Tuesday 8 January 2008

KENYA IS CRYING... (5) ELCK

The school at the dedication of the basketball court, August 26, 2007.
The school burnt...
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya - ELCK officers spoke about what is happening in Kenya. Rev. David Chuchu, Project Coordinator, wrote:
"Receive greetings from Kenya.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we need your prayers more than before. The post election violent has made us experience violence that has claimed hundreds of lives countrywide. This has continued for the fifth day.
Yesterday we had of church being burnt with people in it that have just gone their for safetyin Eldoret. This afternoon Kibera slums was of no go zone as Springs of Life Lutheran Church and Nursery School was put on fire. Our neighboring church African Inland Church was the first to be put ablaze this morning. It begun by looting the recently renovated health facility with support from LCMS WR and HC at Kibera and then it was set ablaze. No amount of pleading would stop them.
Kisumu where bloody violence had lasted for days was a no-go zone as police ringed the lakeside town and kept out protesters. Meanwhile, people’s houses were being burnt in the estates especially in Naymasaria, Kondele, Nyalenda and Manyatta areas. Nakumatt opposite the Lutheran Church was looted. Thanks to the police that were able to overpower the hooligans and looters.
Mombasa, Eldoret, Kericho, Kilifi, Taveta, Kakamega, Busia, Narok, Bungoma has experienced similar violent with many lives being lost either by people killing each other or a s a result live bullets used by police as they class with protesters following the last concluded controversial elections in Kenya.
Humanitarian crisis is unfolding as thousands of displaced Kenyans started running out of food and water. Houses have been burnt, Churches and property burnt or destroyed. Thousands of people are sleeping in the cold at various police stations countrywide. Others are camping in churches. In Kondele Police station in Kisumu have over 2000 people without even a blanket to cover themselves with. People need food, water, and blankets, they have children going without food. They have locked themselves in the houses and are not safe at all as arsonists loiter around.
Shops are closed, makeshift groceries that are usually available by the road side that provides the necessary food stuff for the common people as they walk on the streets have been torched.
In all these, the sad part is that politicians continue to harden their position as the nation is bleeding, people are weeping as the entire country is heading towards destruction. Something we are not used to. Kindly join us in prayers. We need the divine intervention so that God will speak to our leaders.

David Chuchu"

Rev. John Halakhe, General Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya - ELCK , wrote after visiting the church, school and parish house which were burnt:
"Dear Friends,
These are some pictures of Springs of Life Lutheran Church, Kibera. I was there this morning and took some shots. The story I heard is a living testimony.... I was told by neighbors that the way the fire went off is amazing before their eyes and they said the Hand of God was present. The fire was to consume the entire building but it suddenly went off.
I believe it was the work of the spring of Life - Jesus Christ Himself. Now, a Number of things burnt into ashes but not the Cross as I will show you in the comings pictures. They may have burnt the churches but they can not destroy the message of the Cross.....not our Faith and not the assembly of the believers, who are the Body of Christ. And surely the Springs of Life which is Jesus Christ Himself and His Saving Grace and Mercies and Peace as Manifested in his death on the Cross and victory over it and Symbolized in our Baptism shall indeed flows from its Baptismal font and its Alter and continue to quench our thirst for justice, peace, food and shelter in Kenya and all over the world.
Peace of the Lord be with you all.

His,

Rev. John Halakhe"


He shared his own experience too:

“I was on my way to Kibera going through road blocks. At one point I was ordered by youths to get in the car and drive away or the car set on fire. Continue praying for us.
Rev. John H”

Pray for Bishop Walter Obare, who is still at his rural home. He is under threat because his ethnic background and cannot come back to Nairobi.
The school hall at the dedication service of the Basketball Court, last August.



The school hall, burnt. We were many times there with the children and with visitors.
"TRAIN A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO, AND WHEN HE IS OLD HE WILL NOT TURN FROM IT." - Proverbs 22:6




2 comments:

twabe geoffrey said...

GOD IS ALWAYS WITH OURS AND HAS A PLAN TO HAS ALL AS CHRISTIANS.

twabe geoffrey said...

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EVERYTHING LETS PRAY HARD.