Kikitemo

We slept in a bit this morning at the Kunste in Nakuru and then drove out to visit our friends at Kikitemo.  This is an amazing place for me because of the incredible story of God’s love that has been told here.  I won’t repeat it here; you can search for IDP in this blog archive and read my thoughts as we experienced them. 

When we arrived the kids and widows were all outside waiting for us, singing a welcome song.  We toured the place and then went in the hall to hear their singing and make our recording.  It was all very nice but it was getting a bit late, and we were anxious to get on the road.  Then Grace, the leader here, said that they just and a short drama to perform for us, and then we would be done.  Boy, am I glad we stayed.

The drama was a capsule of the life of an orphan, performed by orphans.  As the scene begins, the child is wandering lost and alone, calling out to God to help him after the death of his parents.  He is praying a soulful prayer out loud and then remembers his parents friends who may be able to help him.  At first the neighbors are willing to take him in, but they end up treating him very badly and making him do housework like a slave.  He soon runs away and is again alone, praying for God’s redemption.

That’s when he meets the heroine of the story, named Grace.  Grace takes him in and he joins the other orphans she has promised to care for.  Grace realizes that she has more than she can handle and calls her friend John, who suggests that he send an email to his friend in America, Tim.  Tim comes right over and promises money to help the orphans and the story ends happily.  The boy who played the orphan gave a soliloquy at the end, thanking God and the American donors for his redemption.  We were all in tears.

The story is not accurate - it was John DeFore who answered the email sending the first money here when these people were refugees of their last post-election violence.  I was just the first mzungu to visit them.  And the story also leaves out the terrible ordeal they went through as displaced persons before John met them.  But it was a beautiful tribute and a fitting end to a great trip.

Before we left we spoke to the assembled church of widows and orphans.  I was asked to say something, as I am at every place.  Usually I have a set-piece that I do, but this time it would not come to me.  I had no idea what I was supposed to say.  I looked at the widows, many of whom lost their husbands and possessions during the last election cycle, and heard my own voice reassuring them that even though the elections are just a few days away, it will be different this time.  This time they are under the protection of a mighty king who has proven his faithfulness in ways that few outside could understand.  He has delivered them from death and then from starvation and replaced their lost families with a big, new family.  This time the angels of the kings stand guard around this place and no evil shall pass.

I have no idea where that came from; it just came out of my mouth.  My prayer is that it was from the spirit and the tears of the widows tell me I am right.  Pray for the Kenyan people as they go through a tense time of elections and remembering all that was lost the last time around.