Reaching my goal!

Glory to God, the One who points the way ahead, predict the prospects and designs it through molding to the point of success, and the drowning river of spirituality.

I have seen God working through my life and I’m very proud to testify His endless love for me and to all those who don’t believe that miracles do happen. It’s been six months since God opened the door of schooling that was my dream and expectation for one day to become a journalist…and still is. The college I go to is Kenya Institute of Professional studies which is located here in Nairobi. In general I’m learning all about mass communication.

For now I have gone through several subjects of which I extremely enjoyed to learn, hoping the next subjects will be helpful as the others. So far the subjects that have done are photojournalism, newspaper reporting, freelance and feature writing, sub-editing, communication skills and public relation. All these subjects are essential to me as an upcoming journalist especially public relation where I can work in any organization.

Students in our college are much welcoming, friendly and very helpful especially where one needs help. I have three teachers who are more than willing to help me as I go through with my studies. Really without the help of teachers in the college my education would be incomplete and less focused.

I love my school so much and believing I’m making a living from it I’m ready to work as hard as I can to achieve my dream. I deem in me there is self-motivated engine somewhere, which is fueled by the curiosity to dig out what God has kept for me and have passion to maintain knowing Him.

by Anastasia

Unexpected visit!

Life has it's own twists and turns and there is always a lesson to be learned everyday. I guess the greatest lesson we get to learn is that there is always success and sometimes we have to count some losses. This weekend, we had an unexpected visit from one of the student's relatives. Ken Wambugu's uncle came to visit after a very long time( the last time he saw Ken, he was a very young boy.) They met while Ken was going for his apprenticeship. He was surprised to see him as Ken came yelling 'uncle, uncle and he wondered who this grown young man was. Ken told him all that had happened in his life and his uncle just had to see for himself. I was very honored when he brought him to the program and told him,' come I show you the teacher who taught me what I know.'
The uncle was just lost for words. He could not believe that his nephew was doing so well.( Ken was one of the students who took the government exam last year and he passed, also did a first aid course and got a certificate, is doing his attachment on auto mechanics and he is waiting to do his grade test on auto mechanics at the end of the year, is very good in juggling too.)His uncle thinks that his greatest surprise was that his nephew who could not even boil water the last time he saw him can now cook chapati.(a delicacy here in Kenya!)
'The Lord can really work wonders', as he shook my hand eight times and said he would come and visit more often
We are really grateful to everyone who has made this possible not only for him but for all the students in our program.

by phillipo.

A day in the big city

Hello this is Ryan again...
Last Friday I went to Eastleigh with the rest of the team. It was quite an experience to visit the place where most of the students came from. The day began with a brief meeting at the MITS center where we planned out the day over a hot cup of chai. We split up in groups of about 4 or 5 and we all went out to visit the bases. The bases are where the street kids hang out. We sit and visit with them, pray, hand out bread sometimes, and give them a word of encouragement. It's important that they know that we are there to help them start a new life.
After spending some time with a group at a base called "Lilyput," I went with my friend Robin to visit his parents who lived next door. They welcomed me with open arms and gave me a maraca that his mother made. They are wonderful gracious people.
The rest of the day Robin and I set out on a mission to track down a belt sander for the wood shop class. 3 or 4 matatu rides later (and a good deal of walking) we arrived at the industrial district of Nairobi where all the hardware shops are located. Unfortunately we couldn't find the right belt sander and we came back empty handed. I did, however, get to experience a level of traffic I didn't know existed. It's hard to describe... I think of all matatu drivers as low level super heroes. It's something you'll just have to experience for yourself. I'm glad Robin was there... otherwise I'd probably still be out there somewhere.
-Ryan

4.30 class

Well, for one, am amazed at how my students think, this is always a constant reminder of the expertise the students body of MITS posses. Darlene has put together a curriculum, to try and help the skills students learn the importance of budgeting, goal setting and generally putting money to good use. The class began on a light note, as my students shared cases in their lives that they have had money, used it both wisely and unwisely. I was trying to implement to them the need of having a budget in their lives. What became a shock to them was to realize how they had been budgeting all this time even while on the streets. They shared with me that back in the days when they were still on the streets, what actually mattered to them when you had money.
They had to wake up really early, got look for 'stuff' (kusaka), you can find to sell for a fee, steal from garages. The first thing one would think of buying is 'glue' what they call 'biere', then maybe spent the rest of the money on movie watching. Once in a while they would buy clothes, but this was not a priority. Having dirty clothes is a strategy for begging money and also to scare people. Food was never in the budget because they would find food in garbage dumps (jombi), so food was not a problem. But what struck me the most was they saved money, I mean they had plans for the coming future, emergencies like taking a friend to the hospital, the older guys planned to get national Ids, put money aside to go home (those that came form th outskirts of Nairobi) putting a bet in a game of gambling, and thinking of how much bhang (marijuana)-glue one will get in large amounts. But the thing is they budgeted, now all we have to do is teach them to budget for more important things once they start receiving a salary. Put their money to good use, to serve their needs and not be careless once they get salaries. Money is evil, but still a precious commodity to have, handling it well will make life smoother and efficient.
Then we had a class about goal setting, this again was really thought through, I have to admit that through their goals, I have reset my curriculum and methods of teaching my skills students. They wrote goals so well thought out, you would think a 40yrs old person wrote them. Their zeal and interest in computers reminds me of when I used to wreck my dad's computer when I was young, I was a disaster waiting to happen. Sometimes i want to teach everything at once,because of the excitement, then again I feel am giving them too much Intel. But its good for, because I can see the excitement in their eyes, their questions.
One of the goals written by the students was: To spread the Gospel through computer skills. Now, maybe he read my mind, but that is one of my goals in life...
This class couldn't have come at a better time!

