Sunday Evening in Nairobi

Hello Everyone!

It has been a quiet Sunday at home today. The children have enjoyed their time off from school, but tomorrow it is back to reality! Tomorrow is also the day that Mary Shea can resume normal activity with her arm.

We are headed into another week of uncertainty with the peace talks. The official word from Kofi Annan remains optimistic, but both sides are full of comments in the press which makes them sound far apart on the issues. Tomorrow, negotiations are to continue. Everyday, there is another story of frustration on the part of those people here that are trying to bring back the economic successes they once enjoyed. Tourism is naturally suffering, and that will have quite an impact across the country in many other businesses.

In church today, the Bishop of Thika discussed a meeting he chaired of ACK Bishops that were Luo and Kikuyu – the main opposing ethnic groups here in Kenya. He talked of frank exchanges and a beginning or reconciliation and healing among the group. There has also been much in the paper lately about the need for mediation and reconciliation to extend beyond the Serena Hotel – where Kofi Annan’s talks are being held. In order to achieve lasting peace, reconciliation must extend across society to all people.

We had a sad conclusion to our week with bad news here and in the US. I wrote about a good friend of ours who was serving here in Nairobi until last July when he went back to the US because of a brain tumor. We received word Friday that he had died. His wife had written Thursday to let us all know that he was in the final hours, but it was still difficult news. Jim is no longer suffering, but we are all sad at the loss for the family and for ourselves. Up until the end he had two concerns, and they were the same that he had during life: his family and the people who didn’t know Jesus. He will be sorely missed, and I am sure his impact in many parts of the world will long be felt.

Shortly after that news, we received news that one of the CCS (Christian Community Services) employees in the diocese had died. John Muchamo was a very young man who had only been married two weeks. He was admitted to the hospital last week with severe headaches and suffered a stroke while there. He worked in the Mang’u area with those affected by HIV/AIDS. The people there often referred to him as St. John because of his compassion in dealing with everyone.

Family life is going smoothly. Horace attended his youth group today. That is truly a blessing for us and for him. Some young adults who are counselors at the summer camp here that our children attend stay here year round and minister to our children. They build relationships by coming to school for lunchtime visits as well as athletic events. On Sundays, they host youth groups for both middle and high school students. It is a wonderful gift to the community as they aren’t just ministering to missionary kids; they also work with children from diplomatic, Kenyan and Asian communities.

There is not much news to write about at the moment, but we will work on another entry at the beginning of the week. Continue to pray for peace in Kenya. We greatly appreciate the prayers that sustain us here.

Have a Blessed Week!
Anne