The Violence is Only Hurting Themselves

You might not realize it (since I have to hunt for the news every morning), but Kenya has been in a national crisis for just over a month now. Disputed election results sent Kenyan countrymen at each other in deadly clashes. It was completely unexpected. It's a complicated situation. But probably the hardest part is that it continues and therefore makes Kenya a difficult place to live, not just for westerners, but for Kenyans. (Something like 250,000 are internally displaced.)

The impact on the economy will be devastating. Already many in the tourist industry have been laid-off. People have lost home and personal belongings, but many have also lost businesses, buses have been burnt. Goods are not getting through: both to the average shopper and supplies to industry are not getting to needed areas.

As Kenyans make threats on their neighbors of differing tribes, they are forgetting one thing. They are all dependant on each other for the economy to boom as it had been. If those of ODM, Raila Odinga's party are lashing out against others because they feel they are impoverished while other's gain wealth, they have just set their poverty in stone by smashing the entire nation's economy to pieces. This action certainly will not benefit them in the long run. Likewise, leadership that does not put a decisive stop to this violence brings down everything that has been built up over the past 5 years. An article in Kenyan newspaper The Nation today starts to look at the economic effects. But I heard someone say that in reality, tourism won't return to it's normal level for probably 3 years once things have settled down.

The article says that agriculture and horiculture will/are being greatly affected. Care of Creation has thousands of tree seedlings that may not get into the ground this time. We are a picture of only a fraction of the country's agriculture. This is a very challenging time for the people of Kenya. My hope is to stand with them through this.

Please keep praying for the land and people of Kenya.

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my
face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will
forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14