meet John

Meet John.  We don't know much about John other than he was a child living on the streets of Lusaka.    John represents the face of countless thousands of children living with out care and nurture in Zambia. 

On Saturday the Streetwise Outreach team was out hanging out with the kids and saw John.  Long story short.. in the course of their time on the outreach that day John died.  He was there talking with the team and his friends and then he simply sat down and died.  No warning, no fan fare....one minute he was there, the next he was gone.  

MANY thoughts and emotions have run through my mind since Saturday regarding this.   As you can imagine it is difficult to find the words to express how heart sick this makes all of us.   The senselessness of it...the brutality of it....it makes my head spin.   

Tim, the outreach leader, reported to us that while it is heartbreaking and sad and just awful beyond words,  he was glad for the reminder about WHY Streetwise exists.  Tim and the team have jumped into action to comfort the kids and simply be there with whatever is needed.  They are loving the kids where they are....in their pain...showing them the dignity and kindness they deserve while the kids  mourn the loss of their brother and friend.  

The work that is being done through Streetwise is beautiful, painful, gritty, raw, real and amazing all at the same time.    It is heart breaking.  It is satisfying.  It sometimes makes me want to run and hide and pretend that I didn't know the stories that I do, and it humbles me to the core that we have been allowed to be a part of something so treasured and special.  

Can you do me a favor?  Please share this story with your friends!  Please help spread the news about the homeless kids in Lusaka.  The more exposure the issue gets the more help that comes and that means that John's death will mean something!  

if wezi could speak now......

A short time ago Luis and I attended a funeral for Wezi Nkana.

Wezi was an incredible, tiny little ball of fire and energy.  She stood 5'2" in stilettos, but what she lacked in height she made up for in spunk.

She was a strong independent career woman.  She was well educated and made much of her time on earth.  By Zambian cultural standards Wezi was a trail blazer.  She proved that women here have moxi and can do what ever they set their minds to.  

She loved God deeply and that made a mark on those who were around her.  She loved EVERYONE well.  She gave all she had and trusted God for everything.

You get the picture.....Wezi ROCKED!!!!  

At her funeral I observed something that struck a chord in me.  Those who spoke of her life didn't speak of her earthly accomplishments.   It was mentioned, but it wasn't the focal point.  No pomp was given to the fact that she had a good job at a prestigious bank.  Brief mention was given to the education that Wezi received growing up.  HOWEVER!  Much was talked about in regards to her character and her ability to love and her devotion to Jesus Christ.  

Wezi lived a life for Jesus and the legacy she has left is a beautiful one!    On earth we should make the most of the opportunities we have to do the best we can!  With hard work and determination you can do anything you set your mind to.   Wezi lived that and defied cultural odds set against women.  

The hard work and determination you give in life should REFLECT a life well lived with and for Jesus Christ!!!!!!  Wezi did all she could for the glory of Jesus and for the honor of His name!  She lived well and she lived huge because she understood that it would "echo in eternity" (quote from GLADIATOR)    

Wezi lived well because she KNEW the promises of Jesus to be true!  She knew that her hope in God wouldn't let her down and that one day her pain, her trials, her heartache would be over and she would hear WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!!    

Wezi is living now at the throne of Jesus, rejoicing and full of life and love!!  She had hope and that hope was fulfilled!!! 

I ask you now.....  Do you have hope?  Do you know the One who loves you deeper and wider than anyone or anything ever could?  Do you have an anchor in the storms of life that will see you through?  

If Wezi could tell us now what she sees, what she feels and what she understands she would say DON"T GIVE UP!!!  KEEEP RUNNING FOR EJSSU!!!!

a hot mess

I just had my birthday this past thursday and it got me thinking......What I wish my 43 year old self could tell my 23 year old self......

1.  BE COMFORTABLE WITH WHO YOU ARE!
           I was SO insecure as a 23 year old.  I was uncomfortable in my own skin, so unsure of myself and desperate for approval.  I wasn't content to simply be Myranda and enjoy that time of my life.  I let everyone think I was sure and confident, but inside I was scared someone would figure me out and call me out as a fraud.  Little did I know that no one was actually paying that much attention.  Others had lives and issues of their own they were working out.

2.   ITS OK TO BE A HOT MESS
             Because I was desperate for approval and recognition I wasn't ok to let folks see my warts and bumps.  I wanted to portray the perfect Christian image, not understanding that no one was expecting that from me.....What folks want to see is TRUE and SINCERE transparency.  Honesty about the condition of my heart and the journey that God has me on is what encourages others around me and forges bonds.  I mean, for realz Nacho, doesn't it make you feel better when you realize NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING!?   NO ONE HAS IT TOGETHER!!!!!  WE ARE ALL A HOT MESS!!!  But for the Grace of God I go!


I would actually go on and on but I think these two point hit the high lights.    Here I am.....20 years later....a husband....a dog....three kids.....

I am a hot mess most of the time,  I hate baking, I can't sew and I suck at house work......BBBUUUTTTT  Jesus sees me as I am, Jesus rescued me from myself and delivered me from my sin and made me new and fresh and clean!    Jesus has taken my hot mess and has made something beautiful out of it that brings honor to Him and the beauty of it is this.....I DIDN'T EARN IT!  I DON'T DESERVE IT!  My sin kept me separate from Jesus, but His grace made me worthy!  His blood shed on the cross has given me a fresh clean bright future!  I have Hope because of Jesus!  I have purpose because of Jesus!  

