Update Mar 26, 2008 We are so grateful that there's so little to resport about the election crisis! The Parliament has been making slow but steady progress toward structuring the power-sharing arrangement, there is relative calm in the streets, and the focus is on repairing the damage that has been done. We received an email from Pastor B recently, with some great news! They now have running water at the orphanage! He is also calling for some of the seminary teachers who have come in the past to consider coming again. They also have money to start the next three classrooms, however the prices have gone way up because of the conflict, so the task is more difficult. On a sad note, the beloved headmaster of the seminary, Pastor T, has had to leave the school. He has an intertribal marriage, and his family is not safe in the region. With the blessing of the school's advisor counsel, he has moved on to another position at another seminary in a more neutral location. We will miss Pastor T terribly, and the school is now struggling understaffing even more than before. From Mar 6, 2008 We received a phone call from Pastor B. Here's a quick summary of what he was able to report: * The situation continues to stabilize. * Healthwise, they are all doing well: Pastor B, his wife, the pastor of the orphanage, the pastor of the seminary. * They have a new headmaster and 8 teachers at the orphanage, now. * He has internet access from home using the calling cards, rather than going to Kisumu. So, if we can put credits on his phone card, then he'll be able to do more email. * He's going to try to send us some at least one photo of the new construction. * He's been teaching a lot at the seminary while Pastor T is away. * He has everything finalized for the water system except for the money. He says about $2K is needed initially, and then $20-30 monthly after that. From Mar 4, 2008 We have received a few emails from Pastor B this week reporting that things are in fact returning to normal. Just the fact that he is able to send email is a sign of improvement! He believes that the coalition government is in fact the best solution for Kenya. He also acknowledges that there is a long road ahead for Kenyans. He also expresses their love and gratitude for those in the States who have been praying for them and helping them. The news reports are in accord with Pastor B's sentiments. The agreement is promising and has a real chance for success, but the leadership needs to carry forward with their stated intentions. The road to recovery will be arduous, but at least there is a road, now. From Feb 28, 2008 Both sides of the negotian have agreed to a power-sharing scheme, the agreement that Kofi Annan has been working to broker for weeks. If the agreement plays out, then we should see stability continue to increase for Kenya. Economically, this means investors will be much less nervous about investing in Kenya. This, in turn, should help the economy rebound. This is really the beginning of recovery, not the end. There is much work to be done, and there will likely be scrapes along the way, but the monumental achievement is historic. This agreement should result in continued improvements in security and safety for all Kenyans, including the orphans in the village we serve. We ask that you fervently pray for this agreement to have significant and lasting effects for the good of Kenya. From Feb 26, 2008 Negotiations are at a very difficult and crucial juncture. Kofi Annan's patience appears to be almost completely exhausted, trying to convince the parties to cooperate. He is escalating the negotiation procedures in an effort to get past hurdles by insisting on talking directly with the leaders, rather than through their spokesmen. From Feb 22, 2008 Negotiations hit a snag recently when the opposition leader, Raila Odinga, unexpectedly left the country. However, it does not appear to be major setback. His return and the continuation of negotiations are expected. From Feb 21, 2008 The latest news reports indicate that an agreement may be close at hand. The ruling party has agreed to the idea of creating a new Prime Minister position in order to share power. However, we remain cautious, knowing that widespread rioting can be triggered by a single word by a single person. From Feb 20, 2008 We spoke with Pastor B on the phone today, and there are lots of updates: * They have relative calm lately, but are expecting more violence next week (see below). * They are up to 167 orphans and 8 teachers, now. * The orphans and seminary students are back in class for now. * They are putting the final touches (windows and roof) on one more classroom (the third) and an office. * They are planning on two more classrooms next. * They have made progress toward getting water - this will be a one-time expense plus $20-30 per month. * Pastor B's wife had a very serious bout with asthma last week. * The church plant in the south of the district is still going strong. The news services report that the opposition party leadership is growing impatient with the negotiation process, and threaten more "demonstrations" next week if there is no new progress. This could mark a return of the strong violence we've seen in weeks past. Also, it appears that Kofi Annan may have changed his statements, from staying with the negotiations until they are complete to staying until they are complete or they deteriorate beyond repair. (It is difficult to be very certain about whether or not this marks a change.) From Feb 19, 2008 Negotiations have continued to the point where they are considering a constitutional amendment in order to help broker peace. The parliament will also likely need to get involved at some point in order to finalize any agreement. One option includes adding a Prime Minister in addition to the President and Vice President. There are many voices opposed to any change to the constitution. The positive note would be that fidelity to the constitution (changed or unchanged) seems to be a high priority. If the process loses regard for the constitution, then even more chaos would ensue. Conoleeza Rice has been meeting with the parties involved. Kofi Annan continues to lead the negotiations. We have had no new news from the village. We will attempt contact tomorrow to see how they are doing. From Feb 16, 2008 The good news is that very little has been happening. The negotiations are continuing, and the prospect of power sharing is becoming a viable option. There has even been positive movement toward re-examining the Dec 27 vote. Kofi Annan has recently pledged his commitment to stick with the negotiations until a solution is found. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will be dispatched to Kenya on Monday (she is traveling with the President as he visits various African nations). However, there are still reports of violence, tension, and rape. From Feb 11, 2008 We received a phone call from Pastor B on Sunday. He reported some very good news. First, the rioting and violence have eased up enough for them to go to church without any problems. They have received all the money that we've sent, and they have purchased as many supplies as they can. Furthermore, progress on the building is progressing - they are now putting the roof on new classrooms and office space for the orphanage! However, the turmoil and damage to the city of Kisumu means that there is no internet service for the time being. Negotiations under Kofi Annan's leadership are continuing, and there are signs of progress. However, there are times where the leaders of the opposing parties will speak in ways that undermine the spirit of negotiation. Many experts agree that widespread, uncontrolled violence could erupt without much more provocation. The economy, which normally has signs of health, is suffering because of the crisis. Some reports estimate that over 600,000 have been displaced from their homes. This reminds us of what the vast number of orphans have been experiencing in Kenya for years, scores of people without a home and with means - now the problem has extended to a large population of adults. From Feb 8, 2008 Pastor B sent another email, in which he expresses his love and thanksgiving for all those who are supporting him with prayers and finances. He also affirms his strong faith in Jesus, despite the havoc that his country has experienced. On a surprising note, construction on the orphanage has continued! He also also decided to add 30 more orphans to the roster (we will get information on the new orphans soon). Therefore, we need more sponsors for orphans, which is a great problem to have! Negotiations under Kofi Annan continue, although there have been threats of more violence if the talks do not progress. Annan claims to see progress in the negotiations, and remains optimistic. The U.S. has pledged continued support to help the Kenyans work through this crisis. From Feb 2, 2008 Pastor B has emailed a couple of us with the same basic news: Another member of parliament has been killed, leading to more reactions. He says that thousands of houses have been burned, and a few hundred people who were evicted have ended up in the village. Pastor B and his family are trying to find blankets for these refugees. Some of the parents in this group have no idea where their children are. Other reports we receive from other mission agencies tell similar stories: shootings, evictions, burnings, and short supplies of the essentials. The BBC reports the encouraging news that the two sides have agreed in principle to begin implementing a peace plan, which they hope to enact over the next two weeks. Note, however, that these tribal conflicts run deep, and handshakes in Nairobi may or may not translate into peace in the towns and villages. From Jan 29, 2008 Mugabe Were, a member of parliament and a member of the opposition party was assassinated at his home. Mr. Were was seen as a bridge builder, so his loss is particularly bad for finding a peaceful resolution. In an apparent retaliation, a doctor was beheaded by a gang wielding machetes. Also, many sources are reporting on military helicopters opening fire on rioters. The officials claim that only rubber bullets were