From Alex in his new niche

DAY ONE AT NGCS

Today is the first day in college, its looking great, nothing bad so far. Am just trying to adapt with the environment and trying to catch up the with the fact of living without Made In the Streets which is my family. I miss my friends already but I will try as hard as I can to catch up with the fact that they are not around but continue to love them as if they are by my side. It is my prayer that everything will turn out OK for me, best because all this I know am doing it for the lord and He will make everything turn out right. As far as I know the food here is wow! just missing some of Brian's' spiced food which has always left me licking my fingers. The bed is not big but it is OK at least my body fits in it but I really miss my warm bed that is filled with love. The dormitories are great; we have sitting toilets and the bathrooms are WOW! Can you imagine we have a bathtub in our dorm, that is so amazing. The dinning room is OK, it fits us all. It is not what I expected with the teachers, they don't live here with us, they just come in the morning and leave in the evening.

DAY TWO AT NGCS

Today I woke up, not that early because we had no classes today and I enjoyed the bathtub for the first time. It is enjoyable. The sleep was not that good because I am not used with this kind of bed. At night it is cold I guess I will have to bring another blanket. We had breakfast, ate six slices of bread and as much tea as you want. In short the breakfast was self services which I liked but I miss to drink tea with Made In the Streets family. Oh! they have rabbits, fish and dogs, but they don't have Emily and Susan (MITS cows), they don't have goats and chicken. It is funny that I am just in the beginning of my second day and the way I miss everyone in Made In the Streets. I will tell you guys more. Let me send my love to everyone at Made In the Streets,I love and pray for them I want them to know that no matter how departed our bodies may be our hearts will remain attached to one another. No matter where I am or who I am with Made In the Streets is my real family I love you guys. Take care.

Pictured is Alex and his mum and siblings.

Alex is currently attending a theological school. The school is located 1 hour far west of the city. He will be there for the next two years doing his diploma in theology. NGCS is a reputable school for leadership training and pastor-ship. We at MITS are so proud and excited for him. He will be our first student in history to attend this course.

Exit students updates...

Currently we are having having 21 students exiting our program. They have had skills training for the past two years with various skills trainers. Most are almost turning 19years, but most are 17 years.

1.Jackqueline Njoki:- will be staying in Eastleigh for the moment and we plan for her to look for housing in suburbs located near her place of internship. She will be continuing her in internship at Amani ya Juu, this is an organization that make different kinds of onrament, clothing and sells their products abroad, http://www.amaniafrica.org She will be receiving support from MITS when it comes transport money, food and housing until they start take her in as a full time time employee.

2.Mary Muthoni:- We have planned for her that she will be staying with her cousin Mary Waithera in Banana (a suburb located on the far west side of town) and she also will be at Amani ya Juu like Jackqueline, MITS will be supporting her as Jackqueline.

3.Titus Musyoki: He starts his classes at Revlon Professional school of hair dressing this year under Nargis' direction. Nargis Manji is the same woman who employed our second group of girls trianed in hair dressing at an up scale shopping complex known as the Sarit Cetner. She runs and manages the salon there. She has contacts and friends with this international school of haridressing. http://www.thecolomergroup.com This school is the most popular hairdressing school known in Nairobi City This will be a one year program and we will supporting him with transport money,food and housing in Eastleigh.

4. Lucy Akinyi: she finished her intern ship last year, this year we will be helping her move out, she wants to stay together with Mwanahawa and Anastacia where they will cost share the expenses and then looking of a job opportunity for her. For housing they want to stay in Kayole or Banana area. We will support her with fare, food and housing for 3 months as we review her case.

5.Mwanahawa Simaiya: she finished her intern ship last year, this year she is job hunting and moving out, this month she will be working on getting her national id card and then secure a job. She will also require transport money, food and housing.

