identity

So the missions team is gone (but we actually have two extra Canadians till the weekend), and things have quieted down a little bit. We’ve been allowing the boys in the house to have some free time, to relax from the craziness of last week. But Thursday, we started a 3-day mini-series on identity for the boys of the house. This came about because there are 4 male muzungu’s (white person) here (me, Derek and two of his friends). We talked about our identity in God, and how we should be MOG (men of God), like King David (1 Chronicles 11). This entails having integrity and self-control, being a man after God’s own heart, turning the other check…etc. But we also talked about how David was not a perfect man either, and how he lied, committed adultery, and even murdered. But the fact that David repented (Psalm 51) and was truly sorry for his actions, he was forgiven by Jehovah Rapha (the Lord Healer). The Rapha boys seemed truly interested, as I’m sure they’ve all been in situations where they’ve encountered sin such as David (or even worse), and still have not been completely forgiven of it. We also talked about male/female relationships – how to treat them, and how to keep sexually pure. Most of them have been sexually abused and active, so I think it’s important for them to know that the Bible is serious about sexual purity, and that fooling around before marriage, or what has happened to them previously is not acceptable. And even just this morning, we talked about responsibility – the responsibility we have because we are MOG, and how we need to take responsibility for the actions we commit.

The Rapha boys have had their identity in such Satanic situations for a lot of their lives, and so for us to help them change has been such a challenge. Some days, even some minutes, they can be your best friend, laughing and joking, but one small action or response can trigger something in their heart, allowing Satan to take a hold and control them. Therefore lashing out in anger at us leaders or each other. The boys are fighting hard to turn their identity towards Christ, but Satan has such a stronghold on their lives, it’s hard for them to be free in Christ. In the past few days, I’ve seen Satan control and use these boys for his glory. I’ve witnessed my first knife fight, trying to restrain the victim who’s probably 100lbs more than me. Thankfully nobody was seriously injured. I’ve “strolled” through the slum-ish village in pitch dark (with the help of some of the other boys) to help bring back one of them who wanted to leave the house. I’ve seen (or so I’ve been told) one of the boys possessed. Not to scare or brag about what I’ve encountered, but to inform you that this battle of rehabilitating street kids is definitely more than just meeting physical needs. These boys have been in places and apart of situations that many Americans could never imagine themselves in; places that are inviting to Satan and his powers. Not all things have been bad. You can definitely see glimpses of Christ shining through their lives, and how they treat each other. The joy of sitting down with them and talking about their lives, and to see how much they’ve learned and been changed within the past 9 months (since they’ve been living at this house) is so incredible. The boys have their identity torn between Satan and God. So our prayer is to point them in the right direction so their full identity could be solid in Christ. They have tons of knowledge about Christ. They know the Bible so well. All around the house are scriptures or uplifting sayings, which they all can quote. But all this knowledge is useless, unless they put it into action. So that’s what we’re trying to do now – show them that they need to act out their thoughts, so their identity can be grounded in Christ, so that they can become Men of God.

Prayer:

- wisdom – I’ve been humbled so many times, when the boys call me out on things I’ve done wrong to them. They see more than I think. So wisdom in living my life. Also the spiritual battle is so evident here, and so I’ve encountered situations in which I don’t know how to handle. Often times the boys will come to me with their minor problems, which can turn into a huge situation if not handled correctly because it’s not really a minor problem – there’s an underlying spiritual battle that’s going on.
- strength/rest, love, patience – as before, these are things that I thought I had a handle on, but living here has stretched me further than ever. I’ve never felt so physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained as I have in the past few weeks. 
- adjusting to Kenyan time – everything is 15, 30 or an hour late. I knew I was structured at home, but didn’t realize how dependent I was on structure and organization. So I get really frustrated when things don’t happen when they should. Instead I need to accept and understand that this isn’t America, and this is how things happen around here.

empty

Man, so I’ve only been here for a week, and it feels like months! I got here in the afternoon on Thursday, the 30th. A missions team from Gaylord, MI arrived the next morning. And since that time, we’ve been “catering to” the missions team. There’s been so much going on, I just unpacked my bags two days ago! Don’t get me wrong, I glad that they’re here, but it would have been great to have a bit more time to adjust to the culture and such. (Thank God that I adjusted to the time quickly. My first night, I didn’t go to sleep until 11 PM that evening, and ever since then, I’ve been on Kenyan time.)

