Pray For Peace

Please pray for peace. The U.S. Embassy has issued another warning. There could be trouble this weekend as they expect the Kenyan Supreme Court to rule on the contested presidential election results. There could be a strong public reaction to the announcement. The Supreme Court basically has three options: 1) Uphold Kenyatta's win 2) Call for a run off between Kenyatta & Odinga 3) Call for a new election.

 

Thank you for remembering to pray for the people here in Kenya.

 

Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Stones Fly, Mob Cries

March 19, 2013 (Tuesday) The early morning birds usher in the sunlight that rises over the mountain range before us. The “long rains” are here and each afternoon the clouds burst open and bless the earth.  One can almost tell the time of day as the heavy clouds roll in and drop fast and heavy rain upon us.  Rain is a blessing and many have waited for this season to plant their seed.  The land has been worked and now the seed is deposited in the soil knowing that one day there will be a harvest.  It takes diligent work but the end results are great.

Like those that work the soil it has been a time of sorting through some issues with head pastors in the area.  It is our desire to see growth and to see a harvest. We join hands and work to together to lift up those that have fallen and walk on the wrong path.

March 20, 2013 (Wednesday) I returned to Kipsongo slums today to visit the children at “Seeds Academy.” There are 320 children that come from the slums for an education.

 

 

Along with learning they are also blessed with one meal before leaving the school grounds.  Once a week they have a special treat…homemade bread! What a blessing Pastor Richard and Helen Makani have been to so many!  When we arrived the children were on break and it didn’t take long for them to respond to our arrival.  Trying to greet the children without missing anyone takes time.  So many want your hand and your attention!  My hand was in the grip of so many little ones.  Each child was struggling to be near me. One determined little girl pushes her way through to me.  She nestles in as close as she can under my arm and I hear the words “Do you remember me?”   I look down into these beautiful happy eyes and see little Linda.

Last year Linda was taken out of the slum life and placed in the orphanage.  This time of transition was very difficult for her and she had a great fear of men.  She would run and hide anytime there was a male figure close by.  During my visits to the orphanage I would try to comfort and earn Linda’s trust.  Friends remain friends even when there are miles and days between.

The little ones are so fascinated with my white skin.  They study my hand trying to figure what is underneath this white skin!

March 21, 2013 (Thursday) The hard and cruel life that so many of the children live never ceases to amaze me. My heart broke today as I learned more about a dear little girl, Sarah. I held this tiny little girl in my arms last year as we drove her out of Kipsongo slum to the nearest hospital.  I could feel the congestion in her chest.  Her mom had died two weeks earlier and she and her siblings were in need of much care.  At that time I did not understand that this little girl had lived a life of pain and suffering that no child should have to endure.  Sarah had been raped at 3 years old and now she tests positive for HIV.

March 22, 2013 (Friday) Traveling the roads here is Kenya is far from the organized and calm driving of home.  Today our planned travel time of 2 hours takes 3.5 hours.  We are on our way at 8 am and have a meeting planned in a village outside of Bungoma.   The streets were busy with market areas here and there as we traveled through the different villages. 

Everyone runs to the car when we stop. They want to be the first to show us their fruit and vegetables in hopes that they will be the one to make a sale.

Shortly after the village of Sikhendu we see a large group of people in the road ahead of us.  Several cars have stopped and wait beside the road.  We see the need to be cautious and pull over before getting any closer to the crowd.   Ahead there has been a murder.  Robbers have entered someone’s home and have murdered them.  Those demonstrating blocked the road way so no one could pass. Rocks filled the road and stones are flying through the air.  Their actions are extreme but it is their cry for help and justice.  Three police officers are at the scene and they have called in for more help. After a little discussion with some of the people from the area we are told of village roadways that will permit us to get around this problem.

