Wednesday, March 30, 2011

You are not safe...

First, I am happy to report that we were able to start using the church again to host our street programs. We have gone back to having programs Monday through Friday for the boys and it is going wonderfully.  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday the boys get a lesson, a game, a craft/art, a full meal, medical treatment, and a Bible study.  Tuesday and Thursday the boys receive medical treatment, a Bible study, and porridge and a donut.  So far the program is going amazingly and we have had about 50 boys or more each day.

That brings me to "You are not safe..."

On Monday, we walked to the other slum, Kisenyi, to get boys to bring to the program.  We gathered about 15 or so boys and started the journey back to Kivulu.  On the way back this man stopped his car in the middle of the road and traffic and started screaming at me and Abby that we were not safe.  He seemed very distressed by seeing us with very many street kids and even more so when we ignored him and laughed.  But I assure you, we couldn't have been any safer...

On the way back to Kivulu, there was one boy in particular, DJ (who only had a right shoe on), that wanted to hold my hand and talk with me and Abby the whole way.  He was very sweet and funny and like most boys from Kisenyi, had Chenge on him.  (Chenge is expired aviation fuel and the boys huff it.  It dulls their senses and they say it doesn't make them feel cold or hungry.  It has different effects on each boy, some get emotional, some feel invincible, some really hyper, etc.)  He was told to get rid of his drugs and when they were taken from him and poured down the sewer, he didn't even react.  As we were walking, Abby tripped on a rock and her sandal broke.  Immediately, DJ said take his shoe.  When Abby refused, he insisted and insisted.  Finally, Abby gave in, took off her broken shoe and took DJ's only shoe.  He happily walked completely barefoot, in places I am afraid to walk with shoes, so his auntie would have 2 shoes.

We had time before the program started when we got back to Kivulu, so we attended the lunchtime service at the church.  That same boy, DJ, sat in the service with us.  And again he amazed me.  When it came time for offerings, he went up and happily put a coin in the basket. Reminded me of the widow.  He HAD given more than us that day...

Yes they are street kids, yes they were high, and to the outsider we probably looked like we were in danger, but I assure you, there is no way we could have been...


**If you are interested in supporting me and my mission here (everything helps!) you can give online at www.globaltrainingnetwork.org and all donations are tax-deductible, just go to the support tab and preference my ministry. 

Friday, March 11, 2011

The last will be the first...

Yesterday was such a promising day...today, heartbreaking.

Yesterday I went to a meeting with others whose hearts are on fire for street kids.  They had brilliant ideas as to how to help them and get them off of the streets and I really had hope and was so excited to see what all the new programs would bring.  Mostly, I was just excited to get to spend more time with the boys.

Today I woke up to a familiar voice outside of my room but couldn't place it.  Didn't pay any attention  but when I finally went outside I was greeted with the sad news that one of the kids from the program was killed earlier in the morning.  His nickname was Owino.  I didn't know him well, but I knew him, he was always around.  I don't think it matters that I wasn't super close to him, but the injustice of his untimely death still stings.  You see, he was out collecting scrap to sell so he could get some money to eat when something began chasing him (dogs, people, not really sure) so he ran and that is when a car/truck hit him.  He was 12 years old.

As if that didn't weigh my heart down enough, I found out later that the police have really been harassing the other boys and the police have told the pastor not to allow us to use the church or else they will beat the kids and arrest us.  So now, mere days before we were going to expand the programs, they have been forced to stop.

But God is good and His heart is hurting for these boys so I know he will provide a way...until then, keep them in your prayers.  With the redo of the elections coming up on Monday, there are sure to be more riots and lucky for the boys, they always start very close to the area where they stay.

Owino is on the bottom row, second boy from the left with the boy in white on his right.
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If you are interested in supporting me and my mission here (everything helps! :-)) you can give online at www.globaltrainingnetwork.org and all donations are tax-deductible, just go to the support tab and preference my ministry.