Early last year WCM informed you of violence following the elections in Kenya. All of us also are aware of the collapsing economy in Zimbabwe under the failed leadership of President Robert Mugabe. Here is an indigenous update on both of these situations, courtesy of Christian Aid.
Healing in Kenya
Since the horrendous post-election violence in Kenya, which destroyed families and devastated towns and villages, Kenya Evangelism Team has worked diligently to help those left in the wake of the destruction. Christian Aid sent support to KET last summer and thanks those who sent gifts for that purpose. Sylvester Okango, director of KET, recently visited KET churches located in Eldoret and Mt. Elgon—two regions strongly affected by the violence. KET is also involved in ministry to the unreached in other areas of Kenya and sent this report:
Internally displaced people’s camp
“Our team traveled to the city of Eldoret, the epicenter of the post-election violence. There, one of our churches was burned to the ground with people trapped inside. We met at the site of the church with 100 pastors from the region who had gathered to meet us for encouragement and prayer for the healing of Kenya. Though it has lessened slightly throughout the past year, ethnic tension remains.
“We also visited the site of another church, also destroyed by fire. Several church members had used some of the remaining charred iron sheets to construct a temporary structure where they continue to meet together for worship and fellowship. They asked us for help to rebuild their church. While in Eldoret, we visited many other places where houses were burned and people were killed. We prayed and encouraged many and 55 souls were won to Christ! In addition, the Lord healed 10 people of various sicknesses.
“Next, we visited Mt Elgon. Our first stop was at a church where 25 pastors were waiting for us for prayer and encouragement. Afterward, we visited seven additional KET churches. Some of these churches are located in the interior forest and it was not easy to reach them.
A structure built to replace a church building in Eldoret that was burned down
“We were welcomed by Christians and non-Christians living in tents at a camp for the internally displaced. Several we met with had their ears and other limbs chopped off in the violence—a permanent reminder of the hatred that erupted between tribal groups. It will take quite some time to bring things to normal because of the ethnic tension, famine and sickness. We received many requests for food, medicine and assistance in constructing houses.
“We send Christian Aid our gratitude for its support to help us rebuild some churches, provide our missionaries and pastors with bicycles, and feed the internally displaced people in these regions.
“Please continue to pray with us for the means to rebuild more churches and provide necessities to our gospel workers.”
For information on how you can help KET bring the gospel into the lives of suffering Kenyans, contact Africa@christianaid.org. Gifts also may be given online at ChristianAid.org.
Zimbabwe: Hope and Gratitude Amid Misery and Suffering
After three decades of relentless oppression by megalomaniac president Robert Mugabe, Zimbabweans are entering the worst of their seven straight years of hunger and suffering. With a cholera epidemic threatening the lives of nearly half the malnourished population, 2009 looks grim for the collapsing country.
Background information
Zimbabweans looked at the year 2000 as the time when Mugabe began to destroy what was once the breadbasket of Africa. In a show of political power, he ordered gangs to infiltrate and take over successful commercial farms run by white owners. These farms are now not functioning. They employed the largest number of Zimbabweans, yet thousands of them were overrun and millions lost jobs and homes.
With inflation literally running into the hundreds of millions of percent, Zimbabwean dollars have become worthless, causing the collapse of Zimbabwe's health, education and sanitation systems.
In 2006 Mugabe took control of Harare’s water and sewer systems, which were run by the city council of his political opponent. Without the needed revenue to keep these services functioning, they have collapsed, along with the rest of the nation resulting in filthy and disease-ridden conditions everywhere.
The following report is from a Christian Aid-assisted Zimbabwean ministry in the thick of the misery.
Eyewitness report:
Feeding the children
"We are so sorry for the communication breakdown. Our internet was not working at all due to major power cuts in our country. We are just able to send this short message to you. A HAPPY NEW YEAR to all at Christian Aid and to those who are praying for us here in Zimbabwe.
"Everything in Zimbabwe has changed, we must now use US dollars to buy everything. If it were not for the help of Christian Aid, even more (including us) would be starving to death.
"We were desperately low in groceries and gasoline and are just making it through the day. It is becoming so common to see families eating one meal per day—sometimes none at all. We dried some fresh fish and took it, along with some corn meal to the starving people south of Harare. It is so difficult to get corn meal. Before switching to U.S. dollars, it cost $800 million Zimbabwean dollars.
"We met a woman who lost her husband in a car accident. She has six children, and her two brothers and mother stay with her to make 10 people who cannot afford one loaf of bread. They were so grateful when we gave them some corn meal and dried fish. There are so many more families like this, who barely survive on insects, leaves and wild berries.
"Mugabe banned international aid from coming to Zimbabwe from June to August 2008, following a terrible harvest, which put millions on the verge of starvation. He has used food and land as weapons to hang on to power. The United States and UN are feeding nearly half of Zimbabwe's 12 million people.
The two main hospitals have now closed down because doctors and nurses stopped coming to work because they weren’t getting paid; teachers are refusing to go back to school as their salaries have become worthless.
Hungry eyes in Zimbabwe
"What is worse, our water and sewer system are in shambles. The water has frequently gone dry in Harare, and several sewer lines have burst. Garbage is piling up, and a cholera epidemic has now overtaken us. Tens of thousands have been infected, with more than 1,000 deaths throughout the country. Mugabe denies this epidemic, telling the world that it has ended. Yet it is now spreading to nearby countries.
"As I am writing this email to you we are in 21 days of fasting and praying.
"We've never stopped praying for you and we appreciate your love and thought for our country. These times we are living in now are very trying times, but we give Jesus all the honor and glory for having raised you all to help us in Zimbabwe.
"Love you, love you, love you," (Name withheld for security purposes.)
World Christian Ministries thanks Christian Aid for permission to share these two vital reports. For more information or to send a gift, go to Christian Aid at www.ChristianAid.org or e-mail africa@ChristianAid.org.
