From The Savutos...
Sunday 3 Feb. -
Wednesday 6 Feb. 2008
Dearest Friends and Family,
"If
you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose
that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so
today I still have a dream." Martin Luther King, Jr.
Bill, Claudia Freund, a
mission partner from
Germany,
and I again traveled on Wednesday, 30 Jan. 08 to
Nairobi.
The previous week Presiding Bishop had requested that we travel with him and
others from Tumaini Na UNdugu, (which means Hope and
Brotherhood) to visit Nakuru and Molo Displaced Persons Camps. In last week's
email, I stated that Tumaini Na UNdugu was made up of the
Methodist
Church
in Kenya (MCK), the Presbyterian Church, and the Anglican Church. We learned
that in cooperation with the three churches Equity Bank, Britak, Housing Finance,
Kenya Broadcasting Company, and a few other churches were all working together
to bring peace and hope, food, clothing, and needed supplies to the Internally
Displaced Persons (IDP) of this nation regardless of ethnic group.
We had called
the Conference Office several times on Monday and Tuesday, 28th & 29th
of January to make certain the group was still traveling to Nakuru and Molo as
we heard numerous rumors and read news articles of the problems that were
occurring in that area of Kenya. We knew that Presiding Bishop Stephen Kanyaru
would never allow us to be in danger. He was constantly in meetings with
Tumaini Na UNdugu members to make decisions regarding the safety of the team.
Early Wednesday morning, we were told that they were definitely going. We
traveled to
Nairobi
with no incident or road block. That afternoon while checking into our guest
house we were told that the
Nairobi
- Nakuru highway was blocked and there had been much violence and killing in
Limuru. We went to the Conference Office and visited with
Lucy Kaindio, Women Fellowship Coordinator for the MCK. We shared what we had
heard about Limuru. She said that there were two IDP Camps in Limuru, one for
the Kikuyu and one for the Luo. As the IDP (predominately Kikuyu) from western
Kenya
returned to
Central Kenya
there was no place for them to go. In Limuru the problem was acute and thus the
Luo people working in Limuru and renting houses were asked to leave and given a
certain number of hours to go. Ruth and members of the MCK visited the Luo IDP
who were staying at the Tigoni Police Station in Limuru, approximately 2000 Luo
people on Tuesday. She stated that there had not been violence nor anyone
killed, which was later verified by the news. The MCK had taken food supplies
but the people needed cooking pots so they bought enough cooking pots for 2000
people. When the team took the pots to the police station on Wednesday, the
number had grown from 2000 to 6000.
We met the
members traveling to Nakuru at
8am
on Thurs. morning
31 January 2008.
We were to ride in the Presiding Bishop's vehicle which was provided by the
Equity Bank. A caravan of vehicles left
Nairobi.
We were told we would not be traveling to Molo, only to Nakuru.
Presiding Bishop Rev. Dr.
Stephen Kanyaru
On the two
hour trip to Nakuru we never saw any violence or road blocks or riots or
problems. After watching the news and reading the newspapers, we expected to
see the results of much violence in Naivasha and Nakuru but we saw none.
Our first
stop was the Anglican Cathedral in Nakuru. We had the great privilege to meet
many of the leaders of Tumaini Na UNdugu. They were
bringing 300 bags of rice (weighing 200 pounds per
bag), 2 tons of clothing, needed supplies to include blankets (1000), soap,
sanitary napkins, diapers, and underwear and logistical and counseling tents as
the churches involved will provide counselors for the Displaced Persons Camps.
The leaders
made speeches to a large group of reporters who were gathered. Each speech was
different but all spoke of the sacredness of human life, the tremendous need for
peace, forgiveness, and loving of our enemies, as God commands us. They shared
that Tumaini Na UNdugu was created to bring HOPE and to work together with all
ethnic groups to help all persons to rebuild a nation where people can live
together. They called for the entire nation to help those who are displaced.
Dr. Mwangi of Equity Bank stated that their bank slogan was "The Listening,
Caring Financial Partner." He called on all companies, banks, etc. to live out
their slogans as now was the time for action.
We had been
told that we would visit two IDP Camps in Nakuru. One for the Luo and Kalenjin
and one for the Kikuyu, Kisii, Kamba Meru, and Luhya.