6.Anastacia Njeri: she is ready to be an intern, but she will have her intern ship here at MITS cafe until Elizabeth Wangare returns (Elizabeth is on maternity leave) and then she will move out to stay with Lucy and and Mwanahawa thereafter as she looks for opportunities.

7.Jackson Issac: He still continues with schooling for 6 months and then after that attachment opportunty for 3 months and then later job placement. We will stil support him with transport money, food,housing and school fees.

8. Dennis Kamau: he still continues with schooling for 6 months and then after that attachment opportunity for 3 months and then later job placement.We will support him with transport money, food, housing and school fees.

9. David Mutimbi : Currently he is working on getting an Id card this month and then look for an attachment opportunity this month too. He is ready for outside housing, we have not finalize on the arrangment for that for him, but he will require fare, food and housing.

10.George Omondi: Just found out that he will turn 18 in August, he just did his KCPE and scored 245 out of 500 and his relatives want to raise money and take him to High school we are still discussing on how that will happen but he is ready for attachment and we will help he get that opportunity if the High school issue does not go through. If he goes for attachment, he will require fare,food and housing

11. George Mwenda: still working on his ID this month and later an attachment opportunity at a cyber place in Komarock connection of Musa, we will support with fare, food and housing in Eastleigh maybe.

12.Charles Kimani: he starts his attachment at MITS as he works on getting an ID card. He will stay with us at MITS.

13. Kevin Mweti: currently working on Id and then attachment opportunity, we will also need support of fare, food and housing.

14.Paul Zakayo: working on his Id card and then attachment/job opportunity we will be going tomorrow to two place for that, he will require support of fare,food and housing

15.Duncan Mwangi: working on ID, then attachment opportunity require fare food and housing

16.Mary Wangui: She has her Id waiting card, ready for a job, and outside housing she will require support for 3 months housing, fare and food.

17. Elizabeth Wanjiku: turns 18 in march, but ready for a job and outside housing when the time comes support fo fare food and housing

18.John Mwangi: working on his id card this month and then an attachment opportunity support of fare food and housing

19 Veronicah Wambui: gotten her id card this month, tomorrow Joel will go with Margaret and Moses in Eastleigh to 2 restaurants to look for attachment.

20 Fredrick Otieno: He lost the opportunity he had at Athi River because the wife of the hotel owner he was working for was mistreating him and was not paying him as agreed, he was put as the manager there.

21. Cecilia Mwinza: She will be 18 in June, looking for attachment in Ngara (local market that dressmaking takes place a lot) for sewing require food fare and housing.

Tomorrow Joel will be going with Margaret and Moses to look for places for the catering students, we have two promising places.

Next week on Tuesday we will go to 4 place for attachment for the automechanics students and then on Wednesday in Ngara for sewing students

Humbled by a Prospective Student

Interviewees with members of staff

The 8^th day of November 2011 began normally at the Nairobi Great Commission School –chilly and cloudy. We knew we would have to contend with a long day. Interview for prospecting students has been anything but entertaining. On this particular day we would interview eleven individuals endorsed by their espective churches to pursue training at the school.

The process is well defined; register at the gate, have their papers scrutinized to ascertain their validity, sit for written interview in which their level of comprehension, proficiency in the English language, listening skills and scriptural understanding is tested. Then they would appear before a panel for oral interviews.

The Principal, the registrar and I formed the panel for oral interviews. This would be the final stage, where we would ask the students to explain why they want to come to school, what they intend to do with the training, what arrangements they have made for the upkeep of their families in their absence etc. The first candidate came, the second, the third… and then the eighth.

Alexander Atema 18

When Alexander Atema, the eighth interviewee came in, the atmosphere in the room changed completely. It became obvious that perhaps a greater leader had arrived. Chinua Achebe of Nigeria observes in his book, Things Fall apart, that, ‘A chick that will grow into a cock is spotted the same day it is hatched.’ At the interview we can tell one who will be a great student from one who will be a problem. Our great students have been great leaders out there.

