Eden and James Grace work in FUM's African Ministries Office in Kisumu, Kenya. Their sons, Isaiah, 10 and Jesse, 9 are in school in Kisumu. The Graces have been committed to their work in Kenya starting in 2004.
Friday, January 18, 2008
We had some hopeful political news last evening. Kenya's newly-elected Parliament met for the first time yesterday. It was anticipated that the opposition (who believe they rightfully won the presidential election) was going to try to sit on the government side of the assembly. They didn't try to. Then the opposition won the vote to have their people installed as Parliament's speaker and assistant speaker. Please join us in praying that this represents the beginning of a legitmate politcal solution to the impasse.
Our family is well, and living at home in Kisumu (after 5 days in Kaimosi followed by a week in a more secure compound in Kisumu). We are well stocked with food and other supplies. We feel safe. Yesterday was Isaiah and Jesse's first day at school. It seems that almost all the school children and teachers have returned to Kisumu; many (such as we) were away from Kisumu for some part of the last three weeks. We have been able to get food, fuel and supplies in Kisumu. In most recent days we have been downtown shopping and business.
Today is the first of three days during which the plitical opposition has called for demonstrations. There have been some disturbances in other parts of town, but our children had a normal day at school. It has been quiet in our neighborhood where both our home and school are. Our house is also quite near the family home of the popular opposition leader, Raila Odinga, which means less likelihood of trouble near us. We and the other foreigners are monitoring the situation. But, so far there are no indications that we will be in any danger here.
Over the last few days, our sense of ministry has become clearer as we've found that God has a use for us! Eden is now working intensively with a group of Kenyan Quaker leaders to pull together a national Quaker Peace Conference for the end of next week, bringing together 60 people for analysis and discernment of God's call to the Friends Church at this particular moment. Amid the swirl of confusion in Kenya right now, this piece of work feels important and clear and energizing and hopeful. There is a strong desire among Friends that our various organizations work together to address the ministry needs (physical, spiritual and structural) of Kenya in the days ahead. How exciting it is to discover that God has put us here for such a time as this. Both FUM and FWCC are collecting funds to underwrite the cost of the conference and the implementation of whatever joint action plan will emerge. Go to www.fum.org. And while you are there, remember our ministry account! The prices of food and fuel have skyrocketed over the last couple of weeks, and we're feeling the pinch.
Business here in Kisumu is definitely not "back to normal", but we are finding a new normal: extra security around the kids' school, extra long lines just to enter the few remaining shops, etc. We are also finding joy in the extra time we're spending together at home and the extra attention we're giving to prayer. God is still in the midst of us. The Christmas carols we sang so blissfuly just a few weeks ago seems so much more poignant now; "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight...Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today."
So many of you have written words of encouragement and support, and we cherish all these messages. It's not always possible to write a personal reply, but please know that we are so grateful. As the world's headlines turn to other matters, please don't forget to keep praying for Kenya and for Friends to be faithful to God's call, day by day.
With great hope in our hearts,
Eden, Jim, Isaiah and Jesse