The Shelter of United Love

August

This month has been a blast, following the amazing summer. From the summer coming into the end of August The Shelter of United Love had the help of some amazing servants from the U.S, Canada, and Kenya. It was no doubt that every person on the team, was there because they were ready to see the lives of street children changed.

Elisa joined Cornel, Dan, and Kennedy in the month of May. While the men worked to build a solid outreach and follow up team. Elisa worked alongside helping guide and direct them logistically and backing them with prayer. Elisa also did an amazing job with building a solid foundation for the The Shelter of United Love by leading the organization of the files, databases, and programs for the ministry. Elisa was superb in her strategies in outreach, and financial planning. With all of that and much more needless to say she was a rock star for the team.

Following Elisa, Haley and I arrived ready to work. Not even a week after they arrived the whole ministry moved from a one and a half bedroom apartment, to a compound with three buildings and plenty of room for agriculture and domesticated animals. Once in the compound the team had full hands with all the programs they were facing ahead. One big thing was the house on the compound. It needed a lot of work. Fortunately enough the team had it under control. Going straight to work and working around the clock the house began to look like a true rescue center. Cornel focused on following up the street children that had been taken home, while Dan and Kennedy worked on outreach for the kids who were on the street. The three muzungus (white people) for the most part worked on the compound. Not even a week went by before kids started showing up and getting their lives changed. With our outreach meetings on Fridays and Saturdays along with relational meetings throughout the week, the kids began to realize we were there to help them and we started to see friendships build between our team and the kids.

Our first two kids came off the street, Sammy and Godfrey, which really set the reality of how amazing Jesus is. He is powerful and strong and such a relentless God. After almost three weeks, Haley headed home. But praise Jesus we were able to receive Blake, whom was also from the U.S and brought a lot to the team with her nursing and relational skills. The transition never slowed down the pace of the ministry. It just continued to grow. Through a course of 2 months we saw 8 more kids go home off the streets. These kids included a funny young teen named Laban, two brothers, Joseph and Nice, a very young 6 year old boy named Keddedy, a beautiful 9 year old girl named Sarah, two friends Steven and Tony, a smart young teen named John, and kid with a huge smile named Gideon. Seeing those boys and girls transition into freedom was indescribable.

Sadly to say in early August after months of hard labor, it was time for the U.S and Canada team to head back home. The compound and ministry was left with the three Kenyan men, Cornel, Dan, and Kennedy. During the course of a month theses men have worked hard to secure the compound with a fence which holds over 15 chickens. They have farmed and planned seeds for the harvest, and they have successfully managed a follow up program of 40 children which includes school fees. These men are warriors. The month of August has been one of transition and we can only pray that Jesus continues to do his will for these street children through the ministry. As for now we have received enough money to be able to file for the tax exempt status. Once we file it we will need your prayers as we wait to see if it is approved. But in the time between now and then we are currently raising support for the ministries monthly fees. This includes rent and utilities for the compound ($300), 4 outreach meetings per month ($80), staff employment ($150), school fees for children ($100), transportation ($50), and whatever else the ministry may need. Since the beginning of this ministry over 1 year ago we have never gone without and we know that it is all in the hands of the Heavenly Father.

Thank you all so very much for everything you do,

Haden Hallman

Co-Founder of The Shelter of United Love

205-657-0068

hfhallman@crimson.ua.edu

4664 Riva Ridge Drive

Tuscaloosa, AL 35406

There is one sentence to describe our past couple of weeks here at the Shelter of United Love. “Jesus is Awesome.”

The bible says that, “Many are the plans a man has for himself, but it’s the Lords purpose that prevails”. In the foundations of this ministry the goal has been to insure the safety and restoration of street children. With that in mind, we knew we needed a home for the street children to come to and receive care and rehabilitation. In our minds,  what seemed to be the ideal plan was to buy a piece of land, to farm, raise livestock, and build a sustainable home for the kids. We didn’t know the time span or even the financial cost.  We just knew it was the plan God had for us. Well, when God wants something done, he does it. The idea of renting a compound for a temporary children’s home emerged between fellow founder Cornel Ojwang and me.  As we prayed and discussed our ideas, we were both in agreement that the need for such a home is immediate. Even at this moment there are children that need it.

We began to pray for God to open up doors. Not a week later, Cornel along with one of this summer’s interns, Elisa Dorman, took a trip to visit a hopeful prospect for our new compound. When they arrived there was someone occupying the home, but they both knew just by walking through the gates that it was the place. That night the S.O.U.L team prayed and less than a week later the occupants that were residing in the home had left. Simply Jesus, simply divine. It was clear that we had found our shelter. A week after locating our new compound, another intern Haley Green arrived in Busia town to offer her helping hands. A couple of days after Haley, I arrived back in Busia for the summer. As a team we went and had a look at the house. We arranged a meeting with the landlord, came to our agreements, and then began to get the house ready to move in.

The house and compound needed a little tender love and care, so it was up to us to get started. We retiled the bathrooms, patched and painted the roof, repaired damaged concrete, cleaned up bags and bags of trash, cut the jungle of a yard, painted, and everything under the sun. We have worked hard and accomplished much, yet there are still many more things to come in the restoration process of the home. Just like the restoration for the children, we can see the restoration for the home. As we are working and restoring the home into a beautiful house of healing we know that i it will one day host and restore many broken hearts back to life. It’s funny how things work out that way.  On June 30^th we moved into the new shelter. When we were sleeping 6 grown adults in a 1 and a half bedroom apartment, God was good. Now having over an acre of land with a big enough house for 30 people, God is still good and always will be good.

We are full of praise to God for providing our amazing new compound, and we are eager to continue spending ourselves doing the work that needs to be done to make this place a home.  Additionally, we have been blessed with an amazing staff. Alongside Cornel are two amazing men, Dan and Kennedy. Both of these men head up the outreach department. When they are not working on the house or doing many of the other duties it takes to run this ministry, their main act of service is outreach. They go out to the streets multiple times a week to get to know the children on a personal level. Cornel is in charge of interacting with the children’s department and heading the follow up program for the 30 children and young adults currently off the streets. We are well aware that as we grow the time will come to acquire more staff members. We are eagerly praying and waiting for the provision of more staff members.

For our summer staff, Elisa is a rock star whom is studying international development at the University of Ontario. She is spending her summer with S.O.U.L  bringing glory to the kingdom while also gaining college credit for her degree. We are so thankful for all that she has all ready done. Not to mention she was also on the very first mission team with myself and three others that discovered our passion for the kids. Our ball of fun, Haley, is a student at the University of Alabama who is studying education. This trip to Busia was her very first mission trip and she did such an amazing job.  Haley has returned to the United States after 3 weeks. She will be continuing raising awareness and heading up the support team for S.O.U.L. Please pray for her travel and readjustments. Haley has had a great impact on the ministry bringing joy, laughter, and unity to our team.  We are so thankful for her time here. Taking her place will be Blake Stafford. She is an amazing Woman of God who has spent 3 previous months working for SOZO Children in Kampala Uganda and is finishing her nursing degree at University of Alabama. We know she will bring so much to the ministry.

And now for the kids. The program is working. We are continuing to see kids go home and hearts being awakened to life. It’s apparent the Holy Spirit is moving. All we can do is buckle up for the thrill ride. We have many plans for the kids on the street. A new development of a prevention program is immerging. This program will exist to reach out to surrounding schools, communities, and villages to educate them on the issues of street children. Currently, we are awaiting the approval from Children Department of Kenya to operate as a rescue home. Once we are approved we will be able to fill our house with children ready to be loved and restored. Meanwhile in America the S.O.U.L team headed up by President Brad Petrey and Vice President Steve Hallman are working on the registration as a tax exempt nonprofit organization. After receiving the title as a registered NPO in the United States it is important to achieve the tax exempt status for the future of raising support for S.O.U.L.

We have many amazing things taking place. However, in order for us to continue being a part of all the goodness God is doing to restore the street kids in Busia, we need financial and spiritual support. Please pray and worship with us for all that Jesus is doing in and through this ministry. Please pray for the safety of our team. We are declaring unity, wisdom and power that will break all cultural barriers and bring victory.

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. I you obey my commands; you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:9-13

Jesus is Awesome,

Haden Hallman

Co-Founder: Shelter of United Love

205-657-0068

hfhallman@crimson.ua.edu

 

 

 

The Shelter of United Love

His Love Remains

I have been back in America for almost 4 months now. Going into my departure from the beautiful Kenya, Africa I did not know what was to come for the ministry. I knew Cornel and Dan were two amazing men of God with big hearts, and great vision so I had a good feeling it would be a glorious outcome. It did not take long for the reports to come in that exemplified the victories occurring in the ministry. Kids are going home, walls are being broken down, and hearts are being awaken to life.

If you are knew to following the Shelter of United Love, it is a ministry that reaches out to homeless, abandoned, and neglected street children and facilitates a way for the children to leave a life on the street for a life of victory. We do so by having outreach events which bring in the children from the street. Once we have their attention we simple share the love of Jesus. During and after the meetings we pick children out and talk to them about their situations. We find how we can help and we help. Whether that is taking them back to their homes, finding a new home, locating an orphanage, helping them with a job if they are older. We work with the Kenyan Childcare Office of Busia and find what is best for the kid and his or her situation.

The ministry has been active as a Community Based Organization for almost 8 months now. Looking at the amazing work being done, it is absolutely profound to see such amazing fruit in so little time. I encourage you to read the past blog posts on what Jesus has done. The numbers of children returned home has gone from 22 children and young adults when I left to now almost 40. 17 of those children are in school and performing great. Many of the older boys have been put through job training and now help provide for their families. Jesus is awesome and he has shown it over and again.

As the ministry continues the number of kids being set free will increase. This ministry is very simple. We are a gateway for these street children to regain their innocence. I will be joining two others in returning to Kenya in June. I am very excited to be able to visit all the children that have returned home and reach out to the ones who have not. Jesus had plans for this ministry that far surpass my capability to comprehend. We are aiming to achieve a piece of land to begin a rehabilitation center for the kids. We know with whole certainty that the land will come in God's perfect timing. For now we can continue to rest in the absolute truth. We are in God's purpose, his will and he will use us to do whatever is best to bring glory to his name.

For more information and updates follow us on facebook The Shelter of United Love.

Jesus is Awesome!

Haden Hallman

hfhallman@crimson.ua.edu

Co-Founder S.O.U.L Ministries

Life Through Light

Life Through Light

Each month of ministry proves how amazing the love of the father is for his children. This month has been one of amazing triumphs, trials, and victories. In the last blog I mentioned the Shelter of United Love had 13 children who returned off the streets and in the follow up program since the ministry started this past summer. Up to this point in December there are now 21 children off the streets and enrolled in the follow up program.

                  The more these kids can trust, the more they can receive love. The more they can receive love the more they can receive God. In the book of John chapter one it states, “In him was life and that life was the light of men”. God’s life is the light that we shine. When thinking about that light we tend to refer to it as love. Love is God and God is love. When we shine out the life of God into these children they feel God because God is love. When you feel the light of the Lord it shines out the darkness, it breaks chains, it destroys walls, and it restores freedom.

                  In a place like Kenya, Africa the child care system that does exist needs a lot of helping hands to aid it in accomplishing its goals. There has been a very strong bond built between the Shelter of United Love and the Children’s Department in Busia Kenya, because we are both working towards the same goal of improving the overall welfare of children in the county. Working alongside them has been so great for us when it comes to dealing with problems we really do not have legal authority over. For example if a child’s parents reject him and kick him out on the street we now can inform the Children’s Department and they can resolve the problem. It is such a blessing.

                  In terms of legitimacy and organization we have improved substantially. We have learned what it is going to take if this is going to be a successful ministry, and that is being good stewards of what we are blessed with. 21 children is an extremely amazing victory but also an extremely great responsibility.  It is our job to ensure every child taken home is cared for, their needs met and their dreams accomplished. In order for this to grow to life we had to form a database of all the children that we have taken home. This database that we created includes a picture wall with photos of all the children and when each was last checked on. It also includes what we call safe return forms. These forms are lengthy forms that describe in detail the history of the child, why he or she ended up on the street, and all the basic information needed to insure the child is being well taken care of. 

                  There is a parable Jesus tells in the bible. In this parable he describes a story of some servants who’s master left them with different sums of money. One of the servants was granted with 5 coins and when the master returned the servant showed him that he had made 5 more on top of the 5 he had been given. Another servant was given 2 coins, when the master returned he found that this servant had made 2 more. And then the last servant was given only 1 small coin. He went and berried the coin so when the master returned and asked him what he had done with the money he reached in his pocket and pulled out the same coin the master had given him.  The master grew angry with the man and part of what he says is “Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:30.

                  The reason I mention this story is because its referring to what we do with the things we are given. If God gives us something, it is important that we take what we are given and bring God glory through it. In this ministry we have been blessed with a platform to speak to these children, a platform that not many people get. It is important that we take advantage of that and make every effort to bring glory to the father. We have also been blessed with material things such as an office, house, motorcycle, and laptop and it is important that we are faithful with those things. When we are faithful in the small things we are given, it is easier to be responsible when we are blessed with even bigger things.

                  After six months my duration in Kenya has ended and I have returned back to the United States. The six months in Busia were some of the best months of my life. I feel the main reason God had me journey to Busia was to ensure that a chance giving program existed for the street children living homeless lives there. After realizing there was no program Cornel and I together formed what is now the Shelter of United Love. Before leaving we had another dedicated man join the crew in helping the children. Dan is now taking Cornel’s position as Cornel takes mine; we are very excited for what the future holds. I will be in the states raising support and returning to the school of social work at the University of Alabama. If by this coming June we have land I will be returning with a team in order to start the construction a home for these children. Please keep the issue of land in your prayer as well as the work that continues in Busia. I will ensure that pictures, blogs and updates are always posted informing everyone on what our great God is doing. As always, please like our facebook group (The Shelter of United Love) or join the group The Shelter of United Love S.O.U.L Ministries.

Jesus is Awesome

Haden

Belief

 

            When I was a kid I had parents that believed in me. They always told me I could do anything I set my mind to, but they didn’t stop there. They showed me I could accomplish anything in this world and they did so by putting their belief into action. I wanted to be a skateboarder in the X-Games, so we saved lunch money and my family built a half pipe together in our back yard. I thought I would give class president a shot my senior year of high school, so I took the money I had  and my family collected  hundreds of white shirts and spent the whole night with spray-paint and stencils making hilarious shirts and posters for the campaign. After high school I felt called to take an unusual route. I wanted to go on a yearlong mission trip before college. My parents believed, and on the trip I fell in love with a group of homeless children in Busia, Kenya. When I got back and told my family I wanted to move to Kenya and help my friend Cornel start an organization and open a rehabilitation center for the kids, well, they believed and here I am.

            God lavished me with this amazing realization of how important belief is in all of our lives. It is so awesome to think God believes in us. He believed that with his guidance we had the potential to show amazing love. He believed so much, he died for what he believed in. I say all this about belief to recognize a major focus we have here at the Shelter of United Love. We believe. It is our goal to make every child feel their life is important, they have worth, and they are capable of doing anything they set their mind to. We had an interview with a boy named Saban. We asked Saban if he wanted to go to school. Saban frowned and said in a ashamed voice “I am not smart enough to go to school”. We told him not only was he smart enough to go to school, but he could accomplish more than he could imagine. He just had to believe in himself and that with God all things are possible. It was probably one of the only times Saban had ever been told that in his life. We want to look at these kids and pour so much encouragement and belief in them that they realize how loved they are and that they are capable of accomplishing so much more than digging through trash, killing themselves with toxic inhalants and begging for money.

I don’t know anyone who does not like to be encouraged. In the bible in the book of Ephesians 4:29 Paul writes “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”. I like to imagine an environment where everyone’s words are uplifting to one another. That is what we want for these kids. We want to create an environment around them full of smiles and positive energy in hopes that by doing so we are essentially bringing the Kingdom to earth and claiming victory over the defeated enemy.

