Kenyan Crisis - January 8, 2008

Kenyan crisis – January 8, 2008

May God bless all those who prayed for our beloved Kenya!

The intense violence has stopped, though there are still very isolated
incidences. More and more civic groups, churches, and private citizens are
speaking out against the violence. Some are publicly giving very strong
political opinions, which could never happen in a place where democracy
was not valued by some degree by the government. There is an attitude now
that most Kenyans are fed-up and are not going to tolerate such violent
acts anymore. Praise God!

Now, as Christians who have been called to be the salt and light of the
world, we must deal with the results of such hatred and violence. The UN
reports around 250,000 Kenyans are now like refugees within their own
country. Though for several days after the violence had nearly ceased, the
original count of dead was reported to be 300; but apparently after closer
investigations, more truthful reporting, or both, the count has now jumped
to 500. Friends in Kisumu say that the city mortuary is packed full with
the dead, and homes are filled with the grief-stricken. People who have
sought refuge at police stations and friends' houses are now facing food
shortages and disease. The UN reported 2 days ago that over 100,000
Kenyans are in danger of starvation!

Mama Methenge said the rioters did not come back to her weekend home of
Bahati like they had promised. Also Pastor Margaret said that in Soweto
slum near Kayole, though there was still violence the next night, they
remained hidden by the blood of Christ and today there is an uneasy peace.

Kadija, a widow who became our friend 18 months ago, as well as her eight
children, had to sleep in the woods for two nights, because of the
violence. Because she is from the unreached tribe known as the Borana,
some assumed she was pro-opposition and threatened to kill her and her
children. Her husband was murdered 2 years ago, so she knows it's a real
possibility.

We've been giving her food over the last two weeks, but she's still
afraid, especially for her children, ranging from 2 to 14 years old.
Tomorrow, we go with her back to her home. She fears her things have been
stolen since she has been away. (We invited her to come and stay at our
home, but she thought it was too far away from where she lives.)

Judy, a single woman who grew up as an orphan and sleeps on the hard
ground at a school compound, had to run from the violence. She's now at
our home, safe but troubled by what she saw. She said she her mind "went
blank" for some period of time after seeing something horrible. She
remembers smelling gun smoke.

The memories of abuses seen and experienced by so many will last for years.

Kadija and Judy are just two of the thousands upon thousands in crisis.
Please join us financially and spiritually under God in adhering to James
1:27, as we endeavor along with you to "look after orphans and widows in
their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Contact us at Laura@DickersonMissions.com or Don@DickersonMissions.com.
God bless you.