Romanos Okello from the Nyalenda Slums

This particular story is very moving to me. Last year while in Kisumu, I had the privilege of visiting a client named Romanos Okello who was in the CFA program at Central Baptist Church, Kisumu. Romanos shared his story with me.

Romanos Okello was born into a poor family in the slums of Nyalenda. His parents could hardly afford to raise him and his siblings, so he was forced to live on the streets at a very young age. While on the streets, he sold used bottles to make a living. He grew up this way in the slums for many years. After he was married and started having kids, he decided to start dealing marijuana or “bang” as it is called on the streets. For twenty years he was heavily involved in the drug business. He became a very well known and successful dealer in the community.

During this time, Romanos lost both his parents, brother and wife from sickness and disease. It was then that he was tested for HIV. And amidst struggling with the death his loved ones, he had to deal with the status and stigma of being HIV positive. Although his business continued, his life was spiraling downward.

By the grace of God, Romanos decided to join the CFA Center at Central Baptist Church last February. For the first time he heard about Jesus in a way he understood. Lazarus and Elizabeth poured time and love into Romanos, despite his prominence as the community drug dealer. One morning in April, Lazarus and Elizabeth visited his home on a routine home visit. But this time was different. After hearing the gospel and experiencing the love of God, he gave his life to Jesus Christ. His desire for change was immediate. That very moment he left the room and came back with all the marijuana he owned, totaling 150 kilos. Right then and there he burned it all. It was a declaration for Lazarus, Elizabeth, to himself and most of all to God that he was done with his former life.

Romanos decided to be baptized in the river by the pastor of Central Baptist Church. Soon after, he was given two bags of charcoal by CFA staff to start a new business. It was a brand new start for him. Romanos used those two bags of charcoal to buy several more and that business is still supporting his family today.

Romanos is now an active and dedicated member of Central Baptist Church. He comes early and leaves late. He attends the Bible studies and mens gatherings. He is so excited about his new faith that he brings his family every Sunday and frequently shares his faith boldly with neighbors and friends. His neighbors, knowing his past very well, can testify firsthand to the dramatic change that has occurred in his life.

After accepting Christ, Romanos had decided to take his eight children to be tested for HIV, for fear of loosing more of his family to sickness. He prayed fervently for the Lords favor on his family. Miraculously all eight children were tested negative. Romanos gladly shared his new faith and testified to Jesus working in his life.  Prior to knowing Jesus, Romanos had also suffered for many years with a serious hemorrhage as well. Recently he was reading in the Bible about the woman who suffered from bleeding and reached out to Jesus’ cloak to be healed. So Romanos, led in faith, reached out and grabbed a nearby curtain in his home as if to be the cloak of Jesus. And when he did, he was healed from his hemorrhage.

As Romanos told these stories in his home, there was a peace and joy about him. He had finally found what he had been searching for his whole life: Jesus Christ. He held up a painting a friend made for him while he was a drug dealer. With a smile on his face he said, “they used to call me ‘Rasta man’, but now they call me ‘Man of God’”.

Creativity at Work!

Several of our 25 college textbook drives are still in progress, but I wanted to share some of the amazing ways our leaders have gotten creative this semester.  During our retreat in March, the group was challenged by Mark Miller to really think outside the box of what textbook drive leaders have always done, engage their volunteers in brainstorming, and figure out NEW ideas on how to engage other students.  They took the message to heart!  Here are some of the things they came up with…

At UGA, people can take a photo when they donate books to go on the table – so cool:

Here is a collage from Furman with signs for people to hold, a table banner, and part of this semester’s trendy t-shirt:

Check out the cool spray-painting (and cookies!) at Auburn:

Probably my personal favorite, some Star Wars characters gave their books on Star Wars day at Georgia!  (May the 4th be with you…):

And here is a HUGE banner a volunteer made at GCSU:

Finally, here is the result (courtesy of Belmont)!  We’ve already gotten in over 12,000 books and many campuses are still in the midst of exams.  Keep praying for great returns and for a huge impact on each one of these campuses.  Say a prayer for our student leaders as well – they are working hard and doing an amazing job!

In Her Own Words

Recently our Kenyan team had the pleasure of sitting down with Susan, a client at the Gachie center, to hear her story.  Here are some of her experiences, in her own words:

“My name is Susan Wambui. I stay at Gachie, near the health center.  I have been HIV-positive for 13 years. I had gone to the hospital once because I was expectant.  When I was tested, I turned out to be HIV positive, and my husband rejected me.  He said we have to separate. So I went back to my parents home.  After staying there for some time my husband passed on, and when I tried to go there, the relatives would not let me go back.  After two months, my mother also passed on, and so I had many troubles. I suffered so much.

Then I had my baby at the hospital.  When I got my child, children were not being tested, so I just brought him home without knowing anything about his status.  After six years, my child started getting sick.  He knew how to talk by then, and he told me, “I will be healed in Jesus’ name.” So the child continued to stay like that, and even today I came with him to the church, and he is doing well.  He is not taking ARV’s, because he turned negative! 

God is good, because I had just moved to stay in this area.  I found a house, but I did not know where I would get my food.  I did not know anyone in the area, apart from one lady who invited me to this church. When I came to this church, I got a lot of help.  I found I could now get food from the center.  One day I got very sick, and the center workers helped me go to the hospital and I received treatment.  They paid for my treatment, but I am very happy for this program because they then sensitized me and I learned about NHIF.

I registered for NHIF (health insurance) and they paid for me the first three months. After three months, my child was hit by a car. It was a hit and run, so they never helped my child.  So I took my child to Kikuku National Hospital, and we were admitted.  Through NHIF, my bill was paid.  My child had a broken leg and a metal pin was put, but I did not pay anything!

I’m happy with this program, and I pray that this program continues because it is helping many people.  When I came here, I discovered my neighbor who was bedridden, and I came and reported. I got with Sarah, and we came and took that lady to Kikuyu. She was admitted, and because of this program, she was able to come back to her health. So this program has been very helpful.  Even after we graduated in 2011, I went to tell many other people to come here. I always tell people – I talk to them and I tell them what they can do, because now we have this program.  We were helped by this program.

Before, people would hide their status so they didn’t know, but now I can see people coming out.  We are able to reach to many other people.  After we taught them, they also started coming up and teaching others.  God is so good.  I thank all those who sat down and came up with such a program, because they did something unique and something great.  I want to tell them, God will bless them, because God loves those who help others.  They should continue to trust God, and even when they go through hard times, they should thank God for the good things he has done, and God will remember them.

There are so many things in this world, but when we trust God he gives us victory.  I know God is faithful!”

Praise the Lord for Susan’s testimony, and for the hundreds of other families that are growing, learning, and rising up with hope!  Thank you for your continued prayers and support of this ministry – none of this would be possible without you!