If you don't know Jesus yet WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!!!!!!!!  Give up the fight and let Him take over!!!

LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY VERY MUCH!



         

a hero of the faith

Meet Eileen Bender.   Eileen is a 90 year old dynamo.  She body surfs, plays squash and enjoys life and everyone in it.  She is one of the purest hearts I have ever met and I wanna be her when I grow up!

I met Eileen about 7 years ago when I was feel very fragile and exhausted.   Life was feeling very shaky and uncertain and I was dangerously close to a break down.  I heard about a ladies bible study that meets weekly here in Lusaka so I decided to attend.   I sat next to Eileen and she was asked to pray to end the study.    She didn't pray with great Pentecostal fire, but there was confidence and peace and authority oozing out of her.  I don't remember what she prayed for, but I do remember that for the first time in a long time I felt safe.  The extreme lack of anxiety and the surety in the fact that God was hearing her every word made me ugly cry all over the couch we were sitting on.   Eileen simply reached over and patted me on the leg and let me boohoo.  She didn't try to fix it for me, she didn't expect anything out of me, she just sat there and loved me and that was all I needed.

My daughters and I were privileged to be a part of her 90th birthday celebration last week, and what a celebration it was.  It wasn't big and flashy at all, that wouldn't be Eileen.  It was a simple, kind,  gentle affair that honored an amazing woman!   I watched Eileen go around to all the guests and offer a kind, personal word and a hug to each one.  I was touched and humbled by this "seemingly" slight woman.  Eileen has learned to see people and God sees them.  Eileen LOVES everyone around her because she KNOWS that she is loved by a God who sees her deepest heart.

One thing I am certain of when it comes to Eileen Bender........
                               Heaven knows her and Hell is scared of her!

She is a hero of the faith!!!!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY EILEEN!

winter in lusaka

Right now it is winter in Lusaka.  It can get down to about 40 degrees Farhenheit at night.  Sometimes its goes down as far as 32 degrees Faranheit.    Imagine being outside in that with nothing but a thin t-shirt and a ratty pair of shorts to keep you warm.  

I have personally witnessed kids wrapping themselves up in enormous plastic bags to keep warm.  It just about tore me to pieces.  Can you help us change that?  

A young man came to visit us last month from the states and he raised $200 to buy coats for the kids on the streets.    We were able to buy 25 from the second hand shops here in Lusaka.  

It was such a treat to see the look on this little guy's face (pictured in the black and white photo).  DOESN'T HE LOOK SO WARM AND TOASTY AND COMFORTABLE!!??  

We want to raise enough to give coats to 50 kids.  Can you help?  A 10$ donation will ensure that one little kid (like the one pictured above) will get to sleep warm and cozy.    Thats a good way to spend 10$ if you ask me!   And I give you my personal guarantee that 100% of the donations will go directly to the children!  

If you would like to help us help the Street kids living in Lusaka you can simply go to paypal and use streetwisezambia@gmail.com

we are the music makers we are the dreamers of dreams

Meet Michael.....street name Tata.   He is roughly 18 years old (many of these guys don't know how old they are).  This past Saturday Michael was maimed by a train.  He was high on drugs and exhausted from being up all night running from place to place to avoid being arrested and fell asleep on the train tracks where many kids spend their days.   It is in fact the spot where we conduct outreaches to the street kids.  Michael was so deeply asleep that he didn't hear the train coming.  In the end he has lost his arm and three toes.   In my opinion, it is miraculous that he didn't loose his life!  

Our team has been to visit him in the hospital and we are seeing to what needs he has and we will walk with him as far as need be to make sure that Michael knows that he is loved and cared for and that God's hand is on his life.   Would you pray for him?  Would you pray that God uses this horrific incident and make something beautiful in his life?  Would you pray that we can learn what his situation is exactly and that we can help him effectively?  We want our helping to point Michael towards a life with Jesus.  We want to see him walk with Jesus and be restored to his family.  

It is interesting to me the timing of all this.  We have worked out tail feathers off to put an art show featuring Streetwise Craft Co products.  The aim of this show has been to tell the story of the street kids and to put them in a beautiful colorful light.  We want them to be seen as beautiful and vibrant.  We want people to see the art work and be inspired to want to help the kids on the streets.  We have been planning this show for months and now this came up two days ago.  

It has been a stark reminder to me that the hard work we put into our work has eternal significance.  That the work we do represents lives and the value of those precious lives.  

 This is a small sample of the pieces we have prepared.  

I understand that some of you may not be able to buy a piece of art but you want to get to involved somehow.  How can you do that?  SIMPLE!  Two ways....

                                                          your time 

                                                          your resources.  

Your time can be given by coming to the Streetwise center in Kalingalinga and going on outreach with us.   If you are unable to come on outreach you can give toward the outreach.  We buy food and provide medical care for the kids every week.  If you are interested in learning more about that you can inbox me at streetwise@gmail.com for details.   And most importantly we need you to PRAY!!!!!  Precious kids like Michael are facing obstacles that most of us will never be able to comprehend.  Please pray for them!  Please pray for us as we go week to week!  

