A Conversation with Collins Mugele
shared by Fr Rob Lewis
Members of All Souls have been supporting and visiting students at Kinyago Dandora School (KDS) in Kenya, since its inception in 1985. The school, located in the Dandora slum area of Nairobi City, “lifts up children and their families from a place of hopelessness to personal achievement through the catalyst of a Christian education.”
In May 2024—for the first time ever—a student from the school visited us! His name is Collins Mugele. A group from All Souls first met Collins in 2009 when he was an elementary school student at KDS. Collins is now the CEO of Kenya Children’s Fund (KCF), the founding organization of KDS, and the realization of KCF’s founder, Ginger Palm, to hand over leadership to a Kenyan graduate of the school.
“Thank you, dear beloved at All Souls Church for believing in the potential of each child we serve and in our cause. May your compassion and kindness return to you abundantly, just as you have blessed so many in need.“
Collins shared about KDS in Catechesis and joined us in worship. Collins and I talked about our common vision of God that binds us together. “We live in vastly different worlds and God lives with us in both our worlds. But we love it when our worlds come together!” Collins said.
I asked Collins what he prays for, and his reply was immediate, “That we stand and not fall. That we see the goodness and graciousness of God. If you are at KDS and you’ve never seen God, you haven’t opened your eyes, because God is right here with us. He has shown himself in so many ways and at so many times. We are often anesthetized to God’s goodness as well as to evil. We can never lose our guard.”
“How is God guarding you?” I asked.
“As I surrender to his will and presence, I know he has my back. It’s not about me. It’s about His purpose and if he purposes to work through me, I don’t need to worry.”
Collins laughed, “God protects his resources! He has guarded us through challenges and breathtakingly hard times. I have joy in those trials. My heart is at peace. At the deepest point of my life, I know God is there.”
“How can we pray for you?” I asked.
“Pray for my family’s safety. We live and work in a dangerous area. Pray that I listen to God, what he wants for KDS, so that my leadership will be God-led.”
A few months after this visit Collins sent a video of KDS students singing I Am the Bread of Life, a song we sang the morning Collins was with us. “I was deeply moved as I worshipped with you, and especially by this song,” he wrote. “May you and the congregation at All Souls be blessed with this rendition of ‘the bread of life’ from KDS. When you listen please know we join you in worship, and, as always, pray for you without ceasing.”
Please enjoy this sweet gift from our brothers and sisters at Kinyago Dandora Secondary School.
