Blog
A Grandfather raising his grandsons
Three young brothers were referred to us by a concerned teacher who had and met the small boys who were at risk of moving further from home and dropping out of school. Their story is a sad one that leaves us with so many questions. The boys always accompanied their mentally unstable mother, their only source of care and affection to scavenge for food in the streets. A rescue mission was important, and we sought immediate intervention.
On the day we visited the streets to relate with the boys, they were alone without their mother. The boys shared about their family’s challenges. Despite these challenges at home, they were willing to go back home and back to school. We rescued James, 11 years old, Mark 9 years old and Victor, 7 years old. Since we couldn’t find their mother, our next step was to find a guardian from the extended family who would host them.
Fortunately, we found their grandfather who lived in a different location. After reuniting them, the grandfather’s main dilemma was bearing the responsibility of looking after his grandchildren in his elderly state. Nevertheless, this grandfather welcomed her grandsons.
“The mother of these children is not well. Many times, we have argued with her because I keep insisting that she adheres to her medication, but she does not like it. My desire is for her to take her medicine as prescribed to receive her healing. Sometimes she is violent when we insist on her taking her medication and we don’t know what to do. We did not choose to have our daughter sick.” The grandfather lamented sadly.
We moved them to a different school which meant buying the boys new school uniforms and other basic needs. We also met their class teacher who is open to support and see the children settle with their grandfather.
“The school is open to them although they lack basic needs. Let us work together to settle these children.” the teacher said.
When we followed the boys recently, the grandfather shared that he had a call from their relatives saying that the boys’ mother had returned home though still wandering the streets. This elderly grandfather needs our continued support as he gives his grandsons a safe place to live.
“The mother of these children is not well. Many times, we have argued with her because I keep insisting that she adheres to her medication, but she does not like it. My desire is for her to take her medicine as prescribed to receive her healing. Sometimes she is violent when we insist on her taking her medication and we don’t know what to do. We did not choose to have our daughter sick.” The grandfather lamented sadly.
What would you do if you were in his shoes? What would Jesus do?
Bringing love to children on the streets:
Relate, Rescue, Reunite, Restore
We show God’s love to street connected children and the vulnerable by walking with them through their challenges. In partnership with friends like you, we rescue children from the streets, reunite them with their families, connect them with community support systems and put them back to school. We walk with them through the journey of restoration. John is sharing the word of God and food with some of the boys during the streets outreach in May.
This is an ongoing process of a speaking to children about Jesus and praying with them on the streets as we prepare to rescue those who are ready to go home. Some have accepted Christ and now attend our regular prayer meetings with other children on the streets.
Together: The harvest is plentiful and the laborers few. Pray with us for more workers into this ripe field of orphans and vulnerable children.
25 Years Anniversary
Building on a firm foundation: The founders, Heddwyn and Lydiah built a solid foundation based on the word of God and prayer. They had a conviction that every child needs a family based on Psalm 68:6. From the beginning, they started praying for the right team to build this vision together. And over the years the vision has thrived through charismatic leaderships. TKW now has a clear vision, mission and operations strategy that helped develop a 4Rs reintegration model – Relate, rescue, reunite and restore. This model has been tried and tested since then.
Today we celebrate Dr. Stephen Muthoka- Kenya Director, other Leaders beside him and the compassionate, passionate, committed team for the amazing work that they are doing. The vision is in the hands of the next generation who are passing it on to the next generation. As a result, we have over 6,000 children who are back with their families. We celebrate each one of these children and their families whose lives have been impacted by this vision.
Looking forward to the next 25 years; as we continue using TKW’s reintegration model to train, equip and release other stakeholders who are trying to implement the governments’ policy to move away from institutions through reintegrating children with their families. Developing partnerships to replicate TKW’s reintegration model in other African countries following TKW’S vision: ‘Every child in Africa restored into a transformed family impacting their community, generation and beyond’
