. It is nice to give the kids opportunity to earn some money. When they work at MITS or for one of us, we give them half the money now and save the other half for when they leave us, so they will each have some funds to start a new life.

Two girls had a fight today, and one's nose was hurt. We hope to slowly help the kids get anger and physical conflict out of their lives, but it is not an immediate process. That's one of the reasons we are sending Irene Akinyi to Daystar University to study counseling. We want our team to be able to guide the kids in better and better ways. Irene told me yesterday that because of her introductory course, she has already made some changes in the way she deals with the kids. That's good news!

Window glass was installed in the new girls' kitchen today, and repairs were made on their water system. Next week John Wambu plans to go to Eastleigh to make some repairs needed before the Eastleigh Center is approved by the Children's Office in this year's inspection. We have to redo the floor of the main hall and provide more ventilation in the girls' dorm; also we have to put higher barriers on the sides of the toddler beds.

Joel Njue reports that our efforts on behalf of older guys -- 18 and older -- on the streets are paying off. He found a government official working the National Identity Card office who has taken an interest in the young men. Joel and the Eastleigh Team are working to get National Identity Cards for 80 young men, and 21 will be served this coming week. They will present their documents and receive waiting cards; Joel will be informed in a few weeks that the cards are ready, and he will be able to pick them for the young men.

Darlene has begun teaching the Bible classes at the Learning Center, since Irene Mbithe started her maternity leave on Wednesday (Kenyans get 3 months off work for maternity leave). Darlene reports that the kids in all 3 levels are using English in class, with very little need for translation. She is pleased with the obvious progress and with their enthusiasm. She says that every student speaks up, asks questions and answers questions. The class is currently studying the Gospels, and this week has been taken up with the work of John and the baptism of Jesus.

I talked with several of the young people who are taking exams in November and December, and they feel confident they are ready. Several will take the 8th grade government exam (in English, Swahili, Social Students and Religion, Science and Mathematics), and others will take the Level 3 Auto Mechanics exam. One student will take the Level 3 exam in Tailoring.

Thank you for praying for us and for supporting us. Let the hungry and homeless children of the world be blessed.

Trouble at the 20 Acres

It is good that the Team of Made in the Streets has reason to keep on keepin' on. And we do -- we know the kids who sleep on the streets have worth and can succeed and have faith and be quality people. We know the work of MITS is a work that Jesus wants to do -- his heart is with the poor, with children in trouble. And we know it is possible for kids to come off the streets into a new life, for we have seen the change and the power and the joy.

The past two days have seen trouble at MITS at the 20 acres. The 20 acres is where we are building our Skills Training Center. We are already teaching woodworking and tailoring there, and we are almost finished with the John Connor Brown Training Facility where we will train young people in cooking and hairdressing. We have a well to serve the Center and to irrigate land for farming, so we can develop an agriculture training center as well. This part of our ministry has an exciting future.

Yesterday (Tuesday, September 30, 2008) a group of men came to the 20 acres led by an MP (Member of the Kenya Parliament). They chased away our teachers and students at the Center, and they attacked several of them with spades, a mattock, a panga and stones. Our farm manager, Ben Mwami, was slashed on the shoulder. Victor Otieno, who directs our student shops and assists with farming, was cut on the finger. A student, Fatuma, was slightly injured. Jackton had stones thrown at him but was not hurt. The men tore down our sign, tore our fence posts out, and took down the whole fence around the property, then took the posts home for firewood. Ben, Victor and Fatuma saw a doctor at the local clinic in Kamulu.

The MP and the men and women (included was the Assistant Chief of the area, but the Chief chose not to be involved) claimed they were reclaiming public land which would be used to build a secondary school. If they have a piece of land, and they propose a school, they can receive CDF money (Constituency Development Funds), which are distributed by the Members of Parliament. So they chose to take our land in order to develop their plans. One interesting note is that they did not involve the police, nor the department of lands, nor any other government officials except the local assistant chief. The police were surprised when they discovered the event had occurred and they had not been informed about it.

Francis Mbuvi, our Administrator, has visited a lawyer to seek an injunction to protect the land until the issue is settled. We have been in prayer together, and we have decided that we will not be angry, we will not be discouraged and we will not be bitter. But we will also not give up, and we are determined to do the best we can for the children God has given us. All those who were at the Center went to the police post today to present testimony and evidence. Immediately afterwards the crime scene investigators arrived at Kamulu and took pictures of the demolished fence and looked over the property.

We hope that tomorrow we will receive the court injunction, and we will wait to see what action the police will take. Our team has said the police were friendly and listened carefully to testimony.

Following is a picture that was taken by Jackton after the "victory" of the group, when they had settled down to a meeting to plan their new school.


We do not yet know the outcome, so we ask our friends to pray, as always, that God's will is done, that the needs of street kids are served, and that our Team will be filled with courage. We want to have the property that will be best for our kids, and we want what is lawful and right to be done. Thanks for caring.

Street Mothers Learn to Work

A STREET MOTHER LEARNS A SKILL

One of the young mothers -- Millicent Adhiambo -- got the chance to learn hairdressing at the Narcisse Salon for a month. The owner is Nargis Manji, who has been a great friend to Made in the Streets. Five of the young women who have been through MITS - Caroline Wanjiru, Catherine Ndetwa, Riziki Asha, Jane Wangare and Pauline Zainabu - are working for Nargis now. She has sent two of them to the Revlon Beauty Institute for advanced training.  Nargis took it upon herself to train Millicent, who is pictured with Nargis here.   It was something she enjoyed. Next week we will send Francis Cugia for training.

In this picture she is being taught how to mix hair chemicals as Nargis observes.

Millicent applies the chemicals she has mixed.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

We had a good time in church today. In the morning class we looked at Acts 10 and it was interesting to hear peope comment about the issue of unclean food. In fact Evans and Anthony still believe that eating pigs' meat is unclean. The class was full and I enjoyed sharing some insights about the text.

In church we were led by Joel and the ladies in worship which was nice. He has taken the idea of reading scripture very well and involving some of our students. Jackton did the Lord's table and I did preach from the book of Acts 4:32-35 encouraging people to be united as a church, in evengelism and sharing with others the material blessings that God has given us.

In the afternoon the students gave reports about how they did not complain the previous week which was the practise for the week. It is amazing to hear them talk about the times they would have complained but didn't. Sarah Aono and Mary Wangui said one day they got very little food and were about to tell Eunice to add but remembered the practise and instead said thanks and sat. Many others had similar things to share.

I interviewed Rebeca (who has certificate in social work) and she agreed to work with us. This means this month we will include her in our payroll. We are still getting applications for a mechanic and caterer -hope we get a nice one.

Have a great day. Mbuvi.