Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, said, “I thirst!”

I just got back from Nairobi, Kenya doing an artist residency there. It was an incredible time that will likely produce at least a couple of blogs. But the first story I want to tell is the one of Denis and Fred and their ministry “I Thirst”

Denis, Me and Fred

Nairobi is one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities in East Africa. Densely populated, with skyscrapers and more busses on the road than I’ve ever seen in any city— there are highs and lows. The very rich and the unfathomably poor. The poverty is showcased in several large slum neighborhoods, and for the purposes of our artist residency we ended up focusing on one of these in particular, Korogocho. 

Korogocho from the 2nd floor

It’s not the largest slum but it borders on one of the largest garbage dumps in the entire region. Approximately 200,000 humans press into only 1.5 square kilometers (0.579 square miles.) This is probably why it's called Korogocho-- in Swahili it means “crowded shoulder to shoulder.” It’s quite a sight to behold on a bus traveling in. All of the houses are made of found or recycled materials like sheet metal, scraps of wood, etc. If you’re lucky you find walls of cement or brick. One of the insane facts they told us is that most of the shanty houses are privately owned and rented out, and if not they still have to pay land rent for the right to live there. 

Examples of Korogocho houses

The conditions are very difficult- including rampant crime, and police corruption. There’s a lot of addiction— specifically to the very easy to find and cheap jet fuel (which they buy in used plastic bottles and put on rags to sniff) and glue. A large number of the people who live there find ways of making a living by daily sorting through the massive dump, collecting trash and reselling it. (To be honest I could never figure out how that was a way to really make money, but they manage somehow.)

Fred and Denis at the massive Dump

Into this crowded, smokey (from the dump trash fires) and colorful area come 2 young men who I met, Denis and Fred-- world changers in Nairobi who are using all the resources they have at their fingers to help the street kids of Korogocho. This is their story

Fred and Denis in front of some of the street kid art

Fred and Denis grew up together on the streets of Korogocho, best friends as long as they can remember. 

When it came time for them to move forward in their education, the friends reached a crossroads. Denis’s family had the means to send him further, while, tragically both of Fred’s parents had died, leaving him to an early end to his education. 

But Denis’s family loved Fred so they did their best to take care of him, as he was orphaned young. 

While Denis was pursuing the next level of education in the city center, Fred stayed in Korogocho (about an hour outside of the city). 

Fred at his first charity organization- 
Missionaries of Charity Fathers

Fred began to find deep compassion for orphans and youth who were also in difficult situations and began working with a Catholic Charity for street kids and those in unfortunate situations. He was deeply moved during his time there and began to feel like this could be his life’s calling. During those years as Denis was in school, Fred learned about charity work and made some important connections. One key connection was meeting the Ambassador to Kenya from Colombia. She was very interested in him and gave him her info to use if he ever needed it. She would go on to become one of their key supporters! (Spoiler alert!)

By the time Denis was out of school, Fred decided he needed a partner in crime and recruited him to work together in the charity. Young and full of vision they decided to head out on their own and start their own organization! 

Their first attempt was to help the street kids in the city center who Denis had seen every day of his schooling, and whom his heart went out to. They worked hard to get them off the street, to rehabilitation centers, and off of drugs, etc. 

After some time they started to get frustrated, because there were many difficulties for them working in the city center. It was far from Korogocho where they were living, so the cost was high traveling back and forth. Also it seemed like as soon as they saw results, the kids were back out on the streets in the same situation.

They knew something had to change, but they weren’t sure what!

Meanwhile, back in their home area of Korogocho, people began to hear about how they were doing charity work and some of them brought their attention to an elderly man (an “Mzee”) who was sick and in desperate conditions and working at the dump site in Korogocho. The guys decided to see if they could help him and took him to the hospital and petitioned the government for much needed help for this man. The government heard their pleas and responded! This man is now living in a special home and being well taken care of. The news of how they helped this guy spread around the slum area like wildfire. 

This is the "Mzee" in his new wonderful home!

Because of their new found “fame,” many people began to ask them for help in different areas in Korogocho. 

The decision seemed clear. It was their home, where they knew everyone and felt comfortable and would be free to travel— just their 2 feet, plus there was so much work to be done in the slums and for the dump workers. 

“Until you can hear Jesus in the silence of your own heart, you will not be able to hear Him saying “I thirst” in the hearts of the poor.”— Mother Teresa. 

Mother Teresa was very impacted by those words of Jesus on the cross, and when Denis and Fred were looking for a name for their new ministry, they decided to use those words as the name. 

The Kenyan Artis Residency (SIM) and I Thirst together at the I Thirst Office

And so they launched “I Thirst Street Kid Organization” using Art as their main tool of ministry. As Denis put it, many kids in the slums are illiterate, and art is a good way to share about the love of Jesus in ways they can understand. Also it gives them things to work on and develop skills in instead of being out on the streets and getting into trouble.  

I Thirst is still pretty new and the guys are still pretty young, but there is so much hope and promise coming from the work that these very hard working, committed and talented guys are doing! 

Fred leading the street kids in welcoming songs

Fred!

Some of the lovely street kids of Korogocho and their art!

For more information, follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ithirststreetkids.org/