Sorrow with Memories

I have felt sad for the last couple of days.  And I have been filled with memories of our early years in Nairobi.  John Wambu, who handles all our property matters and construction, went to Eastleigh Monday to do emergency repairs on our Center there.  The rains - and it is raining as I write this - have been great this year, but that means leaks and damage to buildings that were put up in 1937 (like our Eastleigh Center - we have a title that was granted by King George III).  While there he talked to an old friend whom I hired as a guard when I was Principal at KCITI.  Then John called me to tell me that Berkeley Hackett has died.  I felt great pain at the loss, especially of a friend who is only 3 years older than I am.  And I thought of the loss that many churches will feel, and especially the Eastleigh Church and the staff at KCITI (Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute was the dream of missionaries in Kenya, and especially of Berkeley, who wanted to see a school and a church that would serve many Kenyans. The end result was the brainchild of Bill Stevens and Bob West of California, who gave computers and electronic equipment and came up with the initial scheme for courses).  The Hacketts came to Kenya in 1970 and committed themselves for the duration.

Immediately I was flooded with memories - of the breakfasts and lunches Darlene and I had with Berkeley and Charlotte, of the rapid growth of KCITI, of the occasional problems of staffing we had to deal with, of the Bible courses we wrote, of the development of an administrative structure for the school, and much more.

Darlene and I were very involved with teenagers and with Sunday school, and that led to street children coming to the building.  As we became more involved with them and an outreach program began, it became obvious to me that I could not do both things well. So I left the administration of KCITI and began full-time work with street kids.  Berkeley was gracious and allowed us to continue the street ministry on the campus for almost three years.  The street ministry grew and KCITI continued to grow, and finally it was not possible to have a college, a congregation and a street ministry together.  So we moved down the street. After that we did not see one another very much, even though we are in the same section of the city.  There is always plenty of work for a missionary.

I feel gratitude to Berkeley - especially for 2 things.  The first is that he and Charlotte are the ones who invited us to move to Nairobi to live.  I doubt we would have made the decision if they had not invited us.  And that has made all the difference to our lives, for I found my heart's desire in Nairobi, among the street kids.

The second is that he introduced me to Maureen Nduku.  She was in the ninth grade at the time, and the family did not have school fees.  One Sunday morning Berkeley and I walked in front of the church building (and chapel) and I met Maureen.  From then Darlene and I paid school fees.  She became a teacher in our evangelistic youth group, and she went on to be a teacher of street girls when that program started (she still goes to Eastleigh on Monday mornings to teach street girls).  And the day came when I did the wedding for Maureen and Francis Mbuvi, who is now our administrator at MITS. It was a little like marrying my own son and daughter!!  

Maureen has done great things for the Kingdom.  She oversees the Kenyan end of a large World Bible School program that John DeFore and others at Golf Course Road church in Midland, TX, support.  She oversees several orphanages which are supported by members at Golf Course.  And they also have feeding centers where poor grandmothers who care for grandchildren come for food.  Many evangelists look to Maureen for guidance.

I would not have met Maureen if Berkeley had not cared for her and wanted someone to pay her school fees.  Of course God is able to do what He wants in many ways, but in face he chose to work through Berkeley, and us and Maureen to accomplish a great work in Kenya.  So I am grateful.

Preaching in Eastleigh

Darlene and I visited in Eastleigh and went to church at the MITS Eastleigh Center.
They asked me to preach on Numbers 9.  Before I looked at it, I thought, "I am to preach from
Numbers!! To street guys whose attention span is really short!!" But when I looked at it, I knew
it was the right text.
It's one year after the Jews left Egypt.  And God wants them to CELEBRATE Passover. They are
out in the desert, some have whined about going back to Egypt.  They worry about food
and water and the future.  And He says, "CELEBRATE".   So they do.
But some are unclean.  They touched a dead body. They were off on a trip.
And the priests told them they couldn't do Passover since they were unclean.
So I talked to the youth about their own lives.  They are seen as unclean, and they really are
physically unclean.  And some have done wrong things.  And women in the time of their
month think they are unclean and usually do not take the Lord's Supper.  And some think they
are slaves of the streets just as Jews were slaves in Egypt.
So Moses went off to ask God what to do for the unclean ones.  And God said,
"Let them CELEBRATE."  God did not see the uncleanness.
God saw his people whom he loved.
I had 30 chapati with me that some of the girls at Kamulu cooked on Sunday morning.
And we cut them in half and gave each person half a chapati, and I invited all
of them to eat it in honor of Jesus Christ, who loves the unclean.  That
was the first part of the Lord's Supper.  It takes a while to eat half a chapati, so we
had lots of time to honor Jesus.
We had a good time together.  And near the end of worship, a group of
12 Swedish people showed up who were wandering around Eastleigh
visiting some Somalis.  They came in, wanting to learn about street kids and
street ministry.  So we had a chance to witness to our faith in the power
of Jesus to change lives.  All in all, a good day!  

Taking a Break

After hosting the National Youth Conference for churches of Christ - 4 days with 300 teens!
Darlene and I went on safari near Mount Kenya. Here is Darlene standing at the Equator
with zebras and a bird in the background.  

They have a new not-so-tame rhino at Sweetwaters (one time Darlene sat on the
back of the old one named Morani). This one is called Baraka, and he
will eat from your hand, but best to stay on the platform.  The ranger
did get in his compound to take our picture.

