Kenya Missions Update

February 3, 2008

Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus!

I have been getting some Emails wondering how we are, so thought I’d better spend a minute or two and write you a note.  The last week has been an unusual one in our lives.  The week started out by rewriting the story of the Three Little Pigs.  Instead of the wolf blowing down the houses, he burned them down.  Was it on Monday night, the fires of fields and houses burning come to within 100 yards (meters) of our house.  That night we heard several gun shots.  The next morning we went to visit the police, they have set up a camp in a house just about 200 yards from our house.  These new policemen have just arrived from Meru, from Mt. Kenya region.  They said not to worry, we are safe, that at night they are out at night and shooting to kill.  That they killed three last night.  During the day, they said they shoot in the air, but at night they shoot  to kill.  Tuesday, there was chaos again, but from Tuesday night, no problems in our neighborhood.  Once again we can sleep a full night. 

Kirsten and Ruth – They still have not gone to school.  Both of their teachers have decided not to return to Eldoret at this time.  It looks like two of their classmates will not return.  One family is still in Nairobi, waiting to drive to Eldoret.  We moved one of their teachers belonging to our house last week.  This week, we have a friend and displaced person living with us.  Her husband and children are in Nairobi, she remained behind to continue her job, so the family could have some money.  We moved her to our house on Thursday and Friday.  So, now we have the belongings of three households at our place.

A great comfort to us and to several  others that we have shared it with is Psalms 91.  We read it every day and sometimes need to read it more than that, so that it gets into our spirits.  I shared it the other day with the lady where I make most of my photocopies.  She read it and yesterday, she said that after reading it, she can now go to bed with faith in the Lord to protect her.  This is the Psalm that we used when praying for people during the “ethnic cleansing” as they are now calling it.  The Lord protected everyone we prayed for!  Praise HIM!!!

Kofi Annan and others are here having talks with the two sides.  This week they hope to tackle the problem of the elections.  This needs to be a week of Prayer and Fasting.  I am asking you to join us in this.  Fasting does not mean you have to do a complete fast.  Dedicate a few special minutes a day for prayer.  Maybe instead of getting coffee on your coffee break at work, find a quiet place and pray for 10 minutes for Kenya.  Fast deserts at night and while you would be eating deserts, the whole family could pray.  Just some suggestions.  Personally, I, Keith will be fasting suppers during this time.

Life is a journey, this was part of my Scripture reading this morning.  Ezra and several of his people were to take a journey back home.  Ezra 8:21 says, “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.”  22b says, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”  31b says, “The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way.”

Other good news was seen last night on the TV.  Kalenjin and Kikuyu MP’s (Ministers of Parliament) are travelling around their areas telling the two communities to get along again and let have peace.  And there has been peace, even when another MP was shot on Thursday in Eldoret town, there was relative peace.  The MP was from Kericho area, a 2 ½ hour drive from here.  Seems he was shot because of a love triangle.  The major hotspots in the country still remain Kisumu and Kericho. 

Because of his death on Thursday, we had to cancel the meeting we were to have on Friday.  I was to meet with several men.  We wanted to discuss issues in the Churches of Christ as a result of what has happened.  Also, the NCGS Ext School has been cancelled for Feb. 11 – 22^nd that was to be at Saroiyot.

Lastly, now that I am “forced” to be home a bit more, I am trying to learn the technology that I have in my office.  I am hoping soon to send pictures to the Dexter Church of Christ web page.  Does your church have a web page that features the Gafner’s ministry.  Do you also want me to send you the pictures?  Please send me that web page and also the contact of the person to whom I should send the pictures.  Sorry, it would be very expensive for me to send them to all of you. 

I am hoping to get out a report soon of the monies that were given to help people in Eldoret/Western Kenya.  Thanks for all of you who gave, you have helped so many lives!

In Service to Christ,

Keith, Grace, Kirsten and Ruth Gafner

Sarah Mamlin is the Warden for the American Embassy here in Eldoret.  She sends out reports of what is going on around.  Her husband, Dr. Joe Mamlin runs several clinics around for HIV patients.  They also have several farms where they feed these people as well.  Drugs and proper nutrition help people to live longer.  Here is a report for your reading pleasure of how his trip out on the 1^st Feb. went.  Turbo is about 18 miles West of Eldoret. 

• I had just about decided that I would not try to make it to Turbo today. But Margaret the social worker called me asked for a ride. She had the courage to go. If she is willing I am willing. I picked her up at MTRH and headed out. We hardly got started when Jennifer the Turbo clinical officer called. She was far way at a petrol station on the road to Mosoriot. There were few matatus so we turned around and went to pick her up as well. She continues to sleep in fear with her husband and children safe in Nairobi. She is Kalenjin her husband Kikuyu. This was her first return to the clinic in weeks. I continue to offer safe haven at IU. Wouldn't be surprised if she comes tonight. She told me of two long time Eldoret friends, one a Kikuyu and the other Kalenjin [and a policeman]. They tried to think how to safely get the Kikuyu to the Eldoret airport. The Kalenjin came up with the answer. They would swap clothes. So the policeman is civilian clothes drove and the Kikuyu sat in his police uniform.  At each road block the gangs spoke Kalenjin to the driver and saluted the policeman who kept his mouth shut. Another beautiful story in a land of pain.
• The drive to Turbo is painful. I drove through at least 20 dysfunctional road blocks [that means openings for cars to squeeze through and no gangs], Some times the obstructions were boulders; other times it was railroad ties [pulled up from the nearby railroad [two for the price of one: blocks trains and cars]; felled power lines were common and I drove by many burned poles and over endless power lines. One of the pictures above shows a tractor-trailer truck burned out. There are so many on this journey. One was still burning. I was carrying coffee. The smell in the air would have made Starbucks jealous. Other burned out vehicles were sedans and vans. There are so many burned out businesses. Those who have gone to Turbo with me in the past know how I love to point out the busy shopping area just past the town of Jua Kali---it is normally swarming with merchants and customers. Today there was not a SINGLE thing there. I drove past so many who waited with all their belongings for transport [pictures]
• The Turbo clinic was almost deserted. So many patients afraid to come or unable to find functioning matatus. Since the patients were few, I decided to take ARV stock to Mautuma our satellite clinic. At first I had a bit of anxiety, but after such a short distance, I relaxed. Deep in the interior, it looked like the Kenya of old. So peaceful and beautiful. The staff at the Mautuma clinic almost wonder what all the fuss is about. I began to think the interior is Kenya and areas around main roads and towns are Rwanda.
• On this trip, I learned for the first time that each of our large refugee camps are fighting their own war. The majority Kikuyus [forced into the camps] and forcing the non-Kikuyu refugees out of the camp. Our Turbo social worker needs an armed guard now to visit our patient in the camp since she isn't Kikuyu. On the other hand, I learned that the non-Kikuyus have threatened our AMPATH care because they realize it carries food to the Kikuyus in the camp. This story has many other twists but you get the picture. There have been deaths from conflicts within the camps between groups.