             It’s been quite an amazing 5 moths here in Busia. We have accomplished more than we could ever dream of. It is so amazing how God works. The past couple of weeks we have had two more kids return home off the streets increasing our total to 13 children returned and in our follow up program! Jesus is awesome. One of the kids, Herman, was picking through a small pile of rice when Cornel bent down to talk to him. Cornel was encouraging him and he looked at Cornel and just said “Teacher I am ready” The next day Herman was returned safely back to his aunt. Herman’s father was an abusive alcoholic and his mother left him when he was very young. He went to live with his mother’s sister but the dad reported the child stolen and had the women arrested, this resulted in Herman going to the streets. I remember having to make Herman leave several of our meetings because he always tried to give inhalants to the other kids and was always very disruptive. I recall seeing his picture on our board and telling Cornel that it would be a miracle for this kid to go home. Well, glad I serve the king of miracles!

            Another story is a boy named Kevin. We noticed Kevin coming to our soccer meetings and we were able to pull him aside and talk to him. Kevin told us that he was not smart enough to go to school so he left home and ended up on the streets in debt to employers, who made him work long hard hours for little money if any money. It’s called human trafficking. These children are told they have a job and then they end up being a labor slave. We asked him if he would like to go home. He gave the worried, confused look and asked when? Cornel simply smiled. The next day he was reunited with his mother and little brothers and sisters.

            There are plenty of other stories just like Hermans and Kevins but there are also the stories of those children still on the street that do not yet have happy endings. That is what we are here to fix. With outreach and one on one sit downs with the kids we will be able to continue to build these relationships which build trust leading the kids to be open and truthful with us. Our dream is to not just take the children straight home, but to one day have a center where they can come and receive love and care until they are ready to go back to the normal life like the one every child deserves. 

 

 

 

A quick update. The search for such land to build a rehabilitation center has been quite strenuous. We know that God has the perfect land waiting for us we just need to keep planting the seeds and watering them in belief that our God is going to allow one of the seeds we plant to grow. The office is coming along great, we feel more legit everyday. The motorcycle is a stallion of Justice taking kids back home all over Kenya and Uganda!

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Dennis is a boy that went home last month. He is doing great in school and is in such a warm loving home with his beautiful mother!

 

           

            Benja is also one of the boys who came off the streets last month. He is improving rapidly in school and enjoying being back home.

 

            Immanuel is the youngest boy we took home. He was 7 years old. Very soon we will be at his kindergarten graduation ceremony!

           

Sharron is the only street girl we have ever seen. Thankfully she  is in school and living at a host home currently.

 

            Andrew has been living with us. He saved up enough money to buy his own bicycle for his taxi business and no longer needs ours. At the end of this month he moves into his own apartment.

           

Michael is now a man. He is raising big, healthy, strong goats!

 

 

 

Stanly suffered a leg injury from a car accident but is healing well and in school!

 

Daniel is farming and is about to start his own barber business! 

 

Immanuel is going to school in Uganda and living with a host family!

 

These are just some of the amazing stories of what our lord is doing!

Thank you for all the support!

Jesus is Awesome,

Haden Hallman

 Relentless

                It doesn’t take long to find out how awesome Jesus is. All it takes is responding to the voice of the relentless God. Relentless is a deep word, and I have added it to my vocabulary when describing God’s love for his children. I know this because I feel this relentless love every day. When I am on the street and see children that have lost their innocence I feel a burning passion, a fire ball of love that consumes my soul and says “Haden these are my children, they are lost in a world of sin, but I am a Relentless God that has already won them, go and take back what is rightfully mine.”  That’s what we do here in Busia. We seek after his lost children with the burning relentless love he has put in our hearts. We run through walls of fear that have stood for long enough. And we are vessels to carry his banner of victory reminding the innocent of their freedom in Christ.

                Since my arrival in Busia we have had 3 man goals as far as getting the ministry going. Start a local based organization and train the local Kenyans to run it, buy transportation, and find land to begin growing crops and building a Shelter for United Love.  Since June 3^rd we have accomplished 2 out of 3! Jesus is awesome. We are a registered Community Based Organization, we just received our first ministry motorcycle, and we have the finances to purchase land.

