Who are these kids? Everybody in Nairobi thinks they know what street kids look like, and they believe the kids cannot change, but are menaces, thieves, liars, trouble...it is amazing how well they clean up. We spent the day today with a group who came off the streets, some as late as this year. We went to the movie at Village Market, an upscale shopping center near the American Embassy and the United Nations complex.
In the past few weeks, Darlene and Philip Kariuki have read the Chronicles of Narnia to all the kids, and some of our Team members have read them. We told them that everyone who read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian in the past two months would be treated to the movie. Seven of the Team members read them, and five went to the movie. Ben Mwami had to go and pick up 100 baby chicks today, so he couldn't go (we'll get him there later). And Joel will go next week with the moms and the Team members at Eastleigh. 52 of us went today.
The theater gives away a soda, a hot dog and popcorn on Mondays with regular admission price, and the kids loved that. Since Mercy doesn't eat oil, they gave her a Mars bar instead of a hot dog, and she gave her popcorn away. Darlene told Philip she thought he has been doing a great job as a teacher and leader, so she gave him all her food. I told Scholastica that I appreciate her diligence as a student and gave her my hot dog, then I gave Jackton my soda and congratulated him on good work in the sewing plant, and I gave my popcorn to Ken Wabungu, who has been a great young person at Kamulu.
And during the movie they were so quiet, truly enjoying "seeing" the book they have read. They laughed at Reepicheep, and they reacted to the first roar of Aslan. And their behavior was exemplary; they even carried their trash out of the theater to the bins outside. I can't believe how great it is to be out somewhere with a 45-member youth group like this!!! Absolutely amazing and marvelous! My heart's desire is to know these kids all their lives, just like I want to be in the granddaughter's lives for always.
Thanks, Jesus, for the kindness you show me.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
How Quickly We Forget
Those of us involved in street ministry are doing this work, not because of the pay, but because we care about children and teenagers who have no choice but to sleep in alleyways and under kiosks. We have walked the streets of Eastleigh and the warren of one-room shacks in Mathare Valley, and we have talked with the kids whose stories break our hearts. There is Caro, who was beaten unmercifully by her mother's boyfriend, and so she fled to the streets. There is Ken, whose Dad had died, who watched his uncle cut up his grandfather in a disputer over the farm -- he was unable to concentrate in school and there was no food, so he left and went to the streets. There is Titus, who at 11 was always in a stupor from huffing glue, but who always wanted to please.
But how quickly we forget. Many of us now stay at the Kamulu Centre, where we house the street kids who have come off the streets to us, ones whom we believe God has called to himself. They are clean and dressed, and we feed them and each one has a bed of his/her own, and they love the English and Bible and Math classes, and some of them are training for the Primary Education 8th Grade Exam in December, and our life together is great. And so we forget what it is like on the streets.
So Francis Mbuvi, our administrator, decided that the Team should return to the streets. Every other Friday almost all the Team will spend the day in Eastleigh, going to Bases and visiting with the kids and youth. Last Friday they went, while Darlene and Francis taught the kids at Kamulu. Ben Mwami reported, "I haven't been back to the streets since our training two years ago. It was so good to be reminded. And as we crossed a street, we say a baby that had been left out and run over by a car. That baby didn't have a chance, but our kids here at Kamulu have a chance." Abraham, who is usually quiet in our meetings, spoke up twice as they talked about the experience. Robin reported that when he goes into Eastleigh to visit his parents, he usually avoids going by the bases because it is so uncomfortable for him. But he was glad that Friday he went, and many of the kids at the bases said, "Why haven't you come back? Are you avoiding us?"
How quickly we forget the needs that surround us, because we can go and get our lattes and have outings with our kids and enjoy the good life that prosperity brings. Is today a day to remember, and to embrace the uncomfortable?
Keep remembering...and peace to you...charles
But how quickly we forget. Many of us now stay at the Kamulu Centre, where we house the street kids who have come off the streets to us, ones whom we believe God has called to himself. They are clean and dressed, and we feed them and each one has a bed of his/her own, and they love the English and Bible and Math classes, and some of them are training for the Primary Education 8th Grade Exam in December, and our life together is great. And so we forget what it is like on the streets.
