Thoughts on the Upcoming Kenyan Election...

Well, a month from tomorrow is the long awaited and anticipated Kenyan election.  4 weeks.  We have tried to follow all the US embassy recommendations for safety; stocking up on non-perishable supplies, phone cards (all our phone minutes are pre-paid using scratch-off cards), kerosene for our stove (that’s what all stoves here use) extra diesel for our vehicle (enough to get us to Nairobi if necessary), malaria meds, anti-biotics, amoeba medicine, extra dog food, etc.  Our freezer is completely full  with non-perishable things like flour and sugar and pasta and beans – even popcorn; these things don’t need to be in the freezer on a normal basis, but when stocking up, if these things are in the pantry more than a couple weeks they get maggots in them.  We don’t have a generator, so we really can’t buy extra meat – we have too many electrical outages, and if there are clashes after the election, who knows how long electrical outages might last.  But even if we don’t have clashes here in our town, the two main towns between us and Nairobi are known for violence over election outcomes.  Last time, you could not drive through those towns, and supplies to Kitale were basically cut off.   

So, we sit here, going on with our business as usual while we can.  Right now, things are quiet; hopefully they stay that way and all these extra goods and the extra expense will just get used up in a natural way.

My feelings and thoughts about the election are quite knotted up and difficult to untangle inside me.  I’ve talked to many people who are concerned; not because they know people who will likely be violent if things don’t go their way, but because a).  mob violence mentality, and b). there are groups of thugs that can be hired by a disgruntled party to go out and create havoc.  This is much (though not all) of what happened last time.  Why, oh, why are two of the men indicted by the International Criminal Court for atrocities after the last election allowed to continue to run for President????  They weren’t supposed to , but some Kenyan judge let them off – I wonder what he got in return?

Am I afraid?  Not yet.  I can’t live in fear for a whole month leading up to the election, but it is in the back of my mind – probably adding to the anxiety feelings I struggle with from time-to-time.

Here’s what I mostly think about.  “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” The Bible, book of James, chapter  4, verses 1-3.  We want things, and we want them so badly they become more important than anything else – more important than a fellow human being.  The politician wants power and control; he wants it so badly he will start a war to get it.  The hired thugs want money and power as well.  They want people to fear them; they are willing to slaughter people in order to get it.  Voters want the guy from their tribe to win because they think it will increase their power and prosperity; they will betray their long time neighbors, friends, even fellow church members to ensure this.   The problem isn’t their desire for their candidate to win; the problem is that this desire becomes all important to them so that they are willing to commit evil in order to achieve it, or commit evil if they don’t get what they want.   They demonize other tribes (or ethnic backgrounds), and slander opposition.  They even go so far as to stopping buses on the road and asking everyone from a certain tribe to get off the bus so they can slaughter them.  

I often wonder, how can human beings do this to each other?  I find myself unable to wrap my brain around it.  But then I must stop and ask myself this question: Am I really all that different at the core, or am I different only in degrees?  Which of my friends have I ever gossiped about when they did something I didn’t like?  Isn’t this a form of attack – without even the guts to do it to their face?  Doesn’t the same Bible that says the above quote also say, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’  But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” Matthew 5:21-23 (This is Jesus speaking)  Why? Because in doing so, we commit murder in our hearts.  Jesus goes on to say that the man (or woman) who looks at a woman (or man) who is not his/her spouse is guilty of committing adultery – in their heart. 

People often wonder what Christians mean when we say that we are all sinners before God.  It’s not because we all do equally bad things to our fellow man, but because we all have equally bad sin in our hearts – before a Holy God.  What is this afterall? I may not murder and slaughter and steal, but do I throw a temper tantrum and gossip and give people the cold shoulder? It’s all the same heart;  It’s wanting my will to be done rather than God’s – the essence of idolatry. 

The Kenyan elections are a time for many things.   1.  Prayer.  My prayer for Kenya is that each man, woman, and child remembers that every other man, woman, and child is a fellow human being, created in the image of God and worthy of honor and respect  - and life.  Relationship is more important that power;  more important than being RIGHT; more important than money; more important than politics (you hear that my fellow American?).  2.  Introspection.  Rather than only seeing the sin of others and tending to put them in a lower human class than ourselves, we should see our commonness.  Where do we have the same heart but only show it in more socially acceptable ways?  King David of Israel said, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24  3.  Peacemaking.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.”  We need to help people find peace with one another, but they will never truly do that until they have peace with God – and peace with God only comes through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1).