We were headed
for the Luo/Kalenjin IDP Camp when the news was announced regarding the death of
the Member of Parliament (ODM) in Eldoret. We were informed we would still
visit the camp, as we had a message of hope and togetherness for everyone, along
with supplies and the leadership felt it was so important to visit both camps.
However, as we neared the camp, the lead vehicle in the caravan made a U-turn.
Each vehicle was notified that word from the IDP Camp Leader had advised us not
to visit the camp at this time. That caused a great sadness as everyone thought
it very important to visit and share with both camps.
We did proceed
to the IDP Camp at the Nakuru Show Grounds. Presiding Bishop had visited this
camp on Tues., nine days earlier, and reported there were 3,500 people in the
camp. As we drove through a section of the camp, we were overwhelmed by the
large number of people. We were taken on a quick tour of the camp. Our first
visit was to the Camp Administration Offices where we were told that the camp
presently has over 8000 displaced persons. Approximately 100 displaced persons
leave the camp daily to travel to stay with family members or friends or
churches that are willing to help and 500 new displaced persons arrive daily.
Each person that arrives is greeted and data is collected so that there can be a
tracking system for all the IDP's. We also learned that in Nakuru District,
which is approximately 20 miles by 20 miles with a population of 1.5 million
people, includes Naivasha,
Nakuru
Town,
Molo and some other towns, there are 71 IDP Camps with 206,000
people.
We then
visited the Clinic and saw the lines of people being seen and given drugs. We
went to the store rooms of food and were very thankful we were bringing 300 bags
of rice. We went to the several places where supplies were given to the
people. Each had long lines.
  
Patients
waiting to be seen in clinic Presiding Bishop
praying People going to hear the message of hope
We then made
our way into the Show Grounds where most of the people were located. We walked
around watching the children, women, and men of the camp. We watched a few
trucks being loaded with goods for people to leave and we watched two trucks
from Kericho being unloaded. We could not imagine that so many people and many
goods could fit in a truck.
  
Truck
preparing to leave camp Truck arriving from
Kericho Truck unloading people from Kericho
While the
pastors and leaders of Tumaini Na UNdugu were giving a word of hope to a large
group of assembled men and women, Bill began playing with a group of children.
They completely surrounded him and I could hear their laughter and see their
joy.
  
Bill with group of children
Boy's playing on & under a table Bill and one of the
little girls
While Bill was playing
with the children, I talked to three men about their experience. Patrick, a
Kikuyu, was from Molo. He has a wife and four children. His home was looted and
burned by Kalenjin, ODM supporters. He ran for his life and literally has
nothing. He has been in the camp for one month. He shared that even the
clothes he was wearing when he ran had been ruined. He has been given new
clothing and is being fed one meal daily. He was born in Molo and has lived for
44 years there but was still considered a "foreigner" by the Kalenjin. We
talked about his future. Yes, he would go home to Molo if there was true and
lasting peace and safety for his family.
 
Patrick
Ezra
Isaiah
Ezra is 21 years old. He
too is a Kikuyu and his family were farmers in the Molo area. They lost all
their belongings and their home was burned. He has been in the camp for one
week. Ezra was with a group of young men approximately his age. As we talked,
I shared my hope that Ezra would be a leader amongst the young men and would
work for peace and forgiveness. As I talked Ezra and the young men smiled and
then he said that they knew revenge would not help anything. There had already
been too much violence, too much destruction, too much suffering. He and his
friends were not planning to retaliate; they just wanted to go home, back to
school or farming. They wanted to return to Molo. We prayed together that
returning home would be a possibility and that Ezra would be a leader to help
bring peace to
Kenya.
Isaiah, a Kikuyu, was the final person who talked to me. His
situation was much the same though he was from a different area. He was born
there and had a family and was a farmer. He has been in the camp for one
month. His home was looted and then burned along with his land and his goats,
cow, and chickens were killed. When asked if he would return home, his answer
was not like the others. He sadly shook his head no and said he would not
return. He had too many terrible memories of the day his Kalenjin "friends and
neighbors" came to destroy his home, his property, his life. He had his family,
for which he was thankful but everything else was destroyed. When I asked what
his future plans were he said he would resettle somewhere else, have a fresh
start with new friends and neighbors he knew he could always trust.
