Kenyan pastor (#3)

This might give you an idea of the sort of thing we are
trying to deal with. We are very close to this camp, so [our]
churches decided to "adopt". It and care for as many as we
can, but they are far too many. When we started there were
about 300 families...by the end of the first day they had
swelled up to 600 (maybe about 5,000 ppl). We decided to try
and find 100 vulnerable mothers with children, and focus on
finding members homes to take them in. We have been able to
place about 30 such in our homes,and [my household has] 2
mothers with us now - one with a week old infant. Food
distribution however is more liberally distributed. 

Our members are bringing food items to the church, then we
distribute it at the Jamuhuri showground to the families we
can. We are also trying to find cooking utensils - maybe a
pot per family, but fuel (firewood or charcoal) is impossible.
Yesterday one member brought a van-load of boiled potatoes -
we almost had a riot as we sere trying to feed the children
only. The Hindu Council also gave 1.5 tons of maize meal...
but how do we cook it? We are in the process of distributing
it via an interchurch initiative we have. We have
purchased another 100,000/= worth of maize meal from a miller
in Thika, but that went in a jiffy. 

Most of the families are out of the cold now, being housed in
the showground pavilions and showrooms, but we are talking
about lending [one our large tents] to the Red Cross to
house people in more vulnerable areas. We may also bring down
our Youth tent if need be. 

Yesterday the govt evacuated some people out of Eldoret
(which has been the worst killing field) using army buffalos,
and a convoy of about 100 vehicles (busses,lories and salon
cars). e do not know what will happen to them once they arrive
in Nairobi. Hopefully most can be absorbed by their extended
families, but some may fall thru the cracks . . . so we are
trying to put together a response to that need also.

Part of the pending crisis no-one is addressing right now is...
what next? How do these people get their livelihood again when
the fighting is finally over? We have asked World Relief to
help us help some of these families with start up capital on
a small, micro-enterprise basis . . . maybe about 100$ each.
We will also try and organize for those who can go back to
the rural areas to do so. Grace Community Church - thank you
so much for your offer to help. Maybe we can use the funds
towards this end. For others who may wish to help, please
let me know and we will do what's possible to assist you get
help to us.

The rally today did not escalate. Thanks for praying. The
Attorney General has called for a recount (we don't know yet
if this is the Govt position or his personal call). We are
waiting for the president to address the nation on this.

God bless.