Elections

As many of you know, elections were held in Nairobi on December 27th. Chris and I have been trying to keep as up-to-date as possible by reading articles and watching short news clips from the BBC. Jeff Johnsen wrote with Kris Rocke a brief synopsis of the events yesterday, which I will cut and past here for you to read:

"Kenya held a presidential election on December 27, and the results were very very close. After it initially appeared that the challenger, Raila Odinga, was going to win, President Kibaki was declared the winner and was quickly sworn-in for his second term. However, Odinga’s ODM party experienced resounding success in parliament, and ousted half of Kibaki’s cabinet. The election appears to be deeply marred by fraud and various irregularities, with both sides accusing one another of vote-rigging.

In response to this news, violent clashes began taking place all across the country, both within Nairobi (in some of the slums) and especially in the western provinces. Although this is a political crisis, it quickly exposed deep layers of ethnic (tribal) conflict within a very diverse Kenyan society. Mr. Kibaki’s support base is with the Kikuyu tribe, who are strongest in the central province and have dominated Kenyan politics and business. Mr. Odinga’s support base is in the western part of the country, where the Luo tribe (and others) have long sought to challenge the Kikuyu’s power. Add to this mix the desperation of hundreds of thousands of people who live in deep poverty and family structures weakened by the AIDS crisis, and you get today’s volatile situation. Over 300 people have been killed in the conflicts. In the most tragic incident yet, a group of people were taking refuge in a church near Eldoret, and rioters burned it to the ground, killing 30 people inside.

Both sides are accusing the other of some form of “ethnic cleansing.” One government minister actually claimed that the ethnic violence was planned in advance of the election, organized and paid for by Mr. Odinga’s ODM party.

Mr. Odinga is refusing to accept the results of the election. In fact, he is calling for Mr. Kibaki to resign as a precondition to negotiations to end the conflict. The US and Britain initially endorsed Kibaki’s reelection, but have now withdrawn their endorsement until election irregularities can be investigated. Odinga’s ODM party planned a huge rally for downtown Nairobi on today, hoping to draw 1 million people. The event has been rescheduled for next week. While Mr. Odinga insists that this will be a peaceful event, there is certainly concern that this event will lead to large-scale conflict. All observers agree that what must happen is for Kibaki and Odinga to back away from their hard-line positions, and sit down to negotiate a path toward peace. But neither side seems inclined toward this as yet, and are also refusing offers of outside mediation (from the African Union)."

 Jeff is the executive director of Mile High Ministries, and he introduced me to Tumaini Ministries. Kris Rocke serves as director of Center for Transforming Mission. They posted this synopsis on a blog on the Geography of Grace website (http://www.geographyofgrace.com/2008/01/crisis_in_kenya.html#more). I first learned about the Center for Transforming Mission when Jeff sent me a link to Joel and Mandy Zylstra's blog. Joel and Mandy are in Kenya right now working in the slums of Nairobi. Their blog is an excellent resource and I have been reading it daily. Please visit their blog if you have time as it contains a first-hand account of what is happening in Nairobi. (http://ctmnairobi.blogspot.com/) Please pray with us for peace and wisdom in Kenya. 

 

Shots

Chris and I went for our shots today!  

We each got six shots today, and we'll be going back for follow ups on the Hepatitis A and B shots. Today we got the first shots for Hep A & B, along with Meningitis, Polio, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever. 

I am not a needle person, so Chris held my hand and I thought of the pictures of the kids' faces at Tumaini with each shot. It did help calm me down. Although after it was all said and done and the adrenaline rush wore off, I had to sit with my head between my knees for a bit.

We're getting ready for Christmas here in Fort Collins, and we're enjoying the snow! 

Christmas Card Excitement!
Wow, in the past week I have received many many orders for Christmas cards. Chris and I are leaving for Michigan tonight to spend Thanksgiving with his family. Today I need to make 40 cards for his Aunt Mary Jo. I also need to make several packs for people who have ordered at work. It is very exciting! Luckily I have today off so I am going to pack for Michigan, do the small amount of school stuff I brought home so I don't need to worry about it on Sunday, and then I'll be a card factory for the rest of the day! I need to make another stop at Michael's, first. I think I may be becoming one of their most valued customers! 

