News from Missionaries in Kenya
(This is a January 5 update from Jurgen Rudolph, Regional Superintendent for the Church of God concerning the people, missionaries, school and orphanage in this troubled region)
We greet you from Kenya!
As Kenya hit world news in this just begun year of 2008, I would like to update you from our end!
My wife Ulrike, our five children and myself are all safe and well. We are all together here in the capital of Kenya; Nairobi.
The situation in Nairobi has calmed down, with the exception of the huge slum areas. At the beginning and throughout the week there was a lot of violence in the city and daily life was characterized by great insecurity. Hunting for food and fuel, as well as, lining up for hours for food was/and is still common in many parts of the country. The downtown area was full of riot police and protesters and daily running battles between the two.
The situation in the surrounding slums of Nairobi, and especially the cities of Kisumu, Eldoret and huge parts of Western Kenya and parts of the Rift Valley Province are still very dramatic. The city of Eldoret is virtually cut of from the rest of the world. Providing Shelter
Our Church of God Missionaries Gordon & Glenda Bloodworth, Marcia Anderson, Cathy Watson and Aaron & Ida Doan, are still in Eldoret at Discipleship College and other respective places.
Gordon Bloodworth says that things have calmed down and food is now available. About 80 people are still staying in shelter at Discipleship College.
In a telephone conversation yesterday with our Pastor of the Kapsoya Church of God in Eldoret, he says that still 1,500 refugees are at the church compound. These people are coming seeking protection from their enemies. Most of them have lost everything, their houses are burnt and all they still own is what they wear on their bodies.
Struggles Continue
Parts of the country are still struggling for water, food, & other daily commodities, especially the huge gathering of refugees. More than 250,000 people are on the run, or are hiding out at churches, police stations and other safe places. The neighboring countries of Uganda, Southern Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern Congo are already crippled by a fuel crisis due to the flight of people. Yesterday, a vehicle known to us was, for the first time, able to leave the besieged city of Eldoret in a 200 vehicle, army-guarded convoy. It took them an entire day to travel half the distance of just 100 miles from Eldoret to Nakuru. What the driver saw was horrific; dozens of 40-ton trucks (18-wheelers) have been burned-out, overturned and used for “road blocks.” Huge trenches have been dug across the high way to prevent people from traveling. Despite being protected by armies, rioting youth are threatening the cars with bow-and-arrows and knives.
Ethnic Divisions
These situations speak for the whole country. There is great danger of the country being dividing right through the middle along ethnical lines, and there is great danger of a civil war. More than 500,000 people are directly affected and about 250,000 Kenyans are internally displaced people. Thousands of homes have been burned and up to know more than 300 lives lost.
The presidential election of December 27 is not really the source of all the trouble, rather it is a trigger. Common people are deeply disappointed, there is a huge unemployment rate, many Kenyans live below the poverty line, i.e, on less than a dollar(USD) a day, also there are very old issues of dominations of some ethnical groups over others, and often it is just envy for a neighbors property.
In addition, many criminal forces are using the current situation to rob and to loot.
Points to Pray for Kenya:
– For the Churches. They are now playing a major role in affected communities. Thousands of people find protection, nurture and food. The incident of the burned down Assembly of God Church outside Eldoret with about 50 casualties MUST NOT be repeated. Pray that God will place fiery angels around these compounds & people
– For the Government & the Opposition. The head-to-head Dec 27 presidential election results were characterized by great irregularities. The positions are very hardened, and the opposition uses the destabilized situation, and the government shows so far an ion fist. A political solution MUST Be found, in order to end the violence.
– For the suffering people. It is them who take the greatest suffering. It is mostly people of the same people group as the president who are being targeted. Hourly their houses are burned, women raped and people literally massacred.
– For us as church leaders & missionaries, to be able to reach out, touch lives and hearts, and for the protection of all of our families & especially our children.
A real turn to God is the ONLY hope! Your prayers are so important!!!!
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Jürgen & Ulrike Rudolph, Regional Superintendent Eastern Africa
Project # 102-0014