Visitors

Always we are arm-wide open when it comes to visitors. Yesterday we had a group come in to have lunch with the MITS family. It was awesome. The group from Abilene TX, they are in Kenya wanting to start an orphanage on the western part of Kenya (Kisii). They were so amazed with all the facilities that MITS posses and the level at which the students could relate to them. They had lots of questions about MITS, part of the group later did a painting job at the community play ground. West End Church of Christ from Knoxville Tennessee blessed us with cool looking t-shirts. Robin was also assisted to fix one of his machines at the wood shop. The driver of the group went ahead to say that, in all his tours, he has never seen such an organization as MITS, the friendliness, the commitment, and structure of our family. Right now we are enjoying the company of James and Desiree McCarty who will be holding leadership classes with the team as from next week. They also plan to spend some time in Eastleigh, on the streets and with the team there.

Lindsey in class!

Howdy!! When I first arrived in Kenya, I had no idea the Lord had prepared for me to do, but I quickly discovered that it was what I am best at….teaching. I am currently a senior from Texas A&M University, majoring in Early Elementary Education. It has been such a blessing for me to be able to bring the very talents and skills that the Lord has given me to use here at the Made in the Streets. During our time here, I was not only able to direct and instruct classes, but I was also able to assist the teachers in creating effective lesson plans. While in the classroom, I was amazed at how intelligent the students are. Specifically in the Science class, the students here were learning the same material that I was taught this past semester in my Biology course at the University. They were so eager to learn and it was such a joy to be a part of where the Lord is at work!

Written by: Lindsey Byers

AFC at MITS

Jambo and Howdy! My name is Austin Carnes and I am part of a team from Texas A&M University (Aggies for Christ) that has spent the last 3 weeks here at the Made in the Streets Farm. Our time here is indescribable however I have been asked to put what I have experienced in words. Our mission trip began in Cairo, Egypt which was amazing, but I had no idea what to expect when our plane landed in Nairobi. I quickly learned that this place was very different from both Cairo, and College Station. We split up the first day to teach classes on English, Math, and computers. Thankfully we have English, education, and info majors. Since I am an Agriculture major I was sent to the fields to plant tomatoes and Kenyan spinach. My first thoughts were that I got the raw end of the deal, but soon realized what a joy it was to be out in God’s beautiful country farming with some amazing people. Since then the team has started the beginning phases of painting the inside of the new nursery and women’s home! I can not wait to see pictures of the finished product. We also spent time talking with the residents in Eastleigh. The team has done an amazing job at completing the tasks that were given to us but nothing has been so meaningful than getting to know the children here. I can see Christ in the eyes of both the students and staff, and I can hear him in their songs. Even when they sing in Swahili I can feel the Holy Spirit surrounding their praises. I came here with a purpose to share Christ with them, but I have received much more than what I brought. In a few days the team heads back to the states, but there is something different about each and every one of us. We will return to our families with a new meaning to our lives as Christ followers. I am so proud to be apart of this team of Aggies and so blessed to have heavenly relationships with my new Kenyan brothers and sisters. May the Lord bless and keep this place.
- Nita-mwimbia bwana, kwa kuwa yeye ameniona (I will sing to the lord because he sees me)

Austin

Teaching at MITS

Did I know what it was going to be like to teach on a different continent? Of course not! When I landed here I didn't know where I was going to sleep, what I was going to eat, or even what MITS needed me to do. It was clear to me that I was going to be working in the math department but I didn't know anything else.
Even if I did know exactly what challenges I was going to face, how do you prepare (within a few months) to teach a subject like math to kids from the streets of Nairobi? Maybe if I had a teaching degree, some experience in rehabilitation, and I was fluent in Swahili, this would only be difficult and not impossible.
Fortunately what's impossible for man is possible with God. God has helped me overcome the challenges I'm faced with everyday. I've enjoyed working with all of the kids and I'm constantly amazed by their abilities and the hope they have for the future.
We make so many excuses for our failure, for our behavior and the unhappiness in our lives. There are no excuses... God can do anything. If you want proof, swing by Made in the Streets.
-Ryan

The arrival of Ryan the intern... the temp.

Hello everyone,
My name is Ryan Matthews. I am working with MITS for 11 weeks this summer. Today I begin my 3rd week teaching mathematics. 3 weeks and 1 day ago I didn't know for sure if I was going to make it.
My piece of advice to all international missionary prospects:
Be flexible and patient because travel will seldom be easy. For example...
I traveled from El Paso Intl. to Nairobi, Kenya. 5 minutes after I walked into El Paso Intl I was lost. I thought for sure I was flying American Airlines, then I tried Southwest, then every other airline that flew to El Paso, basically all I knew was my name. It's a good idea to read and re-read your itinerary... do it 4 or 5 times.
I had a layover of about 2 hours in Arizona before my flight to Washington Dulles. Long story short, two hours turned into 24 hours and Washington Dulles turned into Washington Natl.
I landed at Washington Natl 2 hours before my flight to London. I took a taxi to Washington Dulles and gave the driver every penny I had which left him with a handsome tip of about 23 cents. (if you're reading this Mr. Meklzekanze I'm really really sorry) After changing airlines and checking my bag, I made it with less than 60 seconds left (no exaggeration). The rest of the trip went fairly smooth, 4 cups of coffee and I was in Nairobi.
I almost gave up. I thought the airlines would charge me for a new ticket and I already accepted the possibility of returning home and working to pay back all of my sponsors.
After spending one day here I knew I would've regretted missing out on such an adventure for the rest of my life.
-Ryan