Maisha International's Blog

Walking Nyalenda

I met an amazing boy who inspired me the other day and forever.  Jennifer asked me if I had time to go with her to write some information about a boy, which I replied “Yes.”  When I met this boy, I knew then that this child was the one I heard about the day before.  He came to Maisha Orphanage from the slums, which took him five days to arrive by foot.( In Kisumu they don’t have street signs, stop signs or signal lights.)  When I met the young boy he was very shy and soft spoken.  He told us his story about his parents who died when he was too young and was taken by his uncle and lived with him for a year and a half, and then the uncle died.  So he stayed with his uncle’s wife.  The wife gave chores for the boy to do while he was sick.  One time he was very sick and his aunt took him to grandmother, who was very old and couldn’t take care of him, so the sister of the father took him to the town of Busia and admitted him there and stayed three days, then he left still feeling sick.  From there he went to Kisumu to stay with another aunt.  The aunt’s husband was a drunkard, so every evening the man would abuse the boy.  One day it was difficult for the boy, because he decided to tell his teacher and the teacher took him away from the compound to go live with him, then the teacher brought him to Maisha.  The boy has been stigmatized with his condition, being HIV positive (mother to child.)  Also, he was a burden to his family and couldn’t take his ARV’s because of the stress in the situation and emotional issues.  This young boy is a very bright student, whom he is 15 years old, but looks much younger.  Yet he wants to go to high school and become a lawyer someday.  After hearing his story, I thought how determined and brave he was to leave the situation that he was in.

Evans

When I went to supper the other night a lady named Melva was sitting next to me and mentioned that I was bold and brave to come on this mission trip by myself not knowing anyone from this group.  This child reminds me of my own situation, such as being a quiet person and still being bold and brave.  I have decided to accept the privilege to sponsor his education and know God put me in the right place at the right time.  “Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you.”  Deut. 31:6