Dear Friends,

It’s so sad to witness the havoc wrought by the aspirations of an ego maniac. Had the defeated candidate achieved his desire to be president, the violence would have been much worse. Really Kenyans get along amazing well (for those of you familiar with the Kenyan work Bro. Duncan Irungu is a Kikuyu and Isadora, the college secretary is a Luo) but throughout his campaign the opposition leader preached tribal hatred and stirred up old animosities.

The government is in control and they have exercised great restraint; only the police have been called out, not the army or special units. The horrific massacres took place up-country in the constituencies of the Pentagon (as they call themselves), the top leaders of the opposition. So far the Kikuyu and other targeted groups have not retaliated, but a terrible legacy has been created.

Nairobi has no go zones, especially after dark, and Kibera (a big slum and the epicenter of opposition support) turned in on itself and self-destructed. Today the defeated candidate has called for a mass protest rally; typically, this kind of rally ends up in shop breaking and arson.

The Eastleigh area (where the church is located) has been peaceful, but difficult of access. Its location between a couple of hot spots brought women from the slums of Mathare looking for foodstuffs and water. We were able to supply both.  Berkeley, Bro. Duncan and Shosho Abinja spent all yesterday ministering to those who sought our help. 

Pray for all the beautiful people of Kenya, the Christians, especially. I’ve reminded God over and over of Sodom and Gomorrah; he was willing to spare those cities for ten righteous people, and Kenya has passed that number many times over. We have great faith all things will be most well.

Years ago when Berkeley and I decided to dedicate our lives to the Lord’s work in Kenya , we agreed to accept the bad with the good and the bitter with the sweet.  In one way or another isn’t that the ordinary Christian life anywhere in the world?

Love & prayers,
Charlotte

In the church all tribes exist together in harmony.  In this lower primary Sunday school class all Kenya’s major tribes are represented.  The precious little girl on the left in the pink top has a Luo mother and a Kikuyu father.  Brother Hackett conducted their wedding ceremony several years ago.