Thursday, January 31

Silent Night.
 
Living here perhaps has become like a roller coaster. Full of emotions as i see people 100's of miles away in the country that im in being hurt and killed, then i read the news and see in Nairobi (like the size of London) that people on the streets are being hurt (probably a slum somewhere), then you have a day like today.
 
We live in a world of instant and current news. Channels that are filled with the grief of this occurrence and that occurrence. Nobody really giving the whole picture to anything that is happening in that country. Then when we are bored of that story we find another and milk it to death.
 
Imagine Birmingham having riots - you know people being killed.. racial killings, ethic killings.. well surely that must mean Bristol will be next? then Exeter then Plymouth?? But if you saw this on TV then you perhaps would believe perhaps the whole country would be under fire..You think it the way that BBC or SKY or even CNN are describing it about Kenya.
 
When we had the 7/11 bombings in London one of the girls we had on the team in Exmouth was American. Her parents were concerned she could have been killed in the bombings. Friends of hers refused to come to the country because everywhere you were likely to be blown up.
 
I guess living in a country that is volatile that has age old tribal issues these will rear their ugly head again and again. But can they ever be stopped or quelled. Maybe they'd be squashed and not dealt with and at some point come up again. Perhaps with another election in 5 years time. Perhaps next week or even never....
 
 
Maybe 24 hours news is a bad thing. Maybe always pointing out the worst in a country is a bad thing. We have a brain but the media helps us to think and gain a perspective that is wrong.
 
 
Today i got my haircut. I travelled about 15 miles and got my haircut. I then travelled 6 miles and brought bread freshly cooked. I walked up the street. someone stopped so i could cross the road. I did what i have been doing every day since I've been here. acting normally,  Sure there were problems yesterday. But today Silent Night.
 
Tomorrow i will travel by bus into Nairobi. I will like every other Kenya travel by bus into work and come home. I will go to the supermarket and buy some Sprite. Then i will travel home again by bus.
 
Nairobi is the capital. It is not any of the places as mentioned in the news that people are being killed or attacked or raped or looted.
 
Sure I can get away. I don't need to be here perhaps.... but can we actually go anywhere in the world now that is safe..
 
 
Kenya will die of lack of tourism. Gil who i spent the day with will have to find other ways to support his wife. He will have to find other ways to look after his child to be. This time of the year one national park makes 3,000,000 sch at the moment they have just got 600,000. People are being made unemployed.
 
I am not here to make world peace, im not here to be the saviour of the situation but simply to serve where i can and when i can.
 
 
The British HIGH COMMISSION dropped their warning to stay inside. They know it is safe. The British HIGH COMMISSION are not evacuating people. They know what is happening on the ground. im not making it up. honest.
 
 
but the media does not help... thank you.
 
 
So i have been asked to come home early. I have to be obedient and I will be. Just working out the facts and figures and the details at the moment.
 
 
Simon


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Wednesday, January 30

Wednesday 30th Jan

OK update on yesterday.

 

Things looked bleak as simon sat inside looking out the window as the men ran past, as the police looked on giving some sense of stability. What was he to do? After running the short distance in the capable hands of the security guards he arrived in the compound that was Braeburn school. No more shots would be heard today, no more fighting in the streets where he lived but a strange calm would besiege them. The gates at Braeburn would open constantly as parents come and go, collecting children throughout the day. Classes that were full dripped children to the cups that were there parents. Worried about the fluid situation that was becoming all so obvious around them.

Braeburn is the Lavington evacuation point where Helicopters can land and remove all British Nationals. Simon stood over viewing the grassy area knowing that he was safe as if real problems blew up then the A team could land for him and all other x pats. He knew it wasn't safe to leave so he'd stay. As annoying as sometimes that could be he didn't want to worry folks at home or people he loved. time to make a stand and that stand was still.

Lunchtime would come and go. The internet buzzing with the death of the MP, with the fighting on the streets that could only be miles away.

Worried emails back and forth.. text messages that came thick like sour milk. The one thing Simon had forgotten was perspective.

An afternoon in the depths of his room. Away from the noise and hustle and bustle he thought and thought hard.

This time with out the panic he picked up the phone. "High Commission, how can i help", Its strange when an accent can be so warming. London perhaps or somewhere in the London counties. Simon explained his situation and listened hard. When so many voices call and speak sometimes its hard to sense the truth. The High Commission stated that is not safe to travel but they were not evacuating anyone. So as Simon listened he was also to have an ear on the one who knows the best. For the time being he made a decision to stay put.

The problems were all localised. The problems were being contained. But he was not taking chances. He would keep an ear to the ground, an eye on the news and his hand on his bag... he would be ready when the time came..

 

 

Im safe ok. just staying put till the weekend to assess the situation. all around us is now calm.

 

Simon

 


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Tuesday, January 29

Honestly its not because I am lazy to write something but am busy...
 
Parts that the media show of Kenya show a Kenya that is under massive turmoil. Yes there are issues. Yes its having a knock on effect. Yes an MP did get killed. Yes it might and probably will have a knock on effect.
 
But at present im safe. Im really not visiting those areas. Ok this is frustrating because we had plans to visit some of these areas. But im not prepared to put my life on the line unnecessary.
 