A few years ago we took all our students and Team to Mountain Rock Camp
near Mount Kenya. We visited the Ol Pejeta Preserve, and Sweetwaters Camp
gave us a free lunch (and our kids were so proper!!). After lunch, the kids
planted trees in the lawn near the Equator sign. This one was planted
by the boys.  

This is the tree the girls planted.  We were happy to stop by and see
that the trees are still growing.  And Made in the Streets is still growing
as well.  Several students left us recently and found jobs.  14 students took the
8th Grade Exit Exams (KCPE) in November, and one scored at the
median in the country.  And we are growing in those things that matter,
in the Spirit.  

Passover at MITS

Students dip finger in cup of thanksgiving to show the lessening of our joy because of the suffering of the Egyptians.

The Passover (seder) plate with bitter herbs and the bone and the Elijah cup.

Students prepare 200 chapati

for the meal

We have been preparing for two weeks for a Passover meal together with the Team and students. Brian Ochieng and several students started cooking at 2:00 in the afternoon for a 5:00 Passover. They made 200 chapati, our unleavened bread. And they cooked lentils, along with a meat and potatoes dish.

I was a little frustrated at the beginning, mostly because a fairly large number of students and Team came late!! I have such a fetish for keeping time! But it was a great experience - to share the history of Israel and God's love for his people, to listen to the kids read "the story" and to drink the cups of blessing, thanksgiving, redemption and acceptance.

And there was the Elijah Cup, the cup of hope. All Israel dreamed (and some still dream) that Elijah would return, and after him the Messiah. But we know, we know - Elijah has come!! And the Messiah after him, so that we have the redemption, the hidden matzoh has been revealed and all history has changed.

I asked the 5 youngest of our students to find the hidden matzoh -- Michel, one of our 13 year olds -- found it and received 200 shillings as I, the "father" of our family of faith, had to redeem the hidden matzoh, which we then ate, each of the 100 of us taking a small piece in honor and memory of Jesus.

Happy New Year

We've been saying "Happy New Year" to each other for several days now. And I've heard a few resolutions. But the transition to 2012 is not a great one, cause I don't feel great need for anything new.

I have more money and things than I deserve. 18 short-sleeved shirts and 2 pair of sports shoes and 4 pair of Levi's, a house and a car on 2 continents. What could I ask for?

I have as much work as I have time to do. I advise the Made in the Streets Team, do strategic planning for street ministry, plan and design construction for MITS. I'm also working on book number 2 about street kids, reporting to supporters, pleasing my wife, spending time with a daughter and grandkids, serving as liaison with the sponsoring church and board. That's enough at my age.

I have many friends who love me and who love those whom I love.

I have dear ones who made good decisions in 2011. A grandchild baptized into Jesus in August. At Christmas 3 street kids were baptized. Alex, one of our students in computer studies, enrolled in preacher training school. One of our newer girls, Lydia, decided to stay at MITS when a girl running away urged her to run. My wife decided to stay with me another year (I never assume...). So there is much to feel good about.

I have many books in my library I have not read, and at my age I can read some of them again. And I have 8 books recommended by friends.

I pray that 2012 will bring more of what we had in 2011.

More kids from the streets -- we had 46 new ones in 2011. We don't have enough beds for that many more in 2012, and we want each kid to have his/her own bed. But we can take some.

More visitors from the US Christians to MITS - coming with skills and encouragement.

More growth in spirit and skills for Team members. I pray for them to know their strengths and grow their strengths and use them for Jesus.

More Christians in US who love homeless and hopeless kids and who want to help us find these kids and redeem them and help them be responsible for their own lives - and for those Christians to give generously.

More time with friends who bless my life with affection and encouragement.

That will make a happy year!!

During the Holiday

I was walking to Starbucks with Darlene. It's 20 minutes. It was Dec 29, and I was thinking about Anna and Simeon, waiting in Jerusalem to meet Jesus. They were heralds of the new year, the new age of King Jesus. I like that woman. I was close to tears, unable to talk to Darlene about it, remembering another time I cried in the middle of a seminar over the absolute goodness of God. I like Anna. Her whole life was worth living for the moment she met Jesus. We have no idea what she may have suffered, what griefs she had, what joys. But this was the big moment, the moment she was living for. As Simeon says, "now I can die in peace." I like him too. And it is so for us. When we meet Jesus, life is made. We could die in peace. What is truly wonderful is that we get to keep on living, with Him, knowing him every day, walking to Starbucks with Jesus. And always the surprising work he has for us to do.

Poetry about the Streets

Watcher I

I am a watcher I

Have a place to observe the sky

Watcher I see mighty hand

Lightly touch waiting land

Waiting they who have none

Squinting at equatorial sun

Then to sleep on the street

Where pain and despair meet

Watcher I their daily pain

Dirt pads where they have lain

Time was when I did not see

Those born to misery

Watcher I edging near

Close to see the smallest tear

Observing a divine plan

To make of ragged boy full man

Watcher I take delight

In finding new sight

Days spent not seeing

Are days with no true being

Watcher I see young men giving

Day after day of their living

Sacrificing heavenly seats

For those Made in the Streets

I wrote this poem in September 1996 when we were only serving young men sleeping on the streets, and 9 young Kenyan men were working together with Darlene and me. It is well to gain understanding, to see the lowest of the low, and to take part in the plan of Jesus to dramatically alter their lives and transform their hopes. Boys and girls who sleep on the streets of Nairobi have no reason to think that anyone loves them. It is delight to see them respond so happily to affection and care.