One of a series of posts featuring someone on the outside looking in. Special thanks to 11-year-old Joy for sharing the speech that got her to the District Speech Finals – and that reminds us what Arvid’s ride is all about.
The Life Of Charles Mulli
Imagine: You live in Kenya, in a tiny hut with your mother father and brothers. Your father is an addict and comes home almost every night drunk. He constantly beats and has almost killed your mother. One day you wake up and the hut is empty. Gone. Your family has abandoned you.
Today I have come to talk to you about a man named Charles Mulli. He has an amazing story, which I will tell you in just a moment.
Charles lives in Kenya, to this day, with his wife, Esther, and 7 kids. Over 6000 other children, orphans, have been helped through his organization, which I will also mention.
When Charles Mulli was 6, his parents left him to fend for himself. His neighbours turned him away when he went to them for help, and he begged for food. He was reunited with his parents again, only to have them leave when he was 9. Finally, a grandfather took him in. After 3 years, Charles had to leave due to financial problems.
Through odd jobs, he managed to pay for himself to go to school. Charles worked hard, and established several businesses involving taxi driving, oil distribution, and a car insurance company.
One day, in 1986, Charles drove to Nairobi to update the registration on his buses. 8 boys, some of them teens, helped Charles to find a spot to park in the crowded lot. The street children asked for 1 shilling for helping him. Charles wanted to help, but realized the youth would only use it to harm themselves.
Half an hour later, he walked out of the building to find his vehicle was gone! He suspected the boys had stolen it. Now, you might think Charles was steaming mad, wouldn’t you be? But he couldn’t stop thinking about the street boys. He was battling an immense turmoil inside.
For 3 years he wondered how he could help.
Now imagine this: You’re 11 years old, and your father is one of the richest men in Kenya. You live the good life. One day he tells you he is going to us all of his money to help and take in street children. The outcasts.
Charles Mulli’s goal in life was to achieve great riches. Now it was to take in children no one wanted. He started by bringing food to the kids, telling them stories and that he loves them. Then Charles invited a few kids to his house to live and provided them with food and clothing.
Charles went on to start an orphanage, called Mulli Children’s Family and took in an ENORMOUS amount of children, who graduated, and he took in more. He has made a tremendous impact on the lives and destinies of these kids and youth.
So, Charles Mulli has a miraculous story, don’t get me wrong. His parents left him twice, he struggled through his teenage years, became a millionaire, and dedicated his life and his wealth to helping street children.
Charles has a biography, “Father to The Fatherless”, that I personally recommend.
I have met this man, and gotten to know some of his adoptive and biological kids, so this isn’t just research. I hope he changes your life like he did mine.
