Prayer Requests and team profile

-Praise Report: Fridah Kinanu has had baby Ethan! She is so happy and the baby is healthy.

-Ken Wambugu has decided to leave Made in the Streets to work for Twiga Tours, a safari company. We pray he is successful there!

-The country of Kenya and the political turmoil and terrorist activity that is happening here- a constant prayer request.

-Francis Mbuvi has returned to the States for 6 weeks of traveling and fundraising.

-The 30 boys at the Eastleigh Center- that their transition to either MITS, returning home or to another home for boys will be smooth and successful.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Name: Millicent (Millie) Omondi Job: Children's Center Director, Church Women's Ministry director, Alumni Affairs Time at MITS: 10 years Before MITS: She worked with an organization that worked with women in the research of HIV and AIDS. Favorite Thing About MITS: She loves to see the change in the kids as well as playing games and eating with them. She loves how in chapel everyone sits in a circle so she can see the ministry worshiping together. She also loves how MITS lifts up those who everyone has given up on. Message to Donors: "What I like most is that you have helped us change the world. Not only in Nairobi or Kamulu, but because these kids go all over the world, you are helping change the world. Thank you."

Bye Bye Butterflies

Today, I had the incredible experience of preaching at a church in the slums of Nairobi. One of the normal speakers was absent and they asked me to fill in. Since I am by no means a “preacher,” a wave of nerves and fear hit me the minute they asked. However, I decided that I needed to conquer this fear and just do it. So I agreed to fill in.

I want to tell you first about the church. It is the Made in the Streets church in Eastleigh, the place where all of our street evangelism takes place. This includes all our outreach to kids, adults, mothers, fathers, grandfathers- really anyone on the street that we come across. On Sundays, the center is turned into a church welcoming any and all people to come worship, as they are. My first time at this church was months ago, and I go at least once a month; however, every time I go I’m constantly in awe. The “members” are people straight off of the street in their torn and dirty clothing. They stumble in on their high or drunkenness and come to praise. I can’t describe the smell- it is unpleasant, yet completely pleasant at the same time…because it is so real.

This is how a church ought to be, am I wrong? It is to be a place where anyone is welcome, in any stage of their Christianity, in any form of clothing, without stuck-up and non-Biblical tradition ruling the hierarchy of church government. No one is wearing a suit, a collared shirt or even a polo unless that is the only piece of clothing they own. Even if they do have “nicer” clothes, they are covered in dirt and garbage juice to the extent of ruin. Most members are missing teeth, are physically shaking due to their long-term drug use side effects, are sleeping because they are coming off their high or maybe up dancing in the aisle because they are still on their high. It really is a beautiful sight when you think about it deeper than its first appearance.

So here I am, a white guy from middle Tennessee going up to share the Word in a part of the church's series on the Gospel of Luke. I preached on Luke 2 and the fact that Jesus was born in humble beginnings. He beat his surroundings to become the King of Kings and to be seated at the throne next to God. I encouraged the churchgoers that they too could beat their surroundings because there is hope in Jesus Christ. In the middle of my lesson, the translator asked me to stop so that he could get the people to all stand up. We sang “Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes” in order to wake up the majority of the congregation due to their detoxing. I had to smile. Getting interrupted during a speech can be a nightmare- here it was comforting.

Now I don’t know how many of them will remember a single word that I spoke. Some of it I’m sure was lost in translation from my English to the translator's Swahili. A lot of them slept through the whole thing (except for during the head and shoulders game). However, what God said to me was not lost in translation. This was the first time in all of my public speaking that I did not feel one bit of nerves. Not even for one second did I feel nervousness. I wrote the devotional the day before and had only read it once- an unusual practice for when I’m public speaking. I usually run through it a couple of times in my room or to a friend before I speak publicly. Now I’m giving a message of Christ to a bunch of Kenyans who are high/drunk coming the streets, in a different language than they understand, with minimal practice- and I wasn't nervous. When I finished, I felt accomplished. I had defeated any fear or worry that was placed in me with the initial request of my speaking. God had delivered me.

The only reason why I think this happened is because I was “preaching the Truth,” literally (capitalization on purpose). I was speaking about the power of a Savior who by no means came into this world as royalty. I had nothing to worry about because I was and still am secure in the Gospel of Jesus in every moment. What do we have to be nervous about when we are talking about the One who gives life, the One who loves unconditionally, the One who invests in us, the One who shows us grace and mercy, the One who wakes us up in the morning and puts us to sleep at night, the One who paints the prettiest skies and the One who is hope.

All this to say, I am thankful to have a church that I can go to where tradition is torn down- raw Christianity at its finest. I’m also thankful that I got to be play an active part of it today by sharing a little bit about a very special baby in a manger.

Rep. By Keb

Convenience & Comfort

Convenience and comfort....words that are sometimes synonymous with the American culture. And maybe even things that we take for granted in our own culture. If we need to make a quick trip to the grocery store, we hop in one of our cars and quickly drive down the nicely paved road to the 24 hour supermarket and peruse the aisles for anything you might want or need. If you are sitting at home and find yourself bored you can quickly get on the home wifi with one of your several wireless devices, or flip on the T V with its endless choices in channels or turn on the X-box, playstation or Wii and quickly lose your- self in a game. And nowadays if you don’t feel like going shopping at the mall then you just get on the internet and order whatever item you want and have it shipped directly to your house. We    now pay our bills online, interact socially online and do everything from the comfort and convenience of our own homes.

