Update from our partner in Nairobi and Elementita, Kenya

Published January 28, 2008 @ 07:13PM PT

The violence, which initially settled down, has now flared up again. Before, it was St. Mary’s Nairobi that was surrounded by violence, killings, shootings, rapes, burning & lootings. This time, it is us here at Elementita. As I write this, the violence is all around us, and we are bound here in the compound. Terrible killings & burnings flared up yesterday in Nakuru (20 miles to the west of us). Today, Nakuru is still bad, but Naivasha (15 miles to the east) has flared up with sickening killings, etc.

As I write this, the violence is now spread to Gilgil (5 miles from us), and moving this way. I think we will be spared, but it’s going to be a long night of vigil. One just doesn’t know what the crazed 15-20 year old “mobs for hire” will do next.  We have a number of our staff caught out, either in Naivasha or Gilgil or Nairobi. There are road blocks by the gangs all over the place, with people being pulled out of their cars and killings of anyone who isn’t of the “right” tribe. 

A priest was among those killed yesterday in Nakuru.   

Regarding the Home of Hope orphanage next to us at Elementita, most of the kids are now back, although seven are still missing, and others needed to be started on ARVs. Thus, I have a little revision “add on” to the order for the first quarter.    Our high school for destitute youth in Nairobi has been hit hard, as many of the kids live in the worst-affected slums. Some of the kids have been raped, others have had their orphanage shacks burned down, and one of our kids was killed (shot by a stray bullet ripping through his shack). We opened the high school for the new term last week, but several of our kids are still missing. What these kids have gone through, and continue to live in, is just inhuman. I want to build a boarding secondary school here at Elementita and move the school over here. We currently have 150 kids registered in the school.   

So, wish us luck tonight. I’m sure God will be with us, and the crazy mobs and violence will spare our mission hospital. So far, both are intact and have been respected and spared by the roving mobs.  I appreciate that you’ve given us a little wiggle room on getting these ARV orders to you for the first quarter of 2008 

Peace,Bill Fryda