Thank you for taking the time to read this!!!!!!  Please pass it along if it has touched your heart!!

We love you guys!!!!

If you are interested in giving financially you can to to tsc.nyc  Click on GIVE and follow the prompts to MORALES FAMILY / ZAMBIA  or you can give through our paypal using streetwisezambia@gmail.com 

what is one life worth?

Remember Bruto?   I introduced him to you a few weeks prior in my post entitled "WHAT HAPPENS WITH YOU BUY STREETWISE"

It that particular post I told you that Bruto has been living on the streets since he was 8 years old.   He came across our radar a few months ago and we have been talking with him, working with him and making sure he knows how loved he is.  

Our outreach coordinator Tim Phiri spent a lot of time with Bruto gaining his trust, taking him for medical care and loving on him.  Through this we learned that Bruto really wanted to get back to his family so we stepped in to help.

Tim and a friend took Bruto back to his family earlier this week on one HUGE epic journey.   Hitch hiking, arrests, getting stuck with a drunk driver in the african bush and an emotional street kid just scratch the surface.    Tim tells the story way better that I could.

At one point Bruto and Tim were stuck in the middle of no where and Bruto started crying.  Tim (who is about 20 pounds SMALLER than Bruto) turned to him and said "WHY ARE YOU CRYING!?  YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING ON THE STREETS OF LUSAKA FOR A LONG TIME!  I SHOULD BE THE ONE CRYING RIGHT NOW!"  

Needless to say they found the family and a beautiful reunion took place right before their eyes.  Tim said that the uncle had been looking for Bruto to no avail.  He wanted Bruto back and loves him very much.   Many tears of joy were shed by everyone around.

After years of living rougher than anything I have ever seen and beyond my personal comprehension....living with crushing loneliness, rejection and pain.......Bruto has found a place in his family again.  WOW!  

Luis and I have been humbled and amazed at the lengths Jesus will ask us to go through for one persons life.  Bruto, no doubt, is worth the time, energy and resources it took to get him home.  Tim had no clue what they would find on the end of their bus ride.  Would his family want him back? Would they even be alive?

All he had was a burden that God had placed on our hearts as a team that we needed to step in and help this lost lamb find his way home.   And despite all the obstacles that were thrown in their way to get them to stop they FOUND HIS FAMILY IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (tim wasn't able to take pictures for various reasons)

You wanna know something........this epic journey for Bruto was made possible because you guys purchases Streetwise Craft Co products.  Bruto is one of the many thousands of reasons we work like we do to create a piece that you will cherish and love.

When you purchase Streetwise Craft Co originals you are DEFINITELY making a difference in the life of a precious soul who desperately needs to know how loved they are!

Thank you for all you do!

If you would like to donate to what we are doing here in Zambia please go to TIMES SQUARE CHURCH tsc.nyc ......click on GIVING and follow the links to MORALES FAMILY / ZAMBIA

 

i am until god says i am not

I AM UNTIL GOD SAYS I AM NOT.....Pastor Carter Conlon. 

I finally understood that statement in its entirety this weekend.

Luis and I were out with our family on Saturday afternoon.  They had youth group so Luis and I stayed out goofing off and killing time until they were done.    We picked them up, said bye to friends and headed home ready to relax for the evening and catch up on THIS IS US.  (we love that show and enjoy watching it as a family)

Our plan was to stop at the grocery store before going home but Luis forgot and pulled onto our road before remembering the plan.  Not a biggie, he would drop me and the girls off and head over to the store (we live very close).  When he pulled in he decided to go into the house to change his shorts and grab a hat.  I decided to go look at our neglected vegetable garden.  I haven't payed attention to our sad little plot for months.  Upon going to the garden I found two guys in the back yard.  They were hiding behind the shed.

 It took a second to compute what was happening.  It wasn't until I saw that one of the guys was wearing my daughters back pack on his shoulders that I realized what was happening.  I yelled WHO ARE YOU!?  Then I started yelling for Luis.   Everything happened pretty fast after that.

Before I knew it we had both guys sitting on our porch and our neighbor was hauling bootie back to the house with a police officer.  (there is no 911 in Zambia...if you need the police you have to go get them yourself)

I won't go into gory details, but my husband is a big Puerto Rican and his family was being threatened.....You fill in the blanks.   Then he unleashed me on them and WOW!    I actually think the guys were relieved when the police showed up.   DONT MESS WITH MY BABIES!!!

We were able to recover everything they took PRAISE GOD  and , more importantly, no one in our house was hurt!  

What would have happened if Luis had remembered the store before going home?
What would have happened if he didn't go into the house before heading back out?
What would have happened if I hadn't gone to look in the garden before going into the house?  There is no way we would have seen them if I hadn't gone looking.

I AM UNTIL GOD SAYS I AM NOT!  

God looks after us in ways we may not even see at times!!!!  Our day on Saturday was orchestrated in ways that just blows my mind!  The details that were set in motion and the hand of God in all of it is amazing!  Some call it coincidence, some call it blind luck.  NOT ME!  I call it GOD LOOKING OUT FOR MY FAMILY!!!!