The 7 boys in the Rapha House (Samuel, Enoch, Mohammed, Mario, John, Allen, and Farah) – I feel like they are family already. They have quickly accepted me into their household, with me moving in and Carly and Valerie moving out of the house, just one day after I arrive. With some words of caution from Car/Val, and even seeing it first hand, these boys are literally going to be a handful (which maybe a bit of an understatement). Even Rachel (the Irish who wishes she were American) thinks that I have been given too much responsibility too quickly. All I can do is rely on God for strength and endurance. These boys demand constant attention. But yet, when it comes down to it, they all have such sweet souls, and are quite funny. One example is the other night, one of the boys John was pretty sad all evening. After the Americans (missions team) left our house, he was downstairs in the prayer room. I asked him if he needed anything and he snapped at me, and told me no. 10 minutes passed before I talked to him again, and I asked if I could pray with Him. There he poured out his heart before both God and me about his concern of Mario (who was sick w/ dysentery), and also for his American team he was placed into for ministry this week. My heart sank and his was mourning over his friend who was in the hospital for treatment. These boys are just like you and me. They can look tough on the outside, but on the inside, they are just as soft and have a desire of love, just like any one of us.

All this week I’ve been constantly praying for strength to make it through the day. Strength to continue doing physical work around the house, but also mental and spiritual strength to pour into these boys, and to build up their character in all aspects. I feel as if each day, I’m so drained from talking, enjoying others, loving, encouraging, organizing, and the list goes on, that there’s no way I can do this all on my own. I think I’m starting to understand this whole process of being filled with love – being constantly filled with love because I’m pouring it out. Once the missions team leaves tomorrow, things will become a little (just a little) less chaotic.

I was reading James on the plane and here’s what he says in 1:27 – Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” What an appropriate verse for the beginning of that book.

The Lord has definitely blessed me so far, and the time the group from MI has spent here. I’ve seen multiple miracles of healing (both physical and spiritual) within and outside of our group. I’ve seen such incredible leadership given both by the boys in the house, and the group from MI. I’ve seen great growth desire in people’s walks with God. I’ve seen relationships being built, all in the name of Jesus. The Lord has also given me enough strength to get through each day, as well as an overflow of love for His people here in Mombasa. An Indian family who invited all of us over to their house for an authentic Indian meal also blessed our group yesterday.

Some prayer:

• Rapha boys – these boys have so many deeply rooted issues, and hurts and struggles that I can’t even begin to imagine. They’ve lived on the streets with a life of drugs, starvation, sexual promiscuity, no family/love, things we don’t think about because we are so blessed. These boys need constant loving and caring. Although they’re fairly well adjusted to “normal society” (i.e. – living in a house, eating 3 meals a day, having rules, going to school…), they still are tempted and haunted all the time by their past.
• continual overflow of strength, love and patience– loving on these boys is so difficult. As Jesus wants to give us the gift of life, only if we surrender, we also want to show these boys love, only if they let us. Sometimes it’s hard to accept something that you have never seen or don’t understand. Just the patience and strength to love and love and love.
• Momboxini – this is the main slum in Mombasa, where most of the boys in Rapha house come from this slum, and it’s an extremely evil place. Yesterday, when we were there, Satan took over, and fights broke out, and a mini-riot was going on – over food. Thank God nobody in our team was hurt.
• Guidance/direction and wisom – Car/Val are giving me a lot of responsibility in this house, mainly because I’m a guy, leading a house of guys. So direction on where the Lord wants me to bring these boys, and how to challenge them in their faith. Direction on where Car/Val want this house to go, and what they want to do w/ their ministry in Momboxini and other places in Mombasa. Wisdom on how to deal w/ deeply rooted issues each boy possess, and how to handle situations that I’ve never encountered.