So please, pray for Kenya – for Kenyans; pray for their safety, pray for their peace, pray for their souls.  And I wouldn’t mind prayers for the missionaries here as well, as well as all the ex-patriots from all over the world who call this “home.”

Baba Yetu (Swahili) - Our Father

Functional Atheism

               “Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who wins the election.  I know where my hope is – it is in God.”  “I’ve read the back of the book and we win.”

               

                These are all both great statements, aren’t they? So why am I feeling so despondent after my man didn’t win? Problem is, they’re just words; well meaning, well intentioned, very Christian words.  But I don’t really believe them.  “What??  What do you mean you don’t believe them,” you ask?  I mean, God has used this election to reveal something to me about my heart. 

               

                The Radford’s and the Tate’s gathered together at the Radford’s house on November 6^th around 8:30 pm so we could watch the election together.  We played a few games and then watched CNN for a little while before going to sleep.  The plan was to wake up around 4:00am and watch the election results unfold.  We had a lot of nervousness about the election, but also a lot of hope.  Like many others, we were very angered and upset about the direction our country had taken the last four years; abortion on the rise, homosexual marriage becoming more and more accepted, legislation being passed against the will of the majority of the people…the list could go on, and on, and on, and on, and on…well, you get the picture.  We had all done our civic duty and sent in our absentee ballots, voting for the man we believed would better get our country back on the right track - voting against the man we knew was taking our country down the wrong track. We were nervous, but hopeful.

               

                That hope quickly died.  We held on to it as long as possible – probably longer.  By 10:00am our time (2am EST) our hopes for our country were dashed, and it was obvious that our nation had made a choice – a choice to turn away from its history of freedom knit together with personal responsibility; a choice to fill their bellies with what they might be able to get from people who have more than they do; a choice to take rather than to give; a choice to take the road of economic failure and moral decline.  I felt ashamed of my country and my countrymen.

               

                The mood at the Radford’s house was somber and quiet.  Nobody felt much like conversing, and Roger and I didn’t feeling like hanging around, so the Tate’s returned home to lick their wounds.  I have struggled with despondency ever since.

                This morning, I found myself asking the same question as David, the King of Israel, asked in Psalm 42:5: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?” Why do I feel like hope has died?

               

                Have you ever read the book of Habakkuk?  Habakkuk was a prophet of God who lived during very troubling times in Judah before the time of Christ.  God revealed to Habakkuk that He was going to punish Israel severely for her immorality and for turning her back on Him.  Punishment, Habakkuk could understand to a certain degree, but the total destruction of his nation that God told him would come at the hands of their worst enemies in the region, Habakkuk couldn’t fathom.  He questioned God’s integrity and faithfulness to His promises.  He questioned God’s lack of mercy.  He questioned God’s wisdom and goodness.  How, Habakkuk asked God, can you punish your people using a people who are far more ungodly than we are?  How can you decimate your people with whom you have sworn a blood covenant?  Habakkuk was confused, disquieted, despondent, and I think a little angry.  Until…God spoke to Him and showed him what it meant to live his life according to his faith in God.  Habakkuk surrendered to God’s will and embraced his true source of hope and life…God Himself.  And this was the whole point.

               

                Hope.  This, God has shown me over the last two days, is another worship word.  In thinking about spiritual adultery that we commit as Christians, I’ve often thought in terms of love, treasure, pursuit.  Questions like, “what do I love more than God,” or, “what do I put before God in my life,” or, “what would I be angry about if God took it away.” These are all typical x-ray questions for examining a heart of idolatry. Today, God showed me that my idolatry sometimes shows itself in the word HOPE.  When David asked himself the question about why his soul was cast down – why he was…depressed…despondent, his rebuke and encouragement to himself was to HOPE in God.  In other words, he was despondent because he hadn’t been hoping in God.  He’d been hoping in something else, and that something else had failed him.  My hope has often been in having the right political party in office, the right laws on the books, and the right people in Congress.  Oh, I would have said my hope was ultimately in God…but my despondency shows me otherwise, because when I ask myself David’s question…my soul, why are you cast down, the answer is instructive to where my hope is. 

               

                The day before the election, I prayed that God would put in as President whichever man would cause God’s people to pursue Him and His Kingdom.  I believe that God has answered that prayer.   If my health, wealth, and political power are stripped away from me, maybe I will see more clearly where my hope truly needs to be.  Maybe God is revealing to many of us who call on His name, that we have been misplacing our worship in ways we didn’t realize – hoping in something more than we hope in Him.  Maybe this will bring about repentance and renewed love and allegiance to something outside ourselves – something outside of our heritage – something outside of our country.  Maybe we’ve been worshipping these things and trying to hold onto them.  Maybe they have become our gods.  Maybe we need to get to the business of focusing our energies on the Kingdom of Heaven rather than the kingdom of America.

