Refugees and presidents

Well, I am still in nairobi, NOT at the beach as I was planning. Our trip was cancelled due to the volatile conditions of the country. If you would have told me several weeks ago that our plans would change, we would have all been so disappointed. However, it seems for the best now. We thought about rescheduling the trip, but I can’t bring myself to spend the money for leisure when so many in Nairobi and all over Kenya don’t even have food and are living in open fields. If any of you would like to join me in giving up something there is so much opportunity to be a part of something bigger. In the next few days I’ll post the link on my blog of a special project through SIMKenya to which you can donate if you feel led. SIMKenya plans to work through the Kenyan churches who are already involved with or have started humanitarian aide / Christian counseling ministries. For example, two women from my home church here in Kenya started a refugee camp for those chased from their homes or who no longer have homes to return to. Tomorrow I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve alongside the girls in my house to prepare a meal for 100 of the volunteers working at the refugee camp just on the edge of Nairobi. I feel so helpless at times since I don’t really know Swahili, and I’m not a nurse or a teacher. But this is one way that I feel I can help. And it’s amazing how much a small amount of money can make a difference. So many Kenyans live on only $1/day.

I am back to work this week, and am realizing how many projects I have to finish up this month! Currently I am documenting all the work I have done on the simkenya website in order to make sure someone can continue to update it and keep it running once I’m gone. Unfortunately I will not overlap with the short-termer coming to take my place so I need to make sure everything is well explained in writing.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support during the last few weeks of upheaval in Kenya. While things DO seem to be settling down, please continue to pray for the Kenyan people and for the government. Nothing has really been settled, and much of the tribal tension is just below the surface. Today I was reading in 1 Tim. 2:1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. I know that the political tragedies in Africa seems so far to many of you, but I have been convicted of the need to pray for our own president and for the upcoming elections…that God would be glorified.