A Father To The Fatherless
POSTED IN: Blog Posts, Compassion, Kenya Trip
Just when I thought my heart couldn’t break any more, we drove to our Compassion project today and saw this…
roof after rusty roof of the Mathare Slum, one of the largest and most congested slums in the world. Over 800,000 people live within these 3 square miles. Garbage is piled everywhere and sewage flows freely in between the houses.
And yet in the darkness of this slum we discovered a ray of hope.
We met Eliud Otieno.
Eliud is an 18-year-old Compassion-sponsored boy. His older sister died when he was young. By 2007 he had lost both his mother and father leaving him an orphan, alone in one of the most filthy and impoverished slums in the world.
Thankfully, Compassion was there to help. They purchased the slum-shack he was renting so that he could continue living there. They stepped in and supplemented his food and provided financially so he could continue his education.
Eliud was eager to tell us about his Compassion sponsor, Nick Erskine, who lived in California. Nick has sponsored Eliud for 11 years. When we asked if he had any letters from his sponsor he immediately grabbed a stack of papers from the corner of his 10′ x 10′ shack.
One of the letters was written after Eliud’s mother’s death.
It was obvious that Eliud had a deep connection with his sponsor, a connection that continued to sustain him as an orphan living alone in the Mathare Slum.
We asked Eliud what he would say to his sponsor if he ever met him. He smiled and proceeded to deliver a message so moving that it had us all in tears.
As we left his home I noticed something written on the wall above his door…
It was a prayer he said he prayed every day as he left his home.
I was moved with the perspective this young man had while living in some of the worse living conditions I had ever seen. While many would consider his situation hopeless, Eliud recognized that God had graciously provided everything he needed. Nick, because of Compassion’s work in Mathare, is the answer to that prayer.
I think back on all the things I’ve prayed for in the last few years. Suddenly everything seemed so trivial when I stared at that simple prayer written on the cardboard wall of a shack in a Kenyan slum.
God loves me enough to feed me, bless me, and give me hope for the future. Amen.
Amen indeed, Eliud.
I’ll never forget Eliud’s story and I hope you don’t either.
(click here to read the continuation of the story on Shaun’s post)
There are so many more stories just waiting to be written. Will you be a part of one?
Click here to view Kenyan children who are currently waiting for a sponsor like you to release them from poverty.
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March 8, 2010
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This brought me to tears – especially the prayer written over the door. I know that we live in a much different place, but I have decided that this prayer is one that I am going to teach my four year old! Its something that we should remember every day!
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March 8, 2010
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The spiritual depth of this young man is something I can only hope to one day know. I am so humbled by that prayer.
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March 8, 2010
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wow – I can say I haven’t been that moved in some time … everyone should see that video
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March 8, 2010
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Very moving. To you and the other Compassion Bloggers: Thank-you for speaking on behalf of those whose voice is silenced because of their circumstance.
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March 8, 2010
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I am an advocate with Compassion and though the journey you must take your heart on to obtain these stories and pictures is beyond what I can imagine, let me say thank you. Your stories, and those of the other bloggers, are so helpful to me in sharing with potential sponsors. Could you please help me out a little. Is there any way we could find out what the project numbers are for the Compassion centers in and around the Mathare Valley? May God strengthen your broken heart today, but not heal it. He will do amazing things with it…in it’s broken state. God bless you on this journey.
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March 8, 2010
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There are over 147 million orphans around the globe. I am grateful that there are so many people willing to step up in the lives of God’s little ones and make a difference!
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March 8, 2010
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Thank you!!! God Bless the Compassion team and God Bless Eliud!!
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March 8, 2010
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Thanks Eliud.
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March 8, 2010
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I can’t view the video here at work, but I’m dying to see it. I can’t wait to get home. And I can’t wait to be with Eliud one day when we both see no poverty in sight.
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March 8, 2010
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I can not see the video at work either – will see tonight. This project is already successful but we can help by RT and emailing…and, of course, sponsoring.
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March 8, 2010
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Wow…I have no words. Simply Beautiful.
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March 8, 2010
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I am literally sobbing. Thank you, God for Compassion. Thank you Brad for going to Kenya and telling Eliud’s story.
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March 8, 2010
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I too have visited Mathare and found that the sponsored children of Compassion, like Eliud, provide the bright and shining light of Jesus in a very dark and hopeless place.
Thanks for sharing and reminding us.
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March 8, 2010
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This angers me. Not because of Eliud’s story, but because there are people in this world who have nothing, who thrive everyday despite their circumstances and thank God in the midst of heartache. Then you come back home, and everyone is so greedy and thankless. You guys are doing a great work, but I wish more people would get it.
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March 8, 2010
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what a beautiful heart eliud has.
i so hope nick sees this.
