Replies

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2008/s08020006.htm

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Kenyans write to ANS about post-election violence in Kenya

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

KENYA (ANS) — Several e-mails have been received by ANS from people in and around the locations in Kenya where violence has erupted since the election results of the December 27 vote for President.

“This year started with some very shocking things. Kenya, a country which was peaceful for decades, has become a battlefield after the disputed presidential election results were announced,” says a missionary with Saving Grace World Missions.

Neighborhoods burned down by mobs. Photo: Saving Grace World Missions

“God has used this time of unrest and danger, to cause our family to seek His will with where he would have us. God is telling us as a family to go to the place where He calls us to go. Assuring us that, there is not any place on the face of the Earth, which is peaceful all the time. We are trusting in Him, and know He will protect us.”

The missionary says that during this time of unrest in Kenya he and his family have been going through the Book of Acts every evening and have seen how God often uses persecution to scatter believers and send them to areas that need the Gospel.

He says: “Phillip was able to start a ministry and many others, propagating the word of God through out Asia Minor as a result of the persecution that arose out of Jerusalem.”

The missionary continues: “God has strongly impressed on our hearts that He wants us, at this time, to move to Sudan as a family. My wife and daughter in our Devotion time have agreed. We are ready to go and serve God. We had been waiting for our home and the compound to be completed before we moved our family to Sudan. However, we feel like now is the time to go, even though our home is not ready. We will be staying in a small town in Sudan a few miles from the tribe we will be working with, until our compound is finished. We are planning to go as soon as the Lord provides us with the money to move and set up a home in Sudan. This will cost us about $4000.”

He said last weekend the situation in Eldoret took a turn for the worst.

‘Kenyan roadblocks.
Photo: AFP/Saving Grace World Missions

“In the town of Nakuru, a few kilometers south of our home in Eldoret, gangs of young men are seeking revenge for the tribal killings that took place two weeks ago. They are setting up roadblocks and killing people with machetes that do not belong to their tribe. A pregnant woman and her daughter were killed and a priest was beaten to death. Many houses were torched and 20 people were burned alive. The death toll this week has risen to 60. All roads in the area have been closed.”

The missionary explained that Koffi Annan, the former UN Secretary General, said this problem has deeper roots and the election corruption was the spark that ignited a fuel which was there a long time ago, such as land problems and the gap between the poor and the rich.

“My wife and I have decided not to allow our daughter to go to school any more. This was because there are rumors that our place will be the next target. All but three of the families in our area have relocated to Nairobi. This is a difficult time in our life. Please keep us in prayer as we finish all the details for our move back to Sudan.”

The missionary says that during their 10 years in exile they have acquired some furnishings and household belongings that they are not able to sell and would have to purchase all new belongings in Sudan.

“Our prayer is that we will be able to take our belongings with us. We will need to hire a lorry truck to take our things to Sudan. I have been able to contact about five lorry truck owners, most of who are from the Kikuyu tribe. They are afraid that if they travel beyond Eldoret they will be killed.
It is our prayer that by the February 14, we will be able to leave Eldoret on our way to Sudan.

“Our daughter’s education is also a concern. She has scored in the top of her class at her school in Kenya. The area in Sudan that we will be working in does not have a proper school. We are praying that the Lord provides a tutor or someone who might assist my wife in home-schooling our seven-yea-old daughter.”

A Kenyan citizen based in Nairobi writes to thank ANS for showing concern about the current situation in Kenya.

“As fellow Christians we are very much affected bywhat is happening, but we do believe God will touch the hearts of our fellow people to stop post election violence which has crippled most parameters of economy.”

He says: “At the moment calm has return slowly except for few pockets of unrest in few parts of the country, but our security forces have moved in swiftly to stop further violence.

“We do appreciate very much (the) diplomatic efforts by the mediation team led by former UN secretary General Mr Koffi Annan, Mr Benjamin Mkapa former Tanzanian president, and Graca Michel wife of former South African president who are current in country to bring together Mr Mwai Kibaki and Mr Raila Odinga leader of ODM to the negotiating table end this violence.”

The letter writer says that Kenya harbors the goodwill of international organizations and multinational companies considered by EU and US interests here. “That is why they had to move so fast to avert this kind of violence we are experiencing.”

“I can comment (that) since the beginning of the talks at least the country now is returning to it’s normal status — people are going on with their work peacefully and we expect the government to restore stability and security in few parts of the country.”

He concludes: “We us Christians we pray for peace and stability – let’s move forward to build our beloved country which has been experiencing peace for last 45 years. Our neighboring countries played a major role to also oversee (that) our country returns to calm for business to prevail and economy to improve. God bless Kenya and let peace and stability return.”

Yet another missionary says that last Monday morning, he started noticing all kinds of people running by his house.

“I locked the doors and soon heard a big commotion a couple of gates down. They were looting a Kikuyu’s house. In a short time, I saw many people running through our neighbor’s compound. They were jumping over their back wall (without permission) and running to join the looting. The neighbor estimated 200 people passed through their place. Some looters had machetes. It was sad to see women and children also involved in the looting. The police would come. Sometimes they’d shoot tear gas, sometimes bullets. “The people would run away, and then when the police would leave, they’d come back. This cat and mouse game went on for about 5 hours. One person was killed. They hauled him up the street in front of our house in what looked like a bed sheet. Talk about a couple of stressful days! Wednesday I felt weak, tired, and achy but thankfully much better now.

The missionary went on to say: “Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty quiet, then yesterday (Thursday), we got a call from a neighbor and his fiancé (a Kikuyu helper of ours who has left town because of threats against him) saying that some people were trying to loot his things. She asked if we could come over and get them. We rented a hand pulled cart with a couple of guys and headed over to his house. We loaded up his stuff and were headed back to our house when one said, ‘These people want to start to riot.’ I was pushing the cart from behind. It seemed only moments, but when I looked around the cart, It looked like total chaos, people running everywhere.

“We made quick U-turn get out of there and look for an alternate route. Turning down a small dirt road, it seemed like we were at least temporarily safe. In a few minutes though, we came upon a group of men unloading a small truck of items that I guessed had been looted. They started yelling at us while I smiled, waved and greeted them in English. We kept going and I found out later they wanted money for us to pass. One of them had suggested they beat us. I also learned after we got home that another group and been talking about jumping us and taking the things. I’ve got to tell you I was really grateful to be home safely!”

The missionary said that an ex-glue dealer they have ministered to got back from her visit home for Christmas to find her clothes and shoes she was selling had been looted. She’s started a small restaurant (one table which is outside, behind some metal containers in the bus stage area).

“I’ve got to give her credit for continuing to try something else and not going back to selling glue.”

He concluded by saying: “Well, we don’t know what will happen here in Kenya, but it is good to know that whatever happens, we are safe in Jesus. Last night before dinner, we read 2 Corinthians, chapter 5. Verse 1 says, ‘Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built with human hands.’ Thanks so much for your faithful prayers!”

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael’s involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department — Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) — of ACT International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (ACT) International. His weblog appears at: Michael Ireland Media Missionary.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.