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

Genesis and Science

I make it a point to check out what is happening in scientific circles, not just because I like science but also to relate it to the Bible.  I think it is amazing how often Genesis comes out right.  The latest example is the news from Planck (check that out -- it's wonderful science!) - that their observations change the date stars were formed AFTER the Big Bang (which starts an expansion in which the universe as we know it is formed, grows and builds up into galaxies, stars, planets, comets and so on).

They have known this for years, but the dating hasn't been clear.  Now they have been able to study the Cosmic Microwave Background in the universe (an "afterglow" that still washes across the universe).  This confirmation fits well with Genesis, which states that God began work on creation with the making of space, earth, light....and not until the "4th day" does God make the stars.  Who can tell how long God held the earth and its newly created couple in stasis, with an "envelope" of protection and air, before creating the rest of the universe.

This leaves a great deal of temporal room for growth of species and the aging of the earth, for a woman to be born who would be Cain's wife, for the emergence of "species" of humans who would eventually give way to the progeny of the created couple, leaving only humans as we know them.

I like Genesis. I like the creation story.  It puts life as we know it in a context easily understood. And I still like science.

A picture from Planck that may be star formation.  

WORK IN THE USA

For the past four years, Darlene and I have spent about six months each year in the USA and six months in Nairobi.  We want the Kenyan Team to do the ministry themselves -- and they are doing a wonderful work!  We had some of these Team members in our youth group in Eastleigh in 1994, and they have matured, expanded their skills and become expert street ministers, teachers and leaders. 

So what do we do in the USA?  

       We spend time with grandchildren.... 

       We visit churches and individuals who support MITS....

       We collect books and other resources to take back to MITS.....

       We write curriculum and other materials for the Team to use....

       We research Scripture and Biblical topics for the Team...

       Here is Darlene editing now....

We are grateful for our many friends in the USA who help with the street ministry - we can't do it without you!  We are grateful for friends in the USA and in Kenya.  What a joy to live the two lives that we do!  

EAST TO TENNESSEE

We had a great visit in Tennessee...maybe the best Board meeting ever.  We added several new people to the Board, who we believe will be very helpful to MITS in the future.  New members are

Paulette Fewell, Larry Hagerman, Steve Henn, Ericka Maple, 

Regan Shafer, Cassaundra Stephens, Amy Surdacki

We also had three members rotate off the Board:  Bob Brannon, Darren Wilson and Paula Frisby.  They have served well - we are grateful to have worked with them on the Board. All say they are not through supporting and encouraging MITS! 

We stayed with good friends Bill and Betty Smith, then Terry and Paula Frisby -- both families are hospitable and love the street ministry.  We had lunch with Josh Graves, the Otter Creek preacher, one day, then with Steve Sherman, Walter Surdacki and Lee Camp at Lipscomb University.  We also had the joy of teaching university classes for Josh and Steve.  We met Chris Soper at The Well Coffeehouse one day, and Brittany Eagleman another day (she is moving to Liberia together with her husband). We ran across Dan Bouchelle from Mission Resource Network at the coffeeshop also.  We had a short but good visit with Kevin and Suzette Wimpy and lunch with them and Bob Brannon and Steve Sherman after the Board meeting. 

I AM RESOLVED

I am resolved....

    *to help Made in the Streets raise $1 Million in 2015

    *to give back $10,000 of our salary to MITS for this purpose

    *to find 99 other people who will give $10,000.  


Then...

    *we can "export" Made in the Streets to another country

    *we can "train" new workers for evangelism and street ministry

    *we can "prove" this form of church planting and ministry is viable and necessary. 

Are you one of the 99? 

Jesus searched for this "1" and brought her back.
Don't you want the poorest of the poor to receive the same redemption that we do?

THINGS WE LOVE

Darlene and I have walked down memory lane lately.  We had our 50th Anniversary, with several trips and with good friends gathering for a celebration.  And we went through all 94 albums and the digital pictures so Darlene could print a book with about 100 pictures.

And with soon finishing our 20th year in street ministry, we have much to celebrate and memories to enjoy.  That has set us to thinking and talking about things we love.

We love

• birds singing in the morning at Kamulu
• raindrops on the metal roof
• sitting on the rooftop patio with green all around or stars in the sky
• playing music videos for the kids at MITS so they can learn songs
• stopping at Java House for a cappuccino
• seeing African animals
• visitors at Made in the Streets
• meetings with the MITS Team
• Sunday morning class and worship at Kamulu
• writing curricula and proposals and policy and dreams
• having a car with an air conditioner
• little kids at "MITSville" who come by for "biqui" (cookies) and "sweets"
• a smile and hug from Lucy Wairimu
• seeing Jackton and Millie evangelizing the guards at Kamulu
• working with interns who love to be at MITS 
• planning with the Team for literacy students to move into skills training
• working with John Wambu on building at MITS 
• having a cup of coffee in the evenings with John and solving the world's problems
• getting ready to leave for time in the USA, or to leave for time in Kenya

There is more, but this is enough to keep us going for a while.

peace and joy,

charles

Here is an old picture from a place we love too....