Ex-Half Way Residents

Robert Ngesa
 
Rober Ngesa has his sores cleaned by residents at the Half-Way Home:
 
 
Mr Ngesa was released from Kamiti Maximum Security Prison in a horrible state of health. He could neither move nor do anything for himself; he had to be turned in bed to prevent bed sores.
 
He was brought to Philemon by prison officers who hired street boys to carry him to the half way house. The officers were afraid that he could die while still in their hands.
 
“As the residents at the half way home,” Kelvin writes, “saw Mr Ngesa being carried to Philemon under the supervision of prison warders, they were shocked. We didn’t have the expertise to handle such a situation, yet we couldn’t leave him on the streets. After some deliberation, the residents themselves agreed to care for Robert. Three days into nursing him, Robert started talking again.”
 
Philemon then managed to arrange for Mr Ngesa to be taken to Kenyatta National Hospital after long negotiations with the hospital authorities (there is no NHS in Kenya).
 
Said Hassan
 
Said was a lapsed Muslim fresh out of prison when he started life at the Half Way Home. Since experiencing the care of his fellow-residents and experiencing his heart soften towards Jesus, he has decided to become a follower of Jesus and now has a deep desire to see others come to know this same unconditional love.
 
Due to a kind gift of approximately £100 from a Kenyan friend of Philemon, Said was able at the end of November 2005 to return to his home district of Kwale with a house, bed, utensils and other basic necessities and to start his life, in his eyes, as a missionary to the people of his area.
 
 
Gabriel Muithi Munyao
 
I was released from Kamiti Maximum prison on 16th June 2003 and I suffered a lot of shock because I was not readily accepted in the society just because I have been imprisoned although my appeal quashed the eight years sentence.
 
Surprisingly enough, the church which I attended allowed me to give a short testimony and I would not be allowed to preach or even to share what prison life was like and how the Lord used me to save many people. I want to thank the Lord very much for the Philemon Ministry of which I learned while still in prison and the Lord led me to Waithaka where the halfway home is and where I got total acceptance, accommodation for six months (including food and clothing and spiritual nourishment and counselling). It is still here at Philemon where I started re-learning how best I could gain acceptance and confidence and trust with the community now that I had already accepted Christ as my Lord and Saviour.
 
Another major contribution that Philemon Ministry is that they were able to help me look for a job at the Kenya Christian Lawyers Fellowship where I am working up to date. My family and I are grateful to God and the Philemon Ministry for the help and the comfort they all ordered us in our hour of need for the Bible says that I was in prison and you came to see me, I was hungry and you fed me, I was naked but you clothed me, praise the Lord for Philemon.
 
I am therefore not hesitant to say to donors of all kinds, whether individuals or organisations or governments including churches that we need to be in full support of Philemon Ministry since many have immensely benefited from it and strongly recommend them for material, moral or spiritual support.
 
And now may the grace and riches from God be with all those associated with Philemon Ministry. Long live the Lord, long live Philemon and its leadership. Amen and Amen.
 
James Mwindi Ngoru
 
I am James Mwindi Ngoru born forty-two years ago in a family of four; two boys and two girls. I am single. I have no trace of family members. I am not sure whether my brother, sister or father are alive or not.
 
I’ve gone through life with a lot of painful experiences since my childhood. My father ‘sold me out’ to the neighbourhood in exchange for illicit brew drink. I had to do all sorts of dirty work at a very tender age for my father to be offered illicit brew every day. I later ran away from my slavery work to look for my elder brother. Unfortunately during my short stay with my brother’s family there was a lot of suffering. My sister in law never wanted to see me around; therefore she planned to do away with my life. Luckily enough I was informed by some people so I moved away from their house and rented my own house but she followed me and tried to poison me. When she failed she organised with other women and the local administration and was charged with rape of a young lady. I did now know what to do and how to defend myself. I was sentenced to Kingongo Maximum Prison for eight years for attempted rape.
 
In prison I learnt tailoring and dress making, I obtained grade 1 and 2 consecutively. On my release from prison I had nowhere to go, by God’s grace I found myself in Philemon Ministries where I found a home and loving friends. In Philemon I’ve learnt to forgive and coexist with others. In Philemon Ministries I’ve been loved, I’ve been blessed with good food and clothing.
 
I’m looking forward to start a new planned and organised life through the help of my ‘family of Philemon.’
 
Denis Lugard Mtei
 
 
 
"Praise the Lord, brother and sisters. I am very happy this particular time for what God has done for me and the following is my very real testimony.
 
It was 1994 when I was found in possession of gun bullets, arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department.
 
It was then that I lost my sense of hearing through torture. I was later sentenced to 14 years imprisonment and because this was a capital offence the prison authorities ordered me to be taken to a maximum security prison where there is a special punishment. While in prison I used to take drugs and I used to participate in the evil discussions of criminals.
 
Now it happened that one day I was beaten and left for dead after fighting with a warder; from that day I began to think about my life and who can care for my life.
 
God directed and guided me, so that in prison I did various courses including Bible studies and while in prison I used to pray mostly. I used to ask God to give me brothers and sisters who will love me, and care for me.
 
It was on 23rd December 2003 when I was released from prison through Presidential Amnesty and during that time I had not enough money to travel home. I had no friends to invite me, I was totally confused wondering where to go and what to do. But God who was my control directed me to one friend who sent me to Philemon where I met great brothers and sisters.
 
I had no cloth, I was nobody but they invited me. Now I have a lot to tell about Philemon. I even used to pray day and night asking God to create in me the spirit of humility and generosity like that of Kelvin. I thank God for giving to us the man like this. Now Philemon have make my life to be well, while at Philemon I have undergone various counselling classes, which have given me a firm foundation.
 
I had no means to start life; Philemon helped me to start life."