With each step I took leading me farther into the back roads of Eastleigh, I could feel the eyes penetrating my solemn stare, as if they recognized that I was not as brave as my face tried to convince.   Base #1: empty… nobody around… or so I thought. One by one the people crept out from their hiding. The garbage resting up against the fence was actually not trash. It was their home. Faces slowly appeared, some with confused looks, others with bright smiles. Some expecting us, others wondering why we were there bothering them. Some very alert and welcoming, others stumbling around with their glue bottle tightly gripped in their hand. After talking to these people for several minutes we continued on toward the next base.   Base #2: Under the tree. This base name is not deceiving. It is literally under the big tree on the street corner. About 12 guys were sitting on the cinderblock wall under the tree, clinching little pieces of cloth wadded up that never left the vicinity of their nose/mouth. These cloths had been soaked in gasoline. They have figured out that inhaling these fumes will also provide the high they get from the glue. This base was very interested in who each of us were and they wanted to introduce themselves to us as well. They were very welcoming and excited to see us, but it made us wonder if the excitement was only present because they were not fully in control of their mind at that moment. Was it their joy and excitement, or would the gasoline provide this excitement for anything they encountered at that point in time?   Base #3 – only one man was there when we arrived. He had been sleeping, but quickly woke up when we walked up to his base. He was burned about a month ago and his leg is still in very bad shape. The MITS team that visits these bases each day has helped get him medical treatment, but the man told us today that he did not know how to use the medicine. He didn't know how much to take or how often to take it. We went to the clinic across the street, asked for directions for that medicine, and took it back to the man. He was so thankful for our help. After praying with him and for his leg, we went on our way.   Before we made it to the next base, a man came chasing after us asking us to come see his friend who had been hit by a car. We followed the man who took us to his friend. Apparently this injured man was somebody that the MITS team has seen very often and he has had many, many injuries and medical problems. They have tried to help him several times in the past and were unaware that he had been in yet another accident, injuring his already hurt leg even worse. We prayed for the man's leg with him and as we prayed, the man wept. As he wiped the tears that were streaming down his face, he continuously thanked us.   We visited 2 more bases after these. We talked, we laughed, we prayed, and we just spent time with these people. When we walked up to one of the last bases, the guys saw us coming and quickly hid their glue bottles and cloths, because they knew who we were. They are fully aware of MITS and their mission. Some of these people actually go to church at MITS in Eastleigh, which is very new. It has only been meeting for the past 3 weeks, but many of these people from the bases have come with a genuine interest and some have even been baptized. One thing that Larry Connoway says is, "Good… they are saved, now let's help them STAY saved!" That is the hardest part for these people: realizing they are God's children, deciding to make a change, attending church, even being baptized, but then returning to the streets and to the bases. Returning "home" to their everyday lives. Returning to the countless temptations of the streets. Returning to those who haven't had this encounter with God, who don't understand why they would want to change from the ways of the streets. Many of these people beamed with absolute joy when we were spending time with them. Our joy brought them joy, and vice versa. Experiences here are ones that will never be forgotten. Images seen that could never be captured in a photo. Smiles defining their beat up faces. Gratitude and sincere appreciation seen in their deep brown eyes. All because some people took time out of their day to come see them. Yes, like I said, some may not even remember us being there, they may not realize who we are, they may not have even been fully coherent while we were with them, but we pray that our visits WILL have a lasting impact. And for some, they do.   Behind each piece of sheet metal, under the trash heaps, next to the crumbling cinderblock walls, all across the streets of Eastleigh, are hidden treasures. These treasures are heirs of the King of Kings. These are a chosen people. The Ruler of the universe has claimed these people as His own children. They have hope because of that. As we sat with the homeless, the poor, the crippled, the beggars, I thought of Jesus. I thought of Him dining with those who were considered the lowest, most worthless people. Jesus loved them, and He loved them with such a powerful love, that He took it to the cross. The Cross was not just for middle to upper-class white Americans. The Cross was for everyone. The love that was displayed at Calvary can and must be shown to everyone. Even to those who are not shown love from society or from many people at all. We will not be able to save all of these people living on the streets of Eastleigh, but we can point as many as possible in the right direction. And we do that by loving them with the love of Christ, and nothing else.   Today was interesting. Today was overwhelming. Today was eye-opening. Today was exhausting. Today was fulfilling. Today was heart breaking. Today was encouraging. Today was shocking. Today was every emotion rolled into one. Today was a day I will remember forever.   Returning to MITS in Kamulu was tough, yet wonderful. It was almost unbearable to see the faces of these kids and think of a time when they were the people I saw on the streets today. These precious kids I have been working with for the past week, who are uplifting, loving, caring, beautiful children of God, were once rummaging around in the dirt, begging on the street corners, dependent on the highs of the streets like glue, just fighting to survive. The power of God is more evident in the lives of these kids than almost anywhere else I have seen. To view firsthand where they came from, and then to see where they are now is indescribable. The hope they have now from knowing God and are aware what He can do for them is incredible. I could write and write and write yet I don't think my emotions could ever be described to their entirety. My thoughts are so twisted and tangled right now. My heart is aching, yet praising God for the lives He has changed.   Psalm 79:8 "May your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need…"   -SG