We live next to a slum. We are waiting to see how things pan out. Were I live there is security. Dawn's school which is opposite has armed guards and electric fence. Everyone is talking about safety and we are being careful.
 
However I will take some advice about the next few days.
 
Yesterday (Monday) I spent the day in Dawn's school with Yr 3 again.  Its been really good to get alongside the teachers and also the kids. Helping people read, answer questions and just being there.
 
Its amazing how I'm having the chance to just be with people.
 
This weekend Im teaching again so im still preparing and planning. I've also been asked to speak at the Blue House again so we shall see what would be the right thing to say.
 
Today is Tuesday and im going to have a meeting in town. But i am also hearing regularly from the British High Commission as i know someone who works there so i wont travel if it is unsafe.
 
OK so this email was written earlier. But about 10 mins ago. About 200 people ran past our compound. Every Bus and Matatu leaves quickly. A moment of fear passes. The security locks the gate... Hurrah.. maybe a decision is being made for me already....
 
we shall see..
 
more tomorrow...
 
 
Simon


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Monday, January 28

Saturday 27th and sunday 28th January
 
(full account at www.nomisonline.org.uk)
 
 
So up early and i head off to Nairobi. Today im teaching an Overview of the NT today. To help Youth leaders in areas of Youth Work but to also help them grow in Theology.  My job today was to talk about the History around the time of the new testament. So we looked at Rome and how they governed Israel area. Loved it. Although i spent nearly four hours looking at this (with breaks ok).
 
After some lunch I head on home.
 
Hurrah.
 
Today feeling a bit worn out so I've slept a bit when i got home.
 
Tonight we were out again this time to the theatre. The school gets free tickets every month to a performance. So we watch a farce by Norman Robbins called "Pull the other one". Ok its really funny. But it was set in Lancashire and if i can be honest Kenyans don't or cant really do the accent. lol. so we one of them said "e buy gum.." lol.
 
But afterwards had an amazing chat with a guy who has lived here for 21 years. seeing what has happened around the country he painted a picture so i could understand what was happening up north.
 
You see the Europeans moved in years ago and took on land and made farms. they employed the local kukuros. Well when they packed up and left the kukuros took it onboard to run the farms. Well the other local tribe who were the original land owners were getting unhappy about this. So Post Election violence is blamed but its stirred up a lot of bad feeling among people. Well this is coming down country. If you drew a line down the country then the towns that are erupting are one after another...
 
Hurrah or not really...
 
 
Sunday 28th
 
Again up somewhat early we were heading out to another church today. One that had a better Sunday School. We got in the queue for Nairobi Baptist Church. It took 30 mins to get in the church car park. A load of cars were coming out from the previous service. This church has 3 services in the morning . we were heading to the last service of the morning. It was meant to be starting at 1130.. well we were still in the queue at this time..So on arrival in the building we just found a seat in time. The building was built in the round. The place was packed. Im guessing we were part of 600 people. Well that was downstairs. Another 600 people were packed in upstairs. Each service is exactly like this. over 1200 people at each service.
 
Well we left at 2 p.m. then eventually left the car park at 2.30 p.m. Hurrah im meant to be teaching my last part of the NT in 30 mins. So after a call i moved the session hurrah.
 
The session went ok.
 
Dawn and I had planned if i had completed my sessions yesterday to go to Navasha today and spend the day their.
 
Getting home after the sessions we watched the news.
 
Navasha was under siege.. fighting, killings all today. so maybe God has a bigger plan for me not to be killed here...
 
Talked to Peter Abungu about our trip up north. Well it turns out he's just found out that one of his relatives has been killed yesterday in fighting. Not that they were fighting but others had killed them.  As you can guess we aren't going up north.
 
Grrr. Peter told me that unless the politicians sort out the issues we might be in trouble.
 
So we shall see.
 
 


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Friday 26th Jan
 
full report at www.nomisonline.org.uk
 
today im in Braeburn School.
 
because im not able to go into some areas of Kenya at the moment im doing stuff that i know im able to. So im helping in classroom support with Yr 3.
 
Off i set with some interpretation to Miss Carter's Class.
 
Having no idea what i was letting myself into.
 
This week was book week and so all the children of all ages were dressed up as their favourite book character. Many Harry Potter's, witches, Spiderman, superman ok that was normal. so their was also Oliver twist, cat in the hat, some kid on stilts.. ok i don't know who he was, a publisher of a book (ok random) and my favourite was the dragon from Harry Potter. seriously the mum had gone to town and this was a full on dragon homemade costume. hurrah..
 
After a full on assembly, we are talking stage, backdrop costumes, sound effects music etc. we headed back to the classroom.
 
Maths, Literacy, RE, with me helping children where i could. I then read to them a fable (as this is one of the topics). Lunchtime (a welcome break) then more lessons in the afternoon to help out with.
 
Tis a long day though.The children start at 8.10 then finish at 3.30p.m. so for 3-11 year olds might just be a long ole day.
 