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March 8, 2010
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Why doesn’t Compassion give this poor man some clothing and help him out of that slum?? Where is the sponsors monies of ELEVEN YEARS going to???? Obviously this man is not being housed out of the slum nor is he given good clothing to wear. This charity must be keeping all the funds to themselves..Awful abuse of power! Disgusting to parade these poor people to elicit sympathy in order to raise funds to pad the pockets of this so called Charity and to fund blogger vacations to these locations what a waste of funds!!..shaking head.
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March 8, 2010
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Deeply moved by Eliud’s message to his sponsor. We just have no idea……
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March 8, 2010
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In His name the nations will put their HOPE – matthew 12:21
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March 8, 2010
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Wow- what an amazing story! This is a good reminder to write MY compassion child!
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March 8, 2010
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“Suddenly everything seemed so trivial when I stared at that simple prayer written on the cardboard wall of a shack in a Kenyan slum.”
Man, so true. Put’s everything little thing into perspective and makes our live’s here seem so comfortable and luxurious. I’ll definitely be writing my child more often and sponsoring another as soon as possible.
Simply Amazing.
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March 8, 2010
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To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure.
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March 8, 2010
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this is truly beautiful, Brad.
and don’t listen to the naysayers who want to discount what you and Compassion are doing.
imagine, just imagine, what this boy’s life would be like if he hadn’t been sponsored all these years? imagine the millions like him.
poverty is ugly. it is brutal. but there’s hope and there’s a way out… future generations of Eliud’s family will be different because of the opportunity he’s been given through his Compassion sponsor’s generosity.
these trips are about showing and sharing with the a world who would never see it—and to show the hope sponsorship provides.
your posts will affect many, and many more lives will be changed.
well done good and faithful.
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March 8, 2010
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“This charity must be keeping all the funds to themselves..Awful abuse of power!”
Really? Gigi, I humbly and strongly suggest you take a step back. God’s working here. Compassion is His hands, loving people and helping people. Real world help.
Unless you are personally helping hundreds of thousands of impoverished people around the world live a life with more hope, I’d suggest you have a major league case of logs and specks disease. Wow.
Go here > http://www.jskogerboe.com/?p=452
It’s just ONE more example out of THOUSANDS of lives changed for the better.
Thank you Brad, and thank you Compassion, and thank you God.
-joshua
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March 8, 2010
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Assumptions and preconceived notions are dangerous things. Potentially more destructive than the situation at hand.
The bigger picture, in this case, is beautiful.
Every blessing to all.
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March 8, 2010
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Well said, Joshua!
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March 8, 2010
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Hey Gigi-
Thanks for raising your questions. They are definitely great questions. I just returned from Ecuador where I got to see Compassion in action. I talked to kids who were in the LDP program (college-aged), and they said their goal all along has been to become a professional so they could return to their community and help their friends and family.
In the US, people can’t wait to be successful so they can get out of poverty…in the third world slums that I’ve seen and heard of, people can’t wait to be successful so they can return to their slum and help others. Their goal is not to leave, but to stay and help. People like that are different than us in that they don’t see that as a negative, but an opportunity. I can’t explain it. I don’t understand it. That’s just what I’ve seen firsthand.
As for the finances…I had many of the same questions before visiting Ecuador. While I was there I realized it’s the opportunity and encouragement that makes a difference. I actually don’t know how $38 a month per kids is enough to make what happens happen. But somehow there is enough money for the kids to have a building, books, and teachers. And the look in their eyes when they talk about their future and hope is all I needed to see to recognize that the money is of little significance.
Before I traveled to Ecuador, I loved Compassion. I loved that they helped release kids from poverty in a holistic way. I loved that they weren’t afraid to keep the word Jesus in their tag line. But I have so much more respect for them now to see what a difference Compassion is actually making in the lives of the kids. They are helping the kids make the best of their bad life circumstances, giving them hope, and helping them grow and affect the world in such positive ways. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Compassion projects, you’ll see what I mean. Until you look into the eyes of the child who has been given hope, and all they want to do is turn around and multiply that hope, it’s hard to understand. But for now you’ll just have to take the word of the people who have seen it first hand.
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March 8, 2010
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What tremendous dignity…thank you.
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March 8, 2010
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Thank you, thank you for your wonderful posts this week! May God bless Eliud in a big way and continue to take care of him so he can be a blessing to others –
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March 8, 2010
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I would love to hear more about Nick Erskine, and his reaction to this story.
awesome.
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March 8, 2010
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Well once I get the knot out of my throat I want to say wow, what an amazing dose of what is truly important. What an awesome faith he has in the most dyer sitations..
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March 8, 2010
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[...] A Father to the Fatherless by Brad Ruggles [...]
