FROM GRETCHEN:
Update on the girls--Ann Mumbi and Anne "Orange" said they would be coming home today. Anna "Banana" is coming tomorrow and little Margaret is coming on Tuesday. I am going to call Jael's dad again tonight and Violet to see how things are going. I still have not heard from Veronicah and Catherine, but they are in quiet areas as far as we know (and phone credit is very scarce in the rural areas of Kenya). Juliah is safe in Nakuru and may stay a few days before coming to Mwiki.
Went to church this morning with all five girls and Susan. A lot of time was devoted to the current situation in Kenya, and to prayer.
NOTE: Please continue to pray for Kenya. Another protest rally is scheduled for Tuesday. Any mass gathering has the potential of exploding again. And there are widespread shortages of food and water especially in the areas of the country hardest hit by the violence.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
AND FRIDAY
An update on Juliah—she is on a bus to Nakuru, which is quite close to Nairobi. I'm not sure if she will be staying there with some family or coming to Mwiki right now. But she is safe and out of the area of violence. Also, Grace is back at Faith House. She was with her family close to Mwiki, so she didn't have to worry about finding transport.
Margaret, Sabinah, and Damaris all came home today! I cannot tell you the joy I felt when I saw them. It was like I was able to breathe again knowing I had more girls safe at home. I now have 5 with me and I'm waiting for 10 more.
I also heard from Violet! Praise God! She is safe and doing well, but fighting continues in Kisumu so they are staying inside. Plus there is no transport right now. I will check with her every few days to make sure she's doing ok and to see when we can get her back home.
I have not been able to contact Margaret, Veronicah, Catherine, Ann M., and Mercy, but Grace just went to check about Mercy at her home. And I'm waiting to hear more about Jael from her dad. Anna B is coming this weekend as well as Anne O. Julie will try next week.
NOTE: As tensions begin to ease it is tempting to think that there was never really much danger. News agencies move on to cover other, more explosive stories and we who have prayed, have a tendency to relax. But not all the girls are home yet, tribal animosities are not resolved, and Kenya has not settled the election issues which started the violence. Please continue to pray for the country and for our girls. And thank you for the prayers already offered, which have been heard.
Margaret, Sabinah, and Damaris all came home today! I cannot tell you the joy I felt when I saw them. It was like I was able to breathe again knowing I had more girls safe at home. I now have 5 with me and I'm waiting for 10 more.
I also heard from Violet! Praise God! She is safe and doing well, but fighting continues in Kisumu so they are staying inside. Plus there is no transport right now. I will check with her every few days to make sure she's doing ok and to see when we can get her back home.
I have not been able to contact Margaret, Veronicah, Catherine, Ann M., and Mercy, but Grace just went to check about Mercy at her home. And I'm waiting to hear more about Jael from her dad. Anna B is coming this weekend as well as Anne O. Julie will try next week.
NOTE: As tensions begin to ease it is tempting to think that there was never really much danger. News agencies move on to cover other, more explosive stories and we who have prayed, have a tendency to relax. But not all the girls are home yet, tribal animosities are not resolved, and Kenya has not settled the election issues which started the violence. Please continue to pray for the country and for our girls. And thank you for the prayers already offered, which have been heard.
THURSDAY: GRETCHEN'S UPDATE
It has been a relatively quiet day. Yes, the rally did not take place and the police were "successful" in keeping protestors outside Uhuru park. I've heard of two being killed. One was electrocuted on Thika Road when a policeman fired a warning shot in the air and cut the wire and it fell on a man. Tragic. Then another one was shot in Mombasa, I believe.
Speaking of Mombasa, Jael is in that area--in Voi, I think. I spoke with her dad and he heard from the cousin she's staying with a few days ago, but his phone is now blocked. Her dad said he would keep me informed. I heard from Peninah that Julie will stay upcountry until next week as transport is very high right now. I am praying hard for Violet since I have no way of contacting her.
I'm praying that God would bring all the girls home by next week so I can feel comfortable leaving for the US on Thursday.
Hellen heard from a friend of Juliah's in Eldoret. He is going to look for her and her family in his car. Hellen says he's quite well off so is staying at a hotel. Hopefully he can connect with Juliah and her family and get them somewhere better than the police station. I have been scared for her.
Yeen Lan has offered a number of times for us to stay at Rafiki if we need to. I haven't felt like that needs to happen. Jane M. and I feel pretty safe. Hellen's Rebecca is pretty terrified and I know Hellen was pretty shook up after the mob was coming after people of her tribe. As we were watching the news coverage today, Jane said "it doesn't even look like Kenya." And Hellen said that walking downtown with all the police made her feel like it was Sudan.
Thank you for all your prayers. We are hanging in there. Oh-- Zippy returned today so she is home safe too.
One by one the Lord regathers His precious children.