OH I FORGOT TO MENTION SOMETHING!  Our neighbors kids were home alone with their teenage daughter.  The husband had to run and errand and the wife was coming home is 30 minutes after.  Thats when the thieves broke in.  They didn't know anyone was there.  I SHUDDER TO THINK OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE DIDN'T GET HOME WHEN WE DID AND THEY FOUND THE KIDS NEXT DOOR!

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

and at the last he will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25

No matter what I know that my Redeemer Lives!  I won't live in Fear!  I won't live in Anxiety our Worry!  I AM UNTIL GOD SAYS I AM NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Do you have that assurance in your heart?  Jesus loves you more than anything!  He died so that you can live!  He rose again from the dead to get the victory over the sin that we are all born in.   All you have to do is choose Jesus!  Believe that he is the Christ the Son of God and that the only way to Heaven is by believing in Him!  He took care of the rest!!!!!!!!!  Let go of all the arguments and the debates and let Jesus carry you and give you the peace you long for.  Because He is the only way the only truth and the only life!  

what happens when you buy Streetwise?

I am writing today's blog for two reasons.  I want you to meet Bruto.  And I want you to know what a valuable role you are playing in his life and in many more likes him!

Bruto, as you can see from this picture, has had a rough time of life.  He is only 20 and has been living on the streets since he was 8.......EIGHT YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!  What were you doing when you were EIGHT YEARS OLD!?  I was not fighting for survival in unspeakable odds....thats for sure!

He came across our radar at Streetwise because we found out that he works during the day doing odds and ends wherever he can (carrying grocery bags for people, digging up gardens for others.....) and then uses his wages to buy food for the kids living on the streets with him.  We have begun to ask how can we come along side him, love on him, point him toward Jesus and support what he is wanting to do among his peers?

Long story short, he only came to the shop once a couple of weeks ago, then fell off the radar.  We couldn't find him!  Our team felt VERY STRONGLY that we needed to go find him on Monday and find out what was going on with him.  So, Tim, our outreach guy, went out and found Bruto!  He found him in a suicidal, emotionally tormented mess!

YES THATS RIGHT!!!!!  Bruto was about to go fling himself into traffic when Tim found him!!!!!!!!!  You guys, Im not trying to be dramatic when I share this.....but I want you to know that the situations these guys are living in is desperate.  Bruto had reached the end of his tolerance and he was so desperately alone and afraid and wanting to end it all!  And here comes Tim!  Ready to love him and show Bruto that his life is valuable and purposeful!   Tim got him into a cab and took him to the hospital because he learned that Bruto had a terrible fever.  Tim sat with him ALL DAY, talking with him, praying for him and treating him with love and dignity.    Through out the day Bruto was remember different scriptures our team had shared with him and the impact they have made on his life.    Scriptures that he and Tim had spoken about in times past were coming back to Bruto's memory and he spoke of the hope that it gave him and how much he has appreciated Tim taking the time with him.

What would have happened if Tim hadn't found Bruto when he did!?  This would be a very different posting!

This brings me to the second point I wanted to talk about.....YOU!!!  What happened on Monday in Bruto's life was made possible because YOU purchase our Streetwise Craft Co product!!!  Because you spent you money with us we had the resources necessary to send Tim into town, we had the resources to arm Tim with to meet what ever he found.  Because you bought Streetwise we were able to get Bruto the medical care and the food he desperately needed!  Because you purchased Streetwise you helped save someone's life!!!!!!!!!  THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR PIECE OF ART HANGING ON THE WALL OF YOUR HOUSE!!!!!  That piece of art holds value beyond the monetary!


THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO ON BEHALF OF THE KIDS LIVING HOMELESS IN LUSAKA!!!!!!!!!  Thank you!!!!!  You may not think that your 20 dollars will make a difference, but BELIEVE ME IT DOES!!!!!!!!!!!  Tim was armed with the equivalent of 70 dollars on Monday, and that was enough to buy food, transportation and look after Bruto's medical expenses.

If you would like to donate you can go to tscnyc.org...click on GIVE and follow the prompts to MORALES FAMILY / ZAMBIA 

If you are interested in seeing more of our pieces for sale you can go to our instagram @streetwisecraftco or visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/STREETWISECRAFTCO/

You can also visit the following link if you want to buy a t-shirt!  Represent with your streetwise swag!!!  WOOP WOOP! 

https://www.bonfire.com/streetwise-craft-co-t-shirts/
https://www.bonfire.com/streetwise-craft-co-t-shirts-2/

one purpose one child at a time!

Why do we do the crazy things that we do?  Our missions statement says it all......ONE PURPOSE ONE CHILD AT A TIME

What is the one purpose?   To bring the love and light of Jesus to a group of people who are lost, forgotten and literally cast aside.    These are some statistics found online that I find pretty eye opening to the situation at hand in Zambia.   

• over 30% of all children under the age of 15 are orphans, mainly AIDS orphans
• 80% of the people in rural areas live below the poverty line
• half a million young children are living on the streets, with no one to look after them 
• http://www.street-children.org.uk/african-street-children/zambia

Those numbers are staggering and I immediately feel overwhelmed upon reading them.  I have faces and names that can be assigned to these statistics.  Kids that we have brought into our hearts, kids that we have hugged, kids that we have bandages wounds for, kids that we have cried over.  SO, that is why our missions statement means so much.  

