Berkeley and Charlotte Hackett

Telephone 011-254-20-7122780

NAIROBI NEWSLETTER

The Church and Christian College in Nairobi , Kenya

January 2008

 Dear Friends,

Kenya is beautiful in January and this year more rain than usual has made it even more so.  But this year is different for as I watch the colorful little sunbirds draw nectar from the flowers and rest my eyes on the many shades of green under the hot tropical sun I can hear gunshots in the distance and the sounds of rioting.  Kenya , the historic haven of peace in a troubled continent, has had its tranquility shattered by the ambitions of the power hungry who have stirred up tribal animosities for their own political ends. 

 The Nairobi Church is deeply involved in providing emergency relief to the thousands who are displaced by the factional conflicts.   Most of those displaced are sleeping outside in the open, women, children and old people sleeping under the stars.  But last night there were no stars.  Nairobi was hit with a tremendous rainstorm that turned streets into rivers, rivers that flowed into the bundles of blankets and plastic sheets where the dispossessed slept.  I know it was a miserable night.  But God’s people do not give up. In the morning we were back again with material help and the message of faith and love shown by action. 

Other work of the church has become more challenging but does not stop because of conflict.  Not a single service has been interrupted or postponed and those who minister to the Lord’s people have reported every day without fail.  Charlotte and I appreciate the concern of our friends who have inquired about our personal safety.  Up to this point we have managed to avoid any direct confrontations with the rioters.  Eastleigh has been back and forth to the church and the Christian college.  To keep us where we need to be and doing the work we need to do we rely on the strength of faith and the prayers of our brothers and sisters around the world. 

The Christian college is back in session from last Monday and although public transport is badly disrupted the students are slowly reporting for classes.  The administration has extended the grace period and has planned for make up classes during the holidays.  Life must go on.  

Remember us in your prayers.  Donations for relief are urgently needed.  We only have enough on hand for another week. 

 In His service,

 Berkeley Hackett

Hundreds have lost their lives since the New Year and hundreds of thousands more have had to flee their homes due to political and tribal violence in Kenya.  The majority of these displaced people have had to flee burning homes and armed attackers with little more than the clothes on their backs.  They are gathered in church compounds, chiefs’ camps and other public places hungry, cold and bewildered.  This the first time in Kenya ’s history as a nation that anything of this magnitude has occurred.  Many in Kenya and internationally are aghast and surprised by the events. 

The members of the Nairobi Church of Christ in the Eastleigh community of the city are not standing around wringing their hands.  They have appointed a committee of elders, deacons, evangelists and leaders from the women’s ministry to organize and distribute food and other needed supplies to the suffering thousands.  Daily deliveries are now underway starting with the church members and their neighbors in Nairobi’s vast Eastlands area including the hard hit Mathari Valley slums where some of the worse violence in Nairobi occurred.  From there we’ll go further afield as funds permit.  

Funds are being collected at the Saturn Road Church of Christ, 3030 Saturn Road, Garland, Texas 75041  tel: (972) 271-2444 and the Central Church of Christ, 304 Hargrove Road, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401 tel: (205) 758-1177.

Berkeley Hackett

The Kenya Christian Industrial Training Institute, the Christian college in Nairobi gave the church the use of its truck to carry relief supplies.  This load consisted of flour, cooking oil and sanitary supplies

700 displaced women and children lined up in the early morning mist at this emergency feeding station to receive the first food donation of the week and this was Wednesday!

Hundreds have lost their lives since the New Year and hundreds of thousands more have had to flee their homes due to political and tribal violence in Kenya.  The majority of these displaced people have had to flee burning homes and armed attackers with little more than the clothes on their backs.  They are gathered in church compounds, chiefs’ camps and other public places hungry, cold and bewildered.  This the first time in Kenya ’s history as a nation that anything of this magnitude has occurred.  Many in Kenya and internationally are aghast and surprised by the events.

 The members of the Nairobi Church of Christ in the Eastleigh community of the city are not standing around wringing their hands.  They have appointed a committee of elders, deacons, evangelists and leaders from the women’s ministry to organize and distribute food and other needed supplies to the suffering thousands.  Daily deliveries are now underway starting with the church members and their neighbors in Nairobi’s vast Eastlands area including the hard hit Mathari Valley slums where some