The areas we traveled through were beautiful. The tall slender stalks of sugar cane surrounded many of the mud hut homes. In the distance Mt Elgon was visible and the massive majestic mountain outlined the blue sky. The roads were muddy and in some areas not so wide!  We were not the only ones looking for a way around the trouble. A caravan of cars and public transportation vehicles were traveling the same route that we were on.  Having vehicles travel on these roads was obviously something that did not happen every day.  Life had stopped here and there were many standing at the edge of the road watching everyone ride by.  The double surprise to many was when they saw a white women!

We were just about to connect to the main road again when we were told to turn around.  The mob had grown and they had blocked this entrance way as well.

We are determined not to let the pastors down that had gathered for class so we continued to find our way around through the small villages in the area.  The next attempt to connect to the major route was successful.

The pastors have waited patiently for us and they are excited about the new Bible course they have signed up for. Many have walked long distances even in bare feet for this opportunity to learn more. Going to school is such a great privilege here.  It is a dream come true!

The class ended 3 hours later and we were welcomed into Bishop Daniel’s home for rice, ugali and chicken before we started our trip back.  The rain clouds were dark above us and we knew it was time to go.

March 24, 2013 (Sunday) Today I returned to Cornerstone Church just outside of Kitale.  The children were many and enjoyed dancing to the music especially if I joined in with them.  It is good to see the growth among the people and also to see how they have cared for their church.  They have worked hard and placed cement tiles over the platform area making it very level and easy to walk on.  The response after the sermon made my heart happy as 2 people raised their hands for prayer.  Their walk was not close enough to Jesus, they wanted more.

After making a visitation to someone in the hospital Pastor Titus sat with me and shared his testimony. His ministry started in the desert area of Lodwar and in the IDP camps that are close by.  He was in a head on car accident one day and remained in a coma for 16 days.  His total hospital stay was 5 months long.  During that time he would pray for everyone that was placed in his room.  In those 5 months not one person died that he prayed for. They all regained health and went home.  It was such a remarkable testimony that even the nurses said he should stay and continue to pray for those that came in to the hospital.  It took Pastor Titus 2 years to recover from this accident and to learn to walk again.  God has restored him to health and now he pastors a busy and growing church.

March 25, 2013 (Monday) The afternoon and night rain brings coolness to the morning air.  To me it is not so bad but to my motorbike driver it is a different story.  When he came to pick me up this morning he was wearing 3 coats and 2 hats!   

The ladies were overjoyed to have us back in Mitume with them once again.   The class is growing and we are thankful for each and every person that has the desire to grow stronger in the Lord. 

Life in the slums is hard and in some cases a life of desperation.  Crime continues to increase and the cry for help falls on deaf ears.  Today we learn of a young woman, 26 years old, that was beaten, raped and killed in Kipsongo slums.

Psalm 119:105    Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. 

Seeds To Plant

March 12, 2013 I’m back in Kenya and people here are so glad that they can now go back to work.   They have stayed in for a week waiting to see if peace would remain in Kenya.  Many went without food as they did not want to travel outside. In some areas they didn’t have vegetables to buy as the vehicles were not bringing any in to the city. I was the first customer for my taxi driver in a weeks’ time. Nairobi became a ghost town but is now life is back to normal.

This morning I was up before the birds and on my way to the bus station. It is good to be back in Kenya. The traffic and crazy drivers brought me back to this realization very fast.  This morning we are a bit ahead of any traffic jams so we are moving right along.  Schools have reopened and today the children are traveling back to their schools. The bus station is full of children in their uniforms representing their school colors waiting for the right bus to carry them out of Nairobi.

My ticket is bought without any problems and soon I am on my way to western Kenya.  The 9 hour bus ride takes me through the beautiful rift valley.  There are zebras, baboons and gazelles that are feeding in the open as we ride by. 

The road way now not so smooth bounces us around in our seats and the taste of dust becomes a normal.

 

Returning to Kitale is returning home for me and I welcome a good night’s sleep at the lodge. The soldiers remain on duty here and caravans continue to form to travel north into the well drilling area of Turkana.

 There has been a report of one death here during a time of celebration for one of the candidates, a young boy named Ian.  There was also the discovery of 300 machetes that were ready to be handed out in a slum area for the purpose of bloodshed.  They were recovered and dealt with before anything happened.

