World Impact Ministries / Peter Youngren

What does the word “Home” mean to you? What about the word “Family”? What emotions arise within you, as you hear these words? They are most commonly assimilated with safety, comfort and love. And I believe it is a core hope nestled deep inside most of us, to obtain these values within the setting of our families and our homes…!?

But in the case of the kids in the “Breakfast Club”, who come to my door every day; these words have a different meaning entirely!
“Home” is a place distant and unfamiliar, unsafe and unsettling – void of love, comfort and peace. Perhaps, - to these kids it is likely only a place with a roof and some walls; a mere geographical location where some of their family members reside?
“Family” on the other hand, provokes some emotional attachments, but in the case of these children, the word has a very negative connotation: So negative, as to cause these boys to withdraw; – to escape and disengage from their family lives. Something, so severe made them choose to abandon their place of belonging, replacing it with long cold nights on the hard ground on the streets of Nairobi. They exchanged their beds and blankets for a skimpy torn jacket and perhaps a plastic bag to wrap themselves in.
They surrendered the surety of their parent’s provision in lieu of the harsh disillusioned life of begging and rummaging for food every day.

Something, so bad happened at home; it caused them to leave - never to return…! Something so damaging, happened in those families; causing a hurt, more severe than the cold rainy nights and the unknown dangers lurking in the dark…
Imagine how hurt, a ten year old child must be, to decide that a homeless life is far better than the embrace of family life..?!
Because the fact is, that many of these kids aren’t completely abandoned orphans; many of them have a single parent, or a guardian of some kind, often within the remote family. But unfortunately these are not the kind of families that nurture and sustain, - more commonly, they are the kind that abuse and drive out!

These homes; severely affected by poverty, alcoholism and violence, deliver the kids into the hands of the streets…. And in a continuous effort to escape being destroyed, - these kids are driven to become experts on how to survive….

News Flash from the “Breakfast Club”

The most amazing solution has presented itself: “God – given“, for sure (!) - But due to your help; your financial contribution; 12 of the most needy of the “Breakfast Club” members are finally off the streets and in school!
The core members of the group – those who faithfully came to my door every day – those who were especially vulnerable and in critical danger of becoming drug addicts, involved in prostitution and crime; all of them came from different past’s and circumstances: Some of these children were living on the streets due to the fact that they came from broken homes; the exposure to violence and abuse caused them to choose a life on the streets. (They have both homes and parents – but are run-away’s) Some of the children were roaming the streets due to poverty (could be the child of a single non working parent, or a parent who could not provide due to sickness etc) These kids were not in school because attending a primary school still requires the cost of uniforms, lunch money, desks, books and tuition fees. All these children were on the streets from early morning to very late night begging for food and money. The last group, are the children who are actual orphans; where both their mother and father have passed away; usually due to Aids. Those are the ones who have no one to care for them – except their brothers on the streets…!
Those were the circumstances that Ian and Clinton, Peter and Anton, Jarred and Sammie (and all the others) came from….that was last week’s reality for them…….!
Now they all have a new address at a Christian “Children’s Home’ situated right here in their neighborhood. Not only do they now have a roof over their heads, a bed to sleep in, three nutritious meals per day and a secure placement in a primary school – they have a future and a hope – they have a chance! Thank you for giving them that chance.

What about the Breakfast Club” you may ask – will it just be shut down? No!!!

The “Breakfast Club” is not dissolving – in fact at this very moment new members are being recruited….