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March 8, 2010
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God bless you for this. Your posting, your video, your thoughts and words…
they have had a profound impact on me. Thank you for sharing.
I am sitting here in tears, reading your post to my family.
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March 8, 2010
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I have been moved way past compassion, this week, as I’ve read your (and the rest of the team’s) heart. My soul has been crying all day…my eyes off and on.
I feel exposed. Undone. No longer able to claim ignorance. Choosing to sponsor a child wasn’t an option. To say, “no,” would be looking God right in the face and saying, “I don’t see what’s happening…” or even worse, “I don’t care.”
Looking through all the Kenyan faces was too much to bear. We simply picked the longest waiting. A boy. 9 years old. Named Baraka.
Thank you for taking us with you and changing our family forever.
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March 8, 2010
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Wow! Amazing. I hope Nick and Eliud get to meet soon.
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March 8, 2010
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Thank you so much for posting this video.
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March 8, 2010
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Thanks for sharing the stories of these children and being a voice for those who don’t have one in society! This has been an amazing week following everyone’s stories and has moved me to do more and get involved – be a voice for those who don’t have one!
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March 9, 2010
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Just saw the video….glad I didn’t see it at work today, as that would have gotten my mind off of what I was there to do. Eliud will never understand how good he just was to us…
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March 9, 2010
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How wonderful! It makes me want to fly out to the Philippines to see my sponsor child through Compassion. At least I have a glimmer of hope that I’m able to make an impact on her life and lead her to God and His love after watching that video.
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March 9, 2010
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Brad,
I am Allison’s, (Ryan’s wife) sister and I have been reading your posts daily after I read Ryan’s… you are breaking my heart and I love it… Thank you for your beautiful and hopeful stories amid the dirty, dingy, and dark places.
Andrea
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March 9, 2010
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Eliud is already changing the world, beginning with your readers. SO moving. Thank you. You inspired our family to sponsor Joseph (19) in the Mathare CDC.
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March 9, 2010
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Wow, Eliud is an amazing light in what must be one of the darkest corners of the world. I pray that God continues to pierce the hearts of your readers through this blog. My heart has a million holes in it just from reading today. My children, and who am I kidding, myself -don’t know how blessed we are. Still hoping you get to meet our sponsored child Benard.
God bless you and keep you safe.
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March 9, 2010
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This story touched me so deeply. I was in tears. I decided to sponsor a child in Kenya. His name is George Otieno Omoke. He’s a 14 yr old orphan and I love him already. Thank you for opening my heart to Compassion International, and to George.
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March 9, 2010
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Thank you for sharing. May the Lord continue to move in Eliud’s life and may Eliud continue to know he is a child of the Living God…I would love to know how Nick reacts when he hears this. Thank you for a mid-day ray of hope!
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March 9, 2010
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[...] If you have the guts and are willing to risk being wrecked, and I highly encourage that you take said risk, read this. [...]
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March 9, 2010
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I’ve no words to speak. My life is such vanity. Eliud is an amazing man and has far more faith than I do. I need to pray that prayer even in my wealth, cause it can all be taken away should God allow.
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March 9, 2010
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Brad, I found you on Twitter yesterday and then through MckMama’s blog today. Eliud’s story was what led us this morning to sponsoring a 12 year old boy, Benjamin in Kenya through Compassion. We have a 12 year old son and he has wanted a “brother from Africa” for years. Today we showed our son this story and the video. He was in tears and is up praying for Benjamin now. Impactful.
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March 9, 2010
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This is so awesome. I love that prayer … so simple and yet so profound.
~Brenda
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March 10, 2010
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[...] A Father To The Fatherless | Brad Ruggles [...]
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March 10, 2010
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[...] After an intensely intimate conversation in Eliud’s home… [...]
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March 10, 2010
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[...] After an intensely intimate conversation in Eliud’s home… [...]
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March 10, 2010
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W.O.W. Just Wow. I am sitting back at my desk, just shocked and amazed.
Shocked at the conditions, that I knew were bad…but had no idea just how bad. And I’m sure that the pictures and post aren’t fully able to capture the depth of it. They usually aren’t, are they?
And I am amazed. Amazed at Eliud’s story. Amazed at how God can and does work.
And blessed. Ever so blessed.
Thank you.
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March 10, 2010
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Wow. This video wrecked me. Thanks for sharing Brad.
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March 10, 2010
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Wow! I am literary sobbing! – I am from Kenya and I have visited Kibera slums and I am happy to see a smiley face.Especially the prayer written over the door. It humbled me when he can thank God even when he barely has anything. !! I have been procrastinating to send a letter this month but I am doing it right now to our little girl… Thanks for posting…God bless you, God bless compassion!!!!