So after school i came home to chill and discovered maybe Dawn had planned to go out. Hmmm. Hurrah. So this meant driving the maid home to pick up her son.  This is about 30 min drive to the school. We arrive at the school to find that Dillon had already left for home. The maid tells me that sometimes he doesn't get home from school till 6 or 7. Ok let me explain. The son is 7 and he walks home from school on his own. As his mum is working for Dawn. But then again the maid is working and gets home about the time he gets home. hurrah.
 
Anyhow the maid tells me he is walking home and we should find him at some point.. hurrah. seriously their are hundreds and hundreds of people on the street. how the heck are we going to find him. But having been in a similar situation in London i prayed and asked God to find a needle in a haystack. well we drive up this dusty road. shops either side and stacks of people (ok all looking quite similar) we are searching for a boy in a red jumper. Honestly where's Wally comes to mind. I have to stop the car as a whole load of people are stuck in the road. we look right and their he was. hurrah. love it.
 
picking him up we headed home.
 
dawn thought it would be nice to go to the cinema.  ok. let me be honest. Kenya has surprised me lots. I feel like I should be living in a mud hut and have no electric and not really living the life i am becoming accustomed to. Its basic but comfortable. but this like what most Kenyans have.. ok apart from those in the slum.  The cinema is in the shopping mall. Costs 450 sch. This is about £3.70 and we splashed out on Extra Large Popcorn come on it was 70p. Now you know you are being ripped off in UK. Seriously great popcorn at a great price.
 
we watched I am Legend. OK before the movie and i forget it earlier but in assembly and it turns out before any public event they play the National Anthem. Hurrah. So in the cinema we stand for the National Anthem.
 
I am legend is the story of Will Smith as a research scientist who has stayed behind in an area infected by a diseases. turns out the rest of the world has this disease and has died. Apart from those who haven't and have become night crawlers. (almost zombie type scary people). Well a number of people leave the cinema after a number of jumpy scary moments. hmmm. with out giving it away id go and see it. the tension is very very very very good. i was really impressed. but a couple of moments let the movie down. however cant complain.
 
so another chalk and cheese event.
 
 


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Friday, January 25

Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th Jan
 
(read the full account on www.nomisonline.org.uk)
 
Wednesday 23rd
I find myself getting into a routine. Up at about 7, help Dawn with the kids, 7.30 off to school, on computer and then home again by 8.15 a.m. Bit of brekie you know a good ole Kenyan co co pops or frosties. lol and a cup of coffee (that's right kenco that i brought from the UK cause i didn't think you could by it here)
 
Talking of food and stuff. Which seems the major subject of the last few emails. I have some favourite stupid stuff that obviously has a different meaning to us than it does to Kenya.
 
"Toss" - yup your favourite washing powder.
"Climax - triple xxx" (honestly its not me making it up) this is a detergent. Hurrah.
 
More after the weekend.,,,
 
lets go back to the Kenco coffee a moment. Now i didn't think you could buy it here but you can. But its imported from the UK. no seriously. the coffee beans are grown here. then sold to the uk (at a rubbish price) then made and sold to us in the UK. But then its sent back to us in Kenya. You see the price tag is still on the side at £2.39 and the label says its made under licence in the uk. Then they charge about £6 a jar.
 
So here is a coffee appeal.. im nearly running out can you send simon some coffee. lol..
 
This morning i went and had a meeting with a MST member who has been having issues. Was a good meeting and i bought him lunch at Mandy's. I had the special 250 sch (about £1.60) of chicken, sauté potatoes, carrots and runner beans followed by fruit salad. He had a BLT. So when it arrived it was somewhat sparse.. seriously the bacon here is different. its round to start with. He had one slice of this. 1 limp piece of lettuce and a tomato on top of the sandwich. hurrah.
 
but we sorted out some issues and after a brief visit to the office to see some of the team i headed on home.
 
you see today they were having a non rally that was to commemorate the dead that had died.  the police decided that it was time to drop some tear gas in the area. and so firing up the people who were there.. honestly..rubbish,
 
 
So as i wanted to miss this i left early. But the bus i got on did say they were going to my home until it changed its mind, hurrah. the conductor came up and told me he was turning around at Yaya. great, but he didn't charge me but i did think that maybe i wouldn't get a bus at all because of the potential problems.
 
Thankfully i did and i didn't see anything. Just saw the news later on that day.
 
Home and then caught up with some stuff for the website www.icy.org.uk as the forms were having a few problems... sorted.
 
 
 
 
Thursday 24th Jan
twas a day of travelling... Heigh Ho..
 
After the normal routine i was off to catch 2 buses. hurrah. leaving it until after 8.30 you get a cheaper price so i caught a bus right into town.  Today was meant to be another rally but thankfully Coffe Anan has called it off or maybe encouraged the ODM leader to call it off.
 
Thank you..
 
Anyhow. I short walk through town as its been 3 years since I've done this. I found the matatu's lined up and mine right their. As the journey would be a long one it would cost 50sch (40p). ok i was splashing out.. lol.
 
I was going to see Gil. Gil was the guy i stayed with last time i was here in Kenya and i was keen to catch up with him.
 
We arrived eventually, travelling at speeds on a motorway on a b road whilst overtaking like a grand prix. Oh my. If you don't have a prayer life you will after being on these buses. I would like to think you could bottle it and have it as a ride at Alton towers!
 