When we get time off from working with the street kids we use it to accomplish these things. Much time has been spent finding the perfect land to host a bunch of kids that need lots of love. After a number of tries we found a lot of land but none of it felt like “The Land”. So what do you do? Well Cornel and I knew of a ministry in Kitale, and from the children’s home there is a massive mountain by the name of Mount Elgon (sounds like Lord of the Rings). It catches your eye every time you look it’s direction. Of course the answer is going and climbing the mountain and build a raging fire at the top and cry out to God right? We thought so. This awesome Kenyan and I did our prep packing and took off the next free time we had. We arrived at the amazing ministry Challenge Farm and were greeted with a lot of other guest already there. We had a great dinner and updated Momma Cheri (the founder) on the amazing work God had been doing in Busia. That’s when she gave us the statement “Wow that’s amazing well I am so glad you came because we have our friend Stewart her from North Carolina representing Hand up Africa and he has brought his brick machine along with him. He has and will be making 17,000 bricks for our girl’s dormitory being built. I am sure he would love to have you guys stay and help work considering the lack of helping hands he has.” Boom, just like that Cornel and I looked at each other and realized we would not be scaling a large chunk of earth anymore, we would be building bricks…..lots of bricks. Over the next couple of days we helped build bricks and it was amazing but we left Stewart with about 15,000 left to build. So we got back to Busia with sore muscles and I just kept feeling that I needed to go back and help this guy Stewart. Something about his amazing energy and fatherly love made me want to help and learn from him. So after our weekly activates had finished myself I paid 3 dollars and headed toward Kitale riding in a dirty matatu made for 14 but sitting about 30 people (awesomeness).

                Upon arrival it was super late I had just walked about a mile alone with no one with me except a couple of cows, the beautiful Kenyan stars, and my best friend Jesus. I made it to the gate an was greeted by a man with a bow and arrow which was comforting to say the least. Stewart was waiting for me and greeted me with a big Roll Tide! as I entered the house.  The next morning before dawn we were up, and eating the amazing breakfast Momma Cheri had prepared for us. I know building bricks sounds like a simple task right? Wrong! We had a big pile of dirt, a big pile of sand, a whole room of cement, a mixing and pressing machine, and a 55 year old North Carolinian that was like a high school football coach making sure we made at least 1,000 bricks a day, and that we did. We worked from sun up to sun down and did not stop until we hit our mark. At night, our bodies felt like we just got through getting stampeded by Japanese sumo wrestlers, we had calluses in places I didn’t know existed but one thing rested ashore; we always had full stomachs of amazing food. Momma Cheri’s cooking was so good it reminded me of back home. After two weeks we had finished all 17,000 bricks, and I had made two lifelong friends and brothers.  Stewart and I had a talk at the end of the trip that left me realizing why God had me help him. He had heard the stories of The Shelter of United love, seen the pictures, and knew the dreams. Stewart told me if all possible he is going to bring his ministry Hand up Africa to Busia to help us build bricks for our future rehabilitation center! Jesus is awesome.

                We said our difficult goodbyes and I headed back to the children I had missed so much. When I returned Cornel as usual had done an amazing job with the ministry and had seen to it that three children were home and off the streets. We were able to right away get two of the boys Benjamin and Dennis back in school, and Laban is in the process of going to an orphanage in his home district.  Not only that but Jesus blessed us with our first ministry transportation. A brand new Yamaha Street and trail motorcycle that we paid for in cash with the money rose from the amazing supporters back home. With this motorcycle it has made our ministry two times faster, the search

for land a lot easier, and the process for getting children home/ visiting kids who are home a simple crank and ride away. With all the work going on and the amazing things God has been doing one of the big things with running an organization dealing with children is to work together with the children’s department on every level.  Jesus has not only given us amazing favor with the children’s department but also with all the officers in the county. It is great knowing the government around you is on

your side. The only issue we had to fix was the matter of having an office for our Organization. Not even 4 days after the issue arose; we had an office in our favorite building in Busia.

The Shelter of United Love has been blessed with its first successful rehabilitation. A boy named Andrew. Until we are able to get a children’s home we do not allow street children in our house, due to the Kenyan laws. But for the teenage boys over 18 we are able to help them in the ways we can. Andrew had been on the street since his father died and his mother was left with more children than she could care for. She left him with his elderly grandmother that could not even take care of herself. After visiting his home and seeing what he was telling us was true we allowed him to stay with us in our small home. Now after 3 months of teaching, training, and discipline Andrew is an amazing man of God with an identification car, a bright smile and bicycle taxi business.

