I returned from Africa late Wednesday evening after three weeks of exciting, interesting, thought-provoking experiences with my cousins Darlene and Charles Coulston at their home in Nairobi, Kenya. They have lived there for the past 20 years and work with street kids who have no other home, very little food or clothing, and limited contact with a parent or grandparent. There are about 80 kids now, aged 13-18, living in the compound on 35 acres. In return for giving up their "freedom" and "independence" of living on the streets, they have gained clothing (uniforms for school) and shoes (many for the first time), good food, an education and skills training, a safe place to sleep, and people who love them and protect them. MANY of them have been sniffing glue and it may take a while to get it completely out of their system.
I taught 4 different classes, from Beginners, who are just off the streets and have limited prior school experience, to Middle and Advanced and on to a Fast Track, who are 16-17 years old and are in the Skills classes, and who are working on their writing to pass an essay exam along with other end-of-school tests.
The Skills Classes include training in one of several areas, kind of like Vo-Tech, such as mechanics, dressmaking and sewing, hairdressing, carpentry, and cooking.
Days begin with chapel at 8:00, with singing, prayer, announcements; then kids have a break while the teachers and staff have a short meeting. Classes begin at 8:45 and are 45 minutes each.
There is a girls' compound (no boys allowed) and a boys' compound (no girls) which is farther away. Both of these are enclosed with a gate locked at night--that's just the way it is there; we also had a wall around the property with a gate locked at night. It's safer.
Lots of groups come and go during the summer, doing mission trips. While I was there, there were two girls from Pepperdine University in California, a young couple from Colorado, and a group of Aggies for Christ from Texas A & M. Of course everyone doesn't come at the same time. Charles has a list of groups and their arrival times and the assignments they will have.
Church is held right there, as there are qualified preachers who have come through the program long ago and stayed to work there, at Made-in-the-Streets. They preach in pairs, one speaking in English and the other in Swahili so that everyone can get the message. Lots of singing, some in English and some in Swahili. Yes, I learned some words, but not many.
The Coulstons began 20 years ago in a slum area called Eastleigh and that work continues with another missionary couple running it. It is still part of Made-in-the-Streets, however.
Shortly before I left, the three of us flew to the Maasi Mara, a game preserve in southern Kenya, for a safari. That was exciting, as we saw so many different animals--much better than Lion Country Safari near Six Flags!! We saw hippos and rhinos, crocodiles and ostriches, elephants, lions, cheetahs, and a leopard. Herds and herds of gazelles, topi, impalas, cape buffalo, and zebras. More than I can even remember.
I know lots of you were praying for my health and safety, and I certainly appreciate it! What an opportunity I have had!!!
The sleeping mats, sand toys, puzzles, balloons, and stickers and other things that you sent arrived safely, and the toddlers at the Children's Center just loved them!! I do have pictures.
I also have hundreds of other pictures that have to be downloaded, sorted, and edited, so it will take a few more days for this.
Thank you again for your prayers and support.
Report and views of Francine Roark Robison from her visit to MITS for two weeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment