News of missionaries in Kenya from The Mission Society.I just finished speaking on the phone with each of our missionaries in Kenya. All of them are doing fine. Things were very tense Sunday when the announcement was made that the incumbent president was re-elected. Sunday night had lots of rioting, looting, and beatings. The local news media were all shut down except the government station. Stores are pretty well all shut down.
Amanda Smith lives near the center of Nairobi. She plans to stay put in her apartment - PTL that a friend who flew in yesterday was able to get to her place safely as Amanda was unable safely to get a taxi and go meet her at the airport. The Slingluffs live near the Kibera slum area that has had lots of rioting and burning. Several homes have been burned and their church is trying to minister to the resulting refugees. Rick and Debra also are sufficiently stocked to pretty much stay in. Rick said there are rioters on the streets, but no one has attempted to come into their housing area, which is secured. Most of the anger seems aimed at the govt and at the dominant tribal group rather than foreigners, so our folks are not intentional targets of violence. Rick said his family is doing fine, although the children are certainly sensing the tension.
The Dickersons also said they managed to stock up with about week's worth of groceries before all the stores shut. Things are fairly calm where they live, but they have still been advised to stay in. Julie Campbell lives far out in a rural area, a few hours from the major city of Kisumu. Kisumu has seen quite a bit of unrest, but Julie says her village is very calm. The road out is blocked, so she really couldn't leave now if she wanted to. Most people in her village knows her - they are of the Luo tribe, which is the tribal group of the opposition leader. She said they are unhappy with the results, but eager for things to get back to normal. For Julie, the main issue is some medication that she will run out of in 4 days, so we need to pray that she will be able to safely get to Kisumu by Thursday to get additional medication.
My sense is that in addition to praying for our missionaries safety, we need to pray that the church of Kenya would rise up to be a strong force for peace and reconciliation. Even though, as in most countries, the same ethnic divisions that exist in the society exist within the church, let's pray that the church can rise above that and demonstrate the unity they have in Christ. Rick said several church leaders are already working to set up meetings for reconciliation between the political factions.
This whole situation reminds us of some of the risks that are inherent with the kind of work we're involved in. It reminds us all the more of our absolute dependence on the Lord and the assurance we can have by resting in Him. Not a bad lesson for the New Year!
Grace and Peace
Jim
Jim M Ramsay
Director of Field Ministry
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