16 of the 22 participants became Christians and were baptised during the programme. One student left.
They use the Mazizi Bible study material developed by Nairobi Bible Chapel as the basic curriculum.
While out on location in Maseno, they held regular youth services for the community. Many people came and many responded to the message of the Good News.
They ran a regular pastoring programme at the nearby Aboga Primary School. Many of the students were encouraged, saved or prayed for. They also did some programmes at local secondary schools and played football against a local secondary school. They lost the game but led 12 boys to Christ!
They held six week missions in three different locations. They are expecting that some young people from these mission locations will come to Moriah programmes in the future. They are expecting a Pokot girl will come in 2017.
They produced some food from the property as well; 10 bags of maize, 18 kg beans, cassava, bananas, peanuts, sweet potatoes and vegetables.
There are a number of changes being forced on them for 2017 which is making them a little tentative in terms of the timing of the programme. The entry month for university and other training has been brought forward to June/July so the discipleship course will now only run until May and the six-week mission component will be held later in the year.
The discipleship class for 2017 commenced in January with just 13 students but the rest are expected to be in by the start of February.
With extra funds sent from BHW in December they have bought a motor bike. It is a Honda with a rating of 125 cc and does 60 km per 1 litre of gas. This is going a long way towards easing the issues of domestic transport.
They have also purchased a battery to enhance the solar power. It is effective and works throughout the night. It is maintenance free with a guarantee of two years.
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Bill and his two siblings live in Huruma compound with an uncle and his family. Huruma is a slum area near to Mathare. His parents lived in Mathare 4B and died a few years ago.
He attended the MCO-OCC 4B school and after his parents died went to the hostel at Kariobangi. He then moved to stay with his uncle when he started high school. He got a B-grade pass from secondary school so he is eligible to go to university. He plans to do that and study English Literature. He loves poetry. He applied to start in January at Kenyatta University. He attends MCO church and participates in the music team.
At first he thought his childhood was difficult. Now he sees his tragedy has opened many opportunities that he can develop.
He became a Christian at Camp Moriah. Before then he went to church, he learned verses and sang songs but there was no life. At secondary school he was a bad boy. Now his life has been transformed.
At Camp Moriah it was hard digging the ground on the farm. He also had a major anger problem. He had a fight with another guy and that made him realize he had a problem. He loved going to the mission field in the Rift Valley for six weeks. The programme helped him to realize that he loved language and literature. The programme career guidance he received at Moriah helped him see what his real passion is. He speaks three languages and is learning Italian.
He did computer studies for two months after finishing at Moriah and attended a one week course back at Moriah in November.
Bill is a very gregarious, likeable guy. He is very passionate and has leadership potential.
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Winnie is an outgoing girl who relates well to others. She is sure that all the young people in the programme have been helped. She was and would love all the young people she knows to go through it.
Winnie learnt to accept herself and trust in God at Moriah. She also learned to accept people, forgive them and to let go of grudges. She is very thankful for the programme and people have noticed the change in her. She also notices changes in others too.
Winnie lived at Kariobangi children’s home for 15 years. She was one of the first children to enter the hostel and is now living with a cousin. She was six months old when her mother died and six years old when her father died. With three siblings she went to live with her grandmother. This was too hard for her grandmother and they went to Kariobangi in 2001.
Her stay at Kariobangi was a very positive experience. She felt like it was her home. She learnt to live with others and diversity. She became a Christian at Kariobangi and she learnt so much.
The mentoring at Moriah really encouraged her. Many young people give up if they are not living in a positive environment and do silly things they later regret. Leading people was the most challenging at Moriah.
She is going to Teachers Training College in 2017.
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Brenda went to live at Kariobangi in 2007 when she was 10 years old. Her father died when she was six and when her mother died she went to the hostel. Her aunt is her guardian. Her brother and two sisters are also at Kariobangi hostel.
She finished secondary school in 2015 and has a Certificate in Food Science and Food Technology.
Brenda loved her time at Camp Moriah especially the mission field. She learnt how to share with unreached people. Her faith is much stronger and she thinks every young person should also do the course. Working in the shamba (garden) was very hard work. She is now staying with her aunt and looking for work.
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Vincent is from Mathare Valley. His father died when he was in class 7 and he lives with his mother. He is a friendly boy with a big smile. He attended MCO-OCC 4B school. He went to Missions of Hope secondary school which is a Christian school for boys. His dream is to study accountancy.
Becoming a Christian at Moriah was the biggest highlight for him. Before Moriah he led a shocking lifestyle and is thankful it is changed now. He never wants to return to his former lifestyle again. He loves being part of the church and now lives to please God. He loves music and is a song writer. He now loves to write non secular music. The songs are very different since he found Christ at Moriah.
The missions experience at Moriah was very encouraging for him and he loved it. He loved being involved in ministry all day long. He thinks it's very important for people from Mathare to have this kind of experience and opportunity as without it they are unprepared for life in the real world, their faith is weak or non-existent and they fail to complete.
He has signed up for a four-year training course which started in January 2017.
This is a very helpful programme for those who attend. It has now been running for four years and everyone involved is rapt with the outcomes in the lives of the participants.
The students themselves see the benefits and are staying connected to the church and to MCO after going off for study. It seems to activate faith, engage them in mission and transform their world view. It is very encouraging to hear story after story of change from the young people.
I suggest that it is a very powerful programme preserving those who have been part of the education programme and who show leadership potential. One of the things I really appreciate about MCO-OCC is the way they bring their young people through into leadership. This programme is a great contributor to this process.