NELSON MUTURI NDEGWA

Born March 24, 2003

 

Nelson’s Story

 

      Nelson arrived at IAA’s home with several other children from his village. He was one of the first 10 children to come to IAA.  His circumstances were grim, yet his smile would light the whole world.  He was told to lie about his age since we were taking only children from the ages of 3 to 7.  They told him to wear shorts to make him look younger.  So Nelson was chosen to come to IAA.  Later he confessed that his true age was 11.  God had a plan for him, and he would prove himself to be a natural leader; he’s the best big brother the other children could dream of having.  We are so proud of him and his accomplishments. He would like to become a doctor. This is a letter written by Nelson about his life before IAA.

 

      My life at IAA has been the best life I have ever lived.  It was through God’s love that I came to live there.  Before that, I was the most poor child you could imagine.  I had often had no clothes to wear.  I was a little happy when my mother was alive because I got at least a daily meal since I was a child.  But after my mother’s death, that is where the trouble began. My older sister and brother stopped going to school just to take care of us.  Sometimes they would come home without anything for dinner, morning or lunch.  I would

cry but all in vein. 

        The mother of our father was our neighbor.  But she was the worst neighbor you could ever have.  She

had given her son (my father) a metal rod to hit my mother with and that is what he did.  He came home

drunk and almost burned down the thatched house we lived in.  He chased us outside and was left with my mother.  He threw hot ashes and fire on her calling her names and hitting her with fire wood.  We had no

other choice except to scream for help.  We were not strong enough to protect our poor mother.  Father took

the metal rod and hit my mother with it on the forehead.  On realizing what he had done, he tried to treat her by putting medicines on her forehead and telling her sorry.  My mother, before that, had a lot of disease from getting beat all the time and shouted at.   I had planned to kill my grandmother when I got older because of the crime she did to my mother.  But when I talked to my sponsors about it, they comforted me and told me

not to revenge.

        Some of my aunts really hated me that when I went to ask for food.  They would send the children to chase me away with stones and their dogs.  But through God’s love, I am safe and sound under his wings.  I am fed well in IAA, clothed and taken care of.  I was not going to school long before that because there was

no one to pay the school fees.  My fourth borne sister never went to school.  It was only nursery school.  So my mother’s mother (Mary Wyaguthie) took both me and our second last sister.  She tried all she could to educate us by paying school fees and buying uniforms.  Her sons and daughters are all married and have children. 

There was a time when my grandmother had no more strength to take care of us.  So she separated us.  But she did not let go of my sister who would be helping her.  I was given to my aunt who has big daughters and took care of me for two months.  Then from there, there was a grandmother (great aunt) in Njabini who I was given to and did not want me to be taken away from her.  I went to school there for two years from class two and three.  I got good positions and I passed.  I used to go to visit my aunt who did not live very far.  But one day, my uncle came home with news that there was a home that they were taking orphans.  He hurried me to get there in time.  I didn’t get to tell people goodbye.  It was the plan that I got accepted.  That is not all about my life.  There is more.    Nelson

 

Newsletter March 2008:  

I wanted to share something very special about Nelson— 

 now age 16.  He has been saving money for a long time. 

 It is about $70 US.  This is a lot for a boy in Kenya.  He

 decided last week that he wanted to take all the money and 

 go into the camps that are full of people that were displaced

 during the rioting in January 2008. This boy is amazing and

 has such a true and pure heart for the Lord.  He knows

 he is blessed with what he has and he wants to give back to

 those that do not. I am so proud of him.  To God be the

 glory!!!  Below is the letter he wrote to Auntie Donna.    

 Mama Jane

 

 

Dear Auntie Donna,

    Hi there, I miss everybody a lot.  School is still going on well and we are sill nearing our exams for the indexing to be administered to class eight in preparation for K.C.P.E.  I have written this letter Auntie Donna because I feel so much touched by God's love that I need to help the people who are suffering a lot.  I want

you and I to organize a trip to Limuru to help the affected.  The Njabini secondary school offered to help by creating a small group which contributed about seven thousand shillings and made a trip there where they helped the people by buying things like fat, salt, oil and many other things.  I felt so proud of them for such

an action.  I know I am still young but God is telling me to do it. Please! Please! Do not stop me to do this. I better use a Matatu (taxi) to go there. I want you to collect all the clothes that are not fitting the kids well and shoes and those things they do not like.  Put them together and in two weeks after exams we can roll on.

 I have already made a discussion with the girl who defeats me in class position 1 and she said that she will offer all the help she can.  She told me if it is ok with you she will call her Father and maybe he can also contribute something.  Just like I was helped I will also help.  I have also spoken with my teachers about the thought and they have said that we are going to discuss about that. I know that I already have five thousand shillings.($71.00) I don't care whether it is used in helping God's people.  I have also copied a prayer for everybody to pray every day.   It was given in the school and we were told to be always praying.  It is for our people in Kenya who are affected.  Maybe Mama Jane and many others can offer help by sending clothes and money.

    As for me I know two places, that is Limuru and a church here in Njabini.  If it is God's will let it be and may He do according to what He likes.  Francis, Eunice and Caren are also doing fine.   I know that I don't

get time to come out to say Hi but I shall see you on the 1st of March.  Please let us do this. If there is anyone who wants to help, let them help.  Let Mama Jane know about my plan.  Please make copies of the Prayer and post them in the home and one in the van for the kids to pray before going to school in the morning and after school. I hope that the plan will all work.  I feel God's love telling me to do it. I thought about it today and decided to do it.  I will also talk to the Priest at school about it after you answer me back. Please make a

quick reply.  For the more we delay the more people suffer.  So let’s do it.  Thank you a lot.  Say Hi to everyone there.

Love and miss everybody,   Love,   Nelson Muturi

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newsletter May 2008:  Nelson was able to fulfill his mission for the displaced people in the camps.  IAA collected funds donated from donors for NELSON’S MISSION and he gathered his team to go and minister to those less fortunate with clothes, shoes, blankets and food.    

                                  

                                                             

 

     

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                            Nelson, along with some of children and Jeremy.

                                                                                      

 

NELSON WROTE: 

Dear Mama Jane:  Thanks a lot for the mission money.  I had a great time at the camps.  We got a chance to play with the children who were there there.  We also got to join their choir that they had made.  It is so pitiful to hear the sad stories from wives who had never seen their husbands again since the war.  They were only crying as they told me about their stories.  I could feel tears hanging from my eyes. There were some big girls also who were trying to explain to us of how they were unable to continue with their studies. There were so many people such that there was no room to play around.  I think they said that there were about 850 people in the camp.  We got in the big church which was being used as a dorm.  There were mattresses laid out on the floor.  The four of us from IAA and two of my classmates presented a song.  I am still thinking on another mission.  So, maybe I will tell you when I am ready.  I am still doing good in school.  Maybe you can tell those who sent the money thank you a lot.   Love you,  Nelson