But it was great to see gill. he hasn't changed although he has put on weight. quite hard for a Kenyan really!! His business is very slow. Last 2 years he has been working and building his business with Safaris. So if ya fancy a great safari then go www.real-africa.com i would really recommend it.  But due to the media and also some of the issues in  Kenya (although honestly the safaris are NOT affected by this at all as they go in a different direction) he has had lots of cancellations. For him this really means not being fed. no money no food etc. He is hoping that the end of the month a usa party is still coming..
 
So go safari and do it with Gil. He's funny and you'll have a giraffe!! lol..
 
Turns out his wife is pregnant as well. But wont be here to see that sadly.
 
Then we drive down the road to Peter and Julies house. Spending a great rest of the day here i really do enjoy their company.
 
Time flies and im back leaving on the bus towards town. For some reason the 50 sch bus ride becomes 30sch. hurrah.  Now these buses on this particular route have LCD tv;s in them. You know like the DVD players for your car. But these are 15" screens. Showing rnb music and played very very loud. (so a little deaf at present) Love it.
 
We get to town and we are in a jam. the guy drives on the pavement and tries to get round without killing people. hmm only just. Then the guy who collects the money gets me out and puts me in another matatu.. ok at this moment am i being kidnapped. (well if im writing this no of course) but its very strange and suddenly my hand is on the door handle ready to jump...
 
But for no reason at all we are back in the place im meant to be. oh well. passed a market stall selling the LOST season 3 on DVD for 200 sch. Yup £1.70. I really should have bought it for Geoff and Lyn!! (hi guys) as we missed the last episodes and the new series starts on sky soon.
 
So i arrive home hurrah, time to catch up with your emails.. ta..
 
 
Simon
 


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Wednesday, January 23

Tuesday 23rd Jan
 
updates on www.nomisonline.org.uk and pictures are at http://picasaweb.google.com/onelargeelephant/Kenya2008

And so another day of preparation for the following weekend. (make hay whilst the sun shines!). Well i have a 5 hour lecture on the first five books of the old testament (genesis etc) and so i needed to prepare.

Bristol Rovers are playing Fulham tonight but because of the 3 hour delay im not staying up. Imagine if it went to overtime!
 
Anyhow I managed to finish my prep. Having my computer with me i knew id done some stuff before on this subject and also gives me access to PowerPoint which is helpful.
 
With the brilliant use of the internet. Oh and by the way the speed is 29kps. So if you remember the days before broadband and you had a 56 kps modem that was slow yeah? well this is less than that. BUT don't let me count it as ungrateful. I love coming in early to school and collecting the emails you've sent and reading them when i get home and replying then. It really is amazing what we take for granted.
 
Hurrah!
 
 
Simon
 
 
 


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Tuesday, January 22

Monday 22nd Jan
 
Went in to Nairobi and spent some time with Peter, who is the leader of the MST programme. I really enjoy working with Peter. Their are people in your life that no matter how often or not you see them they are and always will be a part of your life.  Peter is one of them. Peter lives out his faith in Jesus by not only talking about it but living it. He shares his house, his family and his life with people. You can't help but want to spend time with people like this. Not to usurp all their energy but to grasp something of how he does it. His home is with out water 3 days a week. His house is sometimes without electric. Sometimes their is no money for food and they live on the little they have. But what he has got he continues to share. Amazing. You see when you meet people like Peter something in you changes as well. It makes you think about the stuff that you have and yet most of all it makes ya think about the faith you have, and if not maybe it encourages you think about taking on this faith that is so evident.
 
Emma mentioned a story yesterday as well.  We were talking about a youth camp called the J project,. They are wanting to help the girls in Kibera Slum (in Nairobi their are at least 5 slums) by providing information about their whole life money, housekeeping, faith, sex and health. Emma told us a girl she knew died last week. Why? Because she didn't know about using sanitary towels. Seriously. she was using tissue. and got an infection. You see they don't have water each day to use for bathing. The boys can get away with it (perhaps!) but the girls cant but they do with consequences. Its water.  The infection got bigger and with her not mention it it got worse. So the J Camp is about helping girls like this one to simply have good education.  Honestly what we take for granted. Ok their are other organisations that encourage lots of people in the slum. But they are dealing with other issues and so here we have an opp to sort things out..
 
Oh and mentioned yesterday they are closing down the camp for the displaced people. yeah that's right these people have no homes and now they really don't have any homes. the government want people back as soon as possible. but its simply not safe. more on this tomorrow when i find out more.
 
Hurrah.
 
 
Simon
 
 
Coming programme.For your information
 
Wednesday 23rd Jan
Meeting with MST Student Andrew
 
Thursday 24th Jan
Meeting with Peter Abungu
 
Friday 25th Jan
Prep all day
 
Sat 26th Jan
9-10    Training on Overview of NT
11-12  Training on Overview of NT
12-1    Training on Overview of NT
 
Sun 27th Jan
3-4    Training on Overview of NT
 
Mon 28th Jan
Prep
 
Tue 29th Jan
Meeting with MST Student Andrew and Peter
 
Wed 30th Jan
 
Thursday 31st Jan
 
Friday 1st Feb
 
Sat 2nd Feb
9-10    Training on Pentateuch (this is the 1st 5 books of the christian bible)
11-12    Training on Pentateuch (this is the 1st 5 books of the christian bible)
12-1    Training on Pentateuch (this is the 1st 5 books of the christian bible)
 
Sun 3rd Feb
3-4    Training on Pentateuch (this is the 1st 5 books of the christian bible)
4-5    Training on Pentateuch (this is the 1st 5 books of the christian bible)
 
Mon 4th Feb
We are off for 10 days in the west of Kenya.
 
