Left to Fend on the Streets

On Friday we were given the opportunity to bless the street
kids that roam throughout Bungoma, Kenya. There isn’t an exact count of how
many but some say near 400. They are mostly boys because girls can either get
married or find work easier. The boys are just told to leaves their homes or
abandoned by their parents because there isn’t enough money to support them.

So they are left to roam the streets asking people for food
and money. Any money they get they’ll spend on this drug called “Gum� it’s a
glue like substance and they just sniff it all day long. They are always as high
as a kite. They also have a chain of authority set up on the streets depending
on how long one has been out there determines how respected you are. Someone
could be younger in age but have been on the streets longer and have more
authority. So that’s kind of the situation that the children are in let me
share with you our experience last Friday.

We purchased juice and a whole bunch of biscuit cracker
things. We stirred up the juice and separated it into bags, then carried it
down to the church which is about a ten minute walk. Everyone was staring as
the Mazungu’s (white people) walking by with juice and crackers for over a
hundred kids. We dropped it off at the church then made our way to gather the
children. We stopped to get a box of soap so that the street kids could bath in
the river. Then we met the “elders� at the billboard where they live/hangout we
told them to gather everyone up and head to the church. In an instant they had people
going through out the whole town gathering their fellow street dwellers.
Because of a lack of time we were only able to gather about 50 kids ranging
from ages 8 to 18. We all walked hand in hand to the church, it was exhilarating to walk down the street
holding the hands of the lowest of low as the community looked on, I hope and
pray they can one day live by example. 

We took them to the church, sat them down and introduced
ourselves. After about 5 minutes they became pretty restless and wanted the juice
and snack. So we had them line up to receive their treat. That lasted for about
2 seconds before they grabbed and bombarded us all. They tried to steal everything
and were trying to get in our bags. It was mayhem but awesome at the same time.
There were the really bad ones then the guys who actually cared and were
respectful. It was a blessing to just serve them in that way but hard to see
these abandoned children just wanting to fill their stomach and sniff glue that’s
all that really matters to them.

I asked what the church what they have tried to do for them.
They said they tried to take a couple off the streets but they ended up
returning to the street’s because they said “you can take the kid off the
street but you can’t take the street out of the kid� I can see how this is so
true and I’m just lost at a way these children could be reached.

(A day well spent)

If you could join me in praying for not only these boys that
roam the streets of Bungoma but the millions of street kids all over the world.
That God will just be able to work miracles in their lives and the lives of
their families. Thank you!

Sandy