2,000 pieces of Vaseline

Just watching news everyday and seeing how my fellow Kenyans were suffering used to break my heart. My biggest question always was, “Is there anything else I can do?” I had donated money and clothes but still felt I had fallen short. A small voice would tell me, “You could have been among the IDPs if it were not for grace”

First, our mission director at Mamlaka shared about Msafara. Then I came home on a Wednesday evening early enough to catch Njungush and Pastor Oscar discussing Msafara on air, I was drawn by Oscar’s passion. But what did it was the gift packs. When many people sms’ed and asked how they could help, Pastor Oscar explained about the gift packs and the item that caught me in all the packs was ‘Vaseline.’ Vaseline, Vaseline, Vaseline in all women, men and children’s pack. By then my heart was racing. I knew that at last this was my chance to do something more. Though as a company [Unilever] we had donated 70M shillings to WFP for the IDP’s in Kenya, I knew we could still do more especially since through our Tea Estates in Kericho, we knew firsthand the effects of the clashes.

Immediately, I wrote an SMS to our East African director, a born again believer, with whom I have both an official and personal relationship. I just asked him if he thought that there was a chance we could get involved by donating one of our products, Vaseline. He replied, “Talk to the Brand manager and then we will discuss”. I couldn’t wait for the night to end and the next day I was at the desk of Vaseline brand manager and she said “Cool, let me think about it”

I prayed for favour and in the afternoon, she asked me what size we want and approximately how many cases. I had not thought of that, so I just asked for 100g and as many cases as she could afford. Immediately she called the factory, got 30 cases (each case has 72 pieces) worth a total of 140,000/= kept aside for Msafara.

What God had done in a span of less than 12 hours, left me at a loss for words. Msafara had more than 2,000 pieces of Vaseline for donation to the IDP’s. We agreed with the secretariat on how to pick it and from then… The rest is history!

Okakas’ Story

Responding to the human instinct to fight or flee, Christopher Okaka Olwal, escaped clash rent Nakuru by unconventional means.

Realizing that his life was endangered after a number of his friends had been killed, Okaka, a mason, tried everything to find means to travel to Kisumu. He found that transport by bus was only available to women and children. Instead of giving up and resigning himself to his fate, he courageously mounted his bicycle and set off for Kisumu.

Traveling throughout the night, the trip took him a day and a half. Without a shilling in his pocket, he went without food until he reached Kericho. There a generous man gave him fifty shillings to get some food to strengthen him for the journey.

When he finally reached Kisumu, he found himself at the St. Stephen’s Cathedral IDP camp. This camp provided for and assisted over 9000 IDPs in the past one and a half months.

The camp is set on the future site of a 3000 seat cathedral, still in the building process. Set on land which was originally a prison, the compound was opened up for IDPs at the beginning of February. In the unfinished future cathedral, tents were set up to provide the IDPs with food, medical supplies, counseling, and spiritual guidance. There was even a station dealing with peace and reconciliation.

When Okaka reached the camp he was welcomed and given much needed assistance. The camp coordinator, J. A. Osewe, assisted helped relocate his wife and eight children from Nakuru to Kisumu. The family now has moved on to their own place but the connection with the church has stayed strong.

Knowing that Okaka needed work, when the church decided to build permanent toilets, they hired him. His project is just beginning but already the quality of his work is obvious. With dusty hands, he carefully places each brick in its place and once satisfied that it is in the correct place, he slaps mortar in place and carefully scraps it smooth with a trowel. The serenity of his face shows how happy he is to be back at work again, providing for his family and doing something he enjoys.

Wasafiri Testimonies

Up until yesterday, John was not a believer. He was one of those Kenyan young men who were involved in the post election violence and looting. He confessed that he barricaded roads, organized looting and violence and led the hate groupthink against certain communities.

How he got onto the Msafara is a mystery in itself but today John is a new creation in Christ as he received Christ yesterday.He confesses that God used the Msafara to bless him. Pray for John as he starts on a spiritual walk. Pray that the good Lord would establish him in the faith and that the good work started will come to completion. May he be a light as he heads back to his neighborhood to shine forth the love, peace and blessings of Christ.

Day 5 – Nakuru: Sowing Seeds of Hope

Before Msafara reached Nakuru, the volunteers hadn’t had much chance to touch people suffering in the wake of post election violence. They approached Nakuru eagerly knowing that they would finally get a chance to touch a few lives and minister to those living in the IDP camps.

The opportunity they had been waiting for came on Wednesday morning. While the pastors spent the morning together in a private meeting rededicating themselves to God, the volunteers went to Nakuru Showground. Although overwhelmed by the human suffering they saw there, they immediately moved into action. As things were set up for a service, the volunteers lived up to their title. They moved among the tents, listening as people shared their stories, praying for families and putting their hands to good use. Some washed laundry, while others bathed children and helped carry water. Through these simple acts of kindness, they become God’s hands and feet.