So Francis Mbuvi, our administrator, decided that the Team should return to the streets. Every other Friday almost all the Team will spend the day in Eastleigh, going to Bases and visiting with the kids and youth. Last Friday they went, while Darlene and Francis taught the kids at Kamulu. Ben Mwami reported, "I haven't been back to the streets since our training two years ago. It was so good to be reminded. And as we crossed a street, we say a baby that had been left out and run over by a car. That baby didn't have a chance, but our kids here at Kamulu have a chance." Abraham, who is usually quiet in our meetings, spoke up twice as they talked about the experience. Robin reported that when he goes into Eastleigh to visit his parents, he usually avoids going by the bases because it is so uncomfortable for him. But he was glad that Friday he went, and many of the kids at the bases said, "Why haven't you come back? Are you avoiding us?"
How quickly we forget the needs that surround us, because we can go and get our lattes and have outings with our kids and enjoy the good life that prosperity brings. Is today a day to remember, and to embrace the uncomfortable?
Keep remembering...and peace to you...charles
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Days of Stress
We have always lived with stress. Some of it is good, for it helps us be focused and alert. But there has always been stress that hurts the heart and the soul, the kind that makes us be unkind to those we love and eventually damages our bodies.
My stress used to be about what others thought of me, or about getting my work done satisfactorily. Nowadays it most often has to do with computers and the internet. When you are using a computer, a cell phone, a local internet service, and the world wide web -- there are many things that can go wrong. I often start thinking it is me, or that the world is arrayed against me, and stress levels go up.
With me that's especially bad, because sugar levels go up with the stress. And my stress levels affect Darlene as well.
So...what to do? Breathe deeply, remember that everybody out there wants it to work well not just me, thing of good things, mentally relax my body and feelings -- lots of good things to try, but it isn't easy. I know a couple of preachers who have never gotten involved with computers; they don't have this stress. That's one answer, but the days of cell phones and the internet have made life so much better for communication and for feeling as if we are in touch.
What do you do when stress levels get too high? Write me at crc@swiftkenya.com if you have found a good answer when sitting at the computer!
have a stress-free day,
charles
My stress used to be about what others thought of me, or about getting my work done satisfactorily. Nowadays it most often has to do with computers and the internet. When you are using a computer, a cell phone, a local internet service, and the world wide web -- there are many things that can go wrong. I often start thinking it is me, or that the world is arrayed against me, and stress levels go up.
With me that's especially bad, because sugar levels go up with the stress. And my stress levels affect Darlene as well.
So...what to do? Breathe deeply, remember that everybody out there wants it to work well not just me, thing of good things, mentally relax my body and feelings -- lots of good things to try, but it isn't easy. I know a couple of preachers who have never gotten involved with computers; they don't have this stress. That's one answer, but the days of cell phones and the internet have made life so much better for communication and for feeling as if we are in touch.
What do you do when stress levels get too high? Write me at crc@swiftkenya.com if you have found a good answer when sitting at the computer!
have a stress-free day,
charles
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Prayer Life
Many of my life is made up of realities that I can do nothing about, at least not on my own. That leads me to prayer. And since Jesus prayed for disciples, and he prayed for power and he prayed for protection, it makes sense to me to pray also. Many of my prayers are about the smaller things of life, but I've been thinking lately about some things that affect everyone. So...here's a short list of big prayers.
1. "Of the making of books there is no end." 1000s of books will be written this year, and people still read them, or at least read summaries. I want to pray that this year some really good books that will guide and improve and inspire and lift up people to higher thoughts and dreams and behavior. God, please lead some people to give us a few great books.
2. this is the age of inventions. 100s of incredible inventions have occurred in my short 64 years. And some are world-changing, like the cell phone. It has dramatically changed the lives of missionaries and teenagers, businesspeople and drivers. Here's my prayer: "Lord, help the church to learn to use the cell phone to bless the world."
3. For long ages, humans have looked up to the sun and moon and stars and dreamed and desired and even decided. Now space exploration has begun, and the telescopes look a long ways, and there's a little black hole in the Milky Way Galaxy with more mass than the sun. In an ever-expanding universe, and new explanations of our place in it, may space exploration lead to deeper faith.
4. Studies in the ancient world have shown how very diverse religion was when Jesus came into the world. And the church was a place of diversity from the beginning. It is even more apparent and more emphasized in our own age. Here's the prayer: that diversity in religion will cause a desire for God to grow and lead to a great search for truth.
May your prayers and your thoughts encompass the great and the small.
1. "Of the making of books there is no end." 1000s of books will be written this year, and people still read them, or at least read summaries. I want to pray that this year some really good books that will guide and improve and inspire and lift up people to higher thoughts and dreams and behavior. God, please lead some people to give us a few great books.