                I can’t possible write this blog without stopping to recognize the impact an individual has made on this ministry. Her name is Olivia Mill’s and though she was not on this earth long enough to see the impact she has made I know she is seeing right now from the amazing paradise of Glory where all of our souls long to be.  Olivia was an amazing woman of God that was in a car accident last week leaving her with a critical brain injury. What happened in the week following can only be described as a miracle at work by a powerful God through an amazing girl. Over 40,000 people had join Olivia facebook page Pray for Olivia Mills. Entire student bodies gathered to pray and worship God together and thousands of lives were touched by the amazing love of Jesus Christ including my own. Olivia was a missionary everywhere she went and she wanted to join her radical sister and brother in law last summer in coming to helo The Shelter of United Love. The impact she has made on my life gives me the inspiration and strength to push through the hard times, when the darkness is relevant and things seem impossible. I look at the children and now not only do I think about how my father Jesus would love them, but I also think about how my sister Olivia would love them had she been able to hold them and cover their pain with his love. Olivia’s legacy lives on through her fruits. And if good tree bears many fruits you can call Olivia an orchard.  Olivia was an angel that came to this earth and reminded us how Jesus loved people and then went to be with him forever. I am beyond blessed to have been able to call her my friend and I only hope to meet another woman as amazing as she was. Olivia I know your spirit is still with us and I praise Jesus you are healed, just know I will live everyday her in Africa remembering the amazing impact you left on this world and the amazing impact your still making in Kenya Africa. I will end this blog with a message I received form Olivia Mills right before her accident.

“Haden!! This is random but I have recently gotten caught up of what all has been happening over there and how much god is working and putting all his plans into action and its just so encouraging! It's so awesome! I really felt like i needed to tell you about this dream I had a couple of weeks ago before i knew of your organization that god has started. But the dream had a lot of power behind it. I didn't wanna bother you but It was so random and spirit filled that I really feel like I should tell you about it. In the dream I first saw this building that was under construction. I knew I was somewhere in Africa and I remember seeing all these glowing kids running around filled with Gods love and they were painting the walls of this place. Then I remember seeing you and some others working on constructing this home. At that point i knew that this building was going to be an orphanage for these awesome kids and you and whoever else that was willing was going to run it! It was so incredible. This may not be on y'all's hearts right now but I feel like it needed to be said! I am praying for y'all and cannot wait to see how Jesus is just going to turn people's lives upside down with his love through what he is doing through you”

Thank You for Always Believing Olivia, I know you will be with us while this dream is fulfilled.

Jesus is awesome

When Giving Becomes Receiving

Not long after or ministry became an official organization we had a very special visitor come and stay at our small home in Busia. His name is Marshal Foster. Imagine former middle linebacker in high school, a Marine shortly after, knows like 20 different fighting styles, and has the kindest heart in the world, boom you have Marshal. Did I mention the man travels all across east Africa helping ministries and NGO’s by shooting amazing pictures and videos and composing them into pieces of art that will bring tears to the eyes of Chuck Norris with ease? This dud is the real deal, nuff said.

A long story leads up to Marshal coming. I met a group of ladies on the plane ride into Uganda back in June. We talked about what Jesus was doing in each of our lives and I gave them some cross anklets my Grandmother made me to give to people. Well I get a message from my Grandmother telling me about a guy named Marshal who does photography and I needed to contact him. When he came he told me he met the girls I met on the plane in Uganda and they also directed him to our street kid ministry in Busia town.  Jesus is awesome I know. So from what we talked about I thought maybe Marshal would drop by for a day or two before his next big project to help a super big NGO that was changing millions of lives. Turns out this amazing man of God was taking his valuable time to help out a ministry that involves two grown men riding together on one bicycle to show some street kids some warm love.  Jesus is awesome I know. We went straight to the grind. Marshal told me he wanted to see the real face of what we work with. The next day at our meeting with the kids Cornel told them that today they would be allowed to do the drugs they brought to the meeting. Let’s just say Marshal doesn’t cry a lot because his job is basically an emotional roller-coaster where he sees a lot of difficult things, but that day he cried as he interviewed the boys telling their stories of why they we on the street and what happens to them on the street.  After the interviews Marshal boomed us with some amazing ideas such as splitting the boys into two groups; the older boys, and the younger boys. We tried it and it was so effective. The kids were a lot more open, more of them came and we were able to share a more specific message for each group.  Unfortunately marshal had to go continue saving the word but we were so blessed by his visit and we are looking forward to seeing his videos of The Shelter of United Love when he finishes it!