During a beautiful one and a half hour service, a large crowd of IDPS gathered to worship God in Kiswahili, English and Kikuyu. As they lifted their voices and danced before God, joy was visible on their faces. The short sermon related their plight to that of the Israelites in Egypt and later the wilderness. They were reminded that all of the Israelites over the age of 20 never reached the “Promised Land” because of one thing…complaining. The crowd responded to the message with tears and open hands.
The service ended with a time of prayer. The volunteers and pastors laid hands on the children, asking God to heal them and to remove the pain and bitterness so in future they will not demand revenge for their suffering. After that, the sick came forward to be prayed for. With much weeping, the volunteers prayed over them, laid hands on them and held them as they cried before God.

It was so hard to end the service and leave after only a few short hours, but Msafara left seeds on hope in a seemingly hopeless situation as they pulled out for Eldoret.

Living Lives of Sacrifice

In Nakuru, in the midst of the chaos and terror, in the midst of broken lives and broken hearts, in the midst of seemingly unbearable conditions, there is a group of young men who have taken a stand for peace. Instead of picking up weapons like many of their peers, these young men are giving their all to bring healing to the people living in the Nakuru Showground IDP camp.

A few of the Kenya Scouts of Nakuru have been camping at the showground with the IDPs since the first day the camp opened. Although they live in Nakuru and have homes and families, these 25 courageous young men have given up those lives to join with and help the IDPs.

They live in their own tiny camp at the back of the main camp and from there they expend their energies helping wherever they can. They pitched the tents at the grounds and helped get families settled when they first arrived in Nakuru. They also play an important role in providing security at night.

One of them saw the plight of the children and stepped up to the challenge. With the help of UNICEF, he organized a school just at the edge of the camp. There the small children meet in four large white tents and learn. The school, of which he is now the coordinator, provides order to their lives as they would otherwise be running freely through the camp putting themselves at great risk.

Distinguished by their purple and white striped ties, the scouts can be spotted throughout the camp, helping people, playing with children and improving life within the camp.

Giving Your Best

“In a crisis, you do not have time to make a neat plan or pattern. It is these times that call forth the best out of us, when who we really are is put to the test.”

Faith Mugera is the social justice pastor at Nairobi Chapel. These past weeks have called upon all her strengths, talents and resources. In response to her passionate calls for help, the congregation gave out of the overflow of their hearts. Many not only gave materially but also gave freely of their time, volunteering to help wherever needed.

With such support, the church helped many displaced, hurt and traumatized by Kenya’s tumble into the dark world of political and ethnic violence. This work started with the first internally displaced people arriving in Jamhuri Park, just next to the church property and it continues on today.

As the displaced arrived at Jamhuri the church sprang into action. The very same day, they found accommodation for ten mothers with small babies. Many people volunteered to distribute supplies, counsel the traumatized and even cook food for the hungry. After assessing the needs, they helped put over one hundred standard eight students children in school.

Halfway homes have transformed lives in just a few weeks. So far, almost 100 displaced people have stayed in two halfway homes before transitioning back to “normal life.” Those helping have noticed how, “after their bitter experience of being in camps, those who come through [the halfway homes] are totally overwhelmed by this gesture of generosity.” After two weeks in the halfway homes, the families are transitioned into new homes and provided with a few months’ rent, food and household items. So far, the church has resettled 200 hundred families in this way.

Edith, an IDP resettled through the efforts of Nairobi Chapel says, “Thank you for the help to rebuild my life. I’m now volunteering with the Nairobi Chapel IDP ground team. I have a new hope, I have a new home, new friends and I have a new beginning.” Alyta, who opened up her home, “It has changed my life to watch those families come and ‘live’ once again. I realize how blessed I am even to have my home, my family and many basic things I always took for granted.”

With Open Arms

Located in Rift Valley along an invisible Kalenjin-Kikuyu boundary line, Londiani experienced unrest and violence starting within hours of the election results announcement. Because Londiani is small and isolated, there was minimal media coverage of the violence there. This meant the people of Londiani received little external aid or even transport to help them flee. Instead, a makeshift camp was set up at St. Kizito’s Catholic Church.

St. Kizito’s is a long-standing institution in Londiani. It is under the care of Father Martin and Brother David, who both came from Ireland to serve the people of Londiani. Together they help the people in town and the surrounding villages.
On 30 December, after a night of horror, people from surrounding villages started making their way to Londiani town. Because St. Kizito’s is located next to the police station, most felt it was the safest place to take refuge. Those fleeing their burning homes quickly turned it into a makeshift camp as they were internally displaced within five kilometers of their homes.

Father Martin and his colleague opened the church gates and welcomed these desperate people. The church compound soon overflowed as four lorries arrived filled with women and children seeking refuge. By 4 January, Father Martin estimated that more than 2000 people had sought refuge at the church.

The priest risked his life to travel out to the villages to access the damages. He was called upon to preside over hurried funerals for those killed in the conflict and to help carry victims back to town. He also helped find food for people who had lost their recently harvested maize in the same fires that consumed their homes. Even after much of the town was burnt down, the church remained a safe haven for the few people who hadn’t left for safer places.

Father Martin and Brother David could have easily closed their gates and stayed in their secure home to wait out the storm. Instead, they embraced the hurting with open arms.

