A challenge from Jesus

"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you give me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."

This is how Jesus' says, in Matthew 25:34-36, He will know the difference between those who are His true followers and those who aren't.  Jesus also said that in the end days the love of people will wax cold, because of lawlessness, and it may be hard for Him to even find the faith here when He returns.  So my prayer is that we all continue to have a close relationship with Him that enables us to produce everlasting fruit, fruit that will heal the nations, that we keep our oil lamps full, and continue to have the kind of faith that enables us to continue to do the work He has for us, even until the very end.  And not shrink back, no matter the obstacles or challenges that try to stop us.  We can be sure that He won't leave us, even until the very end.

In my work here in, a shelter to sleep under, and of course love - the driving force behind it all.  There are more here and in other parts of the world than just a few people can help.  It takes many people to share the love of Jesus with a broken, hurting world.  Working with street children and feeding people in the slums are a couple of ways that I like to meet Jesus' challenge.  I thank those who've been helping us to do that work here and pray that you all know what it is Jesus is asking you to do and enjoy the Kingdom work the Lord blesses you with.  Asante sana.  Shalom.

 
Click here if you woud like to contribute to the work we're doing with street children in Kenya.

What will happen to "the least of these"?

What will happen to the poorest of the poor in the end days?  As the world economy weakens, European countries go bankrupt, and America struggles to pay for it's trillion dollar debt?

As the countries who have been helping the poorest of the poor decline financially and even socially, who will help them now?  Thousands are without basic food supplies, hundreds of children die every day from starvation, Mamas all over the world are desperate to find food for their children.

What can be done to ensure that our most vulnerable brothers and sisters survive in these days?  Will you be one who will remember "the least of these" even when times get very tough?

"The poorest of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety."  Isaiah 14:30a

To help us help "the least of these" in East or West Africa please visit Sheltering-Wings.org for more information.

Asante sana!  Mungu awabariki kabisa.

Click here to help us keep helping the street kids in Nairobi.

Justice

As I prepared to return to Kenya this year, my attention was frequently drawn to Ezekiel 36 in the NLT, especially verses 12-15.  They state, "I will cause my people to walk on you once again, and you will be their territory.  You will never again rob them of their children.  This is what the Sovereign Lord says:  'The other nations taunt you, saying Israel is a land that devours its own people and robs them of their children!  But you will never again devour your people or rob them of their children, says the Sovereign Lord.  I will not let you hear those other nations insult you, and you will no longer be mocked by them.  You will not be a land that causes its nation to fall, says the Sovereign Lord.'"  That, therefore, became my prayer for this land where God has sent me, as well as for all nations.

The battle to rescue the oppressed from dire circumstances has proven to me to be one that attracts a backlash of assaults from the enemy.  Through the years of doing this type of work, I have witnessed various battles ensue as children and adults alike are about to experience an increased level of freedom and blessing in their lives.

I knew certain small girls in one country, who when help was on the way to rescue them from an extremely abusive home, experienced a blatantly higher degree of abuse just before their rescue.  Both of them receiving beatings from their mother to the point of drawing blood.  By the grace and power of God they are both in a safe, loving home now.

Last year I witnessed increased oppression in a specific group of street boys as God started to show up in the midst of them in powerful ways.  To the point that several small ones were molested and two even killed, and within a short period of time.  Many, though, have made it into the safe harbor of a children's home, some into a boarding school.  God is a mighty warrior and loving Father.

As of late, as I've made effort to continue on in the rescue of such children, I've experienced the wrath of a man heavily involved in witchcraft, alcohol and extortion, as he stole money from us and tried to get more.  As we refused, he then proceeded to send people after us to try to keep us quiet about his activities.  But the Lord showed up in truly amazing ways, completely delivered us and even promoted us.  God is so great!  In the past, the man involved in witchcraft would use it against the kids in the children's home.  He even bribed someone who was a friend and volunteer in the ministry.  Who now has a feeding program for street children too.  God can even use a witch doctor to feed them. 

I don't understand why children are thrown to the streets.  As one street boys has stated, "my parents have left me in the care of drug peddlers and thieves."  I don't understand throwing out such precious lives, or caring more about a bottle of alcohol or a boyfriend/girlfriend more than your own children.  But God has something to say about oppression in Psalm 12:5.  He says "I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor.  Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do."

The Lord will execute justice for the oppressed, it's a promise.  It will happen now or later, but it will happen.  Ps. 12:7-8 states, "Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land."

I pray that you and I will be counted amongst those who enter into God's plans to deliver the oppressed and seek justice on their behalf, as best we can, in the strength God gives us.  And even when the backlash of the enemy seems to be too much.  Because God is ready and able to deliver us as well from such attacks, He even fights the battle for us.  As Mother Teresa said, "Give the world the best you can, it might not be enough, but give it anyway."  It's more blessed to give than to receive.

From the streets to school ~

18 children began a new a chapter in their changing lives this month as they began school here in Nairobi, Kenya.  For some of them this was their first time to attend and for others it was the first time in many years.  This is because most of them were living on the streets up until just recently.

It is a pretty amazing site to see a young boy walk off to school in the morning, remembering how just months ago I would encounter him on the streets begging as I went to the shop.  Usually he would ask me to buy him a new pair of shoes because he had none.  One time he managed to sell a puppy for 1000 shilling.  He then gave me the money to keep for him in my envelope bank for street boys.  He gave specific instructions to spend 250 on a pair of shoes, give 200 to someone he owed money to, and the rest was savings for Christmas.

Him and the 17 other children who just started school are now well on their way to fulfilling the destiny that God originally had in mind for them.  The devil no longer is stealing their future from them.  And they're able to live happy, healthy lives as all children should.