Thursday 14th Feb
Back
 
Friday 15th Feb
Day off!!
 
Sat 16th Feb
Last day with Dawn and her Children
 
Sun 17th Feb
Fly back to Heathrow.


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Monday, January 21

Day 17 and 18
 
(full account on www.nomisonline.org.uk - for face book readers)
 
So Saturday was the first day i could get out of the house. Well apart from the fact it was raining it was good to be out and about. is hard being stuck in and you never realise how much you take your freedom for granted. Ok so im not being held hostage or anything but it feels like it. there is no where to go during the week, no park, no beach no walk along the road. hurrah.
 
Amazing huh. I guess this is why (along with a zillion other people) people head out to the shopping malls. Ok not a huge fan of shopping malls. But it is really nice to get out. hmmmm.
 
Anyhow. Sat in the shopping mall, We meet some of Dawn's Asian Friends Jottie and her husband. Eat some more food and then Dawn's children Josh and Malaika head on the park. Each shopping area seems to have a bouncy castle, some adventure playground and other activities. we sit and talk to Jotte for a while whilst her husband goes back to the shop they own in the Mall.
 
Towards the end of the conversation Jotte mentions her and her family are off to Diamond Plaza later that evening.
 
Diamond Plaza was another shopping area that failed. So the Asian community bought it and they then have adapted it into one mega Asian Centre. Seriously incredible.
 
We were invited to go and Dawn said it was an experience to be hold.  So we went.  Quick trip home and then clean up and out again.
 
Firstly you cant park for love nor money. Honestly their was no where and we had to walk a bit. But the smells and tastes in the air where amazing. These were Asians who firstly knew their stuff and they were willing to bring me in on some fantastic food. man it was hot and burning but so very very very very tasty. Hmmm chicken wings roasted and then deep fat fried in an amazing sauce. Then they bring out a chilli sauce that was incredible.. oh boy.. hurrah.
 
So being in Kenya Im sure I've put on weight not lost it.
 
The Nan bread was delicious, the bahji's were simply mouth watering.. oh my... then the ice cream.. seriously the Asians have got it right. We weren't in a restaurant we were out in the street next to a series of restaurants that didn't have tables just fronts. (like a takeaway) with waiters that come to the table. Hurrah.
 
Then after the meal we have a Pan. Now I feel sometimes i launch into things that i don't know. This was one of those occasions. I find myself in a shop watching palm leaves being filled with coconut and other things i don't know.. ahem, I then put this into my mouth. Oh my. Now this is a mouthful of amazing ness. simply an explosion of taste rolls around my tongue. Now at this point im not sure whether Im supposed to spit it out or swallow. But i see others eating it.Hurrah.. ok it takes a while but it was gorgeous.
 
Then homeward bound.. hmmmm.
 
Sunday started early.. (sure i know that at one minute past midnight its sunday) then we hit church. Its quite long this morning. afterwards we hit a pizza place. You need to know its cheap eating out. honestly quite amazing. Full size pizza and 2l sprite £4. hurrah...
 
then its a slobby afternoon.
 
Looking at the papers the ODM party has decided to go back on what they've said. This week coming they are having a rally on Wednesday to commemorate the dead (which i hope doesn't end up with more deaths), Thursday is a peaceful rally (ahem) and then Friday is rally to hold prayers of peace.
 
Please i don't know whether these would be peaceful or not but it will mess up the lives of hundreds and thousands of Kenyans who don't want it.
 
Hmmmm;
 
oh well we shall see.
 
 
 
Simon
 
 


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Friday, January 18

Here's the latest news. 
 
which is what the country has been praying and asking for...
 
so hurrah lets hope a political situation can be found....
 
simon
 
 
this is a direct lift from the Daily Nation Website http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=114855. The Daily Nation is one of Kenyans Newspapers.
 

ODM to call off protests

Story by NATION Team
Publication Date: 1/18/2008

The Orange Democratic Movement is expected to call off mass action after today's protests and change strategy in their push for justice over the contested re-election of President Kibaki.

 

General Service Unit officers chase a city resident near Nairobi's Kimathi Street, shortly after the police dispersed a group of people who attempted to march to Uhuru Park for an outlawed rally yesterday. Photo/JOSEPH MATHENGE
At the same time, sections of the rail line to western Kenya have been destroyed by mobs shouting "No Raila! No Rail" in the third day of demonstrations. Sections of the rail has been removed at Nairobi's Kibera slums and at Kibos, near Kisumu.

 

The Reuters news agency has quoted ODM spokesman Salim Lone saying that the protests will end after demonstrations today.

 

"These last three days have been very painful and we have seen a lot of needless deaths and suffering ... but today is the last day of the protests and we are now going to move on," Mr Lone said.