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March 11, 2010
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I have taken a piece of cardboard and written Eliud’s prayer on it. I hope to hang it up somewhere in my home, where I can look at it daily and reflect on his amazing Faith. This story has touched my heart like no other.
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March 11, 2010
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Oh my Brad…this video and post are amazing. I’m a new sponsor, just started last week after reading about Compassion and “Pastor Ryan” on the Ree’s “Pioneer Woman’s” blog. I would like to post the link to this blog post and the video on my blog if that is okay with you. Thank you for sharing this amazing trip with us…I can’t get enough of reading everyone’s posts
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March 12, 2010
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UGH! LOVE IT! LOVE COMPASSION! LOVE THE TEARS ON MY CHEEKS BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT HOPE! H
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March 12, 2010
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So does anyone know if Nick has seen the message?
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March 12, 2010
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[...] people who have so little, but yet are so very joyful and thankful. Like in the case of 18-year old Eliud, living alone in one of the most filthy and impoverished slums in the world. In a prayer he wrote [...]
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March 13, 2010
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Beautiful story – thanks for sharing it!
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March 21, 2010
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Thank you so much for sharing that moving story!! As a compassion sponsor myself, it is so wonderful to see that what we are doing is truely making a difference!!! Thank you, Thank you!!!
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April 17, 2010
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[...] Thank you Shaun and Brad for sharing his story. [...]
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May 4, 2010
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[...] A Father To The Fatherless | Brad Ruggles [...]
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May 12, 2010
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I love this story of one sponsor, touching the life of one child. And yet, seeing the eternal difference that was made. Amazing, amazing, amazing. I’m so blown away by God’s grace and the hope that Eliud portrays. And, in the midst of it all, he would want to encourage his sponsor! So beautiful.
I would love to feature this story on my fashion blog! I wrote about the Compassion Sponsorship Challenge that I was doing and titled it, A Fashionable Change. Hope you don’t mind if I show the difference that one sponsorship can make! Thank you!!
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May 12, 2010
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Absolutely! Feel free to share the story wherever or however you can!
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May 19, 2010
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[...] A Father To The Fatherless | Brad Ruggles [...]
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June 10, 2010
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I would like to say something to Gigi. If you’re still reading all these comments (about 50 since you wrote yours), I want to say that reading your response was very thought-provoking. I considered what you said about the clothing, but have you thought about the fact he did actually have clothes on his back? I’ve got friends who visited a lady in Mexico (not connected with Compassion), and her children ran into the house to hide because she was washing their clothes and they had no spare set to put on.
As to where the sponsorship-money is going, well, I sponsor myself through Compassion. I have another set of friends who visited the Philippines and saw one boiled egg shared between seven people, so if we take a sponsored child of mine as an example, I find it good to know she can go to a Compassion-project and get a nutritious meal every day – giving her family (of parents, sister and two brothers) one less mouth to feed. I also know some of the money is used to give the children regular medical checks, I like the fact my child can go on trips their family wouldn’t otherwise afford, and after Christmas and birthdays, I do get letters telling me they bought a dress, underwear etc. Once I had a letter from Jennylyn’s mum, saying they bought a table where she could study for her assignments. Just a table to sit and do her homework was a luxury!
One other small thing is, you accuse Compassion of funding ‘Vacations’ to Kenya etc. This is not the case where I come from. When people go with Compassion, they have to fund the trip, although if they’re already sponsors, Compassion may give them something towards it.
I hope this helps. I’ve never asked Compassion to give me an account of every bit of my money they spend, but I’m convinced if I visited my child’s country-office, the Compassion-staff would have it all in their records.
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June 28, 2010
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Gigi -
I have sponsored a girl in Ethiopia for 5 years, and though her situation is not as extreme as Eliud’s (she lives with her mother, who is only occasionally employed, and younger brother, and her father is mentally ill so not with the family), something that I have come to realize about the Compassion program is that the acceptance of the past and present circumstances of the children is crucial to their feeling truly loved. Removing Eliud from the home he shared with his family would not be a gift to him, for it would be saying that what his family was able to provide was not good enough, and, more importantly, it would be removing him from his last physical connection to them. When Eliud is able to do that himself, then will be the time to leave his home. As awful as it seems to you and to me, it IS his home, and I am certain that he must know people there, neighbors, and very likely another boy with whom he grew up and with whom he has shared many experiences – both happy and sad – and having people like that in his life as he grows is part of knowing himself. I have thought about that particular issue – removing children from their homes of origin – since I watched the news about the children being removed from Haiti to be adopted by well-meaning people in the U.S. Removing a child from his or her own culture – however bereft of what seem to be necessities to us – is not compassionate; it is a form or arrogance, a form of judgement, and if I have learned anything on my journey of 63 years in this world, it is that we are not here to judge. Peace.