Stephen is OFF the streets!!!

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Yes, REALLY!!!

So many of you prayed for Stephen. You wrote to me about him. His story broke your hearts too. I am so happy to tell you the rest of his story now. (That is...as much as is currently lived!)

Today we contacted our friend, Hamza. You might remember when I posted about his life transformation...he was a street kid who was given a chance and made the most of it. He's now working non-stop to help kids like himself get that same break. Review Hamza's story here.

Hamza read about Stephen on our blog and immediately told me he would like to help him. We arranged to meet this afternoon and waited through a downpour until we could go out and look for him. (We beat him at Bananagrams while we waited! ;) hee hee) We took a taxi back to the area where we met him last night. But Stephen was nowhere in sight.

My heart fell.

"Lord, please. Please help us find Your child, Stephen."

We didn't find him, but we did find the two friends that Stephen saved food for last night. They were just as he had said: clean and not into street drugs. When Hamza spoke to them in Lugandan they lit up as they realized we were the ones who had sent food back to them. We introduced ourselves and Hamza rattled on in their native tongue (or so I thought) about looking for Stephen.

Basically, Stephen was gone, but they might know where to find him.

Would they go with us to look?

Yes.

A good brisk walk and searching in many places, crossing railroads, climbing up a very long flight of stairs and searching through the slums we came up empty-handed. I was so sad. It had been 45 minutes of fruitless searching...but I had begun to fall in love with these friends too.

They were each about the same age, 13 or 14. Simon was actually from Kenya. His mother had already died and during the riots his father's legs were cut off. The rioters also marred his hands so he could not work. Simon had no way to be supported, so he fled here to Uganda. He had no choice but to live on the streets. He had been captured and taken to the children's prison M (where Sixty Feet works to improve conditions) but he was beaten and treated unfairly and after one month, he escaped. Oh Lord, please do your work in that place.

The second friend, Sunday, was from one of the northern tribes of Uganda. (So much violence has taken place there...rent Wardance on Netflix and learn about it!) His parents were shot and killed right in front of him. He got very emotional when he spoke about them. Can you imagine? He was an only child. He had just come down to Kampala last week. Sunday liked to walk next to me and I felt close to him. I said I was so sorry about his parents and hugged him. I couldn't help wonder when the last time he felt a mother's love.

Sunday (L) from Northern Uganda and Simon (R) from Kenya

Hamza was clear that today was Stephen's chance at a new life. That there would be a chance for them too, but first we had to find Stephen. The boys enthusiastically took us everywhere they knew Stephen might be, but he remained elusive. On the way down the long hill, Brian and I decided to buy some dinner for Simon and Sunday. We went to an outdoor restaurant and ordered two packets of chicken and rice. We visited more as we waited for it to cook.

Sunday wanted me to pay for him to get back in school. I told him I was not able, but that Hamza would be faithful to lead him to safety if he followed his rules: no drugs, be willing to work and active about studying hard. He was firm: he wanted the chance.

Simon said he wanted to go back to Kenya. He wanted to be back with his father. Hamza helped him think through it: "Can your father support you?" Sadly, Simon realized he could not. He admitted that he'd find himself out on the Kenyan streets. He then realized that he needed Hamza's help.

As we walked back to our taxi, there to my delight...STEPHEN appeared!!! :) He must have gotten sight of us from afar because he came running full speed across the street with a huge smile and embraced me! WOW! What a feeling! My heart was rejoicing!!

After some introductions and explanations we set off the 7 of us: Brian and I, Hamza, Stephen, Simon and Sunday. When we reached our taxi, Hamza reminded the boys that today was Stephen's chance. I turned away as I couldn't bear to watch Stephen hug his friends goodbye. He took out his cash and split it between them. More hugs between Simon and Sunday and us...and we were off.

As we drove along, Stephen was beaming from ear to ear. I can only imagine how his heart must have been racing and his tummy flipping! He couldn't resist waving at the other street children who were familiar to him--afterall, he was in a car with mzungus! (White people)

A nervous Stephen in front of his new home, with Hamza (R) and new housemate Frank

We reached a rented safe house where Hamza has 7 other boys who are newly off the streets. They have beds, meals, chores, daily praise and worship, Bibles and home education while the schools are dismissed for break. This ministry is called  Never Lose Hope Uganda. Each boy is sponsored for $70 a month--food, bedding, clothing, school and medical needs when required. If you are interested in helping support Stephen, please contact me.

Hamza will share a bed tonight, but have his own by tomorrow.

We settled Stephen in and as we walked inside, Hamza said, "Welcome home, Stephen." I cannot imagine. Another boy was there who was busy sweeping. The rest of the children were at church with the leader also named Brian. He provides supervision, spiritual counseling and love to the boys. Eventually they will transfer into a larger program called PCA (Peace for Children Africa--mentioned in the blog post about Hamza.) This is the organization that originally helped Hamza off the streets.

Both Hamza and our driver John talked calmly but firmly to Stephen in Lugandan. I have no idea what was said but I heard the word "street" every now and then. I assume they were helping him to recognize what a huge opportunity this was. As we walked out to the taxi, Hamza said to us, "I used to have 7 children, now I have 8...soon I hope to have 10!" All this from one incredible 18 year old young man.

The chore chart. I find it fascinating there are 8 chores...now 8 boys to share them!

Hamza, Stephen and "Uncle Brian" just before we left him at his new home.

So my heart is at rest tonight, my sweet Stephen is off the streets. Now to get Simon and Sunday off.

Please Meet...Hamza! A street child no more!