At the lodge we now have a little one.  While I was in Rwanda a two week old Pokot baby boy was brought to the lodge and left. He came hungry, unwashed and wrapped in cloth. He is now being very loved and well cared for.  This little guy’s mom had died two days before he arrived.  She was very young. Marriage generally consists of purchasing the girl for a certain number of cows and a Pokot man will not marry her unless she is circumcised. Those within his tribe now believe this little one carries a curse because of the death of his mother. 

March 17, 2013 This Sunday I will be traveling back to Rafiki a village about 30 minutes outside of Kitale. It was not announced that I was coming and the surprised and happy faces were many.  I heard some fast speaking Swahili and “Mama Linda” in the middle of it.  They have so many young people attending now and they have a part in the service too!  They sing and dance along with giving a message in skit form.  I see how proud the older ones are of their youth as their eyes light up when they enter.

One of the elders stands to his feet and greets me and then proceeds in Swahili to tell me how they had been praying for my mother because I had said she was sick.  He wanted to know if God had heard their prayers.  I was happy to report that God had indeed heard their prayers! 

When they saw the slipper socks she had made for their children they were delighted.  Here in Rafiki each day is a survival day and the needs are “food” so a gift for their children brought much joy to their hearts. 

We continued with the service and prayed for a young man who was blind.  He left seeing a small light something he had not seen before.  We continue to believe that the Lord will totally remove his blindness.  Two mamas, one teenager and two children about ten years old asked the Lord into their heart today.  We rejoice as five more have seen the truth and found Jesus.

I walked a bit while I was waiting for the lunch that was being prepared by the church ladies. They showed me the chicken business that we started last year and the progress they are making.  Soon they hope to have 30 more little chicks!

The rainy season is fast approaching and many are tilling the soil in preparation of planting.  This is impossible for so many here in Rafiki because they can’t afford to buy seed.  This planting season they will have seed to plant and in time a harvest.

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.  For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Kenya Says No to Violence

 

March 10, 2013 After church this morning Clarisa and I walked to the market.  The days are very hot and humid and it seems like everything is “uphill.” There is a very good reason why Rwanda is called the land of 1000 hills! It was a 30 minute walk straight up a very steep incline. The market has everything in it as street vendors are not allowed in Rwanda.  So everyone gathers at one place to sell their goods. You will find rows of fruits, vegetable, eggs, fresh fish, live chickens, household goods, dried fish, cloth and even a seamstress on duty to sew something for you.  It is a very busy place.  Rwanda’s land is very rich and fertile. It has an excellent climate for gardens. It was also a firsthand learning experience about tribal artifacts and rituals.

 

I told Pastor Leo that if Kenya remained peaceful I would be leaving soon. Violence has been reported in a few places such as Kisii, Kusumu and Kakamega, but for the most part Kenya is peaceful. I told him how I appreciated a safe place to rest and to study during Kenya's election. I said "I don't think you realize this, but you mean a lot to me. I respect you and all that you have accomplished for the Lord."

His response: "I know that. When you were in trouble you came home....you came to me."

March 11, 2013 My bags are packed and it’s time to say goodbye to Pastor Leo and his dear wife.  I’ve always know that Pastor Leo had an amazing testimony but being here this week has been a marked experience in my life. God has really dealt with me and made such an impression within my heart. This man is not the everyday ordinary “Christian.” He is a Paul, a Moses, a mighty man of God. What a privilege and an honor it has been to be able to spend time with him.

Pastor Leo and his wife have 7 biological children and he have raised 8 other children. He has raised 15 children as his own!!

He started a school/orphanage for children on the Congo/Rwanda border after the genocide. He schooled and feed 1000 children.

He has started 80 churches in Rwanda. The church we went to Sunday seats 5000 people. When it started there was only 15 people.

He has started at least 50 churches in Uganda but doesn't know the number - said it could be a 100.