We have to constantly remind ourselves of what the ONE PURPOSE is.  Years ago when we started God told us the purpose was to simply bring Christ to them and allow the kids to make the choice.  All their ability to make choices in their lives was destroyed the day they moved onto the streets.  

Understanding that in that, on a need by need basis, bringing Christ means spending days in the hospital with a kid who has a severly broken finger for two months,  or wading through the muck of a poverty ridden neighborhood to find a street girl and her severly malnourished baby, or simply giving a tired weary boy a safe place to sleep for a few hours and some healthy food.  ONE PURPOSE is an outside of the box statement for Streetwise.  It doesn't look the same every time.  But the PURPOSE remains the same!  

ONE CHILD AT A TIME is simply that.   We can't solve the problem for the 500,000 kids living homeless in Zambia, but we can pour our resources into that one kid who needs love.  We believe whole heartedly that one life SO valuable and worth all the resources heaven has placed at our disposal.  So, that is what we do.  One kid at a time!  

ONE PURPOSE ONE CHILD AT A TIME!!!! 

In order to do this we need your help!  

1. We are actively searching for a place to rent so that we can conduct street outreaches.  Currently we go to the kids, but we see that we need a place where we can control the environment.  The place needed should be near the center of town so the kids will be able to walk there.  

2. We are also actively raising funds to purchase a ministry vehicle.  Hence the logo you see at the top!  In the next week we will be launching a bonfire.com campaign to raise funds.  Its really exciting!!  You will be able to purchase a t-shirt, tank top or hoodie with the above logo on it.  The funds raised from selling shirts will help us buy a bus!!!  We need 10,000 usd in order to accomplish this!  So, you buy a cool t-shirt, and you help a street kid at the same time!!!  GROOVY!!!!  What colors would you like to see? 

3. AND AS ALWAYS!  We need prayer!  PRAYER IS KEY!   We are only as effective on the streets as the prayers we pray!  It is in prayer that we find God's heart, His mind and his strength to accomplish the seemingly impossible task!  

Thanks so much for your consideration in reading this!!!  PLEASE pass it on to your friends and help us spread the word about the street kids!!!!  

If you want to donate for our bus fund you can go to paypal.com using streetwisezambia@gmail.com or you can buy a t-shirt within the week!  ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you would like to give toward our living expenses you can go to tscnyc.org and click on GIVE follow the prompts to MORALES FAMILY /ZAMBIA

good things come to those who hustle

Many of you have asked how this cholera scare has effected the outreaches we conduct at Streetwise. Well......last week members of our team went to meet with the head of Community Development to find out about how and when we can move forward.  (This guy answers directly to the president so it was pretty sweet that we were able to get a meeting with him!)  He told us that WE ARE THE ONLY ORGANIZATION WHO CAME TO GET COUNSEL AND ADVICE!!!!!!  Many other groups have been shut down because they weren't willing to follow protocol.

Anywho.......what we were told is that we are able to go see the kids but we can't go in big groups like we normally do and we can't pass out food yet.    Starting Friday we are going to begin to look for the kids again.  Since this whole mess started in December the kids we work with have been scattered all over the city.  Bless their hearts, they can't stay in one place for to long or they will be caught by the police and arrested.   Please pray that we can find them!

THEN Saturday we are holding the first market for 2018.  As many of you know we make art pieces to sell and that supports the work we do with the kids on the streets.  They are also afforded the opportunity to come to the shop and learn some skills from us.  We are able to evaluate their needs better and make a wiser decision on how to help them.

This Saturday we are holding a sale in our shop where the entire stock will be 25% to 50% off.  If you are in Lusaka you should come by and say HI!  It is a great opportunity to see what we do, buy a piece of art and help feed some hungry street kids!  I have scattered some photos through this blog of what we will be selling.  These and SO MUCH MORE!

In addition to the outreaches in town we also hold a community outreach near our shop.  About 9 months ago we began visiting this sweet lady because her daughter lives on the streets.  Through our visits an outreach to the neighborhood kids started.  Just like in the streets, we have also had to put this outreach on hold.  Hopefully next week we will be able to gather the kids again.  







How can you help?

1.  You can give your time!!!!  We take volunteers on Thursdays and Fridays.  We conduct the outreaches on these days.  We can't reach the kids of Lusaka unless you get involved.  We need you to come and love on some kids who are desperate to know they aren't forgotten about.  Then if you choose you can hang in the shop with us and paint and get messy.  It promises to be a fun day!

2.  You can give financially.   Specifically we are needing to purchase a bus so that we can conduct outreaches more effectively.  This will become the vehicle that the kids can associate with Streetwise and it will give our team more mobility to get to other parts of the city where the kids are.  I will be rolling out a go fund me page soon with more details on how you can help in this regard

3.  YOU CAN PRAY!!!!!!!!!  We are only as effective as Streetwise as those who are praying!  Specifically you can pray for more volunteers to get involved to help spread the love of Jesus to the kids.  Pray for wisdom and direction as a team.  Pray for provision, not only for a van, but for the daily needs the ministry has....financial needs, spiritual needs.  Somedays the work is extremely exhausting.  Pray for grace, for strength and for the rest that is needed.

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!!  This is a body ministry.  We LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!

If you feel led to give you give to our personal needs as a family you can go to tscnyc.org click on GIVE and follow the prompts to MORALES FAMILY / ZAMBIA

love and cholera

Love in a time of cholera…..isn’t that a movie title? 

