"Your father has died"

On Jan. 21 I posted a story about our visit with a family who had fled the violence in Western Kenya. During our visit "Grandpa" asked for my name. When I told him he thought I said Mwangi and so he began to call me Mwangi. Pastor Simon explained that I wasnt Kikuyu but Grandpa insisted that my new name was Mwangi.
We laughed about it and had a good visit with the family. A week or so later I returned with some freinds for another visit. The family was adjusting and making a new life here in Central Kenya. On Friday morning ir recieved a phone call from Pastor Simon. He said, "your father has died". Mzee Mwangi had been sick and I think the stress of all that has happened was too much for this 83 year old trooper. The funeral is scheduled for this week and today I will meet with Pastor Simon to purchase the casket for the family. The family fled Western Kenya with the clothes on their back and they have no financial means to give Mwangi an honorable burial. The Assemblies of God church in Kiramithu has adopted the family and will be helping them re-build thier lives. Keep them in your prayers during this difficult time.

For the past two weeks we have been assisting with a camp in Tigoni, Kenya. The refugees fled to the Tigoni police station following threats by a rival tribe. Most of them were able to leave with their belongings and arrived at the police station with everything they owned. Several missionary families adopted the camp and began supplying food and other supplies to help meet the needs. The Red Cross had placed 4 volunteers at the camp and over the last two weeks we have worked together closely. We took on the responsibility of providing fresh vegetables for the crowd which at one point was well over 6000 people. We made daily trips to the camp with supplies of cabbage, greens, onions and tomatoes. We also made several trips to deliver water and blankets. On Friday an announcment was made that the camp was closing and that busses would arrive to take the people to Western Kenya where most of the Luo tribe members are originally from.
I have to admit that I was surprised to see the busses show up. Friday and Saturday people frantically packed thier belongings and got their names on the list for various areas of western Kenya. By Saturday evening the camp was nearly deserted. Only a few that are too sick to travel or have no where to go remain in the camp. Im including some pictures of some of the people I met over the last two weeks at the camp.

Charles, one of the refugees became the head cook. We worked together to provide meals for the masses. Groups of volunteers came almost everyday to chop vegetables and help Charles cook the meals. Charles called me today from Western Kenya where he hopes to be reunited with his wife soon.