Jesus tells us in the book of John he will send our counselor the Holy Spirit to guide us and direct us. Cornel and I felt this helper and did something that seems hard but is really easy, we listened. We felt Holy Spirit telling us to go to the streets and one by one take kids and just spend individual quality time with each. Some of the kids had never told their stories and some just wanted to feel warm affectionate love. What I learned is that through the past year of working with these kids Cornel is the only person in the world they trust. He is the only man they can come to at any time and they know he will be there for them, kind of like Jesus I think. We saw this pay off big time the past couple of weeks. A kid living on the street doesn’t have to tell you where he lived, why he left and what you can do to help. The only way to get this information is through building a genuine relationship. One by one the boys started opening up telling us everything. One boy Dennis told Cornel he wanted to go home and he gave Cornel his dad’s phone number. After connecting with the district children’s officer and Dennis’s father we figured out the father was not such a good parent and has never had much to do with his son. The father risked doing jail time because he had not reported his own son missing. So out of desperation the father gave us the Dennis’s mothers contact information. With that we called he and found out the real story. The mother was so happy to here we found her son and instantly made an overnight trip to take what was rightfully hers back (mothers you can imagine the intensity). It makes it all worth it to see a mother hugging her son again and witness the two crying together. It’s a chain breaking joy from a victorious God. Jesus is so very good and to him all the glory honor and praise. Dennis is now back in school and living with his mother, we visit Dennis every week and do follow up calls almost every day in order to insure Dennis will never return to the streets.

He is the God of the Redeemed. To me that word is so powerful, Redemption. God seeks after us, calling our names and wanting to know us. He desires to have a relationship with us if only we would take the time to open our hearts to let his love invade our preoccupied lives. What do we get when we seek after God as he seeks after us? It’s called joy. I am a firm believer in happiness; God wants us to be happy. To me though happiness is a temporary emotion and joy is an eternal establishment in one’s heart. We can have joy in hard times, sad times, painful times, we can have joy when we are crying with street kids, or watching them do drugs in front of us. Joy is always there because it’s the scent that the presence of God leaves. Jesus never saw a prostitute, a drug addict, a screw up, because Jesus always saw people for what they truly were. A loved son or daughter of the most high king that has been lavished by his amazing love. Jesus won the war and thats what mindset he looks at things through. A victories mindset. Should we not do the same? When we see someone; a friend, family member, co-worker, celebrity, or crippled street kid that we think is lost and has no hope should we also view them with a victorious mindset. Should we proclaim victory even through it feels useless? Absolutely, a quote many friends have always encouraged me with is “We don’t fight for victory we fight from it” bam! One of the amazing things about being a Christian is the belief in the finished work of the cross where Jesus won. We stand in victory. How good does that feel when you think about it? Right now we sit in an ocean of victorious love because of an amazing love story about a God that sent himself to die for his children who could never repay him. One of our jobs as disciples of Jesus is to proclaim victory over every situation that feels unredeemable until it’s redeemed. In a nutshell that is what The Shelter of United Love is all about. Just a couple of guys empowered by the Holy Spirit, that look at something someone has given up on and declaring it beautiful until it grows wings and flies to where it belongs, in the presence of a divine creator.  

Since Dennis we had a couple of more kids return to their homes or to a safe place of refuge. We are praising Jesus for all he is doing and all that he has done. Ministry transportation is coming soon and land will be the next thing on the list. Please keep those things as well as the kids in your prayers, the ones who are on the streets and the ones who have returned home. Amen.

Love Always,

Haden Hallman

Co- Founder s.o.u.l ministries

hfhallman@crimson.ue.edu

Facebook- Haden Hallman /

The Shelter of United Love

U.S # 205-657-0068

1012 50400 Busia, Kenya