So what were our impressions of the IDP Camp? There were so many,
many people and probably ½ of them were children. There is not enough food,
water, shade, tents, or medicine for 8000 people and the number grows daily.
The people were friendly and kind. We did not talk to anyone who wanted to
kill, destroy, or take revenge but all were anxious to either go home to where
they lived or find a new home. All were eager for peace. The emergency needs
are tremendous. We are so grateful to the US Government for their
$5 million in humanitarian
assistance. We are so thankful to the
United
Methodist
Churches
and others who are supporting the emergency efforts through the MCK and Tumaini
Na UNdugu and UMCOR. The supplies that Tumaini Na UNdugu provided that day will
be most helpful but so much is needed. And after the IDP Camps are closed the
work will have just begun. The long term effects of the violence will take a
very long time to heal. Soon, we pray,
Kenya
will not be in the news but it is then that this nation will need so much help
and so many prayers.
Why are there so many people in Nakuru? "Nakuru is a town of
400,000 people from all corners of the nation and the globe. Truly one of the
most cosmopolitan towns in the country where residents of all races and
religions co-exist in perfect harmony" (Nakuru Town Constituency's Official
Website).
Nakuru is called the hub for the IDP of Kenya. If one is traveling
from Rift Valley and
Western Kenya
it is the first safe town they reached. For those that have been displaced from
Central Kenya
it has been the last safe town. And until 7 days ago it was a
SAFE
TOWN.
With all the IDP coming through and/or staying in
Nakuru
Town
it remained a safe haven for almost one month.
On
28 January 2008
violence erupted in Naivasha and Nakuru. What we had hoped and prayed would
never happen, happened. After approximately 1000 people had been killed and
400,000+ had been displaced from Rift Valley and
Western Kenya
(mostly Kikuyu and Kisii) a small number of Kikuyu's began their revenge. Of
course, as we look at numbers, it has always been a small number of people that
have caused so much suffering. Out of the 36,000,000 people in
Kenya,
probably 35,500,000 have never participated in any violence, no matter what
their ethnic origin, but have just wanted to live in peace.
In
Nakuru
Town
and Naivasha approximately 180 people were killed as retaliatory violence
prompted new retaliations. Few ethnicities were safe in the two towns as the
sheer numbers of youth overwhelmed police efforts to restore order. The
military was called in and on Mon. 28 January a curfew was imposed which helped
the situation immensely. Since the curfew almost no one has been killed.
Human life is so precious and what is most tragic is the innocent
have paid with their lives and their homes and property. Those killed
originally and then for revenge were most often not the people who rioted,
looted, burned, fought, and killed. They were innocent people trying to make a
living and live in peace.
This past Thursday, 31 January, the body of the brother to an
important business man in
Maua
was brought to
Maua
and to our hospital to be placed in the mortuary awaiting his funeral on Sat.
He was married to a Luo woman, had 4 children and lived in
Western Kenya.
It seemed he and his family had escaped the tragedies that had happened to some
of his neighbors. His family in
Maua
had urged him to come home, but he had felt it was not necessary. One day his
wife came running home saying she had heard that a large crowd was coming to
kill them. The man ran to his land lord for help. The landlord took him back
to his home and cut off his head in front of his wife and children. When the
crowd arrived they decided they would not kill the children and wife.
The day of the funeral the brother announced that people in
Maua
must revenge the death of his brother. He and others had written some fliers
demanding that "all the foreigners" be expelled from
Maua.
(Actually the word foreigner in this context does not refer to the missionaries
but to the other ethnic groups.) However, the elders and leaders of
Maua
immediately met. The Ministers of Parliament in our area came to speak words of
peace. They sent out messages to the entire district saying that no one was to
be expelled from Imenti District but all were to feel welcome and safe in any
community in our area. They also told the brother of the man killed in
Western Kenya
that if a hand was laid on any foreigner, the first person that would be killed
would be this man, as they would kill him themselves. Thankfully, what could
have erupted into violence and blood shed and the adding of more displaced
persons was stopped.