Oh man….well, what is going on with the Morales? 

We are now living in the middle of a cholera outbreak.  It seems to be contained to certain areas of the city where we live, but since there have been few cases found in areas outside of those areas the government has decided, wisely, to implement certain bans and restrictions in hopes of curbing the spread.  Cholera is nasty business that preys on the weak, young and old.  

What does that mean for us?  School openings have been postponed until further notice. The Health Minister stated that they will review the situation January 30th.  We have been told to be very careful with our food.  We aren’t eating out and we are basically limiting our movements.  In addition to delaying the start of schools, the government has banned all meetings of anyone over 5 people.  Meaning weddings, church meetings, funerals ect.... 

As far as our work is concerned, we aren’t able to conduct outreaches  (the ban on meetings of more than 5 people applies).  In addition to the closing of schools, this is very frustrating to me because we aren’t able to check on the kids living in the streets.  A colleague who works with another street outreach program saw kids at her center right before the ban was enforced and she said that none of the kids we all work with are sick.  THAT IS GOD’S GRACE!!!!!  

How can you help?  PLEASE PRAY!!!  Please pray for a swift and quick end to this.  Please pray that no more loss of life occurs.  So far, based on the reports I have read, 61 people have died.  PLEASE pray for the kids living on the streets.  Please pray that God will keep them safe and that they will see Jesus’ love in this time of uncertainty for so many people.  Pray that the church of Jesus in Zambia will rise up and be found working and acting in compassion toward those who can’t do anything to help themselves.  

And….(and I don’t mean this to be silly) please pray that they open the schools QUICKLY!  Not only for my family (I HAVE THREE TEENAGERS)  but they have shut down the ENTIRE education system for THE ENTIRE COUNTRY!  NO ONE CAN GO TO SCHOOL!   This boggles my brain.  How many millions of children aren’t able to attend school!?  I understand the reasoning behind NOT allowing schools to open, but having an entire city full of bored kids sounds like a powder keg to me.  (not to mention the 3 in my house)

You guys are awesome and we adore you all IMMENSELY!

hope for 2018

I am looking with hope and expectancy on 2018.  Will it have its challenges?  Sure!  Will it have its joys?  OF COURSE!  Will I grow from it?  I sure hope so!

Streetwise will continue to move forward and grow as God sees fit.  Of this we are confident.....it has NOTHING to do with us, but EVERYTHING to do with the leading hand of Jesus.  Our hearts are more set on seeing the kids living homeless in Lusaka set free to love Jesus and discover their God given potential.  We want them to go back to their homes and be an influence for change in their situations.

We have taken a different approach to the outreaches for now.  We no longer go out at night.  It became chaotic, and from experience, we have learned that when that happens it is time to take a minute and re evaluate.  So now we go out on Friday mornings to a place called LOW LINES and we feed the kids sandwiches and fruit (easy stuff) and we hold church.  God brought us back to the realization that it isn't our job to bring change to the kids.  It is our job to bring them Jesus and then we MUST step back and watch Jesus do the work.  So, we now have what we affectionately call "Street Church"  Its amazing!  We WORSHIP!  When those kids sing to Jesus they sing with all their hearts.    From this we are beginning to see those who are leaders, those whose hearts are tender and pliable and willing to be changed.   We will also begin a regular outreach that is specific to the girls.  We are hoping to quarterly bring them to a location away from the boys and their surroundings and give them the opportunity to simply be teenage girls with no pressure and no pain.  If only for a moment.

We have had the privilege in 2017 to put about 10 kids on a bus to go home.  We have take numerous kids to the hospital to get the medical care they so desperately need.  We strongly believe that by seeing a kid through their needs we are planting seeds of trust and hope in their hearts.  To see that someone cares enough about them to make sure their broken fingers are set and their bad teeth are taken care of speaks volumes of God's loving care for their lives.  Samuel Mwelwa has graduated from Teen Challenge after living almost 10 years on the streets as an alcoholic.  Through the course of his rehabilitation he has been re connected with his mom and sisters and is working at the Teen Challenge as a counselor!  It is amazing!!!

It is our hope to establish outreaches every day in the city of Lusaka.  We believe that in order to reach the kids with the love of Jesus they need to see us consistently and regularly.  Why would they believe that jesus loves them if we don't show us when we promise?  In order to do that we need folks to get involved.

We need a bus.   That bus will become the outreach point.  In this bus we will be able to feed kids, provide basic medical help, clothe those who need it and pray with all.  It will also serve at transportation to get kids to the hospital who need specialized care (the need for this is pretty regular as you can imagine).  We will also be able to use this bus to help with transportation needs when visiting teams come to work with us.

Would you pray for us?  Would you pray for the provision to get this bus, for the provision to continue to help meet the needs of the kids?  Would you pray for people to get involved?  Scripture is pretty clear that true religion is to look after those who can't look after themselves.    We can't call ourselves the church of Jesus Christ if we aren't willing to be broken for the needy and those who so desperately need to know they are loved.

If you would like to give to Streetwise you can go to tscnyc.org    You click on GIVE and follow the prompts to MORALES FAMILY / ZAMBIA

Lets make 2018 a ROCKING YEAR!  WHOSE WITH ME!?

my christmas miracle

I entered into the Christmas season bruised, worn and weary.  To be perfectly honest with you guys I just wasn't feeling it this year.   (anyone else able to relate?)  

