Mixed Feelings: Disappointment, Grief, Despair and Hunger

As Government primary schools re-opened on Monday morning, there were many mixed feelings. Disappointment was felt by many teachers as their strike ended after the government threatened “to withhold … January salary and sack striking teachers.” * The teachers will get an increment in pay, but it is smaller than they requested and will be given over a three year period rather than fully added to their salaries next July. Continue praying for these teachers who have the incredible opportunity to work with Kenya’s greatest asset – her children!

In the Rift Valley, grief was the emotion felt in some schools. The first page of today’s Daily Nation carries the sad news that “Sixteen boys playing football were among the villagers burned to death in the Molo oil fire. In all 36 children aged between six and 17 were reported missing … The 16 were among 26 children playing near the place where the tanker overturned … The boys were attracted by the commotion and went to see what was happening … and then the tanker blew up. Ten are being treated at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital and four were flown to Nairobi for specialized treatment.” ** Join in prayer the woman who visited some of the hospitalized children and prayed, “Heal them, ease their pain.” Pray for those counseling the families and the children affected by the fire, both those injured or killed and their friends. Pray that Christians in the area will be strong ambassadors of their Father’s love and comfort during this time.

To add to the tragedy, some of the 115 fatalities were residents of a nearby “camp for people displaced in post-election violence last year.” “January curse for displaced” *** shares the stories of several of the survivors and family members who are “in despair, saying the tragedy is too much for them.” One of the stories is that of two displaced preschool girls whose mother died. Continue praying for those struggling to rebuild their lives. Pray that Christians among these people will be bold witnesses of their Father’s strength and love. Pray that those who are not Christians will have an opportunity to claim the Good News of our Saviour.

An additional current feeling in many schools is hunger caused by the ongoing drought and the difficulty the government is having in dealing with the national crisis. Many children are too weak to attend school. Others are out of school as they search for or raise money to buy food. Pray for an end to the problems of distribution which are reported in articles such as “2,000 bags of relief food yet to reach the hungry in Taita” **** (southern Kenya). This article also shares that some children are not dying because of the lack of food but because of eating things that are “unfit for human consumption” such as deadly cactus. Pray that long-lasting solutions will be found that will end the suffering caused by continuing droughts. Bert Yates
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* “Teachers’ strike called off” (Daily Nation, 1/30/09, p.72) – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/521656/-/u1t6ty/-/index.html

** “Boys’ team killed in Molo oil blaze” (Daily Nation, 2/3/09, pp.1,2) – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/523958/-/u1umtq/-/index.html
*** “January curse for displaced” (Daily Nation, 2/3/09, p.4) – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/523962/-/u1umug/-/index.html

**** “Relief food yet to reach the hungry in Taita” (Daily Nation, 2/3/09, p.29) – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/regional/-/1070/523800/-/71dhcs/-/index.html