On Sunday when I began writing this email, I would have ended it by
saying that I thought we were very close to peace. We were absolutely amazed at
what we saw in
Nairobi,
on our trip to Nakuru, in
Nakuru
Town
and our trip to and from
Maua.
From the newspapers and TV I thought we would see roads blocked and destroyed,
rioters in Naivasha and Nakuru, burned vehicles, homes and businesses and
general chaos. But in fact we saw none of this. On the entire trip to Nakuru
we only saw one building that had been burned and we went by Naivasha and all
through
Nakuru
Town.
On Friday in
Nairobi
we went to Kangemi Slum. Though many of the slum dwellers are without work due
to the lack of tourists, it was peaceful. It seemed that the violence was
happening in very isolated places and often in places that have had a history of
ethnic skirmishes. Today I am not certain. The peace talks were to last 7 days
creating a road map to peace, resettlement and rebuilding the nation. Things
don't seem to be happening and new threats and demonstrations are planned.
What are some of the impacts of these 6 weeks of violence. A
decline in food security in all sectors - farmers and urban poor. In some areas
businesses have been burned or looted and many of the working population no
longer have jobs. Trade and transport to
Kenya's
neighbors and other countries has been interrupted with road blocks and railroad
tracks being destroyed. Fuel prices have increased which touches the lives of
everyone as public transport costs increase. Living in the violent area and in
camps have caused malnourishment, particularly to children with lack of fuel,
food and inappropriate cooking facilities. In Nakuru, three children died on
the day of the Presiding Bishop's first visit. Schools have been burned or
abandoned, there is a shortage of teachers in many areas due to fear and
violence. Last night on TV they showed a teenager weeping in one of the IDP
Camps. He stated he had finished secondary school and his State Exam but all
were burned and he had no proof of anything. At present we require proof to
admit students in our
School
of
Nursing
or any other higher learning institution. He will probably be able to receive
it at some point, but when? How long will it take? There are many new orphans
and at present few places to send them. Rape cases have doubled in hospitals in
Nairobi.
Violence and running have disrupted access to anti-retrovirals needed for
persons living with HIV/AIDS.
We need you to continue to pray for peace. To give now for
emergency needs that are overwhelming the country. This past week Maua
Methodist Hospitals out-patient numbers and our deliveries have doubled (488
out-patients and 17 deliveries on night). The
District
Hospital,
which sees out-patients and delivers babies, has closed as they have no drugs as
all have been sent to help in the IDP Camps. But do not forget to continue to
pray for us after the peace comes. The nation will need to heal the raw and
open wounds of so many, over 500,000 people will need to be resettled and their
safety provided. Schools, churches, businesses and homes will need to be
rebuilt. We will need your prayers and gifts to help make this possible. When
we are no longer in the news, please remember us! We are very prayerful that
peace will soon come and we can begin the long term work of resettling all the
displaced persons, helping others to forgive and move forward led By God's
Love. To heal and do the long term work that will be necessary will require
resources from others as so many people have lost everything and will need to be
resettled and yet we will have so few paying taxes and with the loss of tourists
1000's are out of work. It can be done as the people of
Kenya
are amazing. We pray that all Kenyan's will follow the Guidance of the Holy
Spirit to bring forgiveness and compassion. We are not fearful but hopeful!
If you or your church would like to donate to help the
Methodist
Church
in
Kenya
help thousands of Displaced Persons you can wire funds to:
ACCOUNT NAME:
Methodist
Church
In
Kenya
- Projects
BANK: Barclays Bank of Kenya Ltd
BRANCH: Queens
Way
House Branch
P.O. Box
30011
NAIROBI
SWIFT NO.: BARCKENX
ACCOUNT NO.: 03-094-2110901
Please email the Presiding Bishop at
mckconf@wanachi.com and state the
amount wired, the date, name of donor, and that the funds are for "Relief for
Displaced Persons".
Living with hope,
Jerri & Bill Savuto
savuto@maf.or.ke
Maua Methodist Hospital
Box 63, Maua 60600
Meru North, Kenya
2pm
Sunday 13 Jan. 08
Dear Friends and
Family,
"If
we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."