               

                Please don’t get me wrong.  I love my country; I appreciate and am thankful for the Christian heritage (yes, Christian heritage no matter what the newly written history books have to say)we have been blessed with,  and I will continue to have political opinions on her direction for the sake of her good.  But, oh, God, this is where my hope has been placed for far too long – way more than I realized.  Awaken me, Lord.  What folly it is to think that the spread of Your Kingdom depends on the state of America.  Forgive me.

                Now, nobody say to any sad American, “It’s done, get over it,” especially if you are not American.  There are a lot of ramifications to this election.  Allow us time to grieve.  Because though I do not want to worship my country, I do love my country, and I should be grieved at the path my people are taking as it is a path away from Christ.  It is a right and righteous grief.

                But let us do get on with the work of the Kingdom – yes, let us vote and work in the government and fight for justice in the political arena.  But more than that, let us hope in the Lord for the work and the growth of His Kingdom.  Let us love one another, love our neighbors, care for the widows and orphans, keep ourselves unspotted from sin – and do the work of sharing Jesus Christ and His Kingdom with all who are around us.

I'm Still Yours by Kutless

Fun at In-Step Children's Home Today

Well, after the last few rather depressing blogs, I hope that this one is more uplifting!  The children and I spent a lovely day out at In-Step Children’s Home today.  Besides the fact that anytime spent out there is precious, this was a special occasion. 

Several months ago, when Roger’s mom and dad were here visiting, they came to In-Step with me to see what I do there and to see this wonderful children’s home that I frequently talk about.  One of the things I do there is Story-Time once a month with the class 1 kids (most of the kids are about 6 years old).  The particular week they were there, one of the books I read was a children’s version of a chapter in Little House in the Big Woods called Christmas in the Big Woods.  In the story, Laura Ingalls gets a rag doll for Christmas. 

When my mother-in-law returned back to her church in the States and told the ladies there about the children at In-Step, they decided to make rag dolls for each of the boys and girls in my class.  When they were finished making them, they prayed over each one before they decided to name them (each doll got the name of the child that it would go to), and then they chose which doll would get which name.  The names were then put on the foot of the dolls.  The children at In-Step knew nothing about this….

…Until today!  I sat down with the kids and told them it was a special day because I was only going to read one story and it was one I’ve read before.  They sat attentively (which doesn’t happen every time ;-) ) and when I was finished reading the story, I told them the story of the Ladies at Calvary Baptist Church in West Branch, MI.  Then,  I opened up the box the dolls were in and called each child by name, handing him or her the doll that belonged to them. 

Reading the story, with Sherlyn (sitting to my left) translating for me.

Handing out the first doll to Sheri

It was so precious; they were so excited they giggled each time a new name was called.  Each child came to me, received their doll, thanked me, then went to get their picture taken with the doll.

The ladies even sent one extra for a boy and one extra for a girl, and that was fantastic because just this week, another 6 year old was taken in at In-Step.  Her name was Sandra.  She was so excited about her doll that she almost couldn’t wait!  This may very well be the first doll she has ever owned of her own.  This morning before I left the house, I found a fine-tip permanent marker to put her name on the doll that would be hers. 

Sheri

Rehema

Melissa K.

Brenda

Melissa I.

Rebecca

Sandra

Musa

Musa getting his doll

James

Sammy

Moses

George

Francis

Dennis

Paul

I can’t tell you the love I felt flowing from the heart of God to these children through these dolls.  I know that sounds strange, but it’s the truth.  I know they will feel it as well.

Thank you so much, ladies of Calvary Baptist Church in West Branch!!!!  You have touched the hearts of these children in ways you or I may never know and never understand.  Thank you for letting God’s love flow through you.  You made  a difference in the lives of these precious 15 children today.

