Tuesday, January 29, 2008
more trips cancelled
We heard from Julie, our mission coordinator with Buckner, that Buckner has cancelled trips to Kenya through May. Previously trips through February had been cancelled. We hope and pray that we will still be able to go in August, but more importantly we hope and pray that the violence ceases and that the people in Kenya can live their lives without fear. We also pray for the orphans and for their caretakers. It surely must be frightening for them. We continue to plan with the presumption that we will be going until we understand differently.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Ken Hall reports from Kitale, Kenya
In Dr. Hall's blog, he reports on his short trip to Kitale, Kenya. Here is a link to that post on his blog: http://bucknerprez.typepad.com/ken_hall/2008/01/message-from-ke.html
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Note from Kenya
Hi everyone. Someone I went to high school with happens to be in Kenya right now. She is a nurse by training, but I am not sure what her mission is at this time. This is an email my mom forwarded to me from Amanda. She is a member of Church of Christ. I am pretty sure is on mission through them. Sorry, in advance, for the sketchy background. I will try to find out more. But thought you might want to share.
Thanks,
Natalie
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:28:34 -0800
Subject: 'No news is good news...?'
I’m probably not going to get away with that cliché am I? But things have sort-of gotten back to normal this past week and a half, and I’ve actually been doing a bit of traveling and visiting ministry partners here. When I say normal, I mean the matatu’s are running again, schools are back in session (though most were delayed by about a week), I can go downtown, and I don’t have to stock up on food and phone credit. But things continue to be far from normal for many: my Swahili teachers had several of their students evacuate the country and no new students wanting to register, so they have yet to start teaching, numerous police stations throughout the country are still crowded with displaced citizens who have either lost their homes or are fearing to return to them due to violence they may encounter upon their arrival, and the far northern part of the country is still unable to receive produce from the city of Kitale (due to routes being closed) making their desperate situation for food even worse than before. So you can see why I’m reluctant to describe things as ‘normal.’
This week marks another crucial week for us here, as the new Parliament was sworn in yesterday and today started another 3 days of proposed attempts to rally throughout the country by the opposition’s party. I arrived back into Nairobi around 3pm today, and headed home only to be met by a mass of pedestrians and vehicles leaving the city center. The radio in the taxi reported that the streets and businesses downtown had been closed again, and all employees were being sent home. The park (same site as previously attempted rallies) was blocked off by endless rows of military and city police. Thankfully, we arrived home safely and to my knowledge, things have remained calm up to this point. Again, the security is doing an excellent job of preventing looting and violence downtown. So for now, as has been for the last few weeks I guess, it’s just ‘wait and see.’ The opposition leader says that he will succeed in holding these demonstrations and that he’s even willing to face imprisonment if it comes to that. It’s our prayer that the pursuit of ‘democracy’ will not cost any more lives here in Kenya.
Thanks again for the prayers, and continue to remember us this week. Pray for peace in the schools that have resumed, as roommates, classmates and faculty are returning who may be of the opposing tribes. Pray for the multiplication of resources that are being donated here by Kenyans to help others in need, many are giving not out of their excess, but from what little they have. Pray for the Church here in Kenya to lead the charge in eliminating tribal discrimination. Pray for those of us serving here in Kenya to know how we fit into this sensitive time in this country’s history.
I’ll be in touch…
amanda
Thanks,
Natalie
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:28:34 -0800
Subject: 'No news is good news...?'
I’m probably not going to get away with that cliché am I? But things have sort-of gotten back to normal this past week and a half, and I’ve actually been doing a bit of traveling and visiting ministry partners here. When I say normal, I mean the matatu’s are running again, schools are back in session (though most were delayed by about a week), I can go downtown, and I don’t have to stock up on food and phone credit. But things continue to be far from normal for many: my Swahili teachers had several of their students evacuate the country and no new students wanting to register, so they have yet to start teaching, numerous police stations throughout the country are still crowded with displaced citizens who have either lost their homes or are fearing to return to them due to violence they may encounter upon their arrival, and the far northern part of the country is still unable to receive produce from the city of Kitale (due to routes being closed) making their desperate situation for food even worse than before. So you can see why I’m reluctant to describe things as ‘normal.’