2. this is the age of inventions. 100s of incredible inventions have occurred in my short 64 years. And some are world-changing, like the cell phone. It has dramatically changed the lives of missionaries and teenagers, businesspeople and drivers. Here's my prayer: "Lord, help the church to learn to use the cell phone to bless the world."
3. For long ages, humans have looked up to the sun and moon and stars and dreamed and desired and even decided. Now space exploration has begun, and the telescopes look a long ways, and there's a little black hole in the Milky Way Galaxy with more mass than the sun. In an ever-expanding universe, and new explanations of our place in it, may space exploration lead to deeper faith.
4. Studies in the ancient world have shown how very diverse religion was when Jesus came into the world. And the church was a place of diversity from the beginning. It is even more apparent and more emphasized in our own age. Here's the prayer: that diversity in religion will cause a desire for God to grow and lead to a great search for truth.
May your prayers and your thoughts encompass the great and the small.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Musings of a Troubled Soul
There are days in my life when I am most conscious of failure. Fear of failure does not stop me from trying to accomplish what I want to do or what seems right, but failing troubles my soul.
We have scheduled a series of fund-raisers for special projects for Made in the Streets, and we want to bring some young people who have lived on the streets to share their message with our friends. We have received the news that the US Embassy has denied Caroline Wanjiru a visa to come to the US for April. We also want to bring Anthony Owino over, and we think that if they denied Caroline, they will likely deny Anthony as well. The official told her that she did not have adequate documentation that showed she would return to Kenya. I'm sure that the Embassy official was doing the best he or she could to serve American interests. They do need to be fully convinced that the applicant will return to Kenya.
My thought is that I have failed the ministry and the young people. From a distance I can't know what occurred and why the embassy official denied the visa. I do know that life is difficult for young people who grow up in desperate poverty, and especially those who suffer from life on the streets. They have a poverty mindset, which does not comprehend how the more affluent think and how they make decisions. And it is hard for them to raise their eyes to people in authority who will make a decision that affects them. Whatever happened, it's clear that Caroline could not convince the official that she is legitimate. That means we have not prepared our young people well enough and given them the tools and outlook that enables them to deal with people with a different mindset.
Now I have to decide how to deal with failure. It is our task to search for new ways to train young people, to make them capable of dealing with people who MANAGE relationships and decisions. The mindset of the poor is to fight over relationships and to submit to decisions by authority.
This troubled soul must also remember that he serves the will of God, and he does not even comprehend what He may be planning to accomplish in all relationships and needs.
And anyway, what is to be done about failure but to search out ways to do better next time? There are better ways to train young people, and by grace we will find them.
We have scheduled a series of fund-raisers for special projects for Made in the Streets, and we want to bring some young people who have lived on the streets to share their message with our friends. We have received the news that the US Embassy has denied Caroline Wanjiru a visa to come to the US for April. We also want to bring Anthony Owino over, and we think that if they denied Caroline, they will likely deny Anthony as well. The official told her that she did not have adequate documentation that showed she would return to Kenya. I'm sure that the Embassy official was doing the best he or she could to serve American interests. They do need to be fully convinced that the applicant will return to Kenya.
My thought is that I have failed the ministry and the young people. From a distance I can't know what occurred and why the embassy official denied the visa. I do know that life is difficult for young people who grow up in desperate poverty, and especially those who suffer from life on the streets. They have a poverty mindset, which does not comprehend how the more affluent think and how they make decisions. And it is hard for them to raise their eyes to people in authority who will make a decision that affects them. Whatever happened, it's clear that Caroline could not convince the official that she is legitimate. That means we have not prepared our young people well enough and given them the tools and outlook that enables them to deal with people with a different mindset.
Now I have to decide how to deal with failure. It is our task to search for new ways to train young people, to make them capable of dealing with people who MANAGE relationships and decisions. The mindset of the poor is to fight over relationships and to submit to decisions by authority.
This troubled soul must also remember that he serves the will of God, and he does not even comprehend what He may be planning to accomplish in all relationships and needs.
And anyway, what is to be done about failure but to search out ways to do better next time? There are better ways to train young people, and by grace we will find them.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Justice and Humility
How does one think about justice and getting one's rights? How does one practice the humility that Christ requires?
