Days of our Lives

Each time we prepare for travel, we find ourselves with strong feelings - we want to go, we want to stay!  Working with the Made in the Streets Team and being with the street kids is a great pleasure, the fulfillment of our hearts' desire.  Whether it is Jackton and Milly visiting graduates and encouraging them to start Bible studies with neighbors and co-workers or talking to Francis about how to lead the ministry or consulting with Wambu on building projects....it is all a deep and wonderful joy.  And they invited me to speak in chapel every day, after the student or visitor who has been scheduled to talk.  I get to talk each day about the "Scripture of the week" - the one we use for the Sunday morning Bible class and the sermon.  I start by asking, "where are we this week?" and many of them say "Luke 7" or "John 5" or whatever it is for the week.  I love telling stories and reminding them of God's will and encouraging them. Today one of the boys wanted to tell me something before chapel. I leaned over close to him, and he said, "I love you."  Makes my day! May you find something that makes yours a joy!

We are going down "Memory Lane" this year, with the 20 Year Celebration of street ministry coming up on August 1 in Nairobi and September 11-12 in Brentwood, TN.  We have been going through hundreds of all pictures and new ones too.  Here is one from 1998, when we helped in the startup of the church in Dirubi, where Kenya Widows and Orphans now has an orphanage and a skills training institute -- and the church continues!

A walk in Dirubi along the Sondu River - and a new church

Life is Good for us...

I can't say that everything goes exactly the way I want...I can't say that Made in the Streets is always successful with kids from the streets....but I can say that we like where we are and what we are doing. Who would have thought it?

Here is a pic of several of the guys among our students...Darlene and I had three groups of these former street kids over to the house...for popcorn, peanuts, chocolate cake, caffe latte (I am the barista)...and conversation!  We had a great time with them all -- so polite, conversational...one group of 12 guys ate a kilo of popcorn.

And here is the wedding of Caroline Wanjiku to Kelvin...whoever that is...actually he's a good guy, but she is ours!  She asked me to officiate at her wedding...normally we try to not to be at weddings -- they start very late and they go long -- but this was our joy!  Kelvin is a youth minister and Caro fits right in to that life.  She is still a hairdresser, and she is still ours!

And this is the church at Kamulu. We love being part of this family. Exciting...fun-filled...devoted to Jesus...I get to teach a Sunday morning class on whatever Francis is preaching on (we plan series together)...this also is OURS!

And here are some of our students doing a drama during worship time. It's about what Jesus says in Matthew 21:42-43, "The stone the builders rejected has become the most important stone." These kids have been rejected, and they dream that God will make them into something special.  And they are OURS!

Of Life at Made in the Streets

I don't write often enough to be a good blogger, or to be someone a person would want to follow.  And I have lots of excuses...here is what has been going on...

...we started the Legacy Campaign Fund this year...we want to find "the 99" - the ones who are safe at home with Jesus.  But these 99 are not content to rest at home; they know Jesus is out there searching for the lost and hopeless one...and they want to be with Him and help.  We want to raise $1 million for major projects at Made in the Streets, including reaching out with this ministry into another country.  We want to show that it is possible and important for a church that sends out missionaries to have a street ministry component in the mission when they are in locations with large numbers of street kids.  We are looking for 99 (individuals, families, home groups, classes) who will give $10,000 each to make it happen.  Darlene and I gave our $10,000 at the beginning, so in total it will make a hundred.  Please consider what gifts God has given you and whether He did so to enable you to give in this effort.

...new street kids have come out to Kamulu in 2015, and 8 more boys are expected here in a week or so. In addition the Eastleigh Team has 43 boys who are younger than our desired age, and a friend in California has given funds that can be used to help these boys get somewhere off the streets - back home with a relative, in another home of someone who cares, in an institution that will give them care - wherever they find people who will be kind to the boys.

...we are planning a Celebration for 20 years of street ministry on August 1 at Kamulu.  A committee is busy making that a reality.  In addition, there will be a Celebration at Otter Creek Church of Christ, Brentwood, Tennessee, in September.  If you are interested in begin at either of those, write me at charles@madeinthestreeets.org for info.

...we have published a new coffee-table picture book that covers the 20 years of ministry.  We plan to give a copy to each of the 99.  If you are not one of the 99, but want a copy, please write me.

...our kids have been on a trip to Western Kenya, getting to see some of the country they never had a chance to see because they grew up in Nairobi slums.  They have been thrilled with the hot springs, with Lake Victoria, with spending the night with various congregations, and begin together with some Team members on a trip...thanks to those who made this possible.

...I am so glad to be doing what I do, working with this Team and these kids from the streets. I'm getting old, but glad to be with the young.

Blessings, Charles