Children are widely regarded in this world as having little power or influence.  Yet a child’s smile can melt the heart of a proud mother and father.  A child can do things in places that an adult would never be permitted or have the courage to do.   In her book, First Lady from Plains, Rosalynn Carter told of the "wonderfully odd" things she learned about White House history while a resident there. It seems that the children of President James A. Garfield rode large three-wheelers around as they carried on pillow fights in the East Room. Teddy Roosevelt's five children slid down the staircases on trays stolen from the pantry, walked the halls on stilts, and once took a pony into a second-floor bedroom after riding up on the president's elevator! 

There is absolutely no earthly reason to regard former street children as powerful or influential.  They have no position or money.  Many don’t even have parents.  For this reason many in Kenya don’t even believe that a former street child can accomplish anything or be anything but a thief.  For a former street boy to exercise self discipline, be inventive, determined, focused, plan and prepare for the future is almost unthinkable to many. 

Yet two weeks ago, ten former street boys from Agape set a goal of winning the national championship for scouting.  They had already won the district competition and the provincial competition.  Now they set their sites on the national championship.  Ironically their keenest competition would come from a school in Nairobi that used to be a home for street children.  Now Starahe Boys School is an elite school of the rich and privileged in Kenya.  They also had won the championship for the last two years.  Unseating them would be no easy task.  The competition was intense.  Four solid days of construction with nothing more than sticks and rope, preparing their own food, without any adult supervision of any kind or even contact with their troop leader.  But these eight boys remained focused, self disciplined and determined.  After making a crucial mistake on the third day, they did not give up but worked even harder to make up for their miscalculation.

When the results were announced, the scout leaders of Agape were pacing behind the podium, unable to even sit down for the results.  Finally the results of the primary schools were read and Agape Children’s Ministry Scout Troup: The Eagle Patrol had not only unseated Starahe Boys, the privileged from the suburbs of Nairobi had slipped to third and  the Eagle Patrol from Agape had taken the crown.  What a statement about the potential of a child, the power of God’s love in the heart of the emotionally devastated.  On this day, no one was looking down on these children.  Even the favored children of ministers of Parliament were looking up at the proud boys who once had roamed the streets of Kenya.

All ten scouts, two scout leaders, a trainer and I crammed into our small Agape truck on the drive back to Kisumu so that we all could be together when we drove into the Agape compound.  Even though it was past the bedtime of many, a large group of boys began their shouts of joy just inside the gate as the Agape truck was spotted.  As we circled the compound, shouts and whistles echoed through the darkness. Piling out of the truck, the boys took turns holding the trophy high, running and screaming.  It was a good day for outcasts!!  And a good day to remember the potential of a child!

See all of you soon.  We will be in the US on Oct. 5.  We are open to speaking engagements for your club, church or small group.  We will be staying with Patty’s mom and we can be reached after Oct. 5 at 838:7672 in Escalon, CA.  You can also E-mail us here at this same address now or after we return.

God bless

Dan and Patty