NEWS

THURSDAY, 24th JANUARY 2008

 

THIS AFTERNOON the President, and Raila Odinga were photographed with Koffi Anan in Nairobi.     They both shook hands and smiled at each other.    However it looked more photographically hopeful than sincere.     It IS a step in the right direction, IF the direction can continue.     Minutes afterwards a senior member of the Opposition was on TV criticizing the Presidents words of hope and re-establishing the Opposition accusation that Mr. Kibaki is NOT the duly elected President - not something that will assist agreement tomorrow.

We are THANKFUL that they HAVE both met at last.    Our prayers are obviously that a way forward will now be found that will put an end to the ongoing violence!

 

YES violence is continuing.    Last night between 6 and 8 homes were burned to the ground on the outskirts of Eldoret just West of us.    No one was hurt, but many suffered complete loss and devestation.        Gangs attack in the night and even in the day time - they come shouting and howling like dogs, blowing whistles and banging pieces of metal to frighten people away - VERY scary indeed........The Administrative Chief of Kapsabet some 40 kilometers to the West of us was killed and his head chopped off in one of these melees.         Today homes along the Eldoret to Molo road on the way to Nakuru - a stretch of some 140 kilometres was littered with burning homesteads - so the sense of tension, fear and alarm continues almost unabated and the numbers of people fleeing to safer areas - even into Uganda is continuing.

 

Today we have by the Grace of God and with the help of many friends far and near,  been able to distribute some £2000 in food, bedding, and needed shelter.   We have heard others are thinking of also sending to us to assist in this way.   our THANKS on behalf of many.

Mr. Zacharia Mbatia our Head of Secondary School continues with us, living with his brother and sharing accommodation - still seperated from his wife who remains unwell in Nakuru.  In his 60's and with the loss of everything he has worked and saved for for a lifetime of service to Education he is finding it very difficult to have nowhere to call his own, and nothing left of anything he has ever owned.    It was good to provide some clothes to add to those he was left standing up in on the night he was attacked.   His Faith remains high and he is forever Praising Jesus for all His Mercies to him!!    We are surrounded by countless stories of this nature.    

 

School is now open again and we are almost full - about 450 from outside coming in although many parents are still away from Eldoret - their children filling up our Boarding Section the meanwhile.   Lessons continuing well.     So many of our Municipal and District Officers have seemingly been transferred, and offices either closed or seriously curtailed so that official business is difficult at times.       The TOWN remains quiet and shopping is now able to be conducted almost as before -  BUT bread and other basics still can be hard to obtain in the volume we are used to get them.    

 

Hardship remains for many to overcome - but we must clearly say that things ARE much better and easier except for the still ominous presence of armed army and police personel.      The population of our area is still jumpy and apprehensive and Faith is being tested at all levels.

 

The first full Meeting of the Children's Services Forum that we started a year ago with the University will meet next Wednesday - it will be interesting to see how many will actually attend.

 

God Bless you all till next time

 

John and Esther