To all my supporters – this is a serious call to prayer for the situation in Kenya.
We have a base
in Nairobi, an orphanage in Kibera, and many MANY friends there. You have probably
heard reports of the violence going on there. Here’s a quick
summary from Denise, a staff member who is keeping in touch with all of our
Kenyan friends:
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December 27 elections were held for the presidency with the
front runners being Mwai Kibaki (sitting president) and Raila Odinga (Member of
parliament representing Kibera). On Friday rioting began for delayed results.
On Sunday afternoon the Electoral commission declared Kibaki the winner and he
was immediately sworn in for a second term without media being present. All
live Radio and TV has been banned to quell the violence. Raila’s party declared
him the winner and asked Kibaki to concede. Raila has also now declared that he
is the president and that he will take over Kibaki and will be installing a
“parallel” government. Western observers, the US and the UN all seem
to agree there were large irregularities in the election count process. The
outcome of all this is large scale riots, violence, killings, and chaos in
Kibera, other slums in Nairobi and increased tribal violence across the
country. This is a worst case scenario situation.
Our friends are without food and unable to leave their homes
because of the violence. Gangs run the streets, going from house to house,
breaking in, looting for any food, water, whatever goods they can get. Then
they force the occupants to show their ID cards. If they are of a rival tribe,
the occupants of the house are killed. There is a one million man march planned
by protestors for Thursday to gather in a downtown park and storm the capital,
taking it back by force. The current government has shut everything down and
plans to shoot to kill anyone who tries to enter downtown. Police are already
going through Kibera where they shoot first and ask questions later. These are
not some strange faces on a television. These are our friends. These are the
pastors we walked through the streets with, proclaiming the gospel. These are
the students in the Bible college where we taught. These are the people who
came over for strange American food and games with us. These are friends.
We are asking for you to pray… to lift them up in
intercession… to fast… to shake heaven and earth with our prayers
for our friends. They are standing in faith, knowing their only hope of
survival, their only hope for life, is God’s intervention. We will be
interceding and fasting from 6pm on Wednesday to 6pm on Thursday that the plans
Satan has to destroy this nation will be met with God’s miraculous intervention.
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For me, this situation hits home for 2 specific reasons.
#1 – The AIM House – the orphanage we have there. I’ve been learning more and more about these children from Denise- hearing their stories and seeing their faces over the past few months. These are some of the children I’m working to raise support for. My heart goes out to them and for those that care for them! It’s hard not to worry, though we know they’re in God’s hands. Please pray for their protection – no children should have to go through such horror!
#2 – My “kids” in Kenya – Dama (6) and Erick (8). These are the beautiful children I sponsor monthly through Compassion International. They write me letters and keep me updated with their lives. In my last letter from Erick, he said “Thank you for choosing me to be your child, I love you so much!” It breaks my heart to know they may be in danger. Please pray for their safety!
(to see their pictures, click here)
Blessings to all of you- I know you will join us in prayer! Thank you for being amazing prayer warriors in my life!
Check out http://kaylaphillips.myadventures.org
or http://deniseroberts.myadventures.org for more details and regular updates.
