Make Believe

Faith = believing that a thing is, while it is not, so that it can be. I can tell I am finally maturing in my faith walk with God. For so long I only saw him in the big things—people coming to Christ, pastors being trained, buildings being built. Those things still stir my heart. But today, as I hosted some first time American visitors at the Miracle in Mathare, it was the simplicity of a few minutes of “make believe” that felt like God brushed by.

All kids love make believe. Wait a minute, who am I kidding? I love make believe too! I sit and dream of new adventures, new beaches with Teresa, what I would do with lottery winnings. We all love dreaming of things that are not likely, in the natural. But kids have mastered the art of make believe. The upstair bonus room at my house is the land of make believe.

When the grandkids come to visit, Lily’s cafe and diner opens. Lily and Beau put on their aprons and waiter costumes and bring their handcrafted menus to the “Lily Cafe regulars”—mamaw and
papaw.

We went to the upstairs “bonus room” at the school in Mathare today. The kids made me feel right at home. Oh, there was great singing, scripture memory verses quoted, original poems shared—deep spiritually rooted teaching the staff has instilled in these eager students. But then, the party began!
Millicent, our headmistress, is an amazing talent. One of Kenya’s most gifted poets (I am preparing a collection of her work for publication later this year), love the arts. Drama and music are great “God-vehicles” to deliver biblical truth and love to these street kids. So when Millicent announced that we would now be viewing the Mathare fashion show and that we guests happened to be sitting at the “main turn” of the runway, I couldn’t imagine what fashion there could be in Mathare. I know we haven’t funded any “fashion clothes” for the school in Mathare. But, that is the beauty of make believe. It is not limited
by earthly treasure or resources. It is only limited by one’s imagination.

Our young MC began the show by welcoming us:
“Welcome guests. We hope you enjoy our fashion show. Today you will see some of Mathare’s most beautiful models wearing the latest of fashion trends from the streets of Mathare. So sit back. Relax. Enjoy. And remember to put a “banana grin” on your face!” The next several minutes were filled with young models wearing their pretend fashions they had crafted in sewing class. There was lots of “sass”, especially from the youngest ladies. I guess that is factory equipment for young girls? I know there is plenty of in the Curry household. And then, one young girl—I am guessing 6 years old maybe made her entrance to the runway to the yells and whistles of the excited school crowd. She was wearing a sash that read, “Runner up—Young Miss Mathare, NGO pageant 2024.” The NGO’s (non government) are responsible for all of the humanitarian and charitable work in the slums. Someone had the genius idea of having a beauty pageant between all of the NGO sponsored works in the slum. And there she is…the young beauty queen of the Miracle in Mathare.

Life in the slum is more conducive to nightmares than to dreams. Hunger, disease and danger are
not the most fertile soil for pleasant thoughts. But with the right guidance and instruction, some
adults who love you and believe in you, and the understanding that God loves you…yes, even you
living in the slum. Dreams begin to sprout like the weeds in freshly manicured lawn.
The fashion costumes weren’t great in quality. But then, I couldn’t see what the kids were seeing.
My childhood, “make believe eyes” have grown dim over these years. There has been too much
reality of the pain and suffering brought by sin and disease in this fallen world. But on this Friday in
Mathare, I caught a couple of glimpses again.

I don’t know if any of our runway model today will ever wear designer clothing. It really doesn’t
matter. Today, they felt they were. And that means, they have gotten over the darkness and lies of
the enemy that says “you are abandoned by God and all around you. You will never have clothes or
food like others in the world. God does not care for you….”

I sat at the feet of an old preacher years ago whose life message was about faith. He taught that
faith was believing that a thing was, while it is not, so that it can be. Some call that vision. Some
call it foolishness. Today, I called the grace of God. These kids believe there is no limit to what God
can and will do in and through them. Why would they doubt? They eat hot meals daily, served in
the most modern kitchen in the slums, prepared by loving hands. Then they go to class in the finest,
4-story school building in their part of Nairobi. They believe that places like Lily’s cafe and the
fashion runway in Mathare actually exist. Ahhhh….for some childlike faith.

It is now Saturday morning and I am packing to head up-country to my ministry assignments.
Jeff Moser from Memphis, will accompany me to Kitale. Tomorrow, we will preach in the area
churches with Pastor Richard and Mama Hellen. Then, tomorrow afternoon, I will teach/preach at
an area-wide men’s leadership conference. We are expecting a great crowd representing every
religious background in the Kitale region.

Then it is on to Mt. Elon, Kakamega, Kisii, Kenyenya, Kisumu, and back to Nairobi. But, I get ahead
of myself. Today, we have to make the short flight up the Great Rift Valley to the beautiful
mountains of Kitale. Our flight was to have left this morning at 6:40, but has been rescheduled to
1:10 this afternoon. Kenyan takes their lead from America. They have learned well from U.S.
airlines that schedules are often just “hope-so’s”.

I’ll write again tomorrow night (Sunday) if there is any gas left in my tank. I tend to finish empty
(thanks Jason Curry) every day in Kenya.

Keep praying. The teams are scattered about Kenya and busy at their ministry tasks. There is
much to do, say, teach, and show. There are souls to be won and believers to be built up.
I don’t think I have mentioned recently—-I love this job!

Your prayers = my fuel.
By, grace, your brother,
Mike Curry
Eph. 6:19-20