Internship Journal: Railey Holley

Railey Holley: Ministry Intern

It’s been one week since I have arrived back in the United States from my two month internship, and I can’t stop thinking about the ways my eyes and heart have been opened to a whole new world and perspective from my experience in Kenya with MADE IN THE STREETS. In this journal post, I thought I’d share a few lessons I’ve learned from my time there!

One of the main takeaways I have from MADE IN THE STREETS’ ministry is that life truly is more vibrant and impactful when we simply love people where they are at. For around seven years now, I have volunteered and worked in disability ministry, which involves loving people exactly how God made them, but I had never interacted with or become friends with someone living on the streets before. This experience really opened my eyes to the reality that all people have a deep desire to be seen and known. By getting to know the kids at the Eastleigh Center and hearing their stories, I learned more about what it's like for people to be homeless and that these kids really aren’t that different from me. MADE IN THE STREETS models the way Jesus loved everyone He encountered in His ministry, and I’m so thankful to have been given the opportunity to learn how to love a group of people who originally seemed so different from me. This new perspective will truly stick with me for the rest of my life because I have seen how powerful it is to step out of my comfort zone in the name of love and justice. 

Another big takeaway from being in Kenya and witnessing the work MADE IN THE STREETS does is that, because of God, there is always hope in the midst of a seemingly hopeless situation. The amount of street children in Kenya is honestly hard to fully wrap my mind around and it felt overwhelming at times to know this problem impacts many other countries as well. These children all deserve more, and it is sometimes hard to have hope that things can get better. BUT getting to see the work MADE IN THE STREETS does for street-connected children reminded me that we can always have hope in Him. MITS seeks to help “the one” by doing everything they can to help individual kids who live on the street. Getting to meet and become friends with the students at MADE IN THE STREETS served as a clear example of the impact this organization has on children. The faith, joy, kindness, fun, and hard work the students all possess are inspiring to me because I know they are getting to thrive and experience their full potential through the opportunities, security, and love MITS provides them. It was an honor to see the great lengths the staff are willing to go to in order to help a kid have a better and faith-filled life. The hope MITS is able to offer to street-connected children is a result of the LORD working through His people and their desire to make a true difference in this world and in each child’s life. There is always hope, we just need to be willing to say “yes” to where God is leading. 

The last big takeaway is from an impactful book I read while in Kenya called The Good News About Injustice by Gary Haugen, and one of my favorite lines from the book says “God doesn’t give people a ministry that He won’t empower and equip.” I love this quote because it reminds us that we aren’t alone in our ministry efforts because we will always have the Holy Spirit with us. God wants to use us as vessels for His Kingdom in order to spread His love and the Gospel, and it’s reassuring to know that our ministry isn’t defined by what we can do but what God can do through us! After reading this quote, the work MADE IN THE STREETS is doing immediately came to mind because it is clear that this ministry is empowered and equipped by God. The Coulston’s started this ministry thirty years ago by simply teaching kids on the street Bible stories, and no one could have imagined the impact and change that has come about from the work of MITS now. This is so encouraging to me and my faith because it is clear that God empowers all of us to make an impact for His Kingdom that is so much bigger than we could ever originally imagine! I am thankful for the ways God works in all of our lives, and I’m honored to have gotten to see the powerful and impactful work MITS has done and continues to do everyday through the power of the Holy Spirit!

My time in Kenya is time that will always impact me in some way. Overall, I am just so thankful to have gotten to have this experience and learn from the staff, students, and current street-connected children. I am lucky! I am inspired by the staff’s willingness to do Kingdom work when it seems impossible and effort to love others wholeheartedly, the students’ dedication to knowing God more and working hard for their life and families, and the street-connected children’s willpower, resilience, and deep desire for change. I pray that my time with MADE IN THE STREETS continues to mark my life, and that my eyes and heart continue to be opened to new perspectives, stories, and experiences that help me ultimately understand more about God’s heart. 

Nakupenda sana, MADE IN THE STREETS!!! Asante Mungu kwa kila kitu <3