“Can I speak with you ...in private?”
Kamau a young boy from Mitumba slum requests as a group of kids attending CMA youth camp bombard me with bible verses...I assent to his request. I admire his audacity.

“Lifeless,” Mitumba slum in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi struck me when I first visited. The children’s eyes were lifeless; their parents’ stares cold. They sat outside shanty tin roofed homes; unbothered by open sewer running right at their feet. Unlike other slums where CMA already had partnerships; children in Mitumba did not follow us with joyful chants of Wageni (visitors).

That was five years ago...

( Right: Kamau reflects during the interview. He has started a young children's bible study group in his home place as a result of lessons learned at Youth Camp.)

Two small classrooms made of corrugated iron sheet in the heart of Mitumba, a slum in Nairobi, have been temporarily transformed into a 'theatre'. The desks have been removed and the benches arranged in conference style. Though there is no raised platform, a small section cleared of any desks or benches is presummably the 'stage'.

On this sunny day in mid September,the children of Rural Evangelist Ministries (REM) thrill their audience with an array of song, dance and comedy. The school is usually a buzz with excitement, but on this particular afternoon, because of the presence of visitors their excitement is unmatched.

“My son, my son, someone please help my son!” a shrieking shout came from a woman carrying a little boy in her arms from outside CMA’s compound in Juaibor. Our nurses quickly rushed to pick up this little boys lifeless body dangling as the mother held him tightly. He was still conscious, but obviously very ill exhibited by his extremely thin limbs.

Peter Guor a six year old boy, was so dehydrated that it caused his body  to be weak to the point that he could not walk and so his mother had to carry him. Peter was diagnosed with Meningitis.