What does Streetwise need?

I decided to make a list of the specific needs Streetwise has.  We have been racking our brains about how to let people know what the needs are and how to get folks inspired to come on board.  THEN IT STRUCK ME!  DUH MYRANDA!!!!  Just lay it all out there and let folks decide!  So, I have compiled a brief list of ways people can get on board with Streetwise.  I would say that number one is the priority!  Doesn’t matter where you are, who you are or what has been or is going in your life.  You can get involved!  The bit that you can offer does make a difference!


PRAYER!!!!!  Like I have always said “A missionary is only as effective as those standing behind them in support”.  Who would commit to pray?  For us, for the work, for the boys? You make think  “All I can do is pray! Wish I could do more”  POOPIECOCK!!!!!  That is the biggest thing you can do! 

SPREAD THE WORD!!!!  How can you spread the word about Streetwise from where you are?  How can your church get involved?  Prayer groups?  Fund raisers?  Awareness campaigns?  Get the kids ministries involved by praying and teaching them about Zambia and the culture?  Loads of ways!!! 

PEOPLE!!!!  We need PEOPLE!   Our long term vision is to have outreaches going on everyday.  We believe that the strategy God has given us is relationship and consistency.  When we show up consistently and build relationship, the kids begin to trust and are willing to open their hearts to what God is wanting to say to them.   As the boys begin to come into the outreach center and learn the Streetwise Craft Co. project, we need folks.  One on One is the key!  We need folks to read to the kids.  We need folks to help bring lunch.  We need folks to help bring kids to the clinic as the need arises.

SOUP!!!  As it stands we bring food on Wednesday nights to the kids.  We feed anywhere from 30 to 50 kids a night.  Would you be able to cook soup?  We make 20 litres.  You can do that much, you can do 10, you can do 5. Doesn’t matter!  Any bit you can offer is awesome!  

SANDWICHES!!  We are beginning an outreach on Thursday mornings in town.  I would love to be able to bring sandwiches to them.  Pb&j?  Eggs?  Bananas and yogurt drinks?  

FINANCES!!!!!  I realize, that might be a bad word to some, but we need finances to run this.    Everyone can pray!  BUT, we understand that time is a precious commodity for folks.  There just isn’t enough hours in the day!  If you want to be a part of Streetwise, if you believe in the vision God has given us to reach the street kids of Lusaka, you can give financially.  “Where would it go?”  you ask…..

• the feeding program.  As of now we spend roughly 100 kwacha per week feeding 30 to 50 kids.  That figure includes the periodic purchase of charcoal, mealie, and paying Misozi for cooking the nshima (no small task!)
• Rent and food for the house where the boys are going to live who take part in the Streetwise Craft Co, center.  They will live there and get discipleship training as well as remedial skills help and job skills training.  We are looking at 1000 to 1500 a month depending on how many boys are there.  
• We need donations to set the house up!  We need beds, mattresses, towels, sheets, pots, pans, plates….etc.  
• Rent on the Streetwise Center, which is 4,000 kwacha per month.  
• Joe Chibanza is going to begin working with us full time.  He will be getting paid 600 kwacha a month.  As he will be living at the house his rent and food will be taken care of.  

Thanks for taking the time to read and consider Streetwise.  I think what I am driving at is this…..There is a way for everyone to get involved!  Something for everyone!  

ROCK ON!! and BE BLESSED!!!! 

If you would like to donate financially go to tscnyc.org and click on GIVE…follow the directions to MISSIONARIES and choose MORALES FAMILY / ZAMBIA

PLEASE PRAY FOR STREETWISE!

This was probably one of the toughest weeks Streetwise has faced to date. 

We lost our first student and it was a blow!  He was doing SO WELL!  Then, all of a sudden he came in angry and defensive and unwilling to hear us.  It was so awful.   

(A little praise report……I wanted so badly to say “LISTEN YOU LITTLE UNGRATEFUL NERD!!!!!  If you only knew what we have gone through to help you!!!!!”  But God, in his infinite grace and mercy kept my mouth shut! PRAISE THE LORD! )

It just so happened to be Wednesday, outreach day.  (of course!)  I wasn’t feeling very “outreachy” but thank God we walk by faith and not by sight!  

As some of you may remember me writing about Joe Chibanza.  He was saved from a life of 10 years on the streets and Jesus has RADICALLY transformed him!!!!!  

When Joe started at teen challenge 3 years ago.

Joe always comes on Wednesdays and stays the night with us so he can participate in the outreach and help out around the outreach center.  He has also started another outreach Thursday morning.  It was going on for a month before we knew about it.  He just wanders the city looking for pockets of kids to talk to.    

WELL!!!  Thursday morning dawned bright and beautiful and I woke up feeling beat up and completely defeated.  Luis was feeling the same way.  The first thought that entered my mind was “I don’t need all this mess!!  I just want a nice drama free office job and get my kids through to adulthood!”  In the middle of my mental tirade Joe said that he wanted to speak to us.  I will confess my thought was “NO LORD!!! PLEASE!!!!  I CAN’T HANDLE THIS AGAIN!!!”  

So, with a sigh and a determination to just get it over with we went and sat with Joe.

He opened his mouth and out came words straight from God’s heart.   He said that he had been up early praying for us and God told him to encourage us.  He saw that we were pretty discouraged.  Honestly, I don’t remember what he said specifically.  While he spoke I kept remembering him 3 years ago smelling like a distillery, barely able to hold his head up and comparing that image to this strong, healthy, capable, handsome, whole and set free young man sitting in my living room.  

Joe, leading an outreach about a month ago

I did my best not to ugly cry all over the place.  Zambians don’t take well to public displays of emotion.  

God told me in that moment “Just keep pressing forward.  Never give up! (cue Ben Crandall voice for all you TSC’rs reading this)”

THEN!  The team from the Thursday morning outreach came in and gave their update.  You guys my heart was full!  Eva told us how a boy pulled her aside to thank her for the food we brought the night before!  Alex told how a boy was so thrilled that he remembered his name!  Moses!  He said his little face lit up with such joy that he was remembered.  All day God just kept bringing little treasures to find along the path that pushed us forward. 

My conclusion is this!  WE NEED YOU!!!!  We need prayer!!!   This isn't easy what God has asked of us.   These precious boys have issues and needs that are way beyond us!  We need prayer!!!!  We need you to help stand in the gap for the lives of these precious babies!!   The word of God is clear on this point........"I am  fearfully and wonderfully well and that my soul knows VERY well!"   I pray that verse over my own children and the lives of the kids on the streets all the time!  They are fearfully and wonderfully made and the Devil has done his level best to convince them otherwise.  

Would you pray for Jason?  He is the student that booked out on us last week.  PLEASE pray that his heart is open to hear the voice of God!  Please pray that he stops fighting God and recognizes that the only way for a hope and a future is in Jesus and Jesus alone! Please pray that Jason finds the rest of Jesus for his weary soul.  I was trying to find a picture of him in my files but unfortunately I don't have one.  But Jesus knows who he is and what he looks like!