This is what happened; unlike all others, Alexander moved in with confidence and yet with deep respect. He spoke with the humility of an African lamb. He shook our hands firmly with warmth when he came in, maintained effective eye contact and was as sincere as he was fluent in explaining issues.

I fought my tears trying to hold them back, sometimes in vain, owing to his eloquence, the experiences he had to endure in his fragile and yet formative years; and the authentic way in which he responded to the question, “Why do you want to come to this school?”

With a friend of his, they changed their base from the city center to Eastleigh where they met missionary Charles Coulston in person. Charles talked to them and enrolled them at Made In the Streets, a ministry that rehabilitates street children in the city of Nairobi.

But Alexander does not attribute his rehabilitation to Dr. Charles Coulston. He attributes it to God. He said, “God showed me love through his people, I cannot shy away from being equipped to serve Him. It is my prayer that God will use me as his instrument of love to the kids and families on the streets of our cities.” He defined his mission.

“I will glean the most from this school. I am on fire for God.” He said with absolute devotion.

Asked how he learned about NGCS, he said, “Charles announced that there is a Church of Christ School that trains preachers and that he would want for some of us to go to that school. Most of us laughed it off. Nobody wants to be a preacher. To former street kids, preaching is not the most desired responsibility. But for me, preaching is my calling.”

Alexander currently leads in songs, bible study and ushering at the church in Kamulu. He has since learned the trade of working with computers. He repairs computers for the Word Bible School Office, a sister organization to Made In the Streets. That is how he wants to program his life after NGCS. As an evangelist, Alexander will be tent-making as a computer technician. Alexander is all one would hope for in a boy.

As a Kenyan, I want to thank Dr. Charles and Darlene, the missionaries who have been our translation of ‘Mama Teresa’ in our churches. They have not been too loud about what they are doing. You don’t hear them brag of the baptisms they are making each Sunday or of the congregations they are planting to impress their sponsoring congregations back at home. But quietly, they are remolding lives of children. Lives that have known nothing but corruption and rejection. Restoring the image of God into the lives that have been abused and scarred. Putting hope where hopelessness abound. Seeing value where others, without the inner eyes that Charles and Darlene have, see worthlessness.

NGCS takes in students who are 21 years and above only. Alexander is merely 18. His fate rested now with the principal. I held my breath and Tom looked like he was praying over all this. We have a policy, God what do we do? And then the principal spoke. “Alexander, you are mature. We will overlook your chronological age and zero in on your spiritual and experiential age. Congratulations, we will admit you.”

Alexander Atema is a chick that will grow into a cock. He will be a great student. He will be a great leader. Pray for him and for all who will join the Nairobi Great Commission School in 2012.

Seasonal greetings from street guys!

From the beginning of this week the center at Eastleigh has been busy. Plans had been made to give all street families/youths a treat for the festive season. The team bought blankets, and bales of clothes. As always to complete the occasion that were running each day was a meal together.
Monday, all the mothers that have babies and live on the streets were invited to come with their kids and celebrate a meal and were given gifts for both mother and child. A good number of 50 mothers showed up, some with more that one child.
Tuesday was set for younger boys and young girls between the ages of 12-16yrs. They came in numbers, totaling to 96. They were taught some, and games were played, then a meal together. They were sent off on their way with gifts. Wednesday, both the team at Kamulu and in Eastleigh hit the streets to visit various bases within the city. We managed to distribute 100 blankets to almost three large family bases. They were so happy and were thankful because they were not expecting this gesture. In some bases the street youths were impressed that other institutions always buys them food but never think of life after the food. MITS was given a thumbs up for blessing them with blankets. I was impressed as one street boy showed his blanket from last year.
In one of the bases we found an organization that was helping to immunize young children against polio... this is encouraging since the govt is trying to offer services even to street families.
Thursday was a day we faced with uncertainty because we were dealing with older street men. Over the years they always come in large numbers, and always cause commotion and unrest. We had 240 men come in through our centers' gate, we closed the gate by 10.30am. Those found outside the gate started rumbling, shouting and yelling. We got done with the once inside and dismissed all. The once outside the gate were kept silent as we gave them food, and drinks. Then praises started again.
Of course this was expected. This time round the team decided to separated all street youth in groupings like this because we realized that when we mixed them up, the older ones would snatch whatever we give the younger once as gifts and sell them.
All in all, we are happy, streets families are happy.


