Postscript: Kenya's Kesho

Kesho means tomorrow in Swahili. It is heartbreaking to imagine right now just what Kenya's tomorrows will bring. Time, prayer and integrity are needed to heal its recent yesterdays.

The country is still burning, its people are still dying, and its rival "leaders" are still playing power politics with innocent lives. Nan reports that criminal gangs, not tribal vengeance, are responsible for the looting and violence in Western Province. Just as in our own country, they take full advantage of unstable political and economic conditions. Yesterday the U.S. Peace Corps was forced to decide, for security reasons, to withdraw all of its volunteers from western Kenya. Will our missionaries be next? Kenya's sick are getting sicker and its poor, even poorer.

"Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear and hatreds cease; that, our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace... "


And bless, dear Lord, all those who have given so generously of their lives for so many years. Let them not be discouraged, help them hold fast to that which is good, and keep them safe in your loving arms... all for thy love's sake. Amen.



[Drs. Nan and Gerry Hardison, Christmas Eve 2007, Maseno]

Elephants in the Grass

Archbishop Tutu Asifiwe, Bwana Asifiwe... Praise them both! This morning's email brings a more hopeful message from Maseno:

Dear Dianne,

Things seem to be getting back to normal. Troops are patrolling the highway Busia-Kisumu and escorting fuel trucks to the border. So that is good news. Archbishop Tutu has apparently managed to persuade the two elephants to stop trampling the grass. We'll see.

Much love,
Nan

----- Original Message -----
From: Dianne Smith
To: hardison
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 6:14 AM
Subject: Prayers Apace

Dear Nan & All,

We continue to pray for peace in Kenya, safe travel for all, and for food and gasoline to become available. I know I could be of very little use if I were still there, but I wish I were... All I can do from here is obsess over the BBC online news and console myself with two thoughts: (1) Desmond Tutu is in Kenya now, and (2) mine is at least one less mouth for Emmah to feed.

Love,
Dianne

Cradle of Humanity

What a difference a day makes... Many of you are aware of the tragedies unfolding in the wake of Kenya's national elections on December 27. Our friends at Maseno Missions are safe at the moment, but they -- and their beautiful, beleaguered country -- desperately need our prayers.

It is difficult to say, or even to think, "Happy New Year" today, with so many lives at stake in so many places. Maseno is west of the Rift Valley, where the Leakeys discovered evidence of the first forms of human life. May God help us all restore and preserve the best of our collective humanity this day and in the year to come.

With Nan Hardison's permission, I am posting our most recent email exchange (in "reverse order"):

Dear Dianne,

Gerry is spending his usual full day at the hospital, now complete with bullet wounds. No one bothering the hospital right now, or St. P's. Emmah is safe and taking care of the nursing students.

Love,
Nan

----- Original Message -----
From: Dianne Smith
To: hardison
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 5:06 AM
Subject: Re: Prayers

Oh, dear God, Nan... Gerry is not trying to make rounds, is he? But what is happening w/the hospital patients?

----- Original Message -----
From: hardison
To: Dianne Smith
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 4:46 AM
Subject: Re: Prayers

Dear Dianne,

Many thanks again. And of course you may share the email. We are quiet here this afternoon after some shots were fired in Maseno to disperse a mob trying to torch the Total (gas) station, owned by a Kikuyu. We are all waiting tensely. Zach and Liz are still in Amagoro with Bishop Epusi, no way to get here, and Zachary was due in Tanzania.

Much love,
Nan

----- Original Message -----
From: Dianne Smith
To: hardison
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 4:17 AM
Subject: Re: Prayers

Thank you (and God) for your message, Nan! I have been frantic about Nadia, especially, and I am so relieved to know she's with you. We will certainly be keeping you all in the forefront of our prayers and in the center of our hearts.

So many people have asked me about your safety... May I share your email with them? The other side of the world seems very far away to people unless they have a powerful reminder like your personal words and witness.

If there is anything else we can do, please tell me.

In Him,
Dianne

----- Original Message -----
From: hardison
To: Dianne Smith
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 1:48 AM
Subject: Re: Prayers

Dear Dianne,

Many thanks for your prayers. Don and Lori got off o.k. but the nurses were delayed to an afternoon flight. We got them back to Maseno after a hairy trip through many barricades with burning tires, etc. and mobs. The ambulance had some damage. I freely and shamelessly bribed at each barricade. Now we are all safe in Maseno, but there is no way to get out. All roads are blocked, no fuel anyway. So keep us in prayer.

Fortunately Nadia was willing to stay in Maseno, not that there was really any choice. She is here now, and, I am sure, hoping that she can get out on Sunday. Right now Nairobi and Kisumu airports are closed.

The email has been on-again off again, but so far we have power from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm two days now so we can charge phones and laptops. No airtime is available for purchase however, so we are being careful with the phones. What a mess. The ethnic cleansing aspect of this is the most worrying. It shows the most ugly side of human nature.

Love,
Nan

----- Original Message -----
From: Dianne Smith
To: hardison
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 2:32 PM
Subject: Prayers
Dear Nan & Gerry, Liz & Zach,

Habariacu/How are you? Did Lori & Don and Nadia get off okay? I sincerely hope Nadia decided to climb Mt. Kenya, not wander around Nairobi for a week... And did your 15 Wisconsin nursing students arrive safely?

The BBC website news about Kenya -- especially about Kisumu -- is more than worrisome. You must be very busy answering other friends' and families' concerned queries, but I couldn't keep still any longer.

Please know we are all thinking of you and praying for the violence to end.

Love in Christ,
Dianne