Eastleigh

Here are words from my journal about my experience in Eastleigh...

The ride over to the Eastleigh Center began with jokes and laughs as Joel drove us out of MITS territory. Suddenly, when we hit the outskirts of Nairobi, all was quiet. The roads were terrible and there was no “right-of-way” for drivers. Anyone who drives the streets of Nairobi is fearless! We arrived at the Center and my first step out of the MITS bus felt as though it was the first step onto the moon. I felt so many eyes glued to me and I felt so out of place with my white shoes. Regardless, we stood out anyways because of our skin. We walked into the Eastleigh Center and there was a concrete slab to the left and a basketball goal at the wall (but no basketball to play with). Jaxon, John, Jeremy, and I followed Joel into the common area to tour the rest of the place. The common area was also a concrete slab with a tarp on top, and offices and staff bedrooms surrounded it. When we finished touring, we went back to the entrance area and mingled with the street boys trying to get into MITS. There were five boys all around 14 years old and four of them were sitting together. The other boy was lying on the floor in the corner. Jaxon reached out to him and the rest of us got to know the others. We definitely had a language barrier since they spoke Swahili and very little English. We talked about where we were from and I asked them to help teach me words in Swahili. Time passed and it was time for them to go to class. They needed someone to stay back and spend time with the kids so John volunteered to do that. The rest of us Bibled up and followed Moses, Evans, & Joel into the streets.

The first base was very intimidating because it was a base of older-looking men. Here is the sad truth…they were our age but they looked so much older because of their conditions. Teddy, a man who lived at the base, was very memorable. He was so sluggish from his high and his nose had a deep, black gash. Moses introduced the three of us and I was the first to talk. Looking back, I can’t believe words even came out of my mouth. I knew I had to be strong though. Their base was….well, trash! I can’t find any other words to describe it. Cardboard, tarps, paper, foam. I know I came across as strong and confident, but at the same time I had so many mixed feelings about being there. In that alleyway, I shared with them Jeremiah 29:11 because I felt like hope is something that could connect all of us together. They were very receptive of what I had to say about hope, family, sacrifice, and love. After all three of us were finished talking, Joel handed them some chipati to help ease their hunger. As we were leaving, Teddy, with his trembling hands and ragged clothes, came to me and said, “I love you, Micah.”

It was now time for a new base. We ventured down the sloppy, muddy streets until we found our destination at a younger base. This time, there were guys and girls (In their teens) and young babies. It was so sad to see the babies crawling in the dirt and trash. I saw one of them pick something up and put it in her mouth because she was so hungry. It happened to be a rotten, muddy plumb. This time, we shared about hope and how God loves them just as much as He loves us. We shared with them that we are equals in God’s eyes. I can remember saying something close to this… “This world is not fair! It is full with hunger and pain. But, Heaven is a perfect place with no suffering and you can be apart of it if you choose Jesus as Lord.” After Jeremy, Jaxon, Moses, and Evans shared what was on their hearts, we had to move on. I will never forget having to leave – looking over my shoulder as those babies crawled in the trash.

Our last stop was the most devastating. Every single boy I saw either had jet fueled rages, bottled glue, or bottled cleaning solution. Most of the boys were so high and sluggish. There were mounds of trash everywhere in this part of the city. We ran into “Mamma”, a big lady who sat in a chair at the base. She claims to help out the boys and provide for them, but Moses and Byron explained that she is a fraud. She takes advantage of them by letting them sleep at a shabby shelter she owns in exchange for money. She also sells the boys those drugs and makes her money that way. James, a boy who always shook because of his excessive drug use, wanted us to encourage him through prayer.

After 2 hours, on the streets, we made it back to the Eastleigh Center. The women there made us rice with goat stew and their famous chili sauce. It was delicious! I felt guilty eating after everything I just saw but a harsh reality sunk in for me at that moment. No matter how hard people try to end it, there will always be this kind of sadness and poverty in the world.

Byron, Moses, and Evans (all staff members of the Eastleigh Center) are such Godly people. They live at or near the Center. When they interact with people in the streets, they laugh so hard! They love and serve with all of their strength and they bring the streets so much light. However, they shared with me that when it rains, the streets are a living hell. Everyone is wet, cold, and sick. At this time, most of those living in the streets are high (for warmth and amnesia from hunger). It is also the time when most pass away. As we drove away from the slums, I remember seeing that one of the major businesses was coffin-making, and John saw coffins for infants.

10:31 p.m. 

We're back in Kamulu and it's pouring rain. Lord, please be with those suffering in the streets tonight.

Amen.