Tonight we got an update from Keith so we thought we’d share it here.
Hello and Happy New Year from Kenya,
People in Nairobi, Kenya are beginning to say “Happy New Year” finally. After the signing of a power sharing deal on February 28th between the country’s key political players, ending two months of post-election violence, our focus has been on resettlement, locating sponsored kids, peace initiatives and restarting people’s small businesses. Most of the displaced people are in Kibera and Mathare the country’s largest informal settlements (or slums).What we’re doing is exactly what the folks are asking for: money to rent a house and restart their business and get them out of the exposure of wind, rain, mosquitoes and insecurity. There are few alternatives to housing because of issues like vandalism, destroyed houses by fire and illegally occupied homes. But hundreds like Mary Anyango have found a place.
We resettled Mary about 3 weeks ago. She has two kids; one is in our centre at Bondeni (a village in Mathare) and one is 2 years old. When we went to visit her and give her a “house-warming” gift of food, she told me her story. First of all, she cried, and couldn’t stop, but in between the tears she shared how her husband died two months ago, not due to the violence, but due to AIDS. That’s why we took in her kid, last year to the Bondeni center. When the violence began, she had to run to the Air Force camp (her home burnt to the ground), that’s where one of our social workers found her. She and her kids are safe and in “a home” now. She’s back to work, it’s a casual job, meaning day to day in washing clothes by hand for others. She brings home $.70 a day, if she finds that job. She’s in our HIV/AIDS home based care program and doing great with others to support her and keep her from social stigma. The week before I saw her, she was visited by one of our church leaders, and he shared the love of God with her, and she dedicated her life to Him. Pray for Mary. Next week, I’ll update you on what else I saw there when I visited her. It’s another Mary, who is 12 years old…that’s another story.
You remember me sharing about Peter a Luo and his wife Beth a Kikuyu? They’re doing much better; she is staying with her mom, while Peter is looking for a place. We’re ready to help with a few months of rent when they find something. I visited with him last week, and he still has some fear about where to resettle, and there is still some insecurity in Mathare. He has a place in Mathare North, but it’s not friendly to his wife’s community, so he’s looking. While he shared his problems and need for a place I sensed something missing in his life. I asked him point blank, “Are you saved?” Here that question means a lot, like “are you a Christian?” or “have you dedicated your life to Christ?” or “have you accepted Christ into your heart?” It’s a loaded question, but I had to ask. He said, “No, but I want to. My wife has been praying for me to believe.” That’s all it took and I explained to him what it means to become a Christian. He’s attending our new church in Pangani and I’m preaching there next Sunday. I’m excited, because today, when I greeted him, I told him I can’t wait to see him there! He said, “Poa, tutoanana siku ile” (Cool, see you that day). It’s cool, Happy New Year!
Keith and Kathy