Vaccinations
Wow! I'm so excited, and I never thought I'd be excited for shots! I just got off the phone with the Rocky Mountain Infectious Disease Consultants and Chris and I have an appointment on November 21st to go in for our first appointment. We're going to get lots of shots, and then we'll have to go back for more shots. Anyone who knows me well knows that when I get around needles, it isn't pretty. I've fainted who knows how many times after getting blood drawn and I still cry like a little kid at the thought of a flu shot. But I can't wipe this smile off my face!

October Already!
My friend Amanda Phillips gave me a hard time last weekend because I haven't updated the blog in quite some time. This is true, and to be honest, there isn't much to update. My mom is still thinking about coming. I don't want to rush her, and yet I don't want to buy plane tickets until she has decided. I know that once we've reserved our tickets, the trip will start feeling more real. But in the meantime, it feels a bit like Africa's on pause and school with 17 third graders has taken over the play button (12 of whom are very energetic boys, so many times it feels like we're stuck on fast forward!)

School Supplies!
I want to thank everyone who made it possible for me to bring a wonderful stash of school supplies to Tumaini Children's Home. I went shopping today and bought twenty packs of pencils, bottles of glue, packs of paper, boxes of crayons, scissors, and pencil sharpeners. I'm sure the supplies will be welcomed next summer.

Africa

I have wanted to go to Africa for as long as I can remember. After student teaching here in Colorado, I planned to join the Peace Corps to travel to Africa to teach young children. I did not end up going into the Peace Corps, but decided to persue a Master's Degree in Special Education. I have taught at Big Thompson Elementary in Loveland, CO for three years. I spent the first two years in the resource room as a special education teacher. Last year was my first year in the classroom, and I taught a third and fourth grade multiage class. In August I will begin a new school year with a third grade class. I am very excited!

 

The thought of traveling to Africa has not left my mind through the years, and now the dream is beginning to make its way into reality. My dad is friends with a man named Jeff Johnson, who has traveled to Africa a few times. I always heard about Jeff's travels through my dad. I heard about the orphanage he went to work at in Kenya, and I always thought, "one day I'll meet that man." Well, my dad kept saying, "when you're ready for Jeff's email address, I'll send it to you" and last month, I felt ready.

 

I did a little bit of internet research on Tumaini and read through the volunteer manual on their website. I realized that going to Kenya to help at the Tumaini children's home was a definite possibility. Unlike many of the other volunteer opportunities I had looked into, Tumaini does not require an up-front donation. All I'll need to pay for are immunizations, travel insurance, a visa and passport, plane tickets, and housing. I am hoping to raise $3000 to cover these expenses.

 

Any additional money I raise will go directly to Tumaini ministries. They will use the funds to support the 50 orphans currently living in the children's home. The children need food, clothing, school supplies, medication, and space for living. Also, in Kenya, school is free until 8th grade, but after that, a person needs to pay for their education. Tumaini ministries is dedicated to sending these children to school all the way through college if that's what the child wants.

 

When I go to Kenya next summer, I look forward to spending 3-4 weeks living and working with the people of the Rukubi village. I look forward to meeting Eunice, whom I have heard so much about. I will help look after and love the children. I hope to visit their schools and learn about the local culture.

 

Tumaini Ministries was recently able to purchase 50 acres of land and next summer, construction will be taking place on the land. I may be able to help build a new children's home. Tumaini is almost fully self-sustained with the gardens on their land. I will be able to help in the gardens to harvest food to eat. I'm most excited to spend time with the children.

 

I hope you can find it in your heart to help me on this mission. I ask for your prayers as I embark upon this adventure!

Abbey

 

First Step

Today I met with Jeff Johnsen, the chair of Tumaini Ministries. We met at Blackberries, a coffee shop in Denver. He told me all about his travels and experiences in Nairobi. He gave me some great advice, as well as quite a bit of inspiration. It was great to hear all about Eunice and her miraculous story. I feel hopeful and encouraged.

Abbey