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Power Outtage and Continuing Violence

As of now, Monday 8.10am, we have been without electricity for nearly 24 hours. Our water supply is pumped from a borehole on campus and since we need electricity to work the pump, we have no water either. We do have a small storage tank and we are using that for dishes and bathrooms. We are also fortunate enough to have a generator which we keep going for a couple hours at a time to keep our fridge and freezer cold.....but we want to be careful so that we won't run out of petrol needed for the generator. Pray that we get our power back soon....

Yesterday there were about half the congregation at the church we go to regularly, the children's church was cancelled, we are not sure why but we think because they had no teachers, so the kids attended the main service. The church is collecting food, money and personal effects for the displaced people - Vickie has already packed a sack of clothes that she can share. We will try to bring it to the church with some more food items sometime during the week.

We continue to read and hear of violence rocking different parts of our nation. One of our students I met last night told me that he was shocked to see over 1000 people taking refuge in the open field of a nearby air base - Nairobi gets cold in the night and these people (many of whom are women and children) will have to sleep in the open with nothing more than the clothes on them.

Our situation in Kenya right now brought back many traumatic memories of our students who were in similar situations in Sudan, Rwanda, Congo and Burundi. One of our Sudanese student, shared with me how she was on the run during the civil war in Sudan. She was heavily pregnant with her first child and had to run when the shelling started in her village. While on the run, her labor started. She kept running until the baby came. A stranger helped her delivered the baby, wrapped the newborn in his shirt, helped cleaned her and then continued running for their lives, newborn in her arms! Since we've been at PAC, we have heard many such stories from our pastors in training here who have fled the conflicts in their countries to Kenya. They are now being trained to take gospel to their own nations. It is difficult for them and us to see these scenes being replayed here now in Kenya - the country which used to be a refuge for many refugees.

We read of another attack in the Rift Valley where women and children are killed in this senseless violence. At the same time, the opposition has called for another rally tomorrow.

We need this conflict to end, we need people to pray, we need a standard to be raised against the enemy, we need peace to return, we need water and power to return to many parts of the country, we need food and clothes and resources to share with those who suddenly found themselves homeless and helpless, we need you to stand with us in prayer.

Thank you for the emails and support that we have received....we appreciate each email and comment. God bless you and keep you safe too, wherever you are!

Comments

The White House said…
Christine,
Let me know how I can send you money.
Rosemary
Christine Phang said…
Thanks ROsemary, I jsut sent you an email on it. Blessings!!

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