Judy’s Africa Journal 2008 part 3
KENYA
January 19, 2008
It has been cold here. I have been longing for my Oregon winter clothes. The sun comes out part of the day and is very pleasant, but in the evening it has been shivery windy cold. Things were still peaceful here today. There are other places in Kenya that are still very violent, but God is answering prayer for Eldoret.
Derick and I were taken to the site where fifty-some people that had taken refuge in the Kiambaa Assembly of God church were burned alive. As we approached the church property, a police personnel carrier was ahead of us. They stopped at a house just before the church and the police all jumped out. Some ran into the building and some behind it, brandishing their guns and firing. We didn’t have the story on what this was all about, but their leader told us to go on so we most certainly did. Upon arriving at the ruins next to this place, we could see the police shooting at something just beyond the church property. It was surreal. Pastor and founder of this church, Reverend Stephen Mburu, told his story to us while Derick video taped it. We walked among the burnt tin roofing and ashes of everything that was there to bless the people and imagined the horror of what they went through. There were around twenty-five bicycles inside the building parameters which was now a heap of rubble. These had been put inside for safe keeping by the people in the community that had sought sanctuary in the safety of a church. There were enamel cups and plates, tea kettles and other kitchen items scattered throughout, testimonies to the fellowship the church people had shared. Sacks of maize were spilled on the floor. The church had been feeding orphans, we were told. We stood in the tiny room that had been the pastors office and heard the pastor tell how ten kids had died in there, screaming for help. He had tried to save them, but was attacked and savagely beaten up by the attackers and left for dead. There was a burnt wheelchair in the midst of the ruins that a crippled lady had been burned alive in. Some managed to escape, but we were told how three kids that were rescued were torn from the clutches of their rescuers and thrown back in to die. One man survived by immersing himself in the latrine pit until all was quiet and dark.
After we left the burned church, we went to a field by the crusade grounds where hundreds of people were killed over a three day span in a savage massacre. Armed with bow and arrows and machetes, tribes fought against each other, fueled by the political situation. Injured people, including children, were thrown in piles with tires and burned alive. The pastor that took us there picked charred remains of human bones out of the ashes in burn piles scattered throughout this field of blood while Derick video taped an interview with him. My emotions were bruised and I bounced in and out of tears all day. I felt drained to the core after walking where I had walked and listening to the recounts of eyewitnesses and survivors of these recent horrors.
People are still too traumatized to come out to the crusades in any great numbers. The ones who do come seem to enjoy the wonderful music and preaching and many respond. Many people leave as soon as it begins to get dark as they are afraid to be out after dark. They introduced local pastors tonight and the line was very long. No one thought to count how many. It is always wonderful to see all the different denominations come together in the crusades and pray and worship together in one accord. This is a tremendous blessing and encouragement to the pastors and believers as time goes on, no matter what denomination name is over their doors. No matter what city or what country. Or even which continent. We prayed that these people would reach a spirit of celebration. They desperately needed the emotional healing that the joy of the Lord would bring.
January 20, 2008
Tonight was the last night of the Eldoret, Kenya crusade and the crowd was quite a bit larger. Not the 80,000 the Kenya organizers had hoped for before the trouble ignited, but very satisfying in the situation. The people finally broke through the fear that had clouded the crusade so far. Tonight they broke into joy! They danced and celebrated, their faces beaming! They hugged across the political boundaries that had separated even the Christians, and even many of the pastors. This was very remarkable because when the crusade began there was a discernible stiffness that permeated the fellowship. We know now what a miracle the crusade is at all. It seems that the pastors and Christian believers were on opposing sides of this political election conflict. That was hard to accept. I haven’t heard that any of them were in the confrontations, but at first, it was very divisive in the crusade, because some weren’t going to sit together, pray together or even talk to each other. Not yet aware of this, tonight Bill preached on the commandment to love one another. It was perfect timing, and when he was done the people began to celebrate God’s love for them and love for each other. Now to see them worshiping together and loving each other has a whole new meaning. Praise God for the beginning of healing! They finally had to be told they needed to go home as it was getting very dark and safety was still an issue. There are still conflicts going on in other cities here, but right now Eldoret is happy. The crusade leaders (yes our Kenyan brothers are well) truly feel that the crusade is working to help bring peace here. In order for God to truly bring peace, those who have been affected by the killing must forgive the killers. We felt that a lot of this was going on tonight.
Cap Marks is doing a great job with the Leadership teaching sessions in the afternoons. He and his wife, LaVerne are enjoying being involved in this. Our son, Derick is doing a good job with the video project. He has some guys from here helping him. It has been good to have him with us. We’ve had good fellowship and hope we can do this together again another time. Lots of stories and memories have been fondly recalled, often punctuated by great rounds of laughter.
Previous: Judy’s Africa Journal 2008 part 4 -- Next: Judy’s Africa Journal 2008 part 2
Back to the Travel Blog