In the 70's he was put in a prison in Uganda by Idi Amin. He was arrested in the midnight hours while he was teaching pastors how to have invisible churches in Uganda. All missionaries at that time had been sent out of Uganda. The chief of the village sold information to the soldiers and they captured him and put him in prison. They also captured the Chief of the Village and threw him in prison too. (Guess that didn't go as planned)

While in prison Pastor Leo prayed loud, without fear, throughout the nights. One night one of the higher up soldiers was there and his praying interfered with his sleep. So the next morning he had pastor brought out of his cell - he was going to shoot him. Pastor Leo was facing the men and he told them they couldn't stop him from praying to his God. He informed them that he had someone greater than them taking care of him. Then they all ran from him. (He doesn't know what they saw but they were afraid and ran away) Soon after that they gave him papers and told him to leave. He said they could not look at his eyes because when they did they saw fire.

He knew he had to leave Uganda if he was to live. He and his wife decided to split up the children and try to cross the border into Kenya at different times. They wanted to make sure the whole family did not die if something went bad. They also wanted to make sure that one parent would live. So he was to try first with a few of the children and a month later Mrs Leo was to try with the rest of the children.

At the border  he told the children to pray one more time. Then he told them to run up to the border and then back to him. He had them do this over and over and then he told them to run across and not to look back but to keep going.

When he saw that they were ok he proceeded to cross the border. The soldiers asked for his ID papers and he knew he could not show them because it said "pastor" on them. At that moment he said confusion came over the soldiers and they started asking questions of other people. He saw his moment and ran toward the border. They never saw him go. His wife came with the others a month later and they were united in Kenya.

Please pray for Pastor Leo as he travels to India on the 18th of March for much needed surgery.

Pastor Leo Rucibigango

2 Corinthians 11:25-27 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

 

The New Times Rwanda's First Daily
Pastor Leo Rucibigango’s 50 years in ministry, marriage and the journey to fulfill his calling
http://mail.newtimes.co.rw/news/views/article_print.php?&a=10946&week=25&icon=Print

Kenya's Election

March 4, 2013 I thank God for the care that he has given me during this time of Kenya’s election. Pastor Leo knows all too well what being a refugee is all about.  He and his wife have opened up there home to me without question.  When I called him and explained the issues that I was dealing with in Kenya.  He said one word to me “come.” 

Rwanda is continually healing from the genocide of 1994 and their country is growing and becoming stronger.  Corruption doesn’t seem to rule in the land of Rwanda.  Traffic on the roads is rational and organized. The land is clean and trash does not decorate the landscape.  The smells of smoldering rubbish night and day don’t exist.

As beautiful as Rwanda is I must say that my thoughts are wrapped around the happenings of Kenya right now. Today everyone is voting for a new president.  I watch and listen for any bit of news that might come my way. Will the country remain peaceful?

Kenya:  
 

NAIROBI/MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) - At least 15 people were killed in attacks by machete-wielding gangs on Monday as Kenyans voted in a presidential election they hope will rebuild the nation's image after a disputed 2007 poll unleashed weeks of tribal bloodshed.

Mombassa is fighting ...they started early. They aren't fighting over who will be president. They are fighting because they want to become a country of their own!!!  Further up the coast there was a political riot and 4 police officers have been killed.

Polling centers did not work properly in some places.We hear that the ballots had printing errors on them.  Some of the names did not match the photos causing confusion.

Military has been sent to bolster security in volatile Coast.

People have stood in line for hours to receive that purple ink on their little finger that signifies that they have indeed voted for the new president.  There have been reports of some waiting in line for 16 hours to vote.                                                                                                                       

Vehicles are not transporting goods for fear of traveling through “hot-spots.”

The heavy afternoon rain ushers in the night but my day is not over.  The quietness is broken with a knock on my door.  Tonight they have a cell group meeting here at the Pastor Leo’s house and they are asking me to speak.  I quickly grab my Bible and walk into the room and there about 8 people ready and waiting. We enjoyed our study together and they were eager to participate. We are coming to the end of the session and I ask if anyone would like prayer.  One young man, in his early 20’s, raises his hand and says he wants to ask Jesus into his heart.  He drops to his knees and repeats the sinner’s prayer.  We had discussed “Repentance & Baptism” that evening and as he stood to his feet he looked at me and said “I thank God that he has sent you this far to explain this to me.”

