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.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
WHAT IS FAITH HOUSE MINISTRIES?
How do we explain what Faith House is? It's a safe house, a shelter, a home, so much more than a building . . . Faith House is a Christian ministry designed to be family for African young women who have not known peaceful home situations, and to provide opportunities for education and training for these young women, who would, in many cases, be struggling to survive.
As in ideal families, Faith House seeks to provide a setting in which the young women are nurtured and encouraged to develop their full potential. In a home environment, they learn family dynamics, receiving training and encouragement to live together at peace and to solve problems with creativity and forgiveness. They are valued and learn the value and dignity of individuals. They are treated with respect and learn to treat others with respect. They see honesty, stewardship and gracious manners modeled, and are trained to make such values a part of their lives.
The young women who are a part of the Faith House Ministries are given opportunities to continue with academic and/or vocational training according to their individual gifts and interests. In some cases, the education will include provision of boarding school and perhaps even university education.
Faith House Ministries seeks to invest in the lives of African young women in such a way that they will become self-sufficient contributors to the welfare of their families, their communities and their country.
As in ideal families, Faith House seeks to provide a setting in which the young women are nurtured and encouraged to develop their full potential. In a home environment, they learn family dynamics, receiving training and encouragement to live together at peace and to solve problems with creativity and forgiveness. They are valued and learn the value and dignity of individuals. They are treated with respect and learn to treat others with respect. They see honesty, stewardship and gracious manners modeled, and are trained to make such values a part of their lives.
The young women who are a part of the Faith House Ministries are given opportunities to continue with academic and/or vocational training according to their individual gifts and interests. In some cases, the education will include provision of boarding school and perhaps even university education.
Faith House Ministries seeks to invest in the lives of African young women in such a way that they will become self-sufficient contributors to the welfare of their families, their communities and their country.
No comments:
Post a Comment