This is the 2nd installment in my "Please Meet" series. I am so so excited to introduce you to my friend Hamza, a now 18 year old man living in Uganda. Get ready to have your heart warmed and your eyes opened to the reality of life for children who live in the streets as you read his story in his own words!

Hamza

How did you go from being in a loving family to living on the streets?

I lived with my parents who loved me very much. They worked very hard. My mum passed away when I was about 4 years old.

I was living with my father and he married another woman. When my father was there she was nice to me but when he was away she badly mistreated me. 

She would not feed me and make me sleep outside. 

I told my father but he did not believe me because he only saw her loving me. 

My father worked away from home a lot so I suffered badly with my step mother.

One day she sent me to the markets to get food. I was very hungry. I saw people playing cards saying that I could double my money. I wanted to double my money to get some food for myself. I put all my money on the cards but I lost it. I stayed at the markets all day because I was too scared to go home. 

When I got home my step mother was very angry and she said she was going to kill me. 

When she learned that I did not have what she sent me for she got a big stick and chased me. I hid from her until late at night. When I went back home she was still waiting for me with the stick. That was when I knew she meant what she had said about killing me. 

I had to leave.   I was seven years old.

I walked and walked and walked in the direction that all the cars were going. I did not know what Kampala was like but I knew it when I reached it. 

At first I was happy to be in Kampala but then I started wondering what I would do. I kept walking around. I saw a boy like me and I asked him where I could get something to eat. He gave me something and then left me.

I slept on verandahs and woke up hungry. I went with other street kids to collect bottles and metal scraps. One boy ate food from the rubbish but I did not want to eat it.

I went to local markets and a lady gave me food. I knew that I was a street kid when I started talking to other kids. I had to start eating scraps from the rubbish. 

I lived a good life but it was very hard.

I had some friends who loved me but some kids harassed me when I had money or metal scraps. Older kids would beat me and take my money or scraps. I didn’t like sleeping on the streets because it was always hard to find somewhere to sleep. 

It was very cold and police or security guards would beat you or take you to jail. When it rained was when I hated it most because there was no shelter.

There were a lot of drugs on the street. Whenever I got money I would get fuel to sniff so that I could feel good. I liked it at first but after a while I didn’t like it anymore. 

Those days were very miserable. 

If the police found you doing drugs they would arrest you. 

I was taken to remand homes so many times I lost count. 

One time I stayed in prison for two years. We only got fed once a day and we would have to work from about 4.30 in the morning until late at night. 

(Click Here to read about Sixty Feet and their work in the remand homes of Uganda.)

I escaped with some other boys and went back on to the streets.

When I was back on the streets an older boy told me to stay with him and his friends. They were thieves who entered people’s houses. They used me because I was very small and could get into houses easily. 


One night one of the boys was caught by the owner of a house and was beaten to death. 


For some reason I had known not to go into the house that night so that is when I knew I had to stop. I went back on to the streets and life was very hard.

How did you get off the streets?

One day I was walking in the slums with my scrap metal. I saw all the street kids going to a place where these men were giving them medical care, food and were talking with them. 

I didn’t talk to them the first time but they came back again. 

I spoke to one of the men but he could not help me. Next time I spoke to Uncle Paul. He asked me a lot of questions. I asked him his story and he told me. 

He had a similar story and he told me to believe in myself.

Every time he came to the slums he would talk to me and give me some money. 

One day he told me he wanted to start an organisation. I went with him but it was not established so I left. 

Next time he saw me he convinced me to go back. He constructed a small papyrus structure and that is where I slept. Now I could clean my clothes and look smart.

The organisation grew from nothing. I saw how my life was changing and I decided then I was never going back to the streets. Uncle Paul and Uncle Martin started bringing in other boys and we got bigger and bigger.

The uncles enrolled us in school but it was hard for me because I had only gone to Primary 3. 

I went into Primary 5 and did poorly but I studied very hard and read my books every day. 

By second term I was second in my class and by third term... I was first. 

Hamza receives a new shirt.

I always listened to Uncle Paul because he always told me that I could achieve more than I thought. 

He gave me courage to learn to speak English, from then I always studied hard so that I would come first.

Because of this I was included in a program called ‘Connecting Classrooms’ which operated in UK, Senegal and Uganda. I worked hard in reading and Music, Dance and Drama. Before the end of the year we had an exchange with them and I was selected to go to the UK. 

I told Uncle Paul I needed a passport and he spoke to a sponsor so that I could get one. 

I had a chance to go in a plane something I never thought I would be able to do when I was living on the streets. When I was sitting on the plane I knew that if you believed in something enough you could succeed. 

Now you are eighteen years old and in school at Mackay College! What are your hopes and dreams for your future?

In my future I have two things I would like to be. 

First is a doctor 

                                   and then in my spare time I want to create art. 

You remember Joyce and Edward from the last entry...
Hamza is pictured here in the red shirt cleaning the wounds of these needy sweet children!

I want to be a doctor to help people who are suffering.

I want to take my message of thanks to the world. I want to thank Uncle Paul. He is my best friend and my only parent I have known to guide me along the way. I want to thank PCA  (Peace for Children Africa: Click here To visit their website) because it has given me so much. I don’t have a lot of materialistic things but I have so much.

I want to thank everyone who has left their countries to come and help us at PCA. 

Hamza having fun!

I hope in the future there are no street kids.

What would you like to share about your faith in God with us?

I am so thankful to the Almighty God for my life and the lives of other street children. Like He said, He knew us before we were born, I will always trust in Him to pave the way for my life!!

God bless you, "Feet2ourFaith" readers and Amy!!