Thursday November 12th it was back into the intense schedule. We were off to Oakville bright and early to perform at the morning chapel services at Appleby College. During the first chapel service we couldn’t understand why the applause was light, as we’re used to shouts and screams. We were later told that the students were actually not supposed to clap during chapel at all! The second service was a little louder, after staff and teachers assured the students could offer their appreciation. After the services the MCF team was blown away by seeing the Kenyan flag flying high at Appleby’s campus. They were then brought down to the shores of Lake Ontario to see their first Inuksuk. It was a little cold, but the team endured the bitter wind to learn what an Inuksuk was and they brought this up on our travels across Canada where we saw many along the road and on all the advertisements for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver! After warming up over lunch in the cafeteria, the team split off into two groups – the guys went to play soccer with an Appleby student from Uganda and the girls headed over to the dance studio with Lee Tovey for some warmer fun inside.
Kenyan pride flies high
Inuksuk
In the Chapel
Thank you to Chris Kurtis for putting us in touch with Appleby, and also to Sarah Morrison, Lee Tovey and Patrick Carter for being such gracious hosts. We hope to see you again soon!
After Appleby it was time to prepare for a very big night – the Concert of Hope – celebrating MCF’s 20th anniversary in Oakville, Ontario. When we arrived the team from Harvest Bible Chapel was already busy setting up the room and silent auction items. We went over the evening program and started setting up the merchandise. It was a stellar evening. Harvest pastor, Robbie as well as Debbie, did a great job emceeing the evening, and Tad Munnings created a great video that highlighted MCF’s 20 year history and the role that Canadians have played in MCF’s development over the past decade. It was the perfect way to celebrate the milestone. Many dear friends of MCF were there, and some new ones – including one of the pastors of my church – Tim Day – who wrote about his experience in The Meeting House’s newsletter ‘In the Loop’ (I’ll paste it at the bottom for you to read). Thank you for sharing Tim!
Not only was this event unique in what it was celebrating, but also in the focus on the evening and what we were raising funds for. Over $40,000 was raised to help fund the post-secondary education of MCF graduates who are waiting to begin their studies. The funds raised were then matched by an anonymous donor, so we are pleased to announce that over $80,000 was raised to help send eligible MCF students to get a higher education. Not only with this transform their life, but it will transform their families and communities as each of them have plans to go back and help their society after their studies are complete.
Cutting the cake
The team
Charles & Harvest pastor and emcee, Robbie
the Mulli's with Kevin & Janice Flynn
Our deepest thanks and gratitude is offered to Harvest Bible Chapel and the volunteer committee that put hours upon hours of hard work into making the event an incredible success: Craig Turnbull, Becky Munnings, Chris Kurtis, Jeffrey Thommy, and Tad Munnings. You were a real pleasure to work with. Also, a big thanks to Mike Gallagher and IUOE for opening up your facilities to us free-of-charge to help ensure that more funds could go directly to MCF and the children that need it most. Thank you Kevin Flynn, Oakville MP and your beautiful wife Janice for your presence that evening and your faithful support of MCF over the years.
*****
Reflection: An Open Home (by Tim Day, pastor at The Meeting House (TMH). This is from THM’s newsletter).
“You have children?” “Yes, I have three.” “Really, how old are they?” “Nathan is thirteen. Rachel is ten. Josh is six. I love them. They are the best.” If I’ve had this conversation once, I have had it a hundred times. Our families are so important to us. Even if we are single, our families give us security, identity and a sense of “home.”
Last night I had my mind blown, completely blown.
Charles Mulli was abandoned by his family at an early age and grew up begging on the streets of Kenya. He was determined to not let poverty destroy his life. Over time he grew from being an impoverished kid with no family to a very wealthy business man owning a busing line, shops, and a real estate business. He had a family. He was a committed Christ-follower and felt God had blessed him beyond his wildest dreams. He had everything he could want.
God then threw a plot twist into his rags to riches life. A group of street kids stole his new vehicle. He could be angry. He could press charges. Yet, as he stared into the eyes of these street kids, he remembered. It all came back to him.
A vision was planted in him, or should I say a burden. He shared it with his wife and family and they prayed at length. Sensing God was indeed speaking to them they embarked on what would be nothing short of the most radical transformation one could imagine.
They began to invite into their home all the street children they could while at the same time started to liquidate all of their assets. They wanted to invest all they could into creating home and family for street orphans.
They now have two thousand children, five homes, schools, training programs, and a track record of seeing children restored to health and empowered with life giving education and love.
Last night I had the privilege of hearing Mr. and Mrs. Mulli speak. I had the joy of listening to their children sing and play the drums as well as watching them dance and perform some amazing acrobatic feats. Those kids rocked the house!
One of their two thousand children shared a bit of her story. At a very young age, her father had died. Her mother had beaten her until she was forced out of the home to beg on the streets. She had heard about a home and family who might adopt her. She had no family and wanted a family. Now she is in high school and has a vision to be a surgeon. She has brothers and sisters and a safe home. Before she concluded she looked with all sincerity at Mr. and Mrs. Mulli and said, “Thank you mom and dad.”
She got me thinking. Compassion can be so simple. When I look into the eyes of someone else can I see life through their eyes? Am I willing to simplify my life so that I can welcome them into my family circle? Will I allow God’s love be more than just a good theoretical idea and submit to its call on my life to help those around me?
And isn’t this what God did for me. Paul the early church leader writes, “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves (or beggars who have nothing). Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, Dad, Father.” (Romans 8:15) God loved me so much that he took me into his family and now I call him my Dad. Shouldn’t I do the same for others?
Society says that I will be happy if I make my life all about me. Last night I saw a different kind of happiness. I saw a different kind of joy. I saw a different kind of fulfillment.
“Mr. and Mrs. Mulli, do you have children?” “Yes, we do.” “Really, what are their names?” Mr. and Mrs. Mulli smile broadly. “How long do you have?”
Learn more about the Mulli family here.
Peace,
Tim
MCF's North American Safari Tour 