Articles
Mary and Joseph Mambo
Posted Oct. 22, 2006
Many are called, but few are willing to do what it takes to follow the call. Mary and Joseph Mambo are some of the few that knew the sacrifice it would take to be obedient to God’s calling on their lives, and they were willing to give their lives to it.
The Mambos have been partners with the Judah Foundation for five years, and together we have been able to impact the lives of many throughout the Mukuru slums in Kenya. They are just one example of the kind of individuals the Judah Foundation has been able assist, as well as work side by side with, in the pursuit to sharing God’s love and compassion through humanitarian efforts.
The following is an interview with Mary Mambo with an introduction by Mark Hayburn, director of the Judah Foundation.
Introduction by Mark Hayburn...
“We met Mary and Joseph at a seminar where Mary was speaking in 2000. That initial meeting lead to more times together and eventually a partnership to serve the children and community of the Mukuru slums. Mary is a registered nurse and Joseph was a businessman, and they were very secure in their careers. However, they felt the Lord leading them to leave all that and serve the disenfranchised and poor of society.What is very impressive about Mary and Joseph is that they sold their family farm to move into Nairobi to work with the poor and destitute people of Mukuru. This was an incredible step of faith as the family farm was their children's inheritance. They really felt God speaking to them to take this step, and when they shared this with their children even their children were in agreement and are serving with them in this endeavor. They are people of character and integrity and the type of people and program Judah targets to partner with.
Judah has been involved with Mary and Joseph for the past five years. Presently we have two homes, a school, and clinic. Our need right now is the purchase and refurbishing of a vacant building located right in the area where they are located. The building is large enough that it will be able to house the clinic, school, and some vocational training programs.”
- Mark Hayburn
JF: Mary, when did you become a Christian?
MM: I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour of my life on the 10th of September 1980.
JF: How long have you been involved in working with street children?
MM: I began this work of Street Children, orphans and vulnerable children in the year 1998.
JF: Tell us a little bit about how God called you to this ministry?
MM: I am a trained nurse by profession. I had worked for many years in the government hospitals prior to my starting private medical practice in the year 1988. I was among the first senior nurses who were authorized by the government to start private medical practices. I had two clinics operating in Umonja Estate and Donholm Estate. It was during these times that I had interactions with the street children who used scavenge the dustbins around the estates, looking for food leftovers. On their way home, they would pass through my clinic in the evening where upon I would treat them for various maladies and sicknesses as well as give them foods to take home.
This interaction continued for quite some time until I reached a point in my life where I desired to know where these children were coming from. It was then that the children decided to fetch me and take me to where they lived. It happened to be Mukuru slums. The poverty level of the people living there struck me, and I found myself empathizing with their situation. I never had any peace again, and I felt God telling me that this is where He wanted me to be. This is where his people are.
When I went home, the matter continued to pester my conscience and my peace became very disturbed. I shared with my husband about what God was putting on my heart. At first he thought I was joking, but when I persisted and informed him that I was no longer interested in making more money – as I was not getting any joy from it - he sobered up and faced the reality of my burden. After sharing, praying and seeking God about this matter, and both of us receiving confirmation from God, we decided to help them.
When we looked at our finances at hand we found this was a great burden the Lord had placed on us. As I was seeking the Lord in prayer, I felt the Lord telling me to use what was in my hands to start off in response to His call. I wondered what He meant, and in a moment I felt an impression come that we should sell our house that was in Buru Buru Estates and use the money to start His work in Mukuru.
Having been God-fearing people, as a family we agreed to the sale of the house. We used the money to buy the space where the Cana premises are currently located. That was in the year 2000.
JF: What is the most difficult challenge you face in this ministry?
MM: Presently, the most difficult challenge facing us this day is the expansion of the project facilities. Presently, we have about 200 orphans, street children and vulnerable children in our care. In time we came to learn that some of the children were being abused in their homes, sexually, physically or psychologically. We felt the need to start a rescue center/home for them where, at this time of writing, 20 grossly abused girls are housed. These are not the only ones being abused. There are many more but we cannot help them due to space. The challenge facing us is to find a big space where we can: 1. Build a bigger orphanage to accommodate more girls and boys, 2. Build a good primary and secondary school for them, 3. Build a big hospice and a vocational training center where bigger street and orphan children who are over 18 years will be trained in various courses which will enable them to be self reliant in the future.
Presently, there is a building adjacent to our project premises. It has a big space that would be able to accommodate all that we desire. As a first step we have been allowed to rent it at a monthly rent of Kshs. 60,000, payable in quarterly installments of Kshs. 180,000. We have also been given the overall mandate to buy outright the property in the next three years if we can raise the money, which is Kshs. 15,000,000 (The total cost of the building in US Dollars is $210,000. The cost in US Dollars to renovate this facility is $100,000.)
The plot size is 3.5 acres, which is enclosed within a stone perimeter wall - very ideal for our work. The challenge facing us right now is raising the rent money, which is very overdue, and finding ways to fundraise the purchase money. Please join us in prayers as we seek from our heavenly Father for the way to achieve this goal.
JF: What has made the biggest impact on your life as you work with children?
MM: The greatest impact in my life is to see these children changing from irresponsible, neglected and unwanted children, to lovable ones. God has shown me that He is no respecter of persons. People from the slums can live a happy and enjoyable life if all the facilities needful for normal life growth are available. By bringing to them the love of God, the children are responding to the Gospel. As a result, the entire village surrounding the project is embracing the Gospel and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of their lives. This has given me the greatest joy - that I can preach the Gospel practically by giving them the Word of God and meeting their needs.
JF: What are some of your testimonies from this ministry?
MM: Before we went to the slums, many people infected with HIV/AIDS used to die every other day. Because of availing the necessary foods and medicines, plus counseling, death rate has reduced drastically. Those with the virus are able to live longer and thus take care of their young children, and plan well for the future of their children.
Also, through our feeding program we have seen a tremendous improvement in the health of the children under our care. The various sicknesses, such as measles and other childhood illnesses, have been reduced due to our immunization facilities.
On the side of education, the slum parents have begun to see the importance of education, and are enrolling their children into schools instead of leaving them to wander the streets.
Due to our home-based care provision services, whereby our social workers and nurses visit the bedridden sick people, the mortality rate has been reduced.
On the spiritual side, many people have come to know the Lord through our evangelistic services and open-air crusades. The number has increased so rapidly that we have already opened a church which with a present membership of over 250 adults. Our greatest joy is the satisfaction we get in obeying Christ’s command to go and make others His disciples through preaching the Word of God (Matthew 28:19-20). Also, fulfilling God’s desire expressed in James 1:26-27, that is, that true religion is comprised in helping the orphans, widows and the poor, and that is the whole Gospel.
JF: How has the Judah Foundation been a blessing to you?
MM: Judah Foundation has, sincerely speaking, been great help to our project. From the year 2002, the Judah Foundation started to help our project through Judy and Mark Hayburn.
On the medical side, they donated money to buy medical hand gloves. At that time we had many HIV/AIDS patients coming for treatment at our clinic and such gloves were in short supply. They came to our aid with the needed gloves.
On the side of the school, the Judah Foundation helped us to build the school hall for the children.
The Foundation also helped to build the children’s home and equipped it with the necessary home facilities. They have also helped us to build and stock the children’s Duka.
Frankly speaking, the Foundation has been a real and practical blessing to our organization.