 

Kenya's rapid slide into crisis since the December 27 election has dented its democratic credentials, horrified world powers, scared off tourists and hurt one of Africa's most promising economies.

 

Lone said ODM would switch to other forms of action like small strikes and boycotts of companies run by what he called government hardliners backing Kibaki.

 

"One of the purposes is to weaken the hardliners and strengthen the moderates," Lone said, mentioning Brookside Dairies, Equity Bank and Citi Hoppa Buses as possible targets.

 

ODM supporters have fought running battles with police firing teargas and live ammunition since the start of the three-day protests on Wednesday.

 

The Government has banned rallies called by ODM despite calls from Western nations, including the United States and Britain, for it to allow peaceful protests.

 

The United States, in a statement late yesterday, blamed both sides of the political divide for the violence.

 

"That violence springs from the fact that there are clashes because of the political deadlock," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

 

"More than anything else they need to come together for the Kenyan people and for Kenya's future."

Former UN head Kofi Annan is due to lead the latest peace push after African Union talks failed last week. He was set to fly in this week but fell ill with flu. The UN says he is recovering but has given no date for his arrival.

 

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Mr Gerishon Ikiara said five trains taking fuel to Uganda were yesterday halted after the rail line was destroyed at Kibera and Kibos areas following mass demonstrations.

 

He said transport in various areas was also disrupted. In western Kenya major highways were barricaded.   

 

The PS said demonstrations in major urban centres were a major setback to efforts to normalize transport.

 

Mr Ikiara, who chairs the post election response committee on transport, said operations in the capital were initially smooth but demonstrators engaged police in running battles which restricted flow of vehicles into the central business district.

 


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Its Friday and im writing this even though I've just sent yesterdays (day 15)
 
Its now today Friday 'day 16'
 
just to say thanks for all your emails concerning safety.
 
I am ok. just got caught out on Wednesday. although it didn't say, i was about 1 mile from the situation and i am sorry if it seemed i was right in the middle of it.
 
Media huh giving one the wrong impression.
 
so sorry.
 
I have for the last 2 days not gone anywhere near town or Kibera where the problems are.
 
The training programme and the lectures i have prepared for have been cancelled due to safety.  You see most of the students live in the slum. their lives are at risk every day. now i don't want to be a causality but i don't really want the team to be either. but they have no choice but to live in the middle of it.  so for their sakes we are also trying to be careful.
 
today i caught up with a DVD presentation im working with Irve in the uk on for S.E.A.N. (im sure they will be glad of hearing this as they receive this email) and then that was it.
 
but as I've made a decision to avoid town when their is a rally im stuck where i am.
 
but tomorrow is Saturday and we shall go out of town perhaps to a shopping mall just to get out really.
 
thanks again though for your emails and text of support at this time.
 
 
 
Simon


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Thursday, January 17

Day 15

Ok so I've now been here 2 weeks. Seems longer. Now is that a good or a bad point. hmmm

Today im still indoors. I decided not to chance going into town. i knew that it would be bad at some point. So really i didn't want to be somewhere silly.

Therefore i actually spent the time finishing my lecture for the weekend. Did a PowerPoint presentation for all sessions and re read my notes. Pretty much took all day. Sorted out some internet issues with some of the websites im still involved in. Hurrah.

Sounds a bit rubbish but the rallies are having a knock on effect. Eerily the road where im living has gone quiet for 3 hours. Its not normally like that. honestly you can tell how bad things are by the roads!!!

The schools are still on the go. The country still has issues where I've been working in the last weeks. its just is surreal. but we'd talked to people and they'd said it would get worse again.

hurrah.

Apparently they are going to run these rallies every week. honestly what on earth do they think they are going to achieve. hmmmm. we shall see.

anyhow. hope you are all ok. internet use during the week i get a 15 min slot at dawns school before it starts. I write emails at home and then bring them over to send all at one time, so if ya don't get a reply straight away that is the reason.

well hope your day will be as exciting as mine!


Simon


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Wednesday, January 16

Day 14 Wednesday 16th Jan

(again www.nomisonline.org.uk for full version)

it is a scary time here in Kenya at the moment.

im pretty much housebound now for the rest of the week due to the violence that erupts so very suddenly.

yesterday (wednesday writing on thursday) was scary. literally right after the news conference that ODM gave about future demonstrations people started marching to Urhuru Park. I was stuck in town.

Having talked to Peter about the demonstrations and the fact that they should have happended at 10 (it was now 12) we were sure they werent going to take place. So i had travelled in. en route i hadnt seen any police or army. sure the park was surrounded as usual. but nothing unusal.

Then at 2.30 I had a text via Dawn with the news from the British High Commission that they'd be marching. where were they going to march from? yeah right on the route my bus takes. hurrah. so i was really stuck.

I rushed to the bus stop and their was no more buses. loads of media. loads of people. no buses. no taxis. no nothing.

I was stuck. (ok you get the point)

The police were telling people to leave the city as soon as possible. but this caused ciaos. everyone leaving at the same time bottle neck. London on a bad day. You couldnt move at all. The ODM are obviously able to shut down a complete city by marching. cant take that risk again...

I saw the shots and the tear gas as it filled the sky. to be so close is perhaps like watching a movie but people were being really hurt. Kenyans were running. The real people did not want this.