waiting...

so here i am sitting in the charlotte douglas international airport.  the reality of it all is setting in.  i'm still in a daze i think.  i've been super busy the past month and a half with packing and moving, spending time w/ friends, family and laci, vacationing in williamsburg, splitting my time in NC between Charlotte and High Point.  there hasn't been much breathing room for me, so hopefully the 30-some hour travel time will give me some time to reflect on this new adventure, and prepare myself (as much as i can) for what's about to happen.  i'll be waiting here at the charlotte airport.  then i've got an 8-hour layover in newark, only to jump onto two 8-hour flights.  waiting.  patience.  i have a feeling that i'm going to be doing this alot during my time in kenya.  hurry up - to only wait.

patience is one of those things i struggle with.  externally, i may seem to have it together.  internally, i get angry quickly (frustrated even quicker).  hopefully God will use all this time to teach me some patience, and more reliance on Him through the tough times and the easy times as well.

prayer

as my time here in the states dwindles down, there's still so much for me to process and prepare for as i leave for kenya.  here are a few things you can be praying for during my time in mombasa.  (these are more general prayer requests.  hopefully when i get down there, and spend some time w/ the boys, i'll have more specifics on what you can pray for)

• God's protection, both physically and spiritually - that the attacks of Satan will be thwarted, not only for me, but for the orphanage (Rapha House of Prayer - which means Healing House of Prayer)
• God's patience and strength and boldness as I encounter a culture that is inundated with all sorts of religion - from Islam, to apathy, to making their own
• I will be able to step into my role, not only as a "big brother", but also as an administrator/organizer smoothly and without any hesitation from my part
• I will constantly be renewed and filled with joy from spending time in the Word

one week.

one week from today i will be headed off to mombasa for the next six months of my life.  it's a bittersweet feeling that i have.  

on one hand, i'm excited to:

• go help out car and val with their orphanage
• meet the young men in their house, as they're excited to meet me as well
• travel the world and experience other cultures
• see how God is planning to use me during my time there, not only to minister and to encourage, but also to learn and grow in my relationship w/ Christ
• be building relationships that will have a lasting impact
  
• not "working"

on the other hand, i'm nervous about:

• leading and being a role model for the young men living in the house (car and val are continually letting me know more and more roles they see me fitting into!)
• seeing how God is going to use and grow me during my time there and afterwards
• my future afterwards (although God has definitely been showing me His faithfulness and letting me know that my future is definitely in His hands)
• my relationship with Laci (it'll be a challenging 6 months of perseverance and patience)
• the hot weather (as i'm not the biggest fan of it)
• mosquitoes - i hate those cheeky buggers
• no motorcycle!

address

If you get the urge to send me something, say a package or a nice letter, you can do it here:

Iris Ministries
C/O Brandon Wong
P.O. Box 87307
Mombasa, Kenya
Postal Code 80100
Africa

hungry

today i drove the moving truck back to north carolina from indianapolis.  it was a pretty long a grueling task, but nonetheless, i made it back safely, with all my things in tact thankfully.  along the way, i listened to my ipod mostly - some arcade fire, band of horses, the ting tings - and i also threw in a talk by Heidi Baker.  the talk was entitled 'blinded'.  she started her talk off at the beginning of her ministry, and how she healed several blind women (amazingly enough w/ her same nickname of 'mama ida').  and then she went into how through her ministry people are hungry - physically yes, but also spiritually.  people everywhere have this desire, whether they want to admit it or not, a desire to know more about "the unknown" - about God, and His creation, how we got here...all those questions that science tries, but fails to answer.  people are hungry to know that something, someone out there cares for them.  people are hungry to know that there's more to life than sex, drugs and rock'n'roll.  people are hungry to know that there's more to life than squeaking by each week, not such if they'll be able to make their next payment.  people are hungry to kow that there's to live for than collecting stuff.

what are you hungry for?