“That is our brother.”

Those four words are forever seared in my memory. Those four words must have been burning holes in their mouths while they waited to utter what no one else in the room knew.

It was a beautiful and sunny Saturday afternoon. The middle age children, interns, and a few staff members had gone on an outreach to a nearby orphanage that had recently opened. Two of the boys that were on the outreach and who call Naomi's Village home are brothers. “L” is older than “J” but both are equally sweet and kind! 

The scene looked something like this…

We were all sitting round the family area of the newly opened orphanage as Benson, the founder, was sharing a bit of the story and heart behind the ministry. As he expressed his heart and desire to bring hope and a future to those who are without a home or family, the nine children that have been rescued emerged from their rooms and assembled in two groups. Benson proceeded to introduce us to each one of these timid yet smiling children. As he finished sharing about God's faithfulness in bringing them to were they are and what he hoped the future to look like, he asked if anyone had a question. Simultaneously L and J’s hands shot up. Benson kindly asked what was the question. Without hesitation and in a clam voice they pointed to one of the boys standing in the group and said… 

"That is our brother.” 

I looked from one face to another trying to figure out if I had heard right. I felt like I was looking in a mirror as each adult face seem to have the same questioning look. “Did I hear right?” “How do they know this is their bother?” “Could it be possible this is really true?” A murmur of questions filled the room, some in English most in Kiswahili. After a few moments and a closer look at how much the three boys resembled, those words spoken minutes before now served as a thread to bind these brother’s back together.

A few years before, after harsh circumstances and unimaginable injustice, these young, innocent brothers were given different homes in hopes that the future would be brighter than the past. It was truly a remarkable moment to be a part of. And for the rest of the afternoon one if not both of the older brothers were by little K’s side. At one point I looked up and witnessed a beautiful outpouring of love. As if to give K a token of love, one of the brothers removed his watch and placed it on his little brothers wrist.

Moments like watching three brothers reunite, or observing tenderness in a beautiful act of love, or looking on as the older boys told the younger one all that had happened since they were last together reminds me how God delights to be in the broken and shattered places of our life. Just like the sun glitters off of shattered glass so God's grace and love is the brightest when it shines and reflects off of our broken lives. When our broken pieces seem to be scatter beyond human recovery, God comes on the scene and collects ever last fragment so that not one pieces is lost. And what does He do with these seemingly unless pieces of clay? He tenderly takes them and fits them back into there correct shape, and then He glues them together. He uses the glue called Jesus to recreate something more lovely than before. God is the only One who can take a broken life and make it something of beauty but Jesus is the glue that holds that life together.

Without a signal the lights went out. There wasn't even a warning flicker, just black-out. The only light to be had was what was streaming through the crude front door. However the absence of light did not seem to bother the 300 children that were having their mid morning porridge. They continued as if this was a regular occurrence, because sadly it is a common part of life in the slums.

Although it is hard to imagine, the lack of consistent electricity is probably one of the least challenging parts of living in the slum. When your main daily concern is survival, electricity is no longer an absolute necessity. And this daily ordeal of finding a way to survive is the plight of close to one million people who call the Lunga Lunga slums home. The Lunga Lunga slums are one of the many slums in Nairobi, Kenya.

Life in Lunga Lunga is difficult, if I were to put it lightly. With the daily income for most of the slum residents at about $2.00 per day this leaves much in the lacking category. This minimal income also means that children don't get much, if any of a chance to attend school. Often they are used as 'drug mules' or in other dehumanizing ways. If you were to look through the eyes of one of these children you would likely see hopelessness, a future that promises little less then the present, and a life of daily fending and defending themselves. 

But right in the middle of this bleak picture there is a beautiful beacon of light and hope. Wells of Joy Ministries was founded by Pastor Geoffrey Muntugu in 2008. With a vision to start a slum church, Pastor Geoffrey begin to devote his life to this work he felt God calling him too. He has not giving up nor turned aside even when discouragement has tempted to overwhelm him. After two short years the ministry grew to include a school. Brilliant Sharping Community School now has 300 students with that number only to increase. And with the steady flow of children coming in there is unending needs. Needs so innumerable that one quickly begins to feel overwhelmed. Needs that adults should never have to face let alone a child.

Don't leave me yet! I'm about to show you some picture of the ministry and then tell you something that I'm super excited about. Something that you may want to be a part of.

Below is a picture of the main room in the building that houses WOJ and BSCS. This room serves as a church on Sundays, a dining hall on schools days, a playground, a meeting room, and/or for any other event or need that may arise. Off this room there are a couple of class rooms, a kitchen, and a few offices. At the front of this room there is as a stairway leading up to the second level where the seven other classes are held.

After the routine 10:00 chai time, all the children scurried to their respectable classes. As they settled back into their desks Nancy, a faithful servant to WOJ for six yrs, showed us around. We got to peek in on each class.  And I might add here that the children are all so well behaved. There was no jumping up or shouting when the 'wazungus' peeped in to the class. They all just had a pencil in hand, a notebook, and a huge smile -oh, and a wave too! :)

For those of you that purchased t-shirts a few months back in support of WOJ, here is where your money went. Thank you for your support! Because of your helping hand these children can now have textbooks of their own.

Sorry to interrupt you miss, but I can't resist this photo!

So what is it that I'm so excited to share with you? Well...

PASTOR GEOFFREY IS COMING TO THE U.S.!!

On March 11th he will board a plane headed to America. Pastor Geoffrey's main goal in coming for this three week stay is to visit the churches that have partnered with Wells of Joy Ministries and share his story and vision, as well as thank them personally for their support and prayers. For those of you who live in or around the Star City area there will be an opportunity for hear and meet Pastor Geoffrey's as well as donate to the special ministry if you so wish too. There is going to be a fundraiser for Wells of Joy in Star City. The fundraiser event will be held in the Star City Civic Center on March 29th at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome!   

If you have any questions please feel free to comment below or email me. 

My email address is: graceandlove16@gmail.com