Turns out ODM leader Raila Odinga was marching to. but in a car. hmmm whilst his people get hurt and killed he remains behind glass.

so i wonder how im going to get home....

at the same time dawn was leaving school and was approached and nearly attacked by a man with a broken bottle. thankfully she nor the children were hurt.

Kenya is in real turmoil and admittedly id like to go and tell ODM leader Raila Odinga and ask him to seek a political situation not a demonstration. the people will i think start to turn against him., it is a small minority who are causing issues. and they seem to be winning.

Peter who i am with gets hold of a car and we drive or try to... normally to get home takes 15 mins. nearly 3 hours later i get through the door.

hurrah.

man im staying in doors..


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Tuesday, January 15

OK read the full account at www.nomisonline.org.uk (this is for you facebook readers)

Day 12 and 13 (Monday and Tuesday)

To be honest the last few days have been manic with me preparing for this coming weekend.

I have a 4 hour lecture on the New Testament of the Bible and i came with little resources.. Hurrah for

the internet! And actually I'd remembered that yonks ago i had created an online resource (another

plug huh) so I've taken stuff from that.

So apart from that I've had a day off and watched tv.

Yeah well yesterday was an important day in Kenya. Parliament came back in session. Unreal.

Scenes of people nearly fighting. People asking for peace. All down to whether they should have a

secret or no secret ballot.

Here's how it works. MP's elected in their different areas in Kenya and so they get voted to stay in or

out. Much like the UK system. Although this is where people were having problems. Some said they'd

had more votes and others said they had.. But the returning officer he says this is the solution and

answer. So Kibaki got in. The trouble was the media.

You see even though we sometimes have a picture of the 3rd world in our minds of mud huts and no

electric. Kenya is perhaps in the later part of the 20th century and in other ways in the 21st. For

example they are selling mobile broadband. Maybe 80% or more people have a mobile phone.

People can now get in touch up and down the country with relatives where as 10 years ago they had to

visit. The main cities and even out lying towns have shopping malls and internet access. Supermarkets

are open 24 hours a day (and none of that closing on a sunday for a few hours). A large % of people

have electric in their homes. Running water and toilets.

So this is in town.

But a few miles also out of town...

People have no electric. People live in houses made of mud. People pay for their water as someone

owns the tap and is making a profit on it. People eat the food that is grown elsewhere bought at a

lower price and then sell it for a higher one in the slum. Or people just don't eat. The shopping mall is a

kiosk on the side of the street mixed in with the other houses. bars across the window with a small

opening inside like a petrol garage at night where you ask them to get the stuff. Toilets are still a hole

in the ground. No flushing just the crap still there from yesterday and the day before and the day

before that. When it gets full they get a bucket and fill it with the crap and dump it in the stream. A large

% of people though have mobile phones.

Crazy. I live in these two worlds from week to week. Hurrah.

The media however has kept a watch on these elections. So when they announce some where that the

election results were this.. the media is on the spot saying no it was this. So this was the problem.

They took so long to tell the Kenyans what the result was, that the media had actually given the people

the answer. So the people were in uproar when suddenly the opposite was announced. Ok and im not

sure why but is Ranalia not saying lets go to court over this. He has the right. But he wont. Hmm

Yesterday, 15th Jan, as i said Parliament came back into session. The first thing they had to do was to

announce and vote in a speaker. The person who keeps the government in order and im sure more.

Well they thought it would be good to do a secret ballot. The constitution says you don't need to but i

guess with all the troubles they wanted to show the world and the country that they could have a ballot

that was fair.

This was indeed the first problem. The president took his vote first. crossed in the box. then he put it in

the clear box. The opposition leader then decided he was going to cross in the box and then show

everyone what he had done. All of his followers in the ODM party (which is the opposition) did the

same. Man what followed was chaos galore. Seriously if you could have done something more

stupid than this ...

Nearly a riot.

After a load of people had their say on the matter and half way through the first round of voting for the

speaker they started again. Seriously they ripped up ALL the voting slips and started again. This being

about 2 hours later after they had started. Oh my. Well at about 8 in the evening (6 hours after) they

eventually voted in the speaker from the ODM party.

WE kinda knew that would happen. ODM have more people in parliament.

Then a vote for the deputy speaker and ODM are in again.

President Kibaki not a happy man.

And so we are in today. The rally will take place this afternoon. The media have been reporting

violence already. THIS IS MISQUOTED. honestly watch sky or even bbc and they will show you fires

and things. Saying this is a result of what happened in Parliament. NOPE. this was the result of an

electrical fire that people took advantage of. HONESTLY.. and if you look the fire was in the afternoon

and you know the result didn't come in till about 8 pm when its dark.

But that doesn't help does it.

So we are staying in. Schools are still on. And its raining. ok i think it maybe a God thing. im hoping

that this will dampen the spirits of those hoping to march.

we shall see.


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Monday, January 14

Hi. Don't forget full account is at www.nomisonline.org.uk and you can see the pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/onelargeelephant/Kenya2008


Day 10 - Saturday 12th Jan.

So the day ahead was to hold what? Who knows...

