by: Kathy Davis | Senior Director of Mobilization (originally published in 2013)
Nicolas Muli Mulu was born in 2001 in Kitui County of Nairobi, Kenya. He was fatherless and his mother was mentally ill, unable to care for him. He lived with his 70-year-old grandmother who was dependent on subsistence farming. Due to inadequate rainfall and hardship, she was unable to meet his needs.
When River Oaks Community Church in Maryville, Tennessee, and Fountain of Hope in Nairobi, Kenya, entered into a church partnership in 2010, a love story between two church families began and resulted in the rescue and care of twelve girls and twelve boys. Muli was invited to become a part of this very special family where he is no longer an orphan but instead a son, a brother, a friend, a disciple of Christ, and dearly loved.
From the first time I met Muli, on River Oaks’ first partnership trip, I was undone by his beautiful countenance. Muli was joyful and outgoing, welcoming all of us with such enthusiasm and kindness!
A fast friendship began as Muli and I spent time learning one another’s names and kicking a deflated soccer ball around after church. He loved teaching me Swahili and would giggle at my persistent attempts to enunciate the words correctly. I was relationally enraptured with this precious young man who was so quickly thriving within the loving care of his newfound house parents, Doreen and Antony.
Doreen and Antony spend daily time leading Muli and other children in devotions and prayer before their school day begins. Muli is being cared for emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. He is thriving in a home where he no longer wonders if he will eat or attend school. He comes home at the end of a school day to family where there is nurture and love. Within the last year, Muli has consistently shown academic growth and spiritual leadership, and has been given the opportunity to lead devotions for his classmates.
I am anticipating my sixth trip to Kenya where the beautiful bonds of our church partnership will result in more precious time with Muli, his family, and our special friends at Fountain of Hope Church.
2023 Update // by Kathy Davis
Muli is currently 22 years old. He is a high school graduate and is working as an apprentice in a Forex Trading Platform with the goal of saving enough money to begin college. He has moved from Fountain of Hope (FOH) Church in Syokimau to Kitui where he was born.
Muli attributes his time with FOH as a “life changer” and remains grateful to God for being given the opportunity to receive Christian teaching and loving support for more than ten years. He humbly expressed that he believes he now has a chance to “make it in life and make top notch decisions” due to the encouragement he received through the love of FOH and their partnership with River Oaks.
Muli stays in touch with his FOH brothers and sisters and they continue to encourage each other in meaningful ways. We reminisced about my attempts to learn a little Swahili and he kindly offered to continue to help me learn. He closed our conversation with, “I just thank God for the support and would only want to support someone else like I have been supported one day.”
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:18 NIV
This article was originally published in the World Orphans Fall Insight Magazine 2023.