He did not know my prayer that day.  He did not know what the Lord had impressed in my heart.  I believe the Lord has sent me here for safety and to continue in service for Him.  However the doors that I thought would be open for me are closed.  While in prayer the Lord reminded me of Philip and how he sent him into new territory for the “one.” How he sent Philip to explain the word of God to the Ethiopian. I told the Lord, “I will be happy with one.  Lord, let me see that one find you.”  Tonight that one accepted Jesus into his heart!

March 5, 2013  Ugali is the staple food in Kenya. It is a heavy pasty white corn meal dish that fills the stomach fast.  Here in Rwanda the staple food is “Matoke” or cooked green bananas.  After visiting the market I can understand why.  I have never seen so many green bananas in one place before.  Matoke is an easy dish to make.  The bananas are peeled and then put in layers, a layer of bananas and then a layer of peelings until the pan in full.  Some water is added to the pan and it sits on the charcoal cooker outside for hours.  For variety you might add a little watery homemade tomato soup or some cut up kale but “Matoke” is a must every single day.

Kenya:
Nairobi is a ghost town as firms shut for vote  by John Oyuke

At least one person has been injured in an explosion in Nairobi.
Police say preliminary findings show that a grenade was hurled into a shop injuring a woman.
Bomb experts are at the scene.

One person has been shot dead after chaos erupted in Garissa county over the announcement of gubernatorial results.by Cyrus Ombati

March 6, 2013  I patiently wait for word about Kenya. They had said that today they would make an announcement but there is only silence. The new process of counting votes has failed so the fear of a corrupt count rises. One of the reasons for the delay has been a lack of electricity at the polling stations. The laptops ran out of power so the election officials were forced to go back to the paper register.

Tonight I heard of happenings only 2 miles from the lodge I stay at in Kitale.               

 

The word is that an official from the IEBC (this is the voting commission here in Kenya that is responsible for overseeing and calculating the votes) is staying at the MidAfrica hotel and took some ballots back to the hotel to "recalculate" rather than staying at the official voting station to calculate. The official was followed by CID (Criminal Investigation Department), and a riot has started along the way. Kitale is heating up.  Apparently the votes for this constituency were disavowed because there were more votes than registered voters.  A mob tried to kill the election official here by the Alakara.  Shots have been fired. Still waiting on Kenya - the longer they wait the more people will feel that they have tampered with the votes.

March 7, 2013   I'm in a safe place but a lot of people are not. Please pray for Kenya. This update is from Theresa the lady who runs the lodge that I stay at in Kitale.

Riot police are in position at the police station in town where Wekesa is protesting irregularities in the Endebess results and stirring up tensions..... word is this will spread to the center at Showground where the Endebess results should be tallied with the rest of the area and riot police are also deployed there.  There are a lot of riot police around the police station area.  The all stems from Endebess IEBC lady needing to be rescued from Mid Africa yesterday when she was (wrongly) accused of tampering with results when all she was doing was photo copying documents.  tallied with the rest of the area and riot police are also being deployed there.... don't know about the latter but can tell you there are definitely a lot of riot police around the police station area... this all stems from the Endbess IEBC lady needing to be rescued from a cyber cafe at Mid Africa yesterday when she was (wrongly) accused of tampering with results when all she was doing was photocopying documents...... stay away from town tonight!

March 9, 2013  It's Saturday morning here and I woke up to my cell phone ringing. The American Embassy sent another text message... an "Announcement" was going to be made soon. Now let's see how Kenya will react....praying for peace.  Five days have passed since the residents of Kenya cast their vote.  Everyone has been watching and waiting to see how Kenya would react when the announcement was made about their new president.  Today is that day!  However a newspaper article tells us that Kenya is censoring the news. Will we really know what is happening?