Speaking of Mombasa, Jael is in that area--in Voi, I think. I spoke with her dad and he heard from the cousin she's staying with a few days ago, but his phone is now blocked. Her dad said he would keep me informed. I heard from Peninah that Julie will stay upcountry until next week as transport is very high right now. I am praying hard for Violet since I have no way of contacting her.
I'm praying that God would bring all the girls home by next week so I can feel comfortable leaving for the US on Thursday.
Hellen heard from a friend of Juliah's in Eldoret. He is going to look for her and her family in his car. Hellen says he's quite well off so is staying at a hotel. Hopefully he can connect with Juliah and her family and get them somewhere better than the police station. I have been scared for her.
Yeen Lan has offered a number of times for us to stay at Rafiki if we need to. I haven't felt like that needs to happen. Jane M. and I feel pretty safe. Hellen's Rebecca is pretty terrified and I know Hellen was pretty shook up after the mob was coming after people of her tribe. As we were watching the news coverage today, Jane said "it doesn't even look like Kenya." And Hellen said that walking downtown with all the police made her feel like it was Sudan.
Thank you for all your prayers. We are hanging in there. Oh-- Zippy returned today so she is home safe too.
One by one the Lord regathers His precious children.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
REGARDING JULIAH
Hellen heard from Juliah's brother in Nakuru. Juliah and the rest of her family have been reunited and are safe at the police post. Praise God!
For your information, when Juliah, who is an orphan, needed a safe home during her time as a student at Rafiki, Hellen opened her home and "adopted" Juliah into her family. Juliah accepts Hellen as "Mum" and calls Rebecca, Hellen's daughter, her sister. Hellen is Luyha and Juliah is Kikuyu. Those two tribes are in conflict with each other during the post-election instability, but in our Lord's miraculous ways, Juliah, Hellen and Rebecca have become one family in Him.
UPDATE FROM GRETCHEN
The only girl with me right now is Jane. I've cautioned the girls who were going to return, to wait if they are in a safe area, since there was a riot in Mwiki yesterday. A Kikuyu mob were finding Luo and Luyha families and beating them. The families fled to the police station for protection. I found out today that Brenda (one of our graduates from the Rafiki Girls Centre, and a Luo) was one of them. Hellen (our indispensable national assistant at Faith House) and those in her compound were up all night New Years Eve waiting to make sure they could get out if they were targeted. I didn't know all this until today.
Hellen and I were able to get to Village Market today to buy groceries, get phone credit, and use the ATM. I was so thankful the ATM was working. I pulled --ksh for this next month while I'm gone. But that trip is up in the air as tonight is the last night the airport will be open until . . . only the Lord knows right now.
Hellen heard from Juliah last night and we need to pray. She and her family were forced to flee their home to escape the danger. She and her sister, Esther, are together, but they were separated from theirs brothers. Juliah was crying and scared, but I believe was safe at a police post. We have tried to call all day, but her phone is off. (NOTE: Juliah's home is in Eldoret. If you have followed the news perhaps you have seen that Eldoret was the city in which the church was burned with many killed.)
I don't have a number for Violet, who is Luo, either and she's in Kisumu, which is another hard hit area. I've tried to connect with each girl that I have a contact for to make sure they are safe. And I know that there is hardly any phone credit to find so I'm trying to remember that "no news is good news."
Tomorrow Raila Odinga (the presidential candidate who is disputing his defeat) has called for a rally of the people in Uhuru. Of course the government has said it is illegal. We don't know what will happen, but everyone has been told to stay put. Yeen met with US Embassy Officials to get the official scoop and its a little disconcerting to hear talk about IF there's an evacuation. I don't know if I could leave my girls. But I don't think its close to that and the Embassy said the same thing.
Hellen and I were able to get to Village Market today to buy groceries, get phone credit, and use the ATM. I was so thankful the ATM was working. I pulled --ksh for this next month while I'm gone. But that trip is up in the air as tonight is the last night the airport will be open until . . . only the Lord knows right now.
Hellen heard from Juliah last night and we need to pray. She and her family were forced to flee their home to escape the danger. She and her sister, Esther, are together, but they were separated from theirs brothers. Juliah was crying and scared, but I believe was safe at a police post. We have tried to call all day, but her phone is off. (NOTE: Juliah's home is in Eldoret. If you have followed the news perhaps you have seen that Eldoret was the city in which the church was burned with many killed.)
I don't have a number for Violet, who is Luo, either and she's in Kisumu, which is another hard hit area. I've tried to connect with each girl that I have a contact for to make sure they are safe. And I know that there is hardly any phone credit to find so I'm trying to remember that "no news is good news."
Tomorrow Raila Odinga (the presidential candidate who is disputing his defeat) has called for a rally of the people in Uhuru. Of course the government has said it is illegal. We don't know what will happen, but everyone has been told to stay put. Yeen met with US Embassy Officials to get the official scoop and its a little disconcerting to hear talk about IF there's an evacuation. I don't know if I could leave my girls. But I don't think its close to that and the Embassy said the same thing.
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