NEW YEAR'S EVE IN NAIROBI

Ok I made a bad move today. Since it looks like this is gonna last a little longer and get more serious than anticipated, I went to do some last minute shopping for essentials. We heard one of the stores would be open for about 30 minutes so I headed off to see if I could scrounge some milk and rice. Well, all was quiet when I left but I had to stand in the check-out line for about 2 hours. This went over the time when Raila was to announce he was President in Uhuru Park. This rally was dispersed by GSU (presidential security force) but the mob of several thousands headed up Ngong Road, highly agitated, throwing rocks and chanting, "No Raila, No Peace!" Well, Ngong Rd. is where the store is that I was shopping in. Nobody in the store had a clue that trouble was coming until I saw 2 trucks full of police, assault rifles bristling, pull up out front. I was almost to check-out when the security doors on the store came slamming down, locking everyone inside. Then, we were able to hear the angry crowds outside yelling and chanting. Next, the police started firing and popping tear gas. This went on for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, I'm texting back and forth to Liz letting her know what's happening, she and the family can hear the gunfire from our apt. and she has everyone in a hallway away from the windows. Finally, it quiets down outside and they open the security doors. I ran into one of my neighbors at the store so he jumped in the car with me and we head out through the debris that had been strewn all over the road. There are still people on the streets but very dispersed so I gun it and take a back way to the house. We pull down our street and here comes another crowd marching up the road toward us about 50 yards from our compound gate. Our guard saw us coming and had the gate opening as we flew into the driveway. He slammed and locked the gate as the crowd passed by.

Everyone in the compound was out and wondering if we were gonna make it back. People were hugging and crying and reprimanding us for our foolishness. I gotta a big hug from Liz. As always the Lord was watching over us and now we should have more than enough food and plenty to share for the week.

God is good and we know that He is our peace and security and that, "He causes all things to work together for good to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose". Keep prayin. As I type this out I can hear rifle fire all around our neighborhood. The girls are getting a little concerned and wondering what it's all about and Grandma said this is the most excitement she's had in 80 years.

Liz just informed me that she emailed you all while I was in lockdown at the store and mentioned that we're not ruling out anything including evacuation, we'll see what happens. Meanwhile, I just saw on Yahoo News, local stations are blacked out, that Raila has called for a million people to rally on Thursday and I assume demand he be declared President. Obviously not a guy who cares much about peace and security.

Again, keep prayin, and we'll keep you updated as things develop and as long as the cyber connection lasts. On that, I can't send any more emails as apparently I've exceeded Hotmail's limit in 24 hrs, so keep checkin the Blog.

Love you all,
By His Grace and for His Glory, God is good!
Mike, Liz and the whole Fam

JOY TO THE WORLD

Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas and the Joy of our Lord and Savior,

JESUS CHRIST

We love you all,

Mike, Liz, Abby, and Lily

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9: 6,7

"And she will bear a Son ; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins."
Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,
"Behold the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated means, God with us."
Matthew 1: 21-23

MEETING IN MATHARE

These pictures are from our from our meeting two weeks ago with Pastor Vitalis in Mathare slum. We discussed ways that we could help his congregation in an ongoing way with the support of our home church, Grace Bible. Looking out over the rusty tin rooftops of Mathare.
A short briefing on security precautions as we head in.

More street scenes from deep inside Mathare.

Pastor Vitalis with Mary, a member of his congregation, and her daughter. Their home is about 6x6 feet.
Some of the kids at Vitalis's church. That's an open sewer ditch on the left.

THE MOUNT SUSWA SAFARI

The adventure begins as we load up to begin our safari up Mt. Suswa, an extinct volcano on Maasai land. The kids rode on top of the vehicles to the end of the track where we started the hike. LUCKY!
Just a little dusty along the way.

Sights and local Maasai along the way before we begin our ascent.

Headin up the mountain with our Maasai escorts.
Here the kids are looking out over the inner crater. It's a long almost vertical way down.
Our teenage Maasai mountain guides fascinated by technology.

These Maasai women met us on the way down and gave us gifts of necklaces and bracelets for having given one of them a ride up the mountain earlier. She was sick and had been to a medical clinic at the base of the mountain.


This ends our trip to Mt. Suswa. Unfortunately we were unable to take pictures of our confrontation with the Angry Maasai guys who held us hostage on the way down, since they threatened to smash the camera of someone in our party who tried. When we finally agreed to pay the "FEE" Ha! they let us go. All in all a fun outing with family and friends.