Persistence is usually a good quality, but not when it refers to drought. Today’s Daily Nation reports: “‘Poor rains to persist, say experts’* … More people will be famished and increase the hungry to more than 10m Kenyans … although April is the rainfall peak period for the March to May long rains season, Nairobi and most parts of the country will continue to receive deficient rainfall … The forecast spells doom for farmers, .jpg)
who have received poor rains in the last four consecutive farming seasons. Pastoralists, whose animals have been dying in their hundreds due to lack of water and pasture, will also be devastated.”
The “GLOOMY OUTLOOK” of this article continues as it reports that the drought will also lead to increased charges for fresh produce and electricity (“thermal power … is more expensive), water rationing to homes, as well as outbreaks of illnesses such as cholera due to the resulting poor sanitation.
In a strange twist of fate, but a common one in Africa, there are some parts of the country receiving rain, but not relief: “the western parts of the country … are receiving enhanced rainfall, which has resulted in flooding.”.jpg)
Continue praying for the people of Kenya, both those facing drought and those facing flooding. Pray for farmers receiving their fourth season of insufficient rains. Pray for pastoralists who are watching their animals and their livelihoods die. Pray for those advising “farmers on the best agricultural practices … as well as the appropriate crops suited for their respective areas.” Pray that “Contingency measures … be put in place to avoid any loss of lives and property” in the flood areas. Pray for good health and quality medical care for those who have no access to clean water due to drought or floods. Pray for those with no or little income as the costs of food rise due to the drought and failed crops in flooded areas. Continue praying for those planning relief efforts. Pray that government officials will truly look 
beyond their differences** and respond speedily to the needs of their people. Pray for wisdom and strength as they plan and deliver food – there are limited resources and choosing the most needy recipients and getting the food is often difficult. Pray that through all of this, God’s children will be strong ambassadors of His love and salvation as they relate to those who are physically and spiritually hungry and thirsty, Bert Yates
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(Pictures of the Samburu taken by the Daniels - www.samburuofkenya.org/blog )
* “Poor rains to persist, say experts” (Daily Nation, 4/17/09, p. 9) – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/561032/-/u4a7nl/-/index.html
** “A ceasefire, for now” (Daily Nation, 4/17/09, pp.1,2) – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/561038/-/u4a7nr/-/index.html
"Poor Rains to Persist"
Praising God on Easter Sunday in Samburu Land
Rather than the “bad news” carried in the local press of more and more politicians/government leaders involved in graft, corruption and seeking discord rather than peace, the following FACEBOOK* .jpg)
posting by Sandra Daniels shares lots of praises of how God is at work among the Samburu people. You can find more about the Samburu work and the Daniel family at: www.samburuofkenya.org/blog
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“Tobolo mlango, Papa, panying shumata inoo.” We gathered for worship this morning at the Good Samaritan Home for the Aged. Several different Baptist churches sang praises, but as one group sang the lines “Open the door, Father, I’m entering Heaven”, the joy began to spread. The politician who invited us was moved to dance and sing. It began a wonderful celebration of .jpg)
praising our Lord and remembering the promise we have on this Resurrection Sunday. Everyone joined in. In traditional style, several people met each other face to face and shook hands as they sang. I don’t confess to understand all of it, but it was genuine rejoicing and praise.
We met councilor Fred during March, just after the food distribution in town. He told about his work helping the elderly and invited us to visit. Out of the profits from 2 businesses he owns, he feeds over 100 elderly men and women every day. He provides housing for .jpg)
some and has plans to obtain more rooms. He has visions of starting a residential home/rehabilitation center for street boys. He tries to help some of the drunkards stop drinking and has had some success in this area, as well. It is encouraging for us to meet someone who is trying to do good things to help people. It is especially encouraging to find a politician whose life is an example to others. He and his wife are both believers.
We also received news today that a church we thought was “gone” is still in existence and that they are reaching out to others and have begun new “preaching points.” 
Also in attendance was a councilman from the area of Baragoi, to the north of us. He was also rejoicing and very nearly preaching when it came his time to greet everyone. If Maralal is remote, Baragoi is definitely out there. Perhaps he may be the connection we need to help get work started in that area. Councilor Fred says even he would be willing to go there and help preach if we needed him! All in all, it was a day of great blessing for us.
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FACEBOOK members can find more pictures at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1072369268&ref=nf#/album.php?aid=2020507&id=1072369268
Baptists Awaiting Relief Food on Alabama
"Somali pirates attempt to hijack a container ship, the Alabama, carrying relief food to Kenya’s port of Mombasa.” When I first heard this news, I did take a moment to pray, but then I moved on. To be honest, ships being hijacked by citizens of our northern neighbour, Somalia – a poverty stricken country in total turmoil – is a daily occurrence in our part of the world. It did catch my attention that the ship was carrying relief food and that the crew were Americans.
I now know that I should have prayed with more nguvu (en/gue/vue, Swahili for strength). Do you remember praising God in February* for dehydrated food that Baptists distributed in Ukambani, one of the areas where thousands are hungry? This food was shipped by SERV Ministries International, a Christian organization that receives emergency dehydrated food from USAID and ships it in containers that can hold up to 1 million meals** to Kenya. In the following e-mail, Shem Okello, the Associate in our Volunteer Office and an officer of the Baptist Convention of Kenya, shares the additional need for prayer for this ship: “I got a call from the Shipping line Maersk Kenya Limited informing me that the vessel (the Alabama) that was carrying the two containers of Serve Food that we had anticipated to take to the hunger stricken regions has been hijacked. Please pray for the Crew and that they will release the Vessel so that the food can be taken to the people who need it most.”
