Wow, been a while since I posted on here. Since it's been so long I think an update on both what I've been doing and where I am going from here is in order. 

Our family arrives back in California on November 4th, actually only four of us do, the other six will arrive on the 5th. Once in the US our family is there to stay! Sort of. 

In January (I'm super excited to announce this) I'll be going to a six month Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Discipleship Training School (DTS) called "Voice for the Voiceless". The focus of this school is documentary filmmaking and showing the plight of those who otherwise wouldn't be heard. 
Three months are spent in Kona (really tough, I know) and the other three months are spent putting everything I've learned to use. I'm really excited to see what this has in store for me and all the possibilities for God's work. 

I'll get back in late June, but then it's off to college that fall for me! Still praying on where the Lord would have me go, but I know it's all in His hand. 

Enough of the future, what have I been up to? 

Other than helping out at Agape with work projects, loving the kids, and Saturday morning bible study and activities, I am also tutoring some of the kids from a local international school. The most recent "trip" I went on was down to Agape's Farm, the vocational training center. 

It teaches three different professions: carpentry, masonry, and mechanics, in addition to farming skills. 
Picture
Spraying the Sukuma with insecticides.
Plus it's right on the shore of Lake Victoria and has amazing sunsets. 


In addition to all of that, I've been working on a promotional video for an organization based outside of Kisumu. It's a great ministry with lots of different areas it works in. I'll be sure and post the finished video when it's ready.
Overall it's going well here and I am thankful for all that I have, seen and learned. 

In Christ,
Nick
 
I figured it's about time I shared some of the highlights from living in Kenya, and by highlights I mean some of the hilarious things that have happened to us. You may, or may not, enjoy these. 



Number one. The Sugar Cane Incident
As we were finishing up dinner one night Charlie, my carrot-topped 6 year old brother, decided that he wanted to share a treat he had with everyone. Steve, another missionary living on the same compound as us, had purchased some sugarcane as a treat for the boys at Agape, and had kindly given some to Charlie. He was so excited as he ran outside to get this special treat to share with us. 

Now before the next part of the story you need a description of our dining area. It's in a large(ish) room with two couches and 3 comfy chairs plus our table and the benches on either side of it. 

Anyways, he runs in, sits on the bench and holds it up for everyone to see! Actually, he was starting to hold it up when Matt, my 12 year old brother who was sitting next to Charlie, looked at it and screamed. When Matt screamed Charlie dropped the sugarcane under the table and started yelling which made my mom sprint across the room and jump on top of one of the couches, as she started running pretty much everyone else decided that whatever this monster was we better get away from it. So Kate, 16 year old sister, ran and jumped on the other couch, I jumped up on top of the bench I was sitting on, and everyone else either grabbed something to kill the monster or ran away from it. 

As things started calming down we couldn't find any "monster", not even a mouse or a snake as some people thought it was. We asked Matt why he yelled and he said there were a ton of ants on the sugarcane. Sure enough, this chain reaction was all started by some ants. 

Proof that fear is contagious. 


Number two. Fidel Castro.
We bring boys off of the streets of Kenya to Agape pretty much every day. The first place they go, after the showers, is to our transition class where we teach them basic manners, cleanliness, and about Christ. One day we brought in a kid named "Fidel Castro" (there is also have a "Hilari Clinton" at Agape) and put him in our transition class. The next day Charles, head of the transition class, calls a boy over for counseling  and Fidel ran after him as well regardless of us telling Fidel to stay. Charles looks around and goes, "That is what is wrong with Cuba". 



There have been some other hilarious moments, but I'm blanking on what they were. Most of the time it's oneliners such as when we're playing Five Crowns, Kate says "Fives are wild everyone!" and then when we finish the hand she says "What?! Why didn't anyone tell me fives were wild??". It's been a fun time so far and I'm looking forward to the next 8 months here. 


I'm also going to throw a plug in here for my documentary, though I'm sure you've probably heard of it by now. We have 45 days left of our fundraising campaign and are still stuck at under 10% of our funding. Please share the video below and help share the stories of boys living on the streets of Kenya, The Forgotten Children.
Nick, The Towheaded Rambler
 
Well, it's here. I know you are probably not as excited as I am, but I will finally get to see my hard work pay off (hopefully). If you have no clue what I'm talking about, I suggest you read this first. For those who read my last post and know what this is about, kudos! I'll just do a quick rundown of it again. 

The Forgotten is a documentary telling the lives of the boys who live on the streets of Kenya. These boys have run away from home, and often are considered dead as the family has no way to know where they are. In order to film, produce, and distribute, we need additional funds! That's the last post in a nutshell. 

For more information about the film, check out it's website at www.ForgottenStreetChildren.com
In order to donate or learn what we need additional funds for, head on over to www.IndieGoGo.com/ForgottenTheMovie
Be sure and connect with us on Facebook and Google+!

Check out our latest promo video below.
Thanks for reading this, and please share with your friends and family! Help us tell the stories of these boys.

Nick, the Towheaded Rambler
 
It has been quite a while since I've posted on here, so I apologize. I've been rather busy with the media/webpages/advertisements for a project some of you may have heard of, a documentary called "The Forgotten". 

Below is some concept art by yours truly, with some tips from my pal Hayden of One Little Corner.
Picture
I've been spending most of my mornings going out on the streets of Kisumu, Kenya, filming the boys where they work, eat, sleep, and survive. Because of the time I have spent with them I want to share their stories with the world, as most people are woefully informed about street boys. 

The purpose of the documentary is simple. Increase awareness of the street boys, and the different organizations helping them. I hope that by showing the example of Kenya, people will take the next step and learn about the street boys in their own country. 

In order to help produce, distribute, and sell the documentary, I'll be having an online fundraiser that will go live on March 1st. In addition to the fundraiser, the website, Facebook Page, and additional videos will go live as well that day. I'll be sure and post links to all on March 1st, so keep that date in mind! The fundraiser will run until April 30th, and the goal is to raise around $5,500. I know many of my friends cannot afford large (or any for that matter) contributions, but I have a number of perks that come with donations! ;) Even if you cannot fund the documentary, please share it on Twitter, your blog, Facebook, talking with people, wherever you happen to be! Chances are that if you cannot donate, you know someone who can, thus word of mouth is a powerful tool.

Please help me with this project, even through prayers! 
I'll post again on March 1st! 

Until then,
Nick, the Towheaded Rambler