Agape's 50th Reintegrated Girl

About a year ago, Agape identified a need within the Kisumu Children's Remand Home (Juvenile Hall) where the government was unable to effectively research and find the homes of the growing number of girls resident within the home.  The girls within the Home are either runaways or were found abandoned on the street.  A little over a year ago, Agape stepped in and began working directly with these girls at Remand to attempt to find their homes in rural Kenya in order to reintegrate them with their families. The program has been a huge success, and earlier this month Agape reintegrated its 50th girl back home. 

Ruth Machuma, our 50th girl in the program, is from a very poor home located about 3 hours north of Kisumu.  She has had a history of running away, because she prefers life in the city to life in the rural home.  Agape worked closely with Ruth counseling her on her past decisions, and ultimately decided that she was ready to be taken home to her family.  We praise the Lord that on a recent follow-up visit, we found her safely at home!

Ruth with her mother and three younger siblings in front of their home.  Agape will work with the family to help improve their home and to help determine ways to feed and sustain the family long term.

Ruth Machuma, Age 16

Guest Blogger: Fredrick Okoko

So, my friend Fredrick is sitting in for me this afternoon as a guest blogger.  As they say in Kenya, "Please greet him!"

Hi, my name is Fredrick.  I am 14 years old and am in Class 5. I am from Luanda, which is about 1 hour northwest of Kisumu.  My favorite food is kuku (chicken) and rice.  I like to read the Bible and books about Social Studies.  I like to drive things, like a boda (bike).  If I had free time, I would watch a movie about Jesus or Moses (this is my favorite movie).  I want to be an engineer when I grow up.  Goodbye!

Our New School Uniforms

A good friend of Agape in California just donated 200 new uniform shirts for Agape's School.  Thanks Megan!  Check out the new uniforms; what do you think?

My friend, Bramuel, models our new uniform.

Agape's Transition Program & Our Newest Boys at Agape

When a boy joins the Agape family after living a life on the streets, he goes through a 2-3 week transition class to begin the process of rehabilitation to ready him for life at Agape and eventually at home. 

Agape's Social Worker, Winnie Awuor, teaches a class on the dangers of the street to our newest Agape boys.

Edwin looks so focused on the class!  :-)

 Silly boys . . . .

Please tell Paul to pay attention and to stop watching the guy with the camera.

Winnie teaching her class.

Charles Anyang, the leader of the transition program, and a few of the boys in the class.

We also welcome the following six boys who joined us at Agape over the past two weeks; please keep them in your prayers!

Brian Okoth, Age 13

Caleb Joel, Age 7 (the youngest boy at Agape)

Charles Odhiambo, Age 14

Clinton Ruyangi, Age 10

James Odongo, Age 10

Kennedy Ochieng Gilo, Age 12

We were also really excited that Moses Tom decided to come back to Agape after spending some time living on the street.  Please pray for Moses!

Moses Tom, Age 12

Ants Attack!!! (Part 2)

Here's what greeted us earlier this afternoon when walking down the hall . . .

. . . . our friends the ants!

Teaching with an Interpreter

Whenever I speak to the Agape boys, I usually do so via an interpreter.  The majority of the boys can speak and understand English, but there are a few that don't know any English.  So, here is a little video clip of me teaching the Agape Boys earlier this morning.  Daniel, one of our house parents, does a great job interpreting for me, and following me around the room (I tend to wander around when I speak).  Anyway, enjoy!

Learning about obedience from the story of Jonah

Also, here are a few pictures of church at Agape this morning.

Setting up my computer and projector always attracts a bunch of Agape boys.

My little friend, Kevin Otieno.

More . . .

 . . . and more . . .

. . . and more Agape boys (and some Page kids).

Lyla & Antony

Looking very serious . . .

. . . and a little silly.

If it's any surprise, Lyla enjoys being the center of attention.

Playing "Simon Says" as an introduction to our lesson on Obedience.

Seth & Lyla look so excited!  (Seth needs a haircut really badly)

The whole group!

Ants Attack!!!

This morning, I got up to take a shower and when I opened the shower curtain I felt something hitting my feet.  Still half asleep I looked down and realized that I was standing in a pile of ants in the middle of the bathroom!  My skin is still crawling; at least these ants don't bite.

We haven't had rain since Christmas as January and February are Kenya's dry season, so the ants have become quite organized and militant in their pursuit of water.  It's funny, they now leave the food alone and mostly just go after any water.  I guess thirst outweighs hunger every time!

 These ants hit the water jackpot . . . they then got hit with a can of Doom (Kenyan Raid).

The ants were also covering a towel left on the floor in the bathroom.

"Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting"

Earlier today, we headed out for our first taekwando tournament, which was held at a local school in Kisumu.  Sutton decided that he didn't want to compete, Seth was too young (it turned out later that there was a 5-year old group), but Connor was ready to put her two lessons of taekwando to the test. 

How do you spell tough?  T-A-E-K-W-O-N-D-O

Connor quietly ponders whether she should "sweep the leg."

Connor, Jack, and Chris hang out with the other future MMA stars.

This little girl won the medal for "Best Ponytail."

Connor gettin' her game face on . . .

 Connor's opponent . . . don't let her looks fool you -- she was a trained killer! 

Round 1 of the Fight of the Century; I would've shown the other two rounds, but they were just too bloody for this blog.

The slate of competitors

Connor waits patiently for her well-deserved prize.

Here I'm giving Connor some pointers on the crane-style of kung-fu (while eating potato chips).

Some good lookin' taekwando mom.

Connor proudly shows off her gold medal!

 

 Connor with some of the other winners.

 

The kung-fu prodigy with her two coaches.  

Two Practices - CHECK!

Gold Medal - CHECK!

Latest Additions to the Agape Family

To kick off my latest update, I wanted to pass along a big THANK YOU to all of you that have been praying for Collins Omullo.  Last week he decided to go back to the street, and yesterday he decided to come back to Agape.  We also had two other former runaways, Hillary Juma and Junior Otieno, decide to come back to Agape after running to the street.  Praise the Lord!  Please keep up your prayers for these boys!

Collins Omullo, Age 14

Hillary Juma, Age 11

Junior Otieno, Age 16

We also had another six new boys join us at Agape this week, hopefully leaving life on the streets for good.  Please pray that these boys settle quickly at Agape!

Arnold Omondi, Age 11

Joshua Namimbwa, Age 12

Kevin Omondi, Age 11

Paul Omondi, Age 14

Peter Chege, Age 12

 Peter Wafula, Age 12

And what Agape update post would be complete without a few silly Agape boy pictures . . .