In comparison, Kenya has some of these conven- iences but not quite to the standard that we find in the states. Kenyans have and drive nice cars. There are some very nice, paved roads ( Thika Super    Highway and the different bypasses to name a few) but they are quickly balanced out by the many
terrible roads. There are many nice homes with wifi, good security and all the comforts you would find in the states. Kenyans can also do some things online that can save time and effort that would be spent doing some- thing else. For instance, there is an online bill pay service called m-pesa that Kenyans can use to pay bills

online without having a bank account (look it up online . . .one of the top app son the market). They are also about to convert all of their public transportation vehi- cles (buses & small vans . . . called matatus) to a card pay system called beba pay. Instead of paying a conduc- tor the fare from one desti- nation to another (which routinely he charges some people more than he does others because they don’t know the fare price), you will now load up a beba pay card with credit and scan it as you enter and exit buses and will always be charged an accurate fare.
Kenya, on a daily basis, continues to become more and more modern and con-
tinues to grow its middle class. Despite these im- provements there are still many living in poverty and without    hope. Two of the largest slums in Nairobi, Kibera and Mathare, which house together about 2, 000, 000 souls,  abound in mud and filth, reek of petrol, smoke and decay, over- flow with illicit drugs and alcohol and give their inhabitants an over- whelming sense of despair and hopelessness that life is too difficult to live. Amidst all of this modernity that springs out of the utter hopelessness of the urban sprawl of Nairobi, comes the joy and hope of our Savior, Christian churches and ministries overflow all over the    city ,full    of    people    who want to rejoice in their Savior and bring hope to the hopeless. Our kids here at MI TS continue to learn about how God has a plan for them and wants to use their God-given talents for a greater purpose. About how he wants to use their hurts and struggles to teach others about the power of God in people’s lives to help them overcome their cir- cumstances and see the plans that God has in store if they will only trust God.

My journey to arrive at MI TS was full of far    fewer surprises and struggles as many of these kids that I currently teach. My background is much like that privileged existence I described in the states. A background of affluence, of love, of convenience in stark contrast to what I find with many of these kids I work with. And even though I may be the Bible class teacher for many of these kids/ students, I find a paradox at work in my life. I find that in many ways I am the student struggling to understand life from a different perspective that only these kids can teach. I see God at work in ways that I could never imagine in the states, not necessarily because it doesn’t exist there, but because I was blinded to see its existence. Despite my many advantages in education, knowledge, technology, health and numerous other areas these kids teach me daily about God’s love, about joy in tough circumstances, about living abundantly with meager possessions, about faith in the midst of hardship, about friendship, about true wealth and
they help me to see the Savior on a daily basis.
Despite these differences and the different ways we teach one another here at MITS, I feel like God was constantly involved in my life to bring me to this place. That he had a plan in bringing me here and he continues to use me to be an exam- ple, a teacher, an encourager and a friend to so many of these kids. That plan extends to those same people who support me in this work. I feel like God put it in your heart to bless me in this ministry and to partner with me as I share the blessings that you and God so richly shower down on me.
I look forward to many journeys with staff and kids in my “new” car as we travel to new destinations and continue to talk and learn from each other’s faith on these journeys. I look forward to meals shared over my table with staff members and visitors as we continue to challenge each other, pray with each other, share our struggles with each other and just encourage each other. As you can see in the attached pictures
I am lacking in nothing that I need to pursue my work here in Kenya. I want you to be encouraged to know that you helped to make this possible and I am thankful for your support and gifts and I am hopefully able to pass on the support and gifts to the kids and staff here at MI TS.

Profile in Hope and Love

Student: Ruby Abukwii Oshale (also has a son named Dennis)
Favorite Subject: Science Future
Skill: Catering Current age: 17
Age when moved to base: 15
Age when came to MITS: 16
Base location: Reuben Grew up: Nairobi
Siblings: 11 siblings (4 boys, 7 girls). Linet, Roda, Rebecca, Miriam, Joy, Julie, Nora, Osabire, Dismas, Diva, Dickson
Favorite Sport: Football
Favorite Team: Barcelona    Goals in life:
Favorite player: Messi  
Favorite Food: Chicken,  fish, rice, French fries
Favorite Movie: Passion of Christ
Favorite Music: Reggae, Gospel
Favorite Artist: Glen Washington
Favorite drink: Pineapple, Chocolate
Favorite book of the Bible: Revelation
Favorite passage:
Favorite activities: Dancing

Goals in Life
To own  a car and home. To help my parents.
To have a Christian husband. To have only two kids. Know more about God. To teach my children about God.
To have savings  account For my son to attend a good university and be a pilot.
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Teacher Profile

Name: Angela Kimilu-Otieno
What is your position at MITS: Administrative Assistant/Teacher
How long have you worked at MITS: 5 years total. 3 years and a break and then another 2 years.
Do you have family: Yes! My husband is named Victor Otieno and also works at MITS and I also have two children, Kelsey (age 4) and Arianna (1 yr, 7 months)
What are your hobbies: Reading, Socializing and traveling.
What do you envision for your position at MITS: I envision a well organized system of records for both workers, kids and staff who follow professional ethics. I also see training for more efficiency and effectiveness.
What do you envision happening for MITS: More motivation for our staff to continue their hard work and greater growth . . . Such as MITS in other towns in Kenya and East Africa.
Name one of your greatest disappointments from working at MITS: When one of our promising students graduated out of MITS only to end up back at the bases.
Name one of your proudest moments at MITS: When I saw one of my former students who had difficulties in reading finally speaking good English and translating in church.
Anything else that you would like to add about working at MITS: Working in MITS has made me a better person. I have learned to be humble.