After “Story-Time” I spent some time in the In-Step hospitality room with Sean and Meredith Stewart who work at In-Step.  With us was little Jason, one of In-Step’s newer little ones.  I’ll let you read about him on In-Step’s website (www.rehemaministries.com) .  I will tell you, however, that Jason is…9 months old!  He is as precious as all get-out.  He stayed with Sean and Meredith in their home here in Kitale for the first 2 weeks so that they could give him their full attention and make sure he was getting the medicines he needed and the nutrition that he needed.  I will also tell you he went from being absolutely terrified of them when they first picked him up from the Children’s department, to being one of the happiest, and most well-adjusted little guys!  He loves Sean and Meredith and smiles and talks to them and just beams when he sees them!  He’ll be “In-Step” with the other kids his age in no time with the love and care he receives from everyone at In-Step. 

Me and baby Jason

Mama Mary (Meredith) and baby Jason

One final thing – I’m adding a picture of Esther – Philip’s little sister (you might remember Philip was the little boy that stayed with us for a couple months last year).  When she went to In-Step, she couldn’t stand or walk on her own.  She was 2 years old and looked 9 months, and she was very sick.  Just look at her now!!!!

BEFORE PICTURE: Philip with Esther  

AFTER PICTURES: Esther going to play

A night and day difference from last year!

Thank you, In-Step!!!! Thank you, Carla and Jeff Picicci, and Sean and Meredith Stewart - for what you do for these little ones, and for letting me participate in a small way.  Thank you for letting me share in the joy of these beautiful children!

You can see the profiles of each of these precious ones on the In-Step Website:  www.rehemaministries.com Please go and learn each of their stories.  You'll be amazed at the way God steps into impossible situations and gives love and life and hope!  

Good News, Bad News Concerning the Car; Aug 7

Well, Roger's been in Eldoret all morning working with the KRA (Kenya Revenue Authority).  

Good news first.  Roger won't be arrested.  That was our first priority afterall.

The rest is looking like bad news.  The vehicle is almost definitely illegal.  Bummer.  That means, that the person who okay'd its import into the country was a crook and probably pocketed the duty money.  Bottom line is that the vehicle is supposed to be impounded and actually destroyed, so we're out a very large sum of money.  

It seems a law was passed in 2003 that vehicle older than 8 years old were not allowed to be imported into the country.  Ours was imported in 2007 and it is a 1991 vehicle.  Roger was told that often times, because Kenya is a coastal country, cars come into the country "in transit" to other countries like Uganda, which have no such laws.  Then criminals get them and sell them.  The first lady Roger talked to at the KRA took one look at our log book and said, "Yup, that's a fake."  She knew because they stopped issuing that kind of log book in 2006 and the date on our log book is 2007.  

At this point, I would ask you to please start praying for a vehicle for us.  And start praying for the money to buy a vehicle.  They are very, very expensive here because of import and duty taxes (which are 50 - 60% of the value of the vehicle). And even when you buy a vehicle that has already been imported, that duty is rolled over into the price you pay. Single people can get by without a vehicle here, but once you have a spouse and/or children, it gets a lot more difficult - especially with Emily at boarding school 6 hours away.  Public transportation isn't always a possibility, and there are times we have to be in Nairobi - if we use public transportation while in Nairobi, it costs us a fortune.  Also, here, to get a taxi, you often have to wait a very long time because they will tell you they are on their way, when they are 45 minutes away.  

In fact, we are supposed to take Emily back to school in just 3 weeks and we are supposed to stay in Nairobi and get some medical things taken care of as well as passport things with the Embassy.  I don’t know if that will be able to happen now.

Well, that's the news for now.  I know God is still in control.  He has a purpose; I don't' know what it is yet, but we have to trust Him.  It doesn't mean the circumstances don’t stink though. I'm reminded of a verse in the Bible, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  I Thessalonians 5:16-18   I am also reminded of this one, "...but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."  Romans 5:3-5

Please pray for our attitudes.  Roger is discouraged that we're out so much money (on top of that, he had to deal with dishonest public transportation people on the way home.  If you want that story, see the PS down below).  It's not like we have money laying around to buy another 4-wheel drive vehicle.  All the money we put into that vehicle is just...gone.  POOF.  And I'm a little angry at the moment on a couple of different fronts, one being the corruption that allowed this to happen.  Pray that we continue to entrust ourselves to God, who judges rightly.  He knows that we are victims in this whole situation.  He sees.  He will supply our need - maybe not by our definition of need, but by His, and His is the correct one.  

If anything changes, I'll let you know.

In the mean-time, thanks for all your prayers!!!!

In Christ - Held by His Grip (so glad its not dependent on my grip!)

