After spending a large part of the week-end
crying off and on,
praying and thinking about some things
that have been transpiring here…
I am going to attempt to articulate
what’s going on in the hearts of this team.
Let me start at the beginning….
As most know our own
has a feeding program
which we call
Frontlines+ Feeding Program
which partners with a local
ministry called API
for the street boys of Kampala.
There are currently thousands of little boys
living on the streets of this large city.
The goal is reunification with their family.
Yet the reality is that reunification
is not always possible.
As the boys partake in the street program,
API is praying and watching to see
who is ready to come off the streets
and are interviewed by a SW
who then asks the courts for
permission to bring them into an API home
where they learn about the love of God,
go to school, learn a trade, and become
family together.
Many are orphaned through AIDS,
others are orphaned through second marriages
{one parent dies, the remaining parent remarries
and the new spouse says,
“I don’t want your kids.”}
others are abandoned for
seemingly no real reason,
and still others run away from abusive
homes where they are living with extended
family.
The street boys come to the program,
three times a week,
where they will have a relevent Bible lesson,
school lessons, a craft
or games and always a good meal.
Although we have served at the feeding
program in the past,
something happened on our first
time serving at the program
the day after we landed
that left all of our team completely undone
and blinking back tears at the
drop of a hat.
No doubt, our hearts were completely broken
and we fell in love with the boys.
Many of them are just 10 years old.
Can you really imagine your 10 year old
living alone on the streets?
Or could you imagine yourself living on the streets
when you were just ten?
We knew we had to do something more.
Most of the boys are barefoot –
which makes their feet susceptible
to all sorts of troubles as they spend their days
and many of their nights walking the streets
of this giant city.
We asked those in charge if it would be possible to
bring shoes for the boys.
The Uncle in charge of the program
told me that the very day before
they had been praying for shoes.
Can you imagine?
They were praying and God was
moving on our hearts to be
burdened for the boys
to have shoes.
We could not wait to get started.
Off we went to a market that sells
nice {!}second hand shoes, praying that God would
direct us specifically
{that’s a story for another day!}
and God showed up in a majorly huge way.
We came out beaming from ear to ear
and carrying a total of
67 pairs of tennis/sneakers,
100 pairs of socks and
100 tee-shirts…
enabling each boy to have
not only a new pair of shoes and socks
but also a new shirt and a sweet treat.
We also bought 3 jerry cans
{to haul water}
4 buckets
gobs of soap
5 towels
4 wash clothes.
We had decided that they didn’t just need
new shoes and a shirt,
they needed to know that a mama-figure
loved them and wanted to tenderly show it.
We were downright giddy as we
headed to the slums to serve the boys.
We had been asked if we could
do the entire program and since the
other women had shared at
some of the things we had already done,
it was my turn. I shared from
John 13.
In the midst of sharing about
Jesus washing His disciples feet I opened
up and shared some of my personal
story. And although I do not even
begin to know what they have been
through, I wanted them to understand
that my life had been broken by
some of my own childhood trauma.
The boys sat listening so intently
I honestly had never seen anything like it.
As I shared my heart and looked into their staring eyes,
I began to cry,
their eyes so filled with pain, grief, sadness,
abandonment and heartache.
I was completely broken.
I could hardly talk.
It was so clear that the Lord’s anointing was present.
These little boys are so desperate
to be loved: unconditionally, purely
and without expectation.
Truly, doesn’t everyone really
just want to know that they
matter to someone?
I was able to share about Jesus
washing His friends feet
and then we gathered the boys,
four at a time,
and lovingly washed their feet,
praying over each boy,
clipping their fingernails
{who clips a little street boys nails?},
telling them that they are loved,
drying their feet, putting lotion on their legs,
band-aids on their sores
and helping them pick out a new pair
of shoes and a new tee-shirt.
Tears plunked like a broken faucet
from most of our eyes.
It was such a joy to see their joy.
This little guy has stolen my heart and
I had picked a special shirt just for him.
have completely stolen my heart.
Each night we pray for their
{as well as the others} safety,
we wonder where they are hiding
and we pray that
God will somehow open a door for them
to get off the streets.
They are both 10 years old.
Would you pray for them and the others too?
Can you honestly imagine?
Ten years old and on the streets?
Ten years old and on the streets?
I can imagine how draining and yet how inspiring your visit was.
Our church here in England supports Mercy Rescue Trust in Kitale, Kenya, a rescue home for babies and children.
Honor and a privilege to pray for them and all the children on the streets.
Love from NC
This breaks me to pieces. Can you imagine the feelings that were awakened when they were touched with love an care. No wonder you guys could not stop crying, I am having a hard time now. I would count it all joy to spend my days hugging, washing and loving on these precious boys. When things settle down for you please email so I can get this gift to you….I know you will use it for His glory. Love you lady.
Those two little guys look so happy. I have tears streaming down my face. Compared to most Americans and certainly everyone in our family and local friends we do without a lot but today as we sat with a box of delicious fried chicken, fresh veggies and a cold drink I thought about how blessed we are and how even we who struggle and do without a lot take things for granted. We are so blessed and so wealthy compared to little boys that live on the streets. I so wish I could be there and hand out food and shoes and clothes and hug those sweet souls. I know it gives them a better chance in life and in faith to know you are all there taking care of them and loving on them and giving them such wonderful attention and things they need. God bless all of you!
Thank you for sharing about this day. We are praying!
Oh Linny you have broken my heart. My boys were two and three when they were found on the streets of Kampala and every time I think about the street kids or the kids in the prisons, I just thank God endlessly that He saved my babies.
But my heart is still aching for the children, especially the sweet boys, left behind. The ones who don't have a mama coming for them. The ones who aren't being tucked in to bed with a full tummy and clean clothes and sheets and kisses from their parents.
weeping for these boys…. such a beautiful post~ I will be praying
I am mostly just a reader here and not a person to comment but this post brought me to my knees tonight. We have a street boy that we brought home from Ethiopia 2 months ago. My heart aches for boys and girls that are alone living in the streets. Scared. Hungry and with no one to love them. Praise God that today these children felt love and knew that for the first time in their lives they were IMPORTANT to someone. God Bless your ministry!