I first heard the term 'exit strategy' in a missions class at Wheaton Grad School, and I'm very sure it had nothing to do with what we went through today.
Since the killing of the MP in Nairobi(go to http://allafrica.com/stories/200801290995.html to read a story about it), and the subsequent tear gassing of his home and mourning family, there has been an incredible step up in anger across the country, even in otherwise calm and pastoral areas like Kitale. Harmon Parker, the founder of Bridging the Gap, called me with a message from his friends in intel at the US Embassy and the UN. He said the Kitale area could be next area to explode and the Embassy is asking Everyone get to safe ground because ALL roadways will be closed down in the next days.
Angry mobs between ElDoret and Kitale have taken over the highway and
Since the killing of the MP in Nairobi(go to http://allafrica.com/stories/200801290995.html to read a story about it), and the subsequent tear gassing of his home and mourning family, there has been an incredible step up in anger across the country, even in otherwise calm and pastoral areas like Kitale. Harmon Parker, the founder of Bridging the Gap, called me with a message from his friends in intel at the US Embassy and the UN. He said the Kitale area could be next area to explode and the Embassy is asking Everyone get to safe ground because ALL roadways will be closed down in the next days.
Angry mobs between ElDoret and Kitale have taken over the highway and
search every car one lorry for Kikuyus.
Moi's Bridge has been completely torn down, making it impossible to pass the way we traditionally do.
The area of MATUNDA is in complete chaos, no vehicle is able to pass...roadblocks of steel and telephone poles and boulders are all across the road today the community of Soy...where there is always a little market going on is just crazy...people are lashing out...saying they want justice, but being incited by the boldest in the change drinking crowds.
We got together with Butaki and Stephen Mairori, and found out there was an airlift out of the airstrip by Sister Freda's. Some of you guys who flew to Kakuma Camp by Sudan, remember this strip...it's basically just a cornfield with a weathervane. As much as we didn't want to go in this way, ...we had 30 minutes to decide ...Stonic told us, "Steve, get on this flight...it will be the only way back to Nairobi for a long time."
So we quickly prayed for and said goodby to Ayub, Mary, James, Juma, Jason, Lilac, Freddy and Sylvester, all of whom have been riding out the storm on our compound, and headed to the airstrip.
Stonic talked with the pilot of the turboprop and Dan Hamer, Jeff Frum and me on the flight...Nathan Chesang, the board chairman of ICM and director of Circle of Light, a partnership with the COORS family, pulled up with his son Allen and prayed for us. Then...before we could even reflect on the last few days...we were in the air and heading for El Doret.
El Doret Airport was quite a scene...Military EVERYWHERE. Marksmen carrying machine guns and rifles.... hundreds of soldiers being moved onto and off Airforce transport planes. We're pretty sure they are headed for Kitale to fortify things there. Each soldier , steely eyed, with the look of combat ahead .Let me tell you this is not the city we have ministered in over the last 10 years...it's absolutely Dodge City..Hamer and Frum and I watched from under an acacia tree, sucked down an Orange Fanta (mmmm) and tried to picture what lay ahead.
From the air... fires and smoke all around...well that's for another message....
Thanks for your prayers and encouraging comments.
The area of MATUNDA is in complete chaos, no vehicle is able to pass...roadblocks of steel and telephone poles and boulders are all across the road today the community of Soy...where there is always a little market going on is just crazy...people are lashing out...saying they want justice, but being incited by the boldest in the change drinking crowds.
We got together with Butaki and Stephen Mairori, and found out there was an airlift out of the airstrip by Sister Freda's. Some of you guys who flew to Kakuma Camp by Sudan, remember this strip...it's basically just a cornfield with a weathervane. As much as we didn't want to go in this way, ...we had 30 minutes to decide ...Stonic told us, "Steve, get on this flight...it will be the only way back to Nairobi for a long time."
So we quickly prayed for and said goodby to Ayub, Mary, James, Juma, Jason, Lilac, Freddy and Sylvester, all of whom have been riding out the storm on our compound, and headed to the airstrip.
Stonic talked with the pilot of the turboprop and Dan Hamer, Jeff Frum and me on the flight...Nathan Chesang, the board chairman of ICM and director of Circle of Light, a partnership with the COORS family, pulled up with his son Allen and prayed for us. Then...before we could even reflect on the last few days...we were in the air and heading for El Doret.
El Doret Airport was quite a scene...Military EVERYWHERE. Marksmen carrying machine guns and rifles.... hundreds of soldiers being moved onto and off Airforce transport planes. We're pretty sure they are headed for Kitale to fortify things there. Each soldier , steely eyed, with the look of combat ahead .Let me tell you this is not the city we have ministered in over the last 10 years...it's absolutely Dodge City..Hamer and Frum and I watched from under an acacia tree, sucked down an Orange Fanta (mmmm) and tried to picture what lay ahead.
From the air... fires and smoke all around...well that's for another message....
Thanks for your prayers and encouraging comments.
There are really no suitable words after reading your lastest update...only tears for what your dear Kenyan friends are going through.. and prayers for you all.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Carolyn and Matthew