Calvary Greetings for Eldoret!

I thought that I would send another short update on the situation here.  And some good news!

 

The mass peace rallies called for Wed. – Friday last week took place.  All roads to and from Eldoret were blocked, including ours.  The major activity started on Wednesday afternoon in Eldoret.  Police broke up the crowd and sent everyone home.  That night, a big fire was lit in the road not far from us, but after some gun shots, the rest of the night was peaceful.  Thursday, I did office work and enjoyed the fire at night, I hear that Eldoret was a ghost town.  Friday, things got back to normal I hear.  There was no rally and no fire at night.  I went to town on Saturday and it was as busy as ever!

 

This week is to be a week of talking.  President of Tanzania is here.  Next week President of Uganda comes and also former UN Annan is to be here to help work out a solution.  Pray that happens.

 

Schools were to start on the 7^th.  Kirsten and Ruth are hoping to start school on Tuesday, that is if their teachers come back!  At least one of their classmates will be missing, their home was burned and they have moved.

 

We talked today as a family about Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman that the well.  It was interesting to hear Ruth as she retold the story.  The Samaritan woman is from a ‘different tribe’.  A result of all that is happening in our country at the moment.

 

In December, the annual Youth meeting took place.  Don’t have an exact number, but well over 500 in attendance.  I heard 35 were baptized.  Praise the Lord!

 

Also, in December, I and several elders were invited to a mass wedding that was to take place at the Kabomoi cluster.   10 families from the Churches of Christ in that cluster decided it time to tie the knot.  Some of the couples have been together for many years and some for just a few years.  (Traditional they were married, but now they also wanted to do a church wedding).  I went along to provide transport and Eat!  Another elder was to do the ceremony.  Well, I never preached a wedding before, but I did this day and the elder did the wedding vows.  What does the Bible say, “If a man will not work, neither let him eat.”

 

Keep praying, there is a lot of tension in the air yet.  It is estimated that there is about 13,000 displaced people here in Eldoret at the camp set up for them.  About 10,000 up the road at Burnt Forest.  These people are hoping when the rains come in a couple of months to return to their homes and farm.  They have no place else to go! 

 

Pray, with some monies we have and more on the way, the Churches of Christ will sponsor a program to feed about 1600 infants and young children for one month in the displaced camp.  Doctors are noticing that the hair is starting to come out red in many of these children.  This being a sign of protein deficiency.  We will be working with international and local people in this program. 

 

In Service to Christ,

Keith, Grace, Ruth and Kirsten