African timing was to be the highlight of the day. lol. well when you say 9 somepeople think that 9 means 11... hmmm.

I turn up at the GPO (a regular meeting place which is at the top of the city) and I met Dolti. She then takes me up to All Saints Cathedral. This is the main cathedral for the Anglican Church and it pretty much looks like any other Cathedral but in Kenya! lol.

Meeting in the Youth Room the cathedral has loads of activities and rooms I meet up with the other youth leaders. Some are from PHD (which is the name of the Youth Organisation), some are from SYN (Swahabi Youth Minisitries) and others are people who know people.

Now in the uk ive run youth meetings where you go around the room saying your name and then something else ie llike your favourite pet or colour etc. However this time we say our name which organisation we are from and if we are single (ready to mingle) or just single or even booked!! lol.

I said i was cooking from the heat!

ANyhow eventually we get in a bus that takes us off to the park that the displaced people are in.

Ok we are now running 2 hours late! hurrah.

On arrival we wait until we are confirmed as volunteers. Sammy Mobile is the guys name. Come on i love it. Then after another hour we are allowed onto the grounds where the volunteers are and the displaced are. Interestedly the people running the whole organisation are the churches. Ok World Vision are on site and also Red Cross but the people actually doing the work are the churches and they are also supllying food plus other sundries.

The thing they are missing is soap, sanitry towels, fresh bread and some fruit etc. If any more money comes in i will be sending it directly to the camp and they will be able to buy these items locally.

Well i go in to the camp and people are simply happy to talk. Some tell us they are sleeping on the grass. there are others who want a matteress and blanket so they can go home. Most want the chance to rebuild and start again. they have lost everything with their house burning down and all there items inside.

I do feel very humble. these people now really have nothing. we;ve been told NOT to promise anything. Although everyone sees a white person and wants food and clothing, some money to start again. can i sponser their child. hurrah. It very hard to say no. ho hum. but we point out their is food to eat and a place to sleep. so weve made our contribution and we know its being dealt with well.

We leave 2 hours late of course. People give similar feedback. Out side of the camp they know the people are being inside fed and so are cueing. they're are all hungry and there are hundreds of people.

So how we supposed to help them..

I get back to the office and we chat a bit then i leave to come home.

Being that Dawn has dstv (a south african cable provider) i am able to watch premier football. HURRAH. However Dawn is not keen... hmmm. oh well. So she watches Eastenders (yeah how random is that).

Tomorrow im speaking in The Blue House which is in the slum.. am i prepared.. am i learning to be kenyan!! lol.

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Day 11 - sunday 13th jan

Well im up and ready to rock. well maybe. after some pancakes with chocolate sauce for breakfast i hit the road to get into town. ok strangley nairobi is very quiet. no traffic well hardly any. but its very strange.

Im waiting in town for andrew, a team member from the usa, we're waiting for the 32. Mind you I had problems this morning as i was waiting for the 46. Loads came and they were all full. So i decided to go for a matatu. Honestly i knew they wouldnt go to the GPO. But i asked them. They said yes. so i asked them again. They said yes. So just for luck i said GPO.. lol. But i kinda knew they had NO idea what i was saying. So i thought i'd take the bus til the lights (where i had the mistake the other day) and as i knew this then i wasnt too bothered. We reach Yaya and the conductor tells me I've arrived. I laugh. To be honest i knew he hadnt heard. So i say GPO again. He gets back in and we are off. At the same time i'm trying to continue to prepare my talk for the church. On arrival at the lights i waited to turn right.. but he went straight on. Man i was shocked. no really shocked. They actually drove to the GPO roundabout dropped me off and then went back.. Awh. I'm sure they never do this.

So we're on the bus to Kibera. 80's music blaring. Hurrah. love it.

We're walking through Kibera and coming towards the Blue House. The hustle and bustle of the street. Children playing with hoops with wire. People crying out Muzogo. Children looking up and asking "How r u".

In the church a prayer meeting is taking place. We take a seat at the back. In my head the words of what I'd like to say but then i realise what on earth can i say to a people who are starving living on the edge.

10 am and the bible study starts. OK i was a little unsure of what was going on. Look ive been to a bible study before but why would you have one before the church service. Lol. When an african says "I hope i finish on time" you start to worry. Come on they have no time to worry about and they have all the time in the world. At this point we are moved forward to the front row. Hurrah. Cleverly someone puts up a clock right where the person was speaking. lol. So eventually the guy finishes. Then the service starts.

Now i don't normally look at the clock when people are speaking. but at one point the clock stopped at 11.35 am. Ok i didnt realise at first that was a problem. But then evenutally i got up to speak. By this time in the service i myself probably needed to go.. but the people were keen to listen. well if you've ever spoken in public you'd know when people have had enough. OK so apart from the person at the back who looked like he'd gone to sleep lol.

So i spoke. John 15 v 9-17. the main thrust of what i said was "Remain in His Love". Its been hard for them and all i could do was encourage them to know that God had done everything to show them his Love and if they remained in His Love. But i can not talk just about God's love if i dont do something about it. So we bought food to give them.

Its amazing to talk and then show. I think sometimes their is too much talk without action. So please Kenya wake up and act.

This week there maybe more rallys. who knows what eh..

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