January 3, 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
"It was one of the worst scenes in my life. Seeing women and children who have sought safety in the house of God getting killed is just as bad as it gets.” –A Red Cross official in Eldorat
In Kenya, hundreds have died and tens of thousands have been displaced by violence following the December 30 election results. Mwai Kibaki, the current president, was declared to have won another term after a controversial three-day vote count.
After the opposition declared the voting rigged, violent gangs took to the streets in protest. Burning churches, homes, businesses and cars, the raging mobs are leaving incredible destruction in their wake. In the Rift Valley region alone, more than 70,000 have already fled their homes. Hundreds have crossed into neighboring Uganda seeking safe haven.
Churches across the country have opened their doors to provide a safe haven to those fleeing violence. One church in Eldoret, Western Kenya, was burned to the ground by rioters killing at least 35 of those seeking haven inside.
Raila Odinga, the opposition leader, has called for a peaceful rally to take place on Thursday. Many fear this will lead to violence and further destabilize the situation.
Pauline Nasenya, a young woman in Nairobi says, “We are living in fear. All we hope for, all we pray for is peace.
Please join with us and the people in Kenya as we pray for peace in Kenya.
World Relief is working with local churches and volunteers across the country to respond to those in desperate need around them. We will work to help evacuate those in great danger and ensure that their greatest needs—food, shelter and water—are met.
Long-term, we will continue to work with pastors and Christian counseling centers to provide trauma counseling to those impacted by this conflict and the HIV/AIDS crisis that exists there.
In Kenya, World Relief is equipping local church volunteers to help those affected by the violence. Local churches will play a crucial role ministering to the needs of the displaced, providing shelter, food, water and trauma counseling.
In Kenya, people are dying. People are living in fear. The situation threatens to spiral out of control, but in the midst of this chaos, you can help.
Please pray, give and engage today; Kenyan lives are counting on you.
For more information visit us online at www.worldrelief.org or contact me at gcfairchild@wr.org or by dialing 443.451.1936, or my cell: 443-570-0184
As always, thank you for changing a little bit of this world for Christ!
Gary Fairchild
World Relief
International and Denomination Relations