used. Meanwhile, the Kenyan shilling has reached a three-year low against the dollar. Kofi Annan will resume negotiations with the opposing party leaders today. From Jan 28, 2008 First, the news from Pastor B. The very fact that Pastor B was able to send email is in itself encouraging! He expressed gratitude for the praying that has been offered on their behalf. "Prayer is what you carry all the time with you." He says that this is not the Kenya they have known over the last 40 years. The ethnic violence is still high, including brutal acts of murder, even by the hands of young people. He is thanksful for the food and water, but those supplies will not last much longer. One of the biggest concerns was that they have told the children to stay home because of threats of burning down the school if they continue teaching. Second, from the press. Areas near where the orphanage is located are particularly volatile, especially over this past weekend. Kofi Annan visited some of these areas in the last few days. Many villages in the Rift Valley are burning. Rioting and looting in Kisumu is apparently out of control. When one tribe offends the other, it is usually followed by some act of revenge, only escalating the problems. In one well-reported case, 19 people were chased into a house and then the house was burned. Swissinfo.ch reports that the violence now is becoming more organized in the form of militias.* *(http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/Kenya_s_Rift_Valley_burns.html?siteSect=143&sid=8643744&cKey=1201539190000&ty=ti) From Jan 24, 2008 President Kibaki and Raila Odinga met with Kofi Annan today, and after they emerged from the meeting, they both gave speeches suggesting they were willing to negotiate in order to find a peaceful resolution. Time will tell how well they are able to carry out these plans. The U.S. has decided to continue their significant foreign aid to Kenya, but certainly if matters degenerate, pulling aid could happen. The current thinking is that pulling aid will not help the problem and will only worsen conditions for the citizens. Along with shootings, machete attacks, and rapings, there have been reports recently of people being killed by poison arrows. There is no new news from Pastor B or the orphans. From Jan 23, 2008 The violence has continued through the week, with reports of continue violence, protests, killings, and gang rapes. Kofi Annan is now in Kenya with a delegation to negotiate some form of peaceful settlement. The Kenya stock exchange has been fairly resilient to the turmoil, but there are market fears that if the latest round of negotiations fail, the market will not be able to remain stable for much longer. The orphans were gathered a second time to the orphanage in the last two weeks to check on them and to distribute more food. So far, there are no reports of any deaths among the orphans, although we do have one report of a guardian passing away, and we are still trying to locate the orphan who stayed there. The pastors and teachers are still taking measures to remain safe. There have been no classes since the end of November. Supplies remain scarce and inflated. Transportation is difficult and dangerous. We are still able to communicate with Pastor B through mobile phone and text messaging. We are looking for a way to be able to purchase mobile phone minutes for him from here. However, the skirmishes have made this task more difficult. We have funds available for the orphanage to use, but the difficulty has been getting to the bank where the funds are, finding adequate supplies, and getting them back to the village. Please pray the following for our brothers and sisters in Kenya: Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (New American Standard Bible . electronic edition. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1986; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996.) Update Jan 20, 2008 Recent news reports describe people being hacked to death by gangs wielding machetes with dozens more dead. The violence continues. From Jan 19, 2008 We received two text messages from Pastor B this morning: "Thanks for your prayer. My country Kenya is still burning. Many people are hopeless. But I trust in the Lord." "Six people shot in Kisumu including [an] 8 year old boy." From Jan 17, 2008 The protests have continued. Reuters reports clashes with police, especially in Nairobi and Kisumu. At least 7 more have been killed. Kofi Annan is recovering from the flu before returning to Kenya to help mediate a resolution. Not surprisingly, accusations of misconduct among the two tribes primarily involved are leveled in both directions. According to one of our sources in country, Reuters is doing some of the best reporting on the issues. From Jan 16, 2008 Nationwide protests have begun, and the fear is that they will turn violent and bring the country into chaos. So far, the protests appear to be non-violent. We got more money to Pastor B for more food, but it had not been cleared by the bank as of Tuesday afternoon before the virtual "lock down." Until we know how the