Sorry for the long absence...between having the girls at home and preparing for the new semester at the University and weekend preaching, we were kept busy.
The city is still trying to get back to normal - there were still fighting and violence especially in the slums. We heard from the news that a few children were fatally shot during those skirmishes. The nation collectively heaved a huge sigh of relief when the opposition announced that they will stop the mass rallies while waiting for mediation with Kofi Anan. Well, it was a shortlived relief as they retracted from their promise just hours after making it. Once again, this week, we are bracing for rallies from Wednesday to Friday. The opposition now has taken a turn to hold "prayer meetings" instead of rallies, which in my opinion, is just another way to get around the police ban on public gatherings.
Alice, the girl who works for me three times a week, and lives in Githurai slums told me that things has cooled down quite a bit. Another colleague who lives near Kibera slums, told me that she can hear gunshots almost daily - day and night but it seems quieter the last couple of nights.
However, Eldoret and Kisumu, both growing cities and economies before this violence is now razed down to nothing.
One of the reason the rallies called for last week were not succesful was due to heavy rains that suddenly started on Wednesday. January is usually hot and dry and we are not supposed to have rains till March. The rains has continued almost daily since then, deterring most would-be rioters. The weather has been wet and cool. While this is a good thing in terms of halting further rallies (at least for now), I can't help thinking of the half million displaced people including many women, children, babies, elderly people who are sleeping out in the open and wet grounds. I am praying that in those camps there will be born again Christians who are preaching hope and comfort to them.
One of the spiritual lessons I am learning as we live in this difficult times is that how fragile our lives really are....seemingly overnight, we can lose everything we hold dear or thought necessary for our daily living. Yet in light of eternity, how very few things really matter and how do we treasure those few things? Our health, our limbs (!), our family and loved ones. Living in Africa for so many years have taught me to be grateful for some of the most basic things many take for granted - uninterrupted consistent power supply, running water, good roads, etc but these recent weeks has caused me to reflect even more how I still take so much for granted. The Lord seems to continue to speak to me about living simply, gratefully and effectively - every day! In our first chapel service Tony shared with the entire university community that he had asked himself what would Jesus do if He was living in Kenya today. He felt that the Lord gave him a verse in John that says Jesus went round doing good - healing the sick and preaching the good news. He encouraged us not to be discouraged or afraid or confused but to keep doing the work of the ministry. I intend to look into my schedule and my life to make sure that it is purposeful!!
Well, this week, the girls are back to school - yey!! Tony is preaching in chapel on Thursday, and we have a fellowship/service almost everyday this week. Wednesday, we will have a debriefing session with the student body - pray for us for wisdom and sensitivity to those affected and that God will use us to speak hope and faith and healing.
I gotta go right now, but might do another blog later.....
The city is still trying to get back to normal - there were still fighting and violence especially in the slums. We heard from the news that a few children were fatally shot during those skirmishes. The nation collectively heaved a huge sigh of relief when the opposition announced that they will stop the mass rallies while waiting for mediation with Kofi Anan. Well, it was a shortlived relief as they retracted from their promise just hours after making it. Once again, this week, we are bracing for rallies from Wednesday to Friday. The opposition now has taken a turn to hold "prayer meetings" instead of rallies, which in my opinion, is just another way to get around the police ban on public gatherings.
Alice, the girl who works for me three times a week, and lives in Githurai slums told me that things has cooled down quite a bit. Another colleague who lives near Kibera slums, told me that she can hear gunshots almost daily - day and night but it seems quieter the last couple of nights.
However, Eldoret and Kisumu, both growing cities and economies before this violence is now razed down to nothing.
One of the reason the rallies called for last week were not succesful was due to heavy rains that suddenly started on Wednesday. January is usually hot and dry and we are not supposed to have rains till March. The rains has continued almost daily since then, deterring most would-be rioters. The weather has been wet and cool. While this is a good thing in terms of halting further rallies (at least for now), I can't help thinking of the half million displaced people including many women, children, babies, elderly people who are sleeping out in the open and wet grounds. I am praying that in those camps there will be born again Christians who are preaching hope and comfort to them.
One of the spiritual lessons I am learning as we live in this difficult times is that how fragile our lives really are....seemingly overnight, we can lose everything we hold dear or thought necessary for our daily living. Yet in light of eternity, how very few things really matter and how do we treasure those few things? Our health, our limbs (!), our family and loved ones. Living in Africa for so many years have taught me to be grateful for some of the most basic things many take for granted - uninterrupted consistent power supply, running water, good roads, etc but these recent weeks has caused me to reflect even more how I still take so much for granted. The Lord seems to continue to speak to me about living simply, gratefully and effectively - every day! In our first chapel service Tony shared with the entire university community that he had asked himself what would Jesus do if He was living in Kenya today. He felt that the Lord gave him a verse in John that says Jesus went round doing good - healing the sick and preaching the good news. He encouraged us not to be discouraged or afraid or confused but to keep doing the work of the ministry. I intend to look into my schedule and my life to make sure that it is purposeful!!
Well, this week, the girls are back to school - yey!! Tony is preaching in chapel on Thursday, and we have a fellowship/service almost everyday this week. Wednesday, we will have a debriefing session with the student body - pray for us for wisdom and sensitivity to those affected and that God will use us to speak hope and faith and healing.
I gotta go right now, but might do another blog later.....
Comments
I will continue to pray that things will return to normal as soon as possible n the craziness has finally come to an END!