Kenya’s Heroes: Joy’s Journey

While most middle class Nairobi residents took shelter in their houses and watched the nation burn on TV, Joy found it impossible to sit at home and wait.

On 1st January, the media carried the shocking story of a church burnt to the ground while almost 200 Kenyans took refuge inside.  Thirty people, mostly women and children were burnt alive and the world shook in horror.

Joy and three other friends could take no more. They hurriedly filled two cars with supplies, disguise themselves as Red Cross workers, and drove into some of the areas ravaged by the violence!

Along the way, they met groups of armed young men, many of who had participated in the atrocities. They had opportunities to help soldiers dismantle roadblocks. They prayed with and comforted villagers evicted from their villages, even standing beside some as they watched their homes burn.

They shared all they had, until all they had left was their empathy and prayer. Joy talks of hugging crying people, sitting silently by their side and crying with them.

Incredibly, they found themselves at the smoldering ruins of the Assemblies of God church in Burnt Forest. As they stood looking at the white ashes, they met a young man, Stephen, whose wheelchair bound mother died in the church.

He had discovered about his mother’s death along as the nation watched the story on national TV. Visiting the church for the first time, Steven stood dazed staring at the charred remains of his mother’s wheelchair. Joy and her friends once more gave all they had – they hugged and mourned and prayed with him.

Despite all the fear and danger, no one laid a hand on the team members, and they returned safely to Nairobi, having ventured to the epicenter of the violence.

Joy continued to help, organizing another team and leading them into great danger, as they delivered a truckload of food and clothes to displaced people in Burnt Forest. On the way, their convoy was stoned at least once. In Burnt Forest, they spent time with the people and organized a multi-denominational church service, where for the first time, people were able to process what they had gone through. Many of them committed to not continuing the cycle of violence.

by Pastor Muriithi Wanjau

Put Your Life on Hold

Just because you don’t have job, doesn’t mean that you have to sit around and watch TV all day long.   Antony “Moffat” Njau has learned this first hand.
For almost two months now, Moffat, a trained chef, has been caretaking a halfway home for internally displaced persons that was set up in the Karen area.  He is responsible for including, “cooking, coordinating everything in the kitchen, making sure everything is running smoothly, cleanliness, everything.”  While many other people come and help, Moffat is the common denominator.

This home and others act as temporary shelters for the newly homeless, giving them a place to stay while well-wishers help them look for new homes.  For some, donations help to pay their rent for a few months as they get back on their feet.
Moffat, age 25, is learning many new things about life, things he would never have learned in college or university or maybe even at a job.  He has learned a lot about dealing with people.  Now, his opinion is that “even if I get a family of ten kids it’s not a big deal.”  From now on for him, “there isn’t any challenge too big.”

Most recently, the house was home to 36 women and children.  “There were children everywhere you turned,” Moffat says.   Coming from two areas which saw tremendous turmoil, Molo and Timboroa, most of them were highly traumatized.  Moffat says it was so challenging because, “When they came here, they looked so desperate, emotionally, physically.  They were in real need, and we tried to change their lives and cheer them up, make them good food so they would feel at home.”

Moffat didn’t let the challenge overwhelm him, but instead took the burdens as his own.  He led daily Bible studies to help them learn more about how God could help them during this troubling time.  He prepared food to nourish them physically.  He played with the young children, bringing genuine smiles to their faces.  By the time these mothers and their children moved on to permanent homes in safe areas near their relatives, they had been changed.  The love of God, shown to them by a young man willing to put his life on hold to help them, had made a difference.

Faith under fire: ministry in the midst of turmoil

During these trying times, there has been a beacon of light in Kibera.  A church caught in the middle of the ongoing violence has refused to give into the pressure to take sides, whether political or ethnic.

The pastor of Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church, Imbumi Makuku, has long taken a stand against tribal divisions.  Although many of the church members are Luhya, Pastor Makuku uses Swahili intentionally to reach across tribal lines.

At the end of December, the church’s youth attended youth camp outside Kibera.  While the first few days were as wonderful as expected, this all changed with the announcement of the election results.  Joy and laughter turned to tears and prayers as the youth fell to their knees crying out to God.

Anxiety and fear set in, as many parents were unable to answer phones.  They also realized how difficult returning to Kibera would be as it would require crossing “five major roadblocks manned by young men.”  This would be a real feat since the youth were of various ethnic backgrounds.

When the day arrived to return to Kibera God’s hand was with them and the young men guarding the roadblock actually escorted the youth to Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church.  “Some of the more belligerent escorts wanted to know the tribes of the kids but they were rebuked by others.”

Youth without any place to go stayed at the church.  The girls worked in groups for safety while the young men stood guard at night.  Pastor Makuku bravely approached some of the gang leaders “to ask them to rein in the young men so that they may stop bothering the church as it helps the whole community and is not partisan politically.”  The church is highly respected in the community and while the elders warned the thugs not to harm the church other passed on information about planned break-ins.

This church has stood as a beacon of peace and unity even when directly confronted by a gang leader “demanding identity cards and baying for the blood of a certain community.”  In the face of such threats, the church leaders indentified themselves simply as Kenyans – showing them to be rare people in these days when so many see only tribe.