Missionaries open home to displaced Kenyans

KENYA (BP) — Since the Dec. 27 disputed elections in Kenya, more than 600,000 men, women, and children have been displaced as violence rocked the country. International Mission Board missionaries have joined the ranks of many Kenyans who have opened their homes to family and friends fleeing the violence.

One missionary couple’s friend and house worker, Peti, received a call from her brother saying they were given 24-hours notice to vacate their home. Tim and Annie (identified only by their first names in this story) opened their home and resources to help the family.

“When the call came, I had just got back from helping at an internally displaced camp,” Annie recounts. “I told Peti to call her family back and tell them we would pick them up. I knew this was one family we could help and touch directly. They are like family to us.”

Many in the Peti’s family lived through the horrors of burning houses, machete-toting youth creating havoc, and old friends turning against them. They say being together as a family helps them work through the problems and rejoice in their Savior.

Tim, Annie, and Peti ask Southern Baptists to join them in praying for Kenya:

• Pray for peace. Pray that the country’s leadership will have discussions. Pray that tribes inciting ethnic animosity will repent .

• Pray for Christian workers in Kenya. Pray that God gives them wisdom in knowing how to reach out – in the short term and long term.

• Pray for the escalating human needs problems in Kenya. Because most farmers are displaced, food may be in short supply next year – even if peace returns.