Street Ministry at the Bases

Our Team at Eastleigh continues to go out daily to the bases - to teach Bible, to talk and make friends, to see what new kids have come to the streets, to do first aid, to help solve problems. Here is one of our Team members at Mutindwa Base.

Our whole Team who go to the streets at Eastleigh share the strength of "connectedness." That means they feel a moral need to be connected to people and they see the connections between people and events and can use those connections to be a blessing to people.

We have been through a StrengthsFinder assessment with Kelly Davidson, director of Aggies for Christ at Texas A&M University while some of the AFC students have led a camp for all our kids at Kamulu. What a great week for us all. It was exciting to see the strengths of other Team members in this assessment (which is from a business point of view). The assessment gives us the top 5 strengths -- out of 31 taking the assessment, 20 shared "Responsibility" as a top strength and 19 shared "Learner." That is not a great surprise considering we are working with street kids.

We are already beginning to make some changes in the way we do things as a result of the Strengths assessment. We feel blessed to have had this workshop.

Serving the Lord Jesus

Eric Wairobi and James Omuga were in Eastleigh last week with some of our Team. They have decided to follow Jesus and to give their lives to him. So, after study, they were baptized at the Eastleigh Center by one of our visitors from Aggies for Christ. They had prayer before the baptism, and others were there with them. There is Larry Conway with his "street hat." And Mauryn Mbuvi is there with her youngest son Jeremy. Mauryn is the wife of our administrator and manager of a very successful World Bible School program that includes orphanages and feeding stations. Eric and James were very happy with their decision. This is one of our primary goals at MITS, to help our kids to know God and to want to obey him.

The AFC Team led a camp for 10 kids from the streets one week -- all of whom have now moved to Kamulu. We are seeking sponsors for these 10. If you are interested, write Tim Lewis at timannlewis@gmail.com and cc: the email to me.

The next week the AFC group led a camp for the kids living at Kamulu while Kelly Davidson led a Team development seminar for our MITS Team. It was a great and lively seminar, with emphasis given to the strengths of each Team member and our inter-relationships. We all felt really good, and we believe it will help guide our work together.

More Skills Practice at MITS

Opportunity comes at our own skills shops, such as the small salon we operate along the highway in Kamulu. Titus (Pius) Musyoki trained six months at the Pioneer college. Titus had worked hard to prove that it was worth it. I (photographer Mbuvi) caught up with him working on Cecelia so professionally. Joel will be helping him get an attachment (internship) soon.

Skills Student Practice

Duncan is learning beauty and hairdressing. The photographer found him working on a client doing massage and nails. He was ao happy to practice what he has been learning.

Kamulu Sunday from Mbuvi

Hi, Sunday was great. Our morning class was on

"Mothers Day" and we did the lesson on Mary.

Great discussions of what each person thought

about their mothers.

Risper shared how she dropped out of school

and her dad said she should be married!!!

Her mum fought for her and she was able

to finish primary school.

Loads of great things from others. Samuel

shared of how his mum brought up 11 of them

without a father in the house.
At church, Joel Njue led us in songs,

Francis Cugia in giving and Lord's Table.

I did the sermon--urging people to take action

and represent Christ.
The Praise team and Florence Moraa had a song.

What a Blessing!!!!

Security Concerns

With heightened security alerts around the world for Americans, you are concerned about Made in the Streets and our visitors.

We have decided that Larry will not go to Eastleigh for a time. And our Team members who have been seen a lot with visitors to MITS have been asked to either not go out in Eastleigh and Mathare Valley or to be very careful. Please be in prayer for our Team that must continue to carry out ministry regardless of risk - kids on the streets are always at risk, so we need to be there for them.

As far as visitors are concerned - since our boarding center is away from city center, there is little concern. We need to be careful about the places we go in the city. Other than that, we can carry on with business as usual.

This picture of a girl named Lydia at a base filled with garbage shows you a reason why our ministry must go on; the church must not fail in its mission to be with and near the poorest of the poor in the world.

REMEMBER THE POOR!

peace and joy, charles

Francis Mbuvi Reports

I hope your Sunday was a blessed one. We went to morning class and discussed 1 Corinthians 10:31 -- and it was a good time. We had two groups. Anthony Owino came too. In church, Alex Atemai led us in Lord's table and did wonderful. Ken Wambugu led us in giving and Joel led us in songs. Praise team had a song -- very nice.

Yesterday George Mwenda was in the cells at Ruai police station for some hours because our neighbor's child alleged he beat him along with other students (note: this neighbor is one who has been very angry at our boys when the soccer ball has been accidentally kicked over into his yard, yelling and cursing at the boys, so there is a history). The neighbor lied to Moses and Jackton that we could discuss it. Then he did not even report to the police station after George was arrested (note: George has never caused any trouble at MITS with the teachers or other students, so this behavior is unusual). The neighbor chased John Wambu from his place telling him he was arrogant. We paid bail for George and he is with us. Today he told Jackton that he wants us to remove the goal post on the side next to his place or relocate the soccer field. I will be responding to him tomorrow. Suggestions will be appreciated.

We asked ourselves in class-- how can we bring Glory to God in this situation and maybe lead someone to salvation?

Thanks, Charles and Darlene, for teaching us to trust in God. Have a blessed day. Lots of love from here.

The skills boys moved to the new dorm and they love it there.

Mbuvi

Note: We have had an amazing small number of incidents with boys from the streets getting angry, fighting or even having an argument with anyone outside of MITS. We are sorry for this incident and hopeful that God will make something good come out of it, for George, for the neighbor and for Moses and Jackton, leaders who handled the situation with grace. Mbuvi says they did a great job. Please pray for our neighbor's heart and life.

The photo is one that Mbuvi sent of some of our students singing to the church.