Kenyatta wins presidency in Kenyan election(Reuters) March 9 2013
Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's founding president, won the presidential election with a slim margin of 50.03 percent of votes cast, provisional figures showed, just enough to avoid a run-off after a race that has divided the nation. Kenyatta, who faces international charges of crimes against humanity, secured victory over his main rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who trailed with 43.28 percent of the vote.

Vote will be contested: Prime Minister Raila Odinga now says that it is only the Supreme Court that will determine if Uhuru Kenyatta’s election as fourth President of Kenya is legit. Raila disputed and rejected the declaration of Uhuru as the winner of the March 4, elections citing what he termed as massive irregularities that marred the polling exercise and subsequent tallying. By Geoffrey Augustine and OduorMosoku

Police fire teargas at Kenya vote losers by Muhammad Iqbal

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- It's the biggest news of the year in Kenya: A presidential election with huge potential for violence. Why then are the headlines so boring, the TV broadcasts so dull? The answer: Kenyan media are self-censoring to avoid fanning the flames of conflict.
Kenyan media members said Thursday that media outlets agreed not to sensationalize headlines or even put political press conferences live on the air, to avoid airing hate speech or a political attacks. Associated Press by Jason Straziuso 

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

Reaching Safety

March 2, 2013 It is a beautiful day to be in the air.  Soon I will be in Rwanda, the land of a 1000 hills! I love to look at the earth below and marvel at God’s greatness. He sees me and knows me yet I could be lost in this vast world below. What love is this that God the creator of the vast heavens and the earth below would look at me?  It is amazing, pure and undefiled love that is always caring, strong yet ever tender. Soon the land beneath us turns into a shining mirror.  Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake is beneath us.The flight was good and my dear friend, Pastor Leo, was patiently waiting for me at the Kigali airport. My plane had left on African time….forty five minutes late.

My heart ached as I watched him struggle to walk.  With a cane in one hand each small step was taken with such caution.  One leg struggled to keep up with the other, it often dragged behind.  A strong young man soon came to his aid and assisted him with such love.  He is known as “Daddy” to so many because of the 50 years of service he has put into the ministry.

The Rwandan Genocide took place in 1994. It lasted approximately 100 days starting on April 6 through mid-July. In 100 days over 500,000 people were killed. Estimates of those that were killed ranged from 500,000–1,000,000, about 20% of the country's total population.It was a horrific time for Rwanda and most everyone you talk to lost family in this time.Pastor Leo lost many family members during the genocide. 

March 3, 2013 It is Sunday morning and even though it takes all of his strength Pastor Leo is going to church.  Today we will be going to one of the churches he started in Kigali. 

 It holds 5000 people and they have two services every Sunday morning.  The first service is spoken in French and the second in Rwandese.   However when I spoke it was in English J and translated into Rwandese.

 The choir was energized and full of joy and others joined them in dance.

 Psalm 146:6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-he remains faithful forever.

Leaving Kenya During Elections

 

February 25^th, 2013 It is Monday morning and we are on our way to Mitume for our scheduled morning class. Mitume is one of the slum areas outside of Kitale.  The dust from the road rolls in around us and so does the smoke from the smoldering fires along the way. 

 

Little ones start gathering at the church when they see the white skin. J  We are a novelty in this area and just perhaps the chance for a piece of candy!  Charles is sent to one of the nearby stands and yes he returns with sweets for the little ones!

 

Many in this class are older and the thought of having a pair of reading glasses was only a dream until today!  There were immediate jumps of joy, hand claps of praise and big, big smiles. We saw such an improvement in the class as now they could see so much better.  Note taking increased and they were eager to read Bible verses out loud.  Many thanks to everyone who helped supply reading glasses to those in need.

February 26^th, 2013 Tuesday we traveled into Shimo another slum area on the outskirts of Kitale. Young mothers came with their babies and small children played during the class. It is getting close to Election Day and political groups are gathering for rallies even here in Shimo.  Next week the class is canceled as the election and the possibility of violence will keep everyone closed within their homes.  Businesses will shut down and children will be sent home from school for a couple of weeks.  The streets will be empty.  Now the streets are full of vehicles with loud speakers tied to the top of them.  They ride up and down the streets with their volume full blast. 