I just simply didn't have the energy for it.  In years past we make a family day out of decorating the tree....this year I put the stuff out and let the kids go to town.  (I was dealing with a bad back, could hardly stand up with out crying and just was not in the mood)

November and December are crazy busy for us typically......two of my kids and my husbands have their birthdays in December.....ministry is busy .....plus all we have been dealing with internally and physically.......well, Im sure you get the picture.....Where was the energy to make eggnog from scratch in 95 degree weather while trying to muster up that "christmas smell" wearing a tank top and shorts listening to Michael Buble' sing about White Christmas going to come from? 

Christmas eve dawned rainy and muggy.  We had plans to go to a friends house and I made my traditional pot of chili.  (I grew up eating chili on Christmas eve).  So I made a nice meal and we got dressed and went over to our friends house.  It was a nice time of fellowship and we all enjoyed the company.  (My chili was a hit!)  After we ate we all gathered in the living room to sing some Christmas carols.  And thats when my Christmas miracle hit!  

As we sat in the living room we were able to watch the most glorious lighting storm roll in....it was majestic!  It was like it was scripted....as the storm rolled in we were singing the following lyrics.......

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;

Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv'n!

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! 

It was as if the angels were dancing in remembering the glory and majesty of the most beautifully significant moment in history.  Jesus Christ, Lord of heaven and earth was born as a small and helpless baby to be able to identify with all things that make us weak and frail.....he set an example of HOW to live in victory and THEN PURCHASED our freedom from sin and death on the cross of calvary!  Everything he did, everything he said, everything that motivated him was FOR US to have the opportunity to walk with Him and be free from our sin.  

In that moment of awestruck wonder at the beauty of Jesus and his amazing sacrifice he made FOR ME AND YOU I felt his gentle voice tug at my bruised and exhausted heart.....Myranda, I have been with you every step of the way....when you have felt lonely and desperate, when you have felt desperate and hopeless, exhausted and weary, I have held your hand and covered you through it all! And I am here now! It is going to be ok!  

I sat there with silent tears of gratitude as I felt the loving and gracious hand of Jesus sooth me and gently hold me.  (I am crying as I write this)  

That the God of heaven and earth would CHOOSE to humble himself and make himself NOTHING, to be born in the lowiliest and basest of ways.....to DIE A HORRIBLE AND TERRIBLE DEATH SO THAT I CAN LIVE......and for no other reason other than the fact that he loves me......WOW!  He expects NOTHING but my love and my faith in return!  

In the end it turned out to be one of the more beautiful Christmases I have celebrated because I was reminded of WHY.....truly WHY!   

Jesus Christ LOVES YOU and LONGS for you!  Why are you running?  Aren't you tired of running?  

Jesus said this.....

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Let Him be your burden bearer!  Let me take your sins from you so that you can walk light and free in Jesus!!  TRUST ME, YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!  I PROMISE!  

My Musonda Experience

I was talking to a friend the other day and we were talking about how 2017 started with a bang and seems to be ending with a boom.   Some of us have dealt with health issues, some have dealt with marriage problems, some financial, some its been a bit of all of the above and then some.  I think it is safe to assume that across the board it has been rough!   Why!?

Well.......allow me to share my experiences with Musonda to illustrate.

A couple of weeks ago ......to top it all off ......I threw out my back.....second time this year.  And it was bad.  I was crying every time I stood up.  This came on the heels of my daughter needing an emergency appendectomy and other personal stuff that was taking my breath away.   GOD NO!  Like SERIOUSLY GOD!?  I can't work, I can't walk, I can't move!  NO!

So, I went to visit Musonda.  Musonda is a brilliant physical therapist here in Lusaka who has done wonders for friends of mine, so I decided to go check her out.  I limped into her office on a Monday morning in serious pain barely able to stand up straight.  Musonda MAYBE comes to my shoulder .  She is a little spunky ball of energy and strength.   She had me lay down on her table and she immediately pinpointed the problem.  She put her finger right in the center of the pain and asked if it hurt......after I peeled myself off the ceiling and affirmed her diagnoses, she began working.  AND IT FRIGGIN HURT!

She had me twisted like a pretzel, kneaded my muscles like she was preparing bread dough.  I squealed and squirmed and had to force myself to not cry because I knew ultimately it was for my good.  I walked out of her office feeling like crumpled grocery bag and wondering if there was any purpose to the torture.

She gave me instructions to return five more times every other day.  I ended up with bruises on my back that freaked out my husband, and some days I walked out feeling worse than when I went in.  Wondering what the point was I began to see parallels to what I was going through physically to what I was experiencing spiritually.  Because at the same time my heart felt so dry, barren and exhausted. I was feeling stunned and unable to put up any sort of fight.  Just wanting to sit back and let life roll over me.  I was crying a lot and just feeling completely spent and wasted.  

