PART OF THE UNDERLYING 'TERROR' of Al Shabab is the image it conjures up! They look like 'UN-MEN' as C.S. Lewis might describe them - the dead come back to life in order to bring the living to their deathly estate. Armed to the teeth, their heads en-wrapped around about like those just come from the tomb. There is a very UNREAL, other worldliness about them; a kind of DREAD and inhuman fear, perhaps generated by their determination to KILL. There is nothing about them one can appeal to for mercy or compassion.
SO FAR they have not made themselves seen or felt in too many areas. BUT they are full of THREAT, and boast great things in the hope of making the faint harted FAINT indeed!
RECENTLY Al Jazeera published this Headline relating to Al Shabab -
AL SHABAB THREATENS MORE
ATTACKS IN KENYA AFTER GARISSA!
Somali armed group that attacked University killing 148 on Thursday
warns Kenyan cities will "run red with blood"
(4th April 2015)
Al Shabab state that the attack was in Revenge against military retaliation by the Kenya Army into Somalia.
BUT this attack fell upon those who were totally unable to defend themselves. There were only FOUR assailants and they did away with 142 university students, three Kenya Policemen, and three Kenya Soldiers that formed the Security Detail for the university. All FOUR of the attackers were finally hunted down and killed.
Al Jajeera reported that this was the deadliest terrorist attach on Kenya soil since 1998 when the U.S. Embassy was bombed in Nairobi killing more than 200 people. Then, in 2013 sixty seven people were killed as Al-Shabab besieged a shopping mall - again in Nairobi.
And NAIROBI? Well, yes they have managed to carry out one successful attack in 2013. So far the cities of NAKURU, KITALE, ELDORET, KAKAMEGA, and KISUMU to the west of Nairobi, have not seen or felt anything. the current THREAT is made to them. Is it just 'bravado'?
Al Shabab would certainly like to give a good reason for ex-patriots and tourists to shrink from coming to Kenya. Tourism is the MAIN source of income. If people were to be persuaded to 'keep away', it would hurt Kenya as a whole VERY much indeed. AND those who do not live here, and are not aware of how our daily lives are, become very easily over anxious and jittery about the possibility of getting caught up in some awful new situation.
AT THE PRESENT TIME we need to realise the current areas of unrest, and the comparatively few serious attacks noted since 2013. The Government has stated that the Nation if officially at 'war' with the Shabab, and that Security has been 'beefed up' a lot. But I would not say there is yet a 'National Emergency.
From OUR POINT OF VIEW here in Eldoret, we do realise that Testimony Faith Homes as a Christian ministry could be under threat as well - but not from our local Muslim fraternity who have always been found to be peaceful, law abiding, and kind. They have lived cheek by jowl with their neighbours without any disturbance for at the least the last 44 years since I came here. We have, as most you know, 140 odd children (orphans here in our four Homes) here, plus a School that proclaims Christ and has a daily population of more than 700 from all over the town and from all kinds of background and religion. We open our 2nd Term of the year on May 5th. We do not feel any kind of apprehension. Indeed life is going on town wide as normally as at any other time previously. Of course WE feel ever SAFE because we BELIEVE and trust that the ONE and ONLY GOD watches over us, and because He loves us, will ever take care of us. It does help to calm one, and to enjoy a peace that others might not always have at their disposal.
If you feel in your heart that GOD would like you to visit Kenya what should you do? Exercise, perhaps, a little common sense, but otherwise OBEY your calling and come. SURELY God will walk with you.
I HAVE, OVER SOME TIME NOW, been noticing a lot of Huff and Puff about anti-Semitism in a number of European States - especially recently in my own land of England and the U.K. generally. My adopted father hated Jews. He was the son of a Methodist preacher. HardIy a day would go by with him, without we would all be treated to a mini lecture about Jews. I hated it from the first time. I hated it because it was so unreasonable, and for some reason because my spirit rebelled against it. I have understood why as I have grown in years, and in the knowledge of God Himself.
I believe TODAY that Israel and the Jewish People may not be for ever right, but non the less they are there as a SIGN to and for the rest of the world. We should keep a good eye on what is happening in Israel and with Jerusalem. I DO BELIEVE THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS of the last generation.
And I believe we may be seeing the Jewish People worldwide being nudged BACK to Israel from all the corners of the world. It is a SIGN, and we should be aware of it. I read a very good article on this on the Internet today. It is entitled EVIDENCE UNSEEN - The Regathering of Israel. If can find it I recommend you READ it.
I read this week that 'Nearly half of Britons hold anti-Semitic views.' Again that ' 50% of British Jews felt that the current climate was like that of the 1930s.' A growing number were considering leaving the UK and heading for Israel instead. A similar outlook was growing in France, Germany and other European Countries. This is, at the least, very interesting. It should be noted, and we should keep a watch.
It should also be noted that there are widely differing views, in the Church, about Israel and even about Jerusalem. I guess we should also note that how we interpret and understand the Word of God is differing as well. Surely these ARE the LAST DAYS. Take care of yourselves as you in them!
TODAY IS A GLORIOUS 'SUMMER' day even though we have commenced our Winter Season.
Wonderful pure azure sky with not a cloud in sight, and such a golden and pure light upon everything, the grass, flowers and trees, and even the buildings. Absolutely glorious. One of those HEAVENLY days when everything is positive and one can believe for anything. It has been a good week generally, though I cannot say that our situation - that sent us to prayer - has yet changed. However I think all of us were so Blessed during that Day, that we have all found our spirits lifted up so much that our faith has found itself again, and we are rejoicing.
TODAY is also very quite, About two thirds of our Homes Staff - more than 35 - are away attending a funeral in Kitale a town about 80 kilometres north of us. One of our senior office staff, Joel Edaria, lost his father last week, and he is to be buried to day in the afternoon. We filled one of the School buses with members of his family, and Daryl and Esther and other Staff also drove up in one of the School mini-buses.
SO I am almost in sole possession save for the children. A good many of THEM are swimming and enjoying the day splashing about. One to the dentist! One to University tomorrow as well. Pray with us for the others waiting to rejoin the College courses.
God Bless you all, once again, and keep on praying with and for us. Prayer is our strength.
Lovingly in Jesus our Lord and Saviour
John Esther and Daryl Green
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