This week marks another crucial week for us here, as the new Parliament was sworn in yesterday and today started another 3 days of proposed attempts to rally throughout the country by the opposition’s party. I arrived back into Nairobi around 3pm today, and headed home only to be met by a mass of pedestrians and vehicles leaving the city center. The radio in the taxi reported that the streets and businesses downtown had been closed again, and all employees were being sent home. The park (same site as previously attempted rallies) was blocked off by endless rows of military and city police. Thankfully, we arrived home safely and to my knowledge, things have remained calm up to this point. Again, the security is doing an excellent job of preventing looting and violence downtown. So for now, as has been for the last few weeks I guess, it’s just ‘wait and see.’ The opposition leader says that he will succeed in holding these demonstrations and that he’s even willing to face imprisonment if it comes to that. It’s our prayer that the pursuit of ‘democracy’ will not cost any more lives here in Kenya.
Thanks again for the prayers, and continue to remember us this week. Pray for peace in the schools that have resumed, as roommates, classmates and faculty are returning who may be of the opposing tribes. Pray for the multiplication of resources that are being donated here by Kenyans to help others in need, many are giving not out of their excess, but from what little they have. Pray for the Church here in Kenya to lead the charge in eliminating tribal discrimination. Pray for those of us serving here in Kenya to know how we fit into this sensitive time in this country’s history.
I’ll be in touch…
amanda
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Seed of Hope Children's Home in Kitale
Buckner announced that on January 1st this year that they are taking over administration of the Seed of Hope Children's Home in Kitale, Kenya. This link is an article written by Scott Collins concerning this: http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=7276
Most likely our teams will be working with these children in addition to the foster children in Kitale.
Most likely our teams will be working with these children in addition to the foster children in Kitale.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Prayers for Kenya
My heart is sad as I continue to hear of the problems in the country of Kenya. Please pray for peace. We will continue to plan our trip until we see that it is not possible to go. A lot can happen in seven months. We know Buckner will make the best decision for our safety. Here are few links where you can get more information. This one is to a blog that contains news from Sam Harroll, a CBF missionary in Kenya. http://africaexchange.org/KenyaNews%20.htm This is a site he recommended.
http://allafrica.com/kenya/
Buckner has been in contact with their Kenyan employees and at this point they are all safe. You can read Dr. Ken Hall's blog entries at http://bucknerprez.typepad.com/ken_hall/2008/01/hope-in-kenya.html
and
http://bucknerprez.typepad.com/ken_hall/2008/01/indigenous-insi.html
This link is to the Buckner newsletter.
http://www.buckner.org/enews-bucknerkenya.shtml
Naomi
http://allafrica.com/kenya/
Buckner has been in contact with their Kenyan employees and at this point they are all safe. You can read Dr. Ken Hall's blog entries at http://bucknerprez.typepad.com/ken_hall/2008/01/hope-in-kenya.html
and
http://bucknerprez.typepad.com/ken_hall/2008/01/indigenous-insi.html
This link is to the Buckner newsletter.
http://www.buckner.org/enews-bucknerkenya.shtml
Naomi
More information from Ken Hall, President of Buckner
Check Dr. Hall's blog for his last 2 entries. The link to his blog is on the list of links on this page.
News from Sam Harrell, CBF Missionary
http://africaexchange.org/KenyaNews.htm . He should be updating this page, so continue to check back.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
news from Kenya
I'm sure you've all heard the news about the unrest in Kenya since there elections. We are not sure what it will all mean to us, but be assured that Buckner is monitoring the situation very closely. Here's a link to the blog of Ken Hall, President of Buckner.
http://bucknerprez.typepad.com/ken_hall/
http://bucknerprez.typepad.com/ken_hall/
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