Three Boys Taken in by CSCM Share Their Stories: Bob, Meshack, and Erick

December 1, 2011 No Comments

Advent is a time for celebrating the birth of Christ and it is a time of anticipation of the second coming of Christ when He will finish His work with the final judgment. In Kenya Advent coincides with the closing of a school year with anticipation of a new year as school will begin January third. National exams are taken by eighth graders and form four students. It is a lot of pressure because it sets the stage for the future of these children. A good score for an eighth grader gets them the chance to attend the best high school. A good score for a form four student gets them an opportunity to enter a University. CSCM had one student sit for eighth grade exams and two for form four exams. The results will be out in January.

As Lorna and I were reflecting on the gifts Christ continues to give us daily in Word and Sacrament and the special emphasis that comes with a season like Advent we find our house over full with children transitioning home for the holidays. Our older boys usually go to their rural or urban home right from school but when we arrived at the house three of our boys were there with no money to go home. Lorna arranged so they could spend the night. As we were discussing these three boys from Kibera, who are going into the final year of high school, we realized the struggles they have had for three years. Each one has gotten into some trouble at school in one way or another. Some more serious than the other but not so serious that we could not work through it in a confident Christian manner.

As we talked we realized that part of the problem was that they have no stable place to stay when they are not in school. This contributes to a mindset of survival. Focusing on what they will even eat the next meal. With this environment there is no rest, no peace, and no confidence to prepare for the coming school year. So we have decided to take them to the Lake, where we are building a school and will eventually be living there ourselves. The Advent season changes one’s mindset in many different ways. We strongly feel God guiding us to give these boys some special attention to prepare them for this final and most important time in their lives as far as education is concerned. It also will give us some time to catechize and if possible confirm them as we always make sure everyone is baptized and taught God’s Word. We will let them introduce themselves:

 

My name is Bob Phillip Owiyo and I was born on 3 March 1992 in Nairobi Kenyatta Hospital. I am the second born of three children. I was first learning in Nairobi before meeting mamma Lorna. First it happened that my mom died when I was too young in my early ages of Primary School. My father is alive; he was the one who was sponsoring me with school fees. It then happened that he married again, which my step mom and I were not in good terms. My father got a job in Sudan, which led to my being abandoned in Kibera slum. It was at this time that life got very difficult for me. After some time my friend called Vincent welcomed me into their house to stay with them, since he saw I was suffering and I was his close friend. His mother also had compassion on me and welcomed me with food, clothing, and shelter. But education wise she was not able to pay for my education. She was a business lady in Kibera and educating two of her own children.

One day as I was walking around Kibera I met a longtime friend named Cynthia and her sister Winnie.  They asked me why I was not going to school and mentioned that I appeared to be so different. I then did not lie to her but told her the whole truth of the story and how it happened until I was abandoned by my dad moving to Sudan with his new wife. Cynthia told me that the only help she could give is by taking me to Springs of Life Lutheran Church and introducing me to mamma Lorna. I went to her office and told her my life story and she decided to take me to Kisumu to attend Otieno Oyoo Secondary School. Now I give thanks to God for taking care of me when I thought there was no hope. I thank my sponsors and pray for God’s richest blessings to them in Christ Jesus my Lord.

 

My name is Meshack Odhiambo Owino and I was born June 1992 in Nairobi, Kenya. I was brought up in the Mathare slum until the age of eight when my mother passed away in 2000. After the death of my mother we stayed with my father for a period of two years and then he suddenly died. By then I was in class three. It was quite fortunate that our neighbor was a bit responsible and could take care of me after rejection from my home by my uncle.

Due to renovation of houses that took place in Mathare slum, we transferred to Kibera slum and there I continued with life. I managed to go to standard eight and did the national exam in the year 2007. I passed with a good score. Unfortunately there was a lot of political instability following the 2007 Presidential election. This was accompanied by a lot of tribal clashes among the major communities (Luo and Kikuyu).

Being that Kibera slum was inhabited by many Luo’s, they sent the Kikuyu’s away and my guardian/neighbor fled Kibera to save his life, since he was a Kikuyu. I was left with no place to live, which brings a lot of hopelessness. The only solution that I could see was to discontinue my education. It was by God’s favor that I met mamma Lorna a year later at the Lutheran Church in Kibera. I told her my life story and she agreed to take me to Kisumu to attend Otieno Oyoo Secondary School. And now I am sure of taking my national exams certificate next year as I will be joining form 4. I am grateful to God too be sponsored through CSCM.

 

My name is Erick Omondi. I was born on 20 October 1994. My mother and I were living in Kibera when she passed away in 2003. She was the only parent I had. I was in class three when I begin to stay with relatives also living in Kibera slum. Their livelihood was to make elicit brew, which is against the law. I was looked to for child labor and was not treated so well. But they did accept me to go to primary school, since the work of brewing took place at night. The opportunity to study was not really there. In 2008 I sat for my eighth grade national exams and passed well. Unfortunately there were six other children in that home (I was the only total orphan), so there was no one to take me to secondary school. I really do not blame them much, since life in Kibera is very difficult and people do whatever they can to put food on the table and send their children to school. Orphans only get something small after everyone else is taken care of.

I met a madam by the name of Margaret Muthoni who sympathized with my situation of life and took me to form one secondary school. She was unable to continue to pay for my school fees as she also had two children in secondary school. I was in a situation that would not allow me to continue my education. A friend of mine told me about an organization at the Lutheran Church in Kibera. I went and talked to mamma Lorna and she agreed to take me to Kisumu to Otieno Oyoo Secondary School. I thank almighty God that now I am in boarding school studying to pursue my dream and vocation for the future. God has also provided me with a sponsor whom I pray for daily, that they will continue extending their support to me for my schooling.

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