(Top picture: James, Joseph, Joseph, Isaac)
(Bottom picture: Joseph, Isaac, Joseph, James)
I met Joseph on the streets of Nairobi in November of 2007. He’d been on the streets for 8 years which means he started on the streets (on his own) at age 7. I shared his story at church on December 28th, 2008.
With the passion and effort of Breann Winnell, Heart for Africa decided to help Joseph if we could raise support for the Tumaini Children’s Home in Kenya.
At the same time, Isaac and James, two students at Tumaini, beg David (Heart for Africa social worker at Tumaini) to go and find Joseph and take him off the street. Isaac and James were friends with Joseph when they lived on the street.
On March 15, Jan Biddick and Breann Winnell invite the church to help sponsor the children at Tumaini Children’s Home. That same day, David Kariuki, social worker at the Children’s Home decides to go and see if he can find Joseph on the streets of Nairobi.
On April 6th, I receive an email indicating that David has not been able to find Joseph because the police have recently swept the streets of kids. They are either thrown into jail or herded out of town.
David has not been able to locate Joseph. He said that Nairobi police have been “scattering” street gangs, and that he thinks Joseph may have left the city – Tumaini is on school break right now, and David is going to go to some other places he thinks Joseph might be…he will keep us posted, and asked for our continued prayers.
On April 7th, I receive the following email from Janine Maxwell, vice-president of Heart for Africa:
Today David got up at 3 AM and took James and Isaac back to Nairobi to search again for Joseph. And guess what? They found him! This truly is a miracle because there is an estimated 500,000 children living on the streets of Nairobi so this is like finding a needle in a hay stack, especially since Joseph had changed locations! Amazing grace how sweet the sound!
Joseph was hesitant to go with them. Years of street life, drugs and alcohol can really effect a child's brain, but he said he would go if his friend (also named Joseph) could go with him. David called Bishop David and he said YES! Bring them both in!
The boys are on their way to Tumaini today! Please join us in prayer for them as they go through withdrawl, fear and all the other challenges that they will face.
On April 19th, I receive another email from Janine Maxwell:
We need to join together in prayer today. Joseph and Joseph have run away from Tumaini and convinced young Isaac to go with them back to the street.
This is not unusual for street boys as they are addicted to the street, drugs, crime and it is the only life that they know. Imagine being a 15 year old boy trying to break free from drugs and having to start school in grade one or two because you can't read or write? It can be a huge challenge.
This past Sunday, April 26th, I received another email from Janine:
Praise God from whom all blessing flow! The two Joseph's and Isaac have been found and brought home to Tumaini!!
At 3:00 AM Sunday morning David got up and drove to Nairobi with James to look for the boys again. He was there 2 days last weekend, but they could not be found.
I received the news very early Sunday morning and we are so very thankful for all of your prayers. I don't have many details yet, but will share them as they come. I specifically asked how Isaac was doing as he had been sober for 1 1/2 years. David said he was dead drunk and badly beaten, but he is home. Remember, he is now 12 years old.
The journey goes on.
Two reasons to share this story: First, please pray for Joseph and Joseph and Isaac that they would be set free from street life and experience the gift of God’s love and grace at Tumaini.
Second, it reminds me of how easily I settle for street life. How easy it is to go back to what is easy and familiar. And like Isaac, when we choose to go back to the street, we get hurt and we hurt others. It is a journey – this life. We each need help as we seek to walk God’s path and stop being drawn down our own.
With the passion and effort of Breann Winnell, Heart for Africa decided to help Joseph if we could raise support for the Tumaini Children’s Home in Kenya.
At the same time, Isaac and James, two students at Tumaini, beg David (Heart for Africa social worker at Tumaini) to go and find Joseph and take him off the street. Isaac and James were friends with Joseph when they lived on the street.
On March 15, Jan Biddick and Breann Winnell invite the church to help sponsor the children at Tumaini Children’s Home. That same day, David Kariuki, social worker at the Children’s Home decides to go and see if he can find Joseph on the streets of Nairobi.
On April 6th, I receive an email indicating that David has not been able to find Joseph because the police have recently swept the streets of kids. They are either thrown into jail or herded out of town.
David has not been able to locate Joseph. He said that Nairobi police have been “scattering” street gangs, and that he thinks Joseph may have left the city – Tumaini is on school break right now, and David is going to go to some other places he thinks Joseph might be…he will keep us posted, and asked for our continued prayers.
On April 7th, I receive the following email from Janine Maxwell, vice-president of Heart for Africa:
Today David got up at 3 AM and took James and Isaac back to Nairobi to search again for Joseph. And guess what? They found him! This truly is a miracle because there is an estimated 500,000 children living on the streets of Nairobi so this is like finding a needle in a hay stack, especially since Joseph had changed locations! Amazing grace how sweet the sound!
Joseph was hesitant to go with them. Years of street life, drugs and alcohol can really effect a child's brain, but he said he would go if his friend (also named Joseph) could go with him. David called Bishop David and he said YES! Bring them both in!
The boys are on their way to Tumaini today! Please join us in prayer for them as they go through withdrawl, fear and all the other challenges that they will face.
On April 19th, I receive another email from Janine Maxwell:
We need to join together in prayer today. Joseph and Joseph have run away from Tumaini and convinced young Isaac to go with them back to the street.
This is not unusual for street boys as they are addicted to the street, drugs, crime and it is the only life that they know. Imagine being a 15 year old boy trying to break free from drugs and having to start school in grade one or two because you can't read or write? It can be a huge challenge.
This past Sunday, April 26th, I received another email from Janine:
Praise God from whom all blessing flow! The two Joseph's and Isaac have been found and brought home to Tumaini!!
At 3:00 AM Sunday morning David got up and drove to Nairobi with James to look for the boys again. He was there 2 days last weekend, but they could not be found.
I received the news very early Sunday morning and we are so very thankful for all of your prayers. I don't have many details yet, but will share them as they come. I specifically asked how Isaac was doing as he had been sober for 1 1/2 years. David said he was dead drunk and badly beaten, but he is home. Remember, he is now 12 years old.
The journey goes on.
Two reasons to share this story: First, please pray for Joseph and Joseph and Isaac that they would be set free from street life and experience the gift of God’s love and grace at Tumaini.
Second, it reminds me of how easily I settle for street life. How easy it is to go back to what is easy and familiar. And like Isaac, when we choose to go back to the street, we get hurt and we hurt others. It is a journey – this life. We each need help as we seek to walk God’s path and stop being drawn down our own.
For more information on how you can help, go to Heart for Africa's website: http://www.heartforafrica.org/
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