December 16, we hold a parent/guardian day at Kamulu. The team has made sure that almost all parents or guardians of our kids make it for the event. We want them to understand what we are about and how their kids are progressing in different disciplines.

Committees and updates

Different committees have been set by the team to discuss different budget and program for the December holidays. We have plans to make this festive season exciting for both our kids and those that live out on the streets. Shopping trips, family day(the students' guardians and family get to come to the farm for a visit), Christmas parties at the farm and parties in the streets, team and student retreat,-just to hang out, bond and rejuvenate; awards for the students who have not only excelled in class work, but also in spiritual and character building.
The Eastleigh tournament started yesterday, and so far, all is well. Teams form bases have registered for the tournament are working hard to be top.
We are still concerned about security and safety in Eastleigh, we are taking precautions with visiting bases, but normal street programs are still running.
Other incidences on the streets are violence and unrest at the bases. Reports from our team in Eastleigh say that, some base 'masters' came together and met to try and have peace between them and the Somalis. They went to the local authority (chief of Eastleigh North), and tried to ask of his help concerning security, but the chief encouraged them to take revenge and take law into their own hands.
So the local authorities within the slum areas are not helping or don't want to make it their business that there is peace on the streets and around the neighborhood.

Violence on the streets

For the past few weeks, street youths have experienced a series of fights, arguments and misunderstandings.

New buildings are coming up every month by the Somalis who are purchasing properties and investing in businesses. This pushes the street families out of their known niche.

We continually pray for spiritual and moral support for the Eastleigh team. They are the people that deal with such traumatic cases when this happens. Be it day or night. The street youths are fond of MITS, our center is the first place they recognize when there is tragedy amongst themselves. There is one such building that is already built near a base that we commonly visit, called Deliverance base. A fight came out just because the Somalis want the street families living on the dump site there to move away from there. The fights have become serious. Two have died and scores injured. MITS center at Eastleigh has been helping in to dress

the wounded and taking the injured to the hospital for stitches and medical examination. The injuries and cuts are so serious, deep cuts and several of the cases have their arteries cut and oozing blood out and one case, fingers hanging down held by only the skin. For these cases they can only be taken care of at the national referral hospital.

The local authorities too have recognized the sort of work we do for the streets.

Other news, Jackton recently took the Eastleigh Sunday school church kids for a treat, they loved it. Alot of money used for the cases came from the contributions made in the Eastleigh church,which is usually attended by people from the streets.The Eastleigh street church funded for the whole trip and expenses.

Training and Rally

Terron Talley is here at MITS and is a youth minister. He organizes youth camps and retreats for teenagers of the Biltmore Church of Christ. We saw the need of him coming to MITS and helping train our team that handles Sunday school and other worker in other organizations that has Sunday school in their worship program. A team of about 12 from other congregations showed up and were trained on how to use a story board, audio, visual, hands on drama, skits.colored sheets, songs, different activities, memory verses.

They were also given some pointers on how to hold and run a VBS.

The training was successful and each trainee got a certificate of successful completion.

Last weekend we held a youth rally, invited Terron. He talked to our kids

about looking out for Jesus. He talked about exploring other factors in life, not being too rigid with factors influencing life. Getting out of the

boat like Peter did

In other new, Titus Kioko was buried this week on Tuesday. Titus was a student at MITS, graduated but fell back into his old gang on the streets, He was shot dead by the police.

The Octagon building was dedicated on Saturday by the women group. We had our first worship there on Sunday the 16th.