A bleeding nation

Well it is 3 days into the new year…a few days only…but the lives of so many are changed forever. An estimated 70,000+ have deserted their homes for fear of their lives; BBC reports 300+ are dead including so many children. But these are just numbers. How does one express the FEAR of people living in Kibera, wanting to guard their homes and protect their families…which means not sleeping for days? How does one portray the horror of people in a burning church…and not being able to help? The Kenyan’s memories are seared with images of children lying in ditches. Many are praising God to be alive, but are camping in a field because their home is burned to the ground; others have no coal to make food (if they even have supplies to cook with). I honestly feel guilty for being safe and cozy on the compound. Why is it that I have been blessed with so much and others have so little and even that is being taken from them!? I have done nothing to deserve it! Why me? I am hurting for these beautiful people of Kenya! All of us wonder…what will still be around when we can go back to our ministries, and WHO will be missing?

I was hoping that today would give an indication as to where this nation is headed. However, the rally scheduled for today was cut short by the special security forces. Throughout the day, we heard gun fire but at some distance away. The rally has been rescheduled to take place tomorrow (Friday). So once again, we wait and we PRAY. We are still meeting daily on the compound to pray together for peace, for the people of Kenya, for SIMKenya national staff, for SIMPacters who have not been able to make it back to Nairobi yet.

But even in these times, there are so many things to praise God for:
* At this point, all of the SIMKenya staff and the SIMKenya missionaries are safe
* Everyone on the compound is handling the tension well
* We were able to get out on the more peaceful days (Mon. and Tues.) and restock supplies
* We still have electricity and internet (most of the time anyways!)…I’ve never read the news so much in my life!
* 2 SIMPacters were in a trouble area unable to get to Nairobi; They were able to make it out to Uganda safely.

PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR PEACE IN KENYA