protests will go, we have no idea when Pastor B will be able to travel to pick up the food for the orphans. From Jan 13, 2008 After a phone conversation with Pastor B, we have confirmation that the orphanage now has food! It will be distributed starting Monday, but it will only last about one and a half weeks, so we're trying to get more non-perishable goods to the orphanage in the next 48 hours. Apparently, after Tuesday, they are expecting goods and transportation to be much more difficult to arrange. There continues to be a need for prayer and extra financial support. The price of goods is inflated, and will likely be worse in the near future. From Jan 11, 2008 We have confirmed that the large store nearby has about 80% of the goods we need. We are sending money today to enable Pastor B to get food to the orphans by Saturday or Sunday. There are still transportation and safety concerns, so we will not breathe easily until we hear for sure that the children have the food in their hands. Classes will resume on Monday, "if there are no guns." Construction on the orphanage is continuing. From Jan 10, 2008 We are working diligently with missionaries in Africa (and with the Red Cross) to get food to the orphans. God has raised up sources of money and a quickly arranged network of people to get supplies into the village in a safe manner. We need many things to come together: communication, transportation, and safety. But the wheels are turning, and right now it looks possible for us to succeed. We have heard from Pastor B by email and by telephone in the last 24 hours. Movement and safety have improved, apparently, but there is still a lot of tension and bitterness. As far as he knows, all of the orphans are still alive, but they are suffering. The teachers and pastors are trying to contact each orphan and guardian to check on them. We need prayer support in order to see this food go all the way from money here to food in the hands of orphans and our workers there. Some sources outside of Kenya place the number of the dead at about twice what the official figures have been coming from Kenyan sources. BREAKING NEWS AS OF 4:23 EST: A recent announcement by the current president about whether or not a recount or revote is possible is leading to a rapid increase of tensions. The current outlook is that violence is likely to return and endure. However, progress continues on getting food to the orphans within the next 48 hours. From Jan 7, 2008 We heard from Pastor B by email late Sunday night. He saw at the mortuary a more than 100 bodies of those shot by the police. The large market where many of the US short-term missionaries have shopped was burned to the ground. People are afraid to go to their churches - even just from fear of the unknown. Inflation has approached 400% in some places, making goods, services, and gas unaffordable. The good news is that apparently Pastor B's daughters have made it home after being stranded. We are also encouraged that he was able to communicate by email. The orphans are suffering terribly through this, and the pastors and teachers are helpless to prevent it. Apparently, there has been an increase in the reports of the raping of women in several areas. News sources report almost 500 dead and over a quarter million people displaced from their homes. From Jan 5, 2008 The latest reports are that security is starting to return back to normal, but unless services and transportation are restored soon, Kenya is facing a possible large-scale health crisis. The opposition party is calling for new elections, and the ruling party is beginning to make overtures that they are willing to negotiate a peaceful resolution. There is a marked increase in crime, including gang rapes. From Jan 4, 2008: Pastor B called on Jan 2 to update us briefly on the situation in Ahero. He described the situation as "hell." There are dozens of people seeking refuge at his house, and they have run out of food and water. Some staying there have not eaten in over a week. Furthermore, the police apparently have been directed to shoot on sight anyone violating the imposed curfew. Two of Pastor B's children are stuck in Kisumu, and he's trying to find a way to retrieve them. Kisumu has been specifically mentioned in the international news as a hot spot - much of the city has been burned, and many have been left homeless. We have no specific word about the orphans, although we know that Pastor B typically has better access to goods and services than they do, and he is in distress. Therefore, we assume that the orphans are having a difficult time of it - very likely having little access to food and water. Missionary S has emailed frequently from Nairobi to keep us informed on the situation there. A large planned protest by the challenger's party has been postponed. Likely, such a large protest, declared to be illegal by the ruling party, would have ended up in widespread violence. The African church, the international community, and leaders from other religions are united in condemning the violence and calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.