Please do join Shem and others in praying for safety for the captain who we now know has risked his life to save his crew. Pray for the negotiators who are seeking solutions in handling this problem. Pray for peace and progress in Somalia that will lead to her people not resorting to hijacking ships. Pray also that when the ship arrives, hopefully this weekend, the relief food can be unloaded quickly and without any hassle, including payments of bribes and high custom charges. Pray for those planning and carrying out the distribution of food so that the food will get “to the people who need it most.” Rains have come to parts of Kenya, but rather than reducing the need for prayer, it increases the need to pray for those needing food. In Nairobi, we are having only limited rain, but there are reports of flooding in other places, which leads to new problems including increased illnesses and the inability to access and deliver relief food. So … PRAY WITH NGUVU! Bert Yates
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* http://omba4kenya.blogspot.com/2009/02/famine-leading-to-frustration-hope-and.html
What are their stories?
The little girl, a lonely woman, and a lost lamb – Due to moving too quickly, bumpy roads, or battery malfunctions, none of these were captured on film during out trip to Kitale, but they all remain
captured in my heart – all reminders of the ongoing drought as once again, the rains came for a few days and stopped.
It was mid-morning and the little girl was standing on a brown hill side surrounded by scrawny goats. I read recently that these smaller grazers are less affected than cows by drought as they are better foragers and less picky eaters. The animals tended by the young shepherdess disproved this theory. A simple dress hid her small body, but looking at her lean face, it is likely that her ribs were as exposed as that of her charges. Did her family depend on goat milk for nourishment? If so, she was hungry. Why was she not in school? Could the family afford the needed uniforms, pencils, etc? Or did survival require that all the family work? 
At noon, we traveled on a dirt washboard road under repair. It was a forsaken area with no homes, grazing animals, or even farmers tilling the parched soil. Then, as the dust from a passing truck cleared, I spotted a young woman sitting on the side of the road. Two small pails of potatoes set beside her. Based on the heat we felt in an air-conditioned car and the wee size of the top potatoes, if she had sat there for long, the potatoes were roasted to perfection – which I’m certain was not her desire. As we traveled on, the writer in me thought of many different endings for the woman’s story. Did she sell the potatoes? Why didn’t she have the customary umbrella to deflect the sun rays? Was it a costly luxury item? Did she get sick from the dust she inhaled while waiting for a buyer? Why was she desperate enough to sit in that deserted equatorial area during the hottest time of the day? Did she have hungry family members? If she sold the potatoes, how much could she purchase with the few shillings she received? When did her family last eat something other than potatoes? Were her children in school?
We shouldn’t have seen the lamb, but late in the 
afternoon, we made a wrong turn and spotted the little lost lamb as we back-tracked – and yes, this is when my batteries died, but to arrive at our destination before dark there was no time for switching batteries. The small lamb was standing alone in a recently ploughed field, more truthfully a field of dust ripples being swirled by the windy mountain air. I thought of the person who was searching for this lost little one – fearful of all that could happen with cars whizzing nearby and the total absence of any food or water. Was the lamb’s mother also searching frantically?
I also thought of scriptures that refer to shepherds. I know my heavenly Father loves the little goat-minder, the potato seller, and even the baby lamb. 
I know he expects those of us who are receiving His love to also care about those who are suffering. He wants us searching for the hungry, thirsty and lost. He wants us to minister to them – meeting their physical, mental and emotional needs, especially their spiritual needs. Please continue praying for rain in Kenya and that the suffering from drought will soon end. Pray that the leaders of the country will end their political wranglings and focus on meeting the needs of their people. Pray especially that God’s children will find ways to share His love with those who are suffering in Kenya and in other parts of our world. Bert Yates
Winnowing the Remains: Praying for the SAMBURU
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From Sandra and Charlie Daniels, IMB workers with the Samburu People:
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the dirt with their plastic cups and bags and winnowed the remains in the hopes that it might be enough to make a meal. I couldn’t see how such a little amount could make a difference to anyone, but I suppose that is the difference between want and need. I beginning to believe there is a certain psychology accompanying extreme hunger that affects people in a way that most of us will never understand.In the Samburu district in Central Kenya, we have not seen a drop of rain fall for over four months. If drought persists, conditions will worsen.
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As grasslands dry up there is no pasture for livestock. Cows no longer provide milk which is vital as a source of food and also money to buy other food staples like flour, tea and sugar. This is the life of the pastoralist. The water holes where women walk daily have become little more than cracked and dried depressions of dirt. They now must walk much further and in some areas must wait for elephants for to have their fill before they dare draw their own daily supply.Many Samburu are having a difficult time these days;
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some more than others. While some are still able to walk and wait and survive on a little, others are in real danger. They are sick with HIV/AIDS, elderly, widowed, orphaned. These are the ones we sought out as we gave food provided by Baptist Global Response. Over a period of 4 days, we were able to give 31,680 pounds of beans, 63,360 pounds of dried corn and 3,520 pounds of fat. Each person received enough food to get them through the next month..jpg)
Purchasing goods and transport through local vendors with whom we have relationships allowed us to provide adequate nutrition for one month for approximately 5,760 people. Living and working in the area allowed us to utilize local pastors, church members and community leaders who worked (without pay) to distribute food with honesty and fairness. At the same time, we demonstrated the incarnate love of Christ as we gave to the “least of these”.Thank you for your prayers and support of our work, our ministry and the Samburu people of Kenya. Continue to pray for rain.
www.samburuofkenya.org/blog
http://www.imb.org/
http://www.baptistglobalresponse.org/
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