NEWS

MONDAY 28th JANUARY

 

You will have been seeing continuing violence, not in Eldoret, but in towns and villages going south east on the way to Nairobi.   Today's DAILY NATION headline was

10 BURNT ALIVE AS TOLL RISES

The smoke, fire, death, and human terror seems to have spread like a wildfire.   Kofi Annan our august Guest has said it MUST STOP, and the Opposition has agreed with him, though neither seem very quick to actually DO anything except speak about it.

One of the most terrible things is this moribund delight in sitting down and 'talking' whilst people die.     As a writer in today's NATION also said in an open letter to Mr. Annan - 'YOU SEE Mr. annan, there were handshakes and smiles but we did not see those two (leaders) look at each other.....people were dying as smiles and handshakes were being exchanged'    That was last Friday, and since then the smiles and handshakes have been put away and the burning and the killing has increased and spread.    Mr. Annan and co have continued to sit and talk, and in between no doubt eat and drink comfortably and safely in Nairobi ----

'Mr. Kibaki continues to insist on being recognised as the legitimate Head of State elected in fair elections.    He asks the Opposition to apologise for causing the unrest in the Country.    Mr. Odinga insists he cannot accept Mr. Kibaki as President and insists he must stand down and hold new elections.

 

Neither are going to let go easily of their positions - and after all it is currently costing them nothing  -  it is the PEOPLE, that are paying the cost of their Tweeddle Dee / Tweedle Dum antics.      One feels sorry for a man like ANNAN who must sit and watch.        All this is much like the Emperor Nero watching ROME - His own Capital City which he had caused to be set on fire - BURN as he played his fiddle - just to please his own inflated ego.    

TODAY kenya is crippled and in ruins, its people cowering in fear in their own homes from their own people,  camping out in comfortless open spaces huddled together like refugees, fleeing the length and breadth of the country from one town to another only to meet the same terrors they run from.    Just a few months ago this same Country was calm, and for the most part peaceful, full of tranquility and charm..........

 

TODAY in Eldoret things have been for the most part CALM - BUT things are far from quiet unilaterally in this agricultural town.   To the west of the Town centre within a distance of about 4 kilometers trouble is resurrecting once again - more homes being burnt, cars set on fire.     A bridge carrying the railway line to Kitale has been broken up, the rail tracks ripped up and rocks thrown down upon the road.    Roads  - from Eldoret West to Kitale, Turbo, to the West towards Burnt Forest, and Timboroa - have been blocked.    Nothing all day to day coming in or going out of the Town.   This will certainly aggravate food shortages and fuel shortages.     If things continue like this then we can look for VERY HARD TIMES AHEAD.

 

The Opposition has said the Government is wrong to bring the Army in to help bring order - order that the Police seem unable to insist upon themselves.     Kofi Annan and the opposition loudly say the Government is wrong to use strong arm tactics to stop the lawlessness and the rape of the Country.        What is the Government to do, just let it all happen?     Obviously the world believes that if this Government yields to the Opposition and stands down in their favour all will be well.    NO ONE BELIEVES this that actually lives here.

 

Well tonight is QUIET where we are.   We have heard no more gunfire.   Seen no sign of unrest - but just ten kilometers away on the other side of town things are STILL very different with little apparent intervention by the so called authorities.    We need you to continue to pray.     DO NOT FEAR FOR US, but pray for our STRENGTH  and RESOLUTION in JESUS, that we might for ever be a demonstration of His Presence with us, and with ALL that call upon Him.

 

Yesterday morning in Church we had a MEN'S MEETING.

In the midst of it Daryl comes to the front and says he wants to demonstrate something to the Church in Mime.     He proceeded to present a very beautiful mime to a most moving spiritual Praise and Worship song.       He succeeded in making every one weep - so much prayer had gone up for him for so long.     The WORDS of the song were so related to his own experienced of falling and away and finding the Grace of God overwhelm him.       It seemed this has been welling up secretly within him for some time.       Well we shall still have to wait on the Lord some mine, and see just how much of a change is coming upon him.    I know you will - if you know him - pray with us for him still.

 

The School is crammed with students - most of our own Collegers have left for College - some in very dangerous areas.     Other Schools around us are more than half empty parents afraid to let their kids out of their sight - why do they trust us so much to be a safe place?!!      We are still able to eat.   We still feel cared for.   There is a strange sense of serenity here - and I am not trying to paint an insincere picture.    We all sense it, and all of us find it somehow very mysterious - but we know Who is keeping us.

 

It is late.    We have a prayer meeting at 7a.m.  and I must get to bed again.  A busy day ahead with so many demands and needs coming upon us as we continue to go about our normal work.     God Bless and be with you, and be comforted on our behalf, and know that your prayers WILL and DO achieve great things not just for us but for ALL those you mention.    What a GREAT Fellowship.

 

John and Esther