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