~Mother Teresa
We arrived in
Maua
at
2:30pm
yesterday afternoon. Today when I received and read our emails from Dec. 10th
- Jan. 12th I was overwhelmed by your concern and love for
Kenya
and Bill and me. We have so many emails I will not be able to write each of you
personally, but I believe this email will answer many of your questions and
concerns.
As we watched the news
and read the reports about Kenya
on the internet while still in the US,
we were extremely concerned and very prayerful. We did not know if we should
return so made some calls to Kenya
and learned that things were fairly peaceful with no problems in
Maua.
Thus we left Dallas
on Tues. afternoon as planned and arrived in
Nairobi
late Wednesday night. At the airport I talked to a policeman who assured me
things were peaceful. We took at taxi late at night to the Methodist Guest
House with no incident or problem. Our taxi driver was from Limuru, one of the
towns that had experienced violence. He explained that there was little
violence but threats that people from the west needed to go back home thus
causing displacement of several families.
We spent two days in
Nairobi,
trying to renew our vehicle insurance and obtaining our alien's registration,
neither of which was accomplished. We saw no violence nor experienced any
problems but we certainly saw the outcome of earlier violence. Our trip to
Maua
was without incident.
To our sorrow, Raila,
the man who did not win the election, has called for demonstrations on
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this coming week. The government has said
the demonstrations will not take place as they cause violence, killing, and
looting. In Maua
there have been no problems nor are we expecting any. Approximately 95% of our
population support Kibaki. Many people we have talked to feel that this
Wednesday will be a turning point. Please pray with us that it will be a
turning point for peace and acceptance rather than for continued violence.
Kenya
has such potential, but like all nations and even all people, we have potential
for good and for evil. We are praying that
Kenya's
potential for good will win out.
On our last Sunday in
the USA
we were worshiping in Prosper UMC, where our son-in-law is music director. The
first hymn we sang was "There is a song in the air". When I noted that, I was
reminded that five years ago I wrote an email with that as the subject line.
Kibaki had just been elected and there was such joy over his election, such hope
in a brighter future that literally there seemed to be a 'song in the air'.
Five years later he is re-elected and violence and tribalism replaces the joy
and hope for many.
We have been very
impressed with what has happened in the last five years. I think it helps to go
away and come back because it is easier to see all the change and marvel at what
has been accomplished in such a short time.
We are so grateful for
your prayers and love. Please continue to pray for
Kenya.
The next weeks and months will determine its direction for many years. There
has already been too much violence, to much bad publicity, too much fear. They
have already lost millions of schillings from the loss of tourists. May we all
remember "we belong to each other".
And now for something
completely different: Our time in the US
was extraordinary. We had such an amazing time with our family. As I age I
appreciate the making of good memories more than almost anything and wow! did we
make some wonderful memories. A few of those memories include attending a
Christmas pageant and choir concert at Prosper UMC. Lily, our granddaughter,
was an angel in the pageant and the most precious angel we've ever seen and
Brent's choir concert was excellent. We also watched Lily sing with her
pre-school class and dance with her dance group. We had the great joy of taking
care of Lily and Ethan for three days while Corrie and Brent had a few days
away. We crammed as much as we could into those three days and we all had so
much fun. I flew home to spend 4 days with my mom before all the family
arrived. My sister and mom picked me up at the
Albuquerque
Airport
and we spent such a wonderful day together. My mom, at 89, is amazing and still
runs circles around me. Then we went to my sister and brother-in-law's home in
the mountains for a snowy, white, and wondrous Christmas. Our last weekend in
the US,
Bill's brother and family came to Frisco to see us and we so enjoyed time with
all four of them. Other highlights included touch football with Ethan,
hide-and-seek with both Ethan and Lily and a plethora of hugs and kisses from
all.
|
Corrie, Brent, Lily & Ethan showing us how much
they love us |
Jerri, Jeannie and
Mom |
We do pray that 2008
brings peace to Kenya
and the rest of this troubled world, out-stretched arms and open hands to all
people to receive the blessings God has for each of us, and the hope and faith
that allows us to work for peace with love and understanding using all the
resources we would use for war.
In His grip and
holding tightly,
Jerri & Bill Savuto
Maua Methodist Hospital
Box 63, Maua 60600
Meru North, Kenya |