In the recent election in Kenya, the strongest opposition party claims that the election was rigged at the last minute in favor of the incumbent. It is important for Kenya to know whether that is true and to find a way to solve the problem that moves the country forward. Forward meaning success in integrating with the outside world and reducing corruption and raising the level of integrity and optimism in the country.
But what does the opposition leader do? To resist the announced results, he must call for protests and put pressure on the government. On an individual level, Jesus calls on his people to practice humility, to accept insults and rejection and bad treatment and respond with love and peace and good will and good treatment of enemies. We understand that and can find ways to practice it. We swallow our pride, accept setbacks and continue with our lives.
What do you do on a national level? Do you practice humility, or do you pressure the government to make changes that will be good for the whole country? It may mean disruptions, riots, police action and suffering for many. The past practice of America has been to be willing to take military and police action to change the world or to hold what is regarded as evil at bay so that it does not take over.
And what does a government do when threatened by opposition? Does it respond with police action and put down protest, or does it allow protest and marches even at the risk of greater unrest?
I would enjoy hearing what our friends think about these issues. My email is charles.coulston@made-in-the-streets.org
From the point of view of Made in the Streets itself, humility is ever our goal. We do not seek to affect government or society in any way; we seek to change the lives of individual street kids - to bring them hope and opportunity - to help them develop spiritually and socially -- to enable them to work and make life better for themselves. As individuals and as a ministry, we seek to accept what comes to us in life and make a difference at the same time.
May all that comes your way to pleasant, and if not, may you find a way through it that brings joy.
In the recent election in Kenya, the strongest opposition party claims that the election was rigged at the last minute in favor of the incumbent. It is important for Kenya to know whether that is true and to find a way to solve the problem that moves the country forward. Forward meaning success in integrating with the outside world and reducing corruption and raising the level of integrity and optimism in the country.
But what does the opposition leader do? To resist the announced results, he must call for protests and put pressure on the government. On an individual level, Jesus calls on his people to practice humility, to accept insults and rejection and bad treatment and respond with love and peace and good will and good treatment of enemies. We understand that and can find ways to practice it. We swallow our pride, accept setbacks and continue with our lives.
What do you do on a national level? Do you practice humility, or do you pressure the government to make changes that will be good for the whole country? It may mean disruptions, riots, police action and suffering for many. The past practice of America has been to be willing to take military and police action to change the world or to hold what is regarded as evil at bay so that it does not take over.
And what does a government do when threatened by opposition? Does it respond with police action and put down protest, or does it allow protest and marches even at the risk of greater unrest?
I would enjoy hearing what our friends think about these issues. My email is charles.coulston@made-in-the-streets.org
From the point of view of Made in the Streets itself, humility is ever our goal. We do not seek to affect government or society in any way; we seek to change the lives of individual street kids - to bring them hope and opportunity - to help them develop spiritually and socially -- to enable them to work and make life better for themselves. As individuals and as a ministry, we seek to accept what comes to us in life and make a difference at the same time.
May all that comes your way to pleasant, and if not, may you find a way through it that brings joy.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Unrest in Kenya
We are sad at any event that creates more trouble for street kids. The unrest at the end of the election in Kenya has led to local riots in several places in Kenya. We are grateful that our center in Kamulu (at the eastern edge of Nairobi, 20 miles from downtown) is isolated enough that there is little likelihood of problems there. What our street kids worry about are their relatives who are in Huruma or Mathare Valley.
It hurts me that Darlene and I are not in Nairobi to go through this with our Team and kids. We love them very much. Life is short, humans are like grass, but our lives mean something when we risk ourselves in order to do good and to work God's will. We know that God wants the street ministry, that it fulfills what Jesus appreciates and wants in the world, and that there are kids on the streets whom God is calling to himself.
God can be trusted to have us in his plan. God can be trusted to keep our hearts and souls safe in Jesus. God can be trusted. So we have peace in this New Year.
Be blessed in the New Year,
charles and darlene
It hurts me that Darlene and I are not in Nairobi to go through this with our Team and kids. We love them very much. Life is short, humans are like grass, but our lives mean something when we risk ourselves in order to do good and to work God's will. We know that God wants the street ministry, that it fulfills what Jesus appreciates and wants in the world, and that there are kids on the streets whom God is calling to himself.
God can be trusted to have us in his plan. God can be trusted to keep our hearts and souls safe in Jesus. God can be trusted. So we have peace in this New Year.
Be blessed in the New Year,
charles and darlene
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