Kikitemo IDP

This morning we went to visit our friends at Kikitemo IDP cap.  These folks are some of the nicest people I have ever met.  They are all innocent victims of the post-election violence that happened here in 2008.  They were living in the Eldoret area when tribal based violence was incited by the winners and losers of the election.  Many of them are widows, having lost their husbands in the violence.  There are also many orphans and aged people among them.  Our WBS worker, John Kariuki has been ministering to them, baptizing them, and helping them organize a church.

Their leader is Grace, and boy does she live up to her name.  She is a woman who is filled with the Spirit, listening for God’s word in everything she does.  Her faith and that of her fellow widows has held these people together for three years, through some of the most unimaginable horrors and extreme poverty.  I’m working on a video of her story, I’ll post it when I can.

We were last here in November, and there have been a number of changes.  We had left behind money for them to buy mattresses and shoes for the kids.  We have also sent money for goats and a cow, and sewing machines.  When we arrived, the old ladies were sewing repairs in garments for money, weaving baskets, and making jewelry.  These folks aren’t interested in just taking our money, they want to use it to better their lives. They built a new hut for the sewing machines and basket weaving operation.  They also took our goat money and used it to join a project sponsored by the local university to raise 10 goats for milk and profit.  Smart.

After seeing their camp, we joined them at their church, where they had been busy as well.  A short fence surrounded the wooden pews and a flagstone floor served as a stage.  God provided the roof, in the form of two trees.  Their church has grown since we were last here.  They have reached out to the surrounding camps and many now are Christians, inspired by the amazing way God has protected these people.

We worshiped with them for about an hour and afterward saw a drama put on by the kids.  Some of them are very talented.  Parting was difficult, since they really wanted to sing and dance in thanksgiving before God.  They drew us in and what should have taken a few minutes to say goodbye, took another hour.  Time well spent, since we got a photo of a GCR elder dancing!

Kenya 2011 Spring Kikitemo

After we left, we stopped at the Delamere again and ate a light lunch.  Now we are headed to Nairobi to drop off Simon, and shop before we head to the Safari Park Hotel for their famous dinner show.  I’m writing this post from the van on the Nairobi highway.  If you know my penchant for motion sickness, you know what a miracle that is!  I’ll write more about our shopping adventures tomorrow, so that’s all for now.