The need and God's faithfulness: Nazarene missionary gives local perspective of Kenya situation
Friday, February 22, 2008
Nairobi, Kenya
Sarah and Rod Reed are missionaries living and serving in Kenya. Sarah works with children’s ministries and Rod is chair of the department of religion at Africa Nazarene University.

Sarah Reed gives her observations of Kenya’s condition, past and present:
Peaceful Kenya has been turned upside down since the December 27 elections. Prior to the election, the people of Kenya poured out heartfelt, passionate prayers to God to be with their election. Little did we know what would transpire and how much we would need God's help.

It is hard to imagine what the outcome might have been had people not been praying. The city of Nairobi, as well as several areas across Kenya, was “rocked” with ravenously upset mobs of people, mostly youth, destroying everything they could find.

Initially, the upheaval appeared to be anger over the outcome of the election. Eventually, it was to be realized that the anger had manifested into deep tribal hatred or fear of each other.

During these riots, many families had to virtually “run for their lives.” Several family members became separated in all of the mayhem. When families tried to return to their homes, many found nothing but ashes. Everything was shut down; especially the small, independent shops which supply basic food and vegetables to most of town life.

Everyone was filled with fear that they were coming again—whoever they were. "Fear" was the big word and dictated the lives of our Kenyan families.

Schools remained closed following the Christmas holiday, some are just now re-opening. Legitimate fear or “what if” has ruled the land. There were many thugs on the roads looking for “the other tribe.” Travelling to another town to attend boarding school was dangerous. Parents were very afraid to send their children to school.

After a period, some calm began to return and several displaced people camps were arranged for the approximately 250,000 whose homes had been destroyed. In the beginning days, my teenage daughters and I went to assist at one of these camps. At that point it was very nice—plenty of food, water, soap, clothes, medical and counseling services available, brand-new Coleman tents, and even professional gymnasts who came to entertain the crowds.

But, over time, the situation deteriorated. The Red Cross has been wonderful during these days, but even they grew weary. The donors began to tire, sicknesses began to creep in, and the children needed to return to school.

More and more of the displaced have now been able to be returned to their mother-land, and now many foreign refugees remain at these camps. They may not be treated so well; food and sanitation is a big problem.

The Kenyan people are so very grateful for the worldwide prayers from the Church of the Nazarene. There are millions of stories of God's protection. I would like to tell you two of them, to give you an idea of the faithfulness of God in answering the prayers of His people in the midst of the “storm.”

Pastor Sila from the Church of the Nazarene is also a school teacher as well as an ANU (Africa Nazarene University) student. On the 30th of January, Pastor Sila's school tried to resume, and as he was teaching, guns and rowdy youth were heard outside looking for anyone from the “pastor's tribe.”

Pastor Sila and three other colleagues had to lock themselves inside the school laboratory while the youths were rioting outside. At his home, Janet and their two small boys were safe, praying for their daddy, but unable to go out to find food.
After eight horrific hours, the police came by the school to rescue Pastor Sila and his colleagues and to take them to the Police Station for safety. There he found several families of his church who had lost their homes or had to run for fear.
Pastor Sila had hoped his congregation could come to stay with him at the church, but the people were too afraid to come near the church as several churches have been burned down across Kenya.

As this article is being written, Pastor Sila remains too afraid to return to his job at the school. He continues to lead his young family in prayer believing that God will restore peace and calm to their neighborhood. The remaining 10 of their congregation who came to worship this past Sunday left the service with renewed passion to bring others back with them to church as they know Jesus is the only way to have peace.

Pastor Sylvester of the Church of the Nazarene has lost his home and his entire congregation has become displaced. He and his family have been staying, along with hundreds of others, at the police station. Recently, trucks came to move these displaced people back to their ancestral home areas, but there was not enough room for Pastor Sylvester and his family.

He is still waiting.

Sadly, the Church of the Nazarene where he pastored is no more. Our Kenya Central District Superintendent, Rev. Gerphas, reminded me that “God is still up to something, even though some of us are down to nothing. We must keep our faith strong. God was not deaf to the cries of the Kenyan people before and after the election, ‘…watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.’ Habakkuk 1:5. God has great plans for this country. Thank you for your prayers.”

We continue to covet the prayers of the Church of the Nazarene. Calm seems to be returning as we have had very good mediation talks within our government. Kenya is still trying to pick up the pieces—after more than 1,000 lives have been lost. Although the people of Kenya seem to be miraculously bonding together, still fear continues to hover.

Persons and churches wishing to make a donation can do so online at ncm.org or mark their checks “Kenya Unrest ACM1199” and mail them to the General Treasurer, 6401 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64131. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3.
--Sarah Reed for NCN News-Africa