NAIROBI,
Kenya — “This is where Moses was told by God, ‘Moses, remove
your shoes.’” The little boy tried very hard to reproduce a suitably
booming voice for God. He was reading to his friend from the Bible Comic he
had just received from the Bible Society of Kenya
(BSK).
Sospeter Gatobu, the BSK’s Public Relations Manager, describes how a team from the BSK visited the Barnardo’s Children’s Home in Nairobi.
Over the years, the BSK has received many appeals for Scriptures from children’s homes. Benefiting from donations received from supporters of the BSK’s Scripture distribution program, the Society decided to visit two homes during Bible Week last August.
The Barnardo’s Home is a home in every sense to 120 children from toddlers to 20-year-olds. The BSK gave the younger ones Bible Comics and the older ones New Reader Portions as well as donating some Scripture samples to the home’s library.
Mr and Mrs Parkard, who run the home, thanked the BSK for remembering the orphaned children. Mr Parkard, who is a minister with the Church of the Nazarene, was given five copies of the Bible to use at the home.
“The children will make good use of the Scripture booklets they receive,” he said. “We have taught them to respect books and read them together. We shall treasure this day.”
Nairobi Pentecostal Church runs another home for street children along the Kiserian-Isinya road. When the BSK team arrived they received a warm welcome from both children and staff.
During their visit they particularly noticed the sincerity of the children’s worship. The children have come from the streets of Nairobi and the Kibera slum district, but they are not ashamed of their background.
Many tell their stories boldly, thanking God for their change of circumstance and their salvation. They all seem to have a real grasp of spiritual truth according to the Bible.
One young man called Daniel shows such strong commitment to God that he is known as “the church elder”. He gave a moving testimony of how his life had been changed. Before arriving at the home he could not talk properly due to a degree of mental disability. But now, by the grace of God, he can talk fluently. “I am Evangelist Daniel,” he announced, “and it is all because of God.”
As the children talk about their past and how things have changed since they came to the home, the phrase “It is because of God’s love” comes up again and again.
One young man was a smoker and had used drugs and sniffed glue when he came to the home. He explained how God had transformed his life and helped him to learn and play the guitar. He now accompanies the children in their worship.
Many could recite verses of Scripture and most could read quite fluently – a contrast, in most cases, with the day they arrived. They are also taught English and encouraged to go on to college. More than 30 of the children are attending boarding school and one is now at university while another is at medical training school.
Bibles were donated to the home and each of the children received either a Bible Comic or a New Reader Portion.
The BSK has earmarked several other children’s homes to be visited in this way: the Dagoreti, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, Huruma and Mercy Kids children’s homes are all receiving BSK Scriptures as well as the Wema Center in Mombasa and Mbagathi Hospital. (WR 357/32 - 1/2.01) [PHOTOS]