Political posters cover their vehicle and crowds will follow yelling and waving branches behind them.  People run from everywhere, some not even knowing why, and a crowd seems to appear out of nowhere.  Posters cover the trunks of trees, the sides of buildings, and seem to multiply without notice. 

This week we announced to the classes that we have been advised to leave the country during the time of election but would return and continue on. There was absolutely no signs of shock or disbelief only agreement that we should go.  Everyone here knows the severity of the days ahead. A prayer of safety was said for them and for us before we parted. Here in Kitale we have a man that is running for vice president of Kenya and many supporters have gathered close by.

 February 27^th, 2013 Bags are packed and it is out the door at 4:30 am.  Today we are traveling by road for almost two hours to the airport in Eldoret. Traveling is a bit slower than usual because of the darkness and big pot holes along the way.   We come upon one area where spikes cover the road. We have no choice but to stop and the police gather around our vehicle and question our driver.  Soon we are permitted to continue on our way. 

From Eldoret we will fly to Nairobi International Airport. The view from the plane is beautiful and the day is bright.  The American Embassy is doing a great job keeping us informed of hot spots, rallies, potential traffic jams and how to prepare for the days ahead.  They tell us the risk level is “high” but they don’t feel the Americans are necessarily targets.  It is a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  They are advising any that stay in Kenya to have a “go back” ready, a shelter plan, and food and necessities stocked ahead.  There could be days where traveling out would be too risky.  There could also be a period of time that delivery trucks would not be able to make it through some of the roads.  I’ll soon be in Rwanda.

 

February 28, 2013 I’m at the missionary compound in Nairobi and staying put until my plane leaves on Saturday morning.  I have visitors from the slums and the pastor has informed me of the chaos and trouble that is developing in Kawangware slums.  The different tribes are forming together and grouping, people and running here and there.  Some slum areas have already seen violence with the burning down of homes and some have been killed.  Children have been dismissed from the boarding schools and parents are trying to get them home before trouble erupts.

March 1, 2013 Kenyans went through so much violence after the last election that they know how real the potential for trouble is.  Many people have decided to lock themselves inside their homes until they are sure that peace prevails.  The postelection violence of 2007 -2008 lasted a couple months and left over 1200 people dead and 600,000 homeless, many of them still reside in IDP camps.  Roadways were not passable, cars where set on fire, women were raped, places were looted, dozens of people were burnt alive while seeking refuge in a church, people were beheaded, food was not brought into the cities, stores did not open, and work as usual did not exist.  The pastor sits and tells me of his concern for his people.  “They will go without food!”  For my safety I need to stay away from the slum area but Japheth has agreed to do some shopping for me.  Food will be stored in the pastor’s home and passed out to those in great need during this time.

 

Psalm 3:1-6   Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, God will not deliver him.  But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.  I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.

  

Spitting Cobra Attacks

February 24, 2013 Shortly after the morning service I received a message about Pastor Florence.  She is a Turkana woman and she oversees the church that we built in the Lodwar area. 

She is tiny in frame but continues to go further out into the interior parts of the desert to preach the gospel.  Here in the desert there is much to be concerned about; scorpions, poisonous snakes, the hot sun and lack of water are some of the worries.

She sleeps in the round roofed huts made from branches of the desert palm.  A mat placed on the dirt floor becomes her bed.  The air cools a bit as the stars light the sky but still a night covering is not necessary.  Morning comes and as she moves something within the hut a very large cobra is alert and waiting for her.  He is upright and spits in her face.  The poisonous venom penetrates one eye and causes intense pain.

Even with a motorbike the nearest hospital is over an hour away.  She is admitted to the hospital and treatment is started immediately.  While back in the interior those within the village go on a snake hunt until the cobra is found and killed.

Please pray for Pastor Florence that she will recover without any damage to her eyesight.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.