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
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