Julie

P.S.  So, Roger just got home and told me a heart-warming story of corruption on a much lower level.  Roger used public transportation to get to Eldoret and back today.  It costs 200/=  (that’s 200 Kenyan shillings).  On the way back, he sat down on the shuttle and when the lady came by to give him his riding ticket, it was a fake ticket that said 300/= on it.  Roger gave it back to her and told her she was a thief for trying to steal from the white people (that’s what they call us, by the way).  He told her that he’d ridden this shuttle 5 times in the last 3 weeks and he knew exactly how much it should cost.  She denied trying to steal from him and blamed it on another guy who had written the ticket.  She went away and then returned with the proper, official ticket with the correct price on it.  She even told him it was an official ticket.  So, Roger pointed out to her that she knew the other ticket was fake, and so that made her a thief as well.  He asked her if she was a Christian, to which she answered, “yes.”  He then asked her if she knew what the Bible says about stealing.  At that point she started pretending to not understand his English, and another Kenyan man standing there said, “I don’t think she understands you.”  So, Roger said, “Oh, you don’t understand my English, well then,  I’ll speak in Kiswahili,” which he proceeded to do much to her surprise.  She turned and walked away at that point.  So, this is just a taste of what we live with day in and day out, and it is why we really need your prayers – prayers for love and patience in our hearts.

Another Vehicle Situation Update...Aug 6

Just a quick update here for those of you who are following our car situation:

Over the weekend, I talked with a friend of mine here who strongly recommended that Roger contact the US Embassy in Nairobi to let them know what was going on and to get advice from them.  It seems they have departments that are there for this very purpose – to help American citizens who find themselves in questionable situations like this.  We found out some very interesting things.  First of all, they told us to under no circumstance turn our vehicle over to the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) rather, they are supposed to be helping us investigate the problem and fix the problem.  Second, we have been advised that they cannot impound the vehicle unless it is proven to be illegal.  In our case, there is nothing yet that proves our vehicle is the one with the problem.  It might be, but we don’t have (and they don’t have) proof of that yet.  If there are two log books, and two license plates, we need an investigation done to see which one is legitimate.  No vehicle has been reported stole, no license plate has been reported stolen – it’s possible the other guy could have died or the car could have been totaled at some point and isn’t even in existence anymore.  Anyway, more investigation needs to be done before anyone can know for sure whether or not our car is illegal. The embassy gave us some things to say to the CID and some things to ask them to do for us.  Obviously, if we find the car has been registered illegally (which would actually mean it’s not registered at all), then we need to make the car legal and we don’t know yet if they will impound it during the time we’re trying to work it out.  We should find out more about that tomorrow after Roger goes to Eldoret again – IF it turns out the vehicle is not legal.

So, next time Roger goes in to talk with the CID, he’ll probably take our new lawyer with us, and this information from the Embassy, so the CID will know we’ve been in communication with our Embassy. 

We also found out something else interesting.  The police are not supposed to arrest an American citizen without proof of a crime.  The lady Roger spoke with at the Embassy today said that a lot of times, the police will arrest an American citizen for supposedly speeding.  For those of you who have kept up with our blog, that will sound familiar J    She even mentioned the town Roger was arrested in for just that very thing (he wasn’t speeding, by the way).  If that happens, the American citizen is supposed to call the Embassy immediately.  The Embassy will call the head of the police station and say, “Uh, what are you doing…?”  and the police station will say, “Just a moment please.”  Then they will come back on the phone a few minutes later and say, “That person has been released,” and the Embassy will say, “Thank you very much.”  Too bad we didn’t know that before!  But we know it now.

So, please continue to pray for our situation.

On a lighter note…we’ve been borrowing a car from some friends of mine.  It is a very small, white, hard-top Jeep kind of vehicle with two doors.  Before I tell you the funny, let me say how extremely thankful we are for this vehicle.  Without it, we’d really be hurting.  Because of its size and color, our friends affectionately call it “The Marshmallow,” so that is what we also call it.  Two more pieces of background information on The Marshmallow – it has no shocks.  I mean – ZERO.  Nothing.  Nada.  Imagine 4-wheeling in the mud over very bumpy roads – washboard roads with 2 foot deep gorges running through them in places – in a small Jeep like thing with no shocks.  BUT…it has a high ceiling on the inside.  Okay, so our family went to town to eat dinner tonight and when the kids (all 3 of them) started piling into the back of the car to go home Josiah said, “You know one of the good things about this car?  When Mom is driving and she misses a speed bump, we won’t hit our heads on the ceiling of the car!”  All three children burst out laughing. Thanks, guys, for that vote of confidence.  Yes, that has happened – he speaks from experience J.