After the fourth visit I came home in SO MUCH pain.  I felt discouraged and frustrated that it felt just as bad and when I began......THEN!!!  THEN!!!!!!  OH WOW....THEN!!!!!!!  I called a friend who is also a physical therapist to find out what was going on and she said this.......when the effected muscles are loosened and realigned there is pain to be expected because they basically have to retrain themselves to do their jobs properly.  THAT WAS WHEN IT STARTED TO SINK IN!!!!!  God was dealing with the knotted up muscles of my heart that needed to be dealt with.  Walls that I have put up or areas that I didn't even know existed were being pulled down and exposed and IT HURT!  It was feeling worse than ever and I hated it.  BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!  After I got off the phone with my friend I felt the gentle tug of Jesus on my heart comforting me and assuring me that it is going to be ok!  To trust him in the process and to believe that he truly and seriously does work all things out for my good and to His glory!  PRAISE GOD!  He has taken what I thought was hopeless pain and failure and has worked a beauty in my heart that causes me to give Him and Him alone Glory!  Jesus saves!  Jesus loves!!  Jesus lives!  HALLELUJAH!  I can say that as I write this my heart feels freer than ever before.  AND I am pain free in my back.   HALLELUJAH

Are you tired and weary?  Its ok!  Go to Jesus and let Him refresh your heart!  One thing I have learned from these experience is its ok that I am tired.  Its ok that I need to take a step back from the front lines for a minute or two.  Just be careful that when you need to rest that you do it in the presence of Jesus and allow him to fill you.  Don't fill you jars with bad oil!

Are you worn out with sin?  Its ok!  Go to Jesus and let Him give you freedom!  He came and died for your freedom!  You don't have to carry the burden of sin on your back any longer!  There is nothing you have done that Jesus hasn't already won the victory over!


"I Am Yours"

I see Your fingerprints
The work of Your hands
It's all in Your hands
I see the evidence
Leaving nothing to chance
The world's in Your hands

So I rest in Your promises
Now I am sure of this
I'm Yours

Let the waters rise
I will stand as the oceans roar
Let the earth shake beneath me
Let the mountains fall
You are God over the storm
And I am Yours

I hear the voice of love
Calling me home
To where I belong
It cripples every fear
And the ones who will kneel
Will walk away healed

So I rest in Your promises
Now I am sure of this
I'm Yours
No power is strong enough
To separate me from Your love
I'm Yours...

So let the waters rise
I will stand as the oceans roar
Let the earth shake beneath me
Let the mountains fall
You are God over the storm
And I am Yours

Even the thunder and the wind obey
At the command of my Father, Father
I set my feet upon Your mighty name
So let the rain fall harder, harder

So take my everything, my flesh and blood
I'll lay me down on the altar, altar
I am forever covered in Your love
So let the rain fall

So let the waters rise
I will stand as the oceans roar
Let the earth shake beneath me
Let the mountains fall
You are God over the storm
And I am Yours

[x2:]
Let the waters rise
I will stand as the oceans roar
Let the earth shake beneath me
Let the mountains fall
You are God over the storm
And I am Yours

You are God over the storm
And I am Yours

christmas is coming and YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

With Christmas coming up QUICKLY we have some exciting opportunities for everyone to get involved in!!!!

Jesus Loves you in Nyanja 

  We have decided to host parties for the kids that we reach out to.  

We do two outreaches a week on a regular basis.  One is in a neighborhood called Kalingalinga.  (isn’t that fun to say!?)  Weekly two of our volunteers Grace and Febby go and they minister the love of God to the kids who live there.  These are kids who are living in poverty, sometimes abuse and mostly no school.  They have felt God’s call to minister to these kids and they do it faithfully.  

Grace and Febby have done the research and have decided that in order to accomplish a party for 50 kids we need 8 to 10 dollars a head.   What will that purchase?   WELL!!  FOR ONLY 8 DOLLARS we can give them a nice box of gifts.  That will include

1. TWO DOLLS

2. I CAR

3. 2 TOOTHBRUSH

4. 2 PENCILS

5. 1 ERASER

6. 2 BALLS

7. 1 BAR OF SOAP

8. 1 FACE CLOTH

9. 1 TOOTHPASTE

10. 1 VASELINE

For ten dollars a head we can also provide a nice meal.  

THATS ONLY TWO DOLLARS MORE!  

 The other outreach we hold is a weekly one to the street kids.  These kids are living homeless, abused, drug addicted and purposeless.  Their lives are marked by violence and destitution the likes of which most of us have never experienced.  We want to bus the kids out to a soccer field and give them a fun day.  We want to remove them from their environments and expose them to something different.  Show them a taste of what is out there for them.  In order to accomplish this we will also need 8$ to 10$ a head.  That will cover the cost of renting a bus, renting a field for them to play in and food.  

NOW!  how many of you go to starbucks on a regular basis?  I love me some starbucks………Would you be willing to give up your starbucks for one day!?  JUST ONE DAY to help make a difference in the life of a kid who needs to know they are loved and that their lives matter? 

If the answer is YES then the solution is a simple one!  All you have to do is GIVE!  You can give to our PayPal account using streetwisezambia@gmail.com.  I guarantee EVERY PENNY you donate will go towards making this Christmas something these kids won't forget!  After all, what is ten bucks in light of eternity and in making a kid feel special, loved and adored.  Thats worth AT LEAST ten bucks in my book!

Thank you so much for reading this!!!! 

If you would like to give regularly to Streetwise you can go to tscnyc.org and give!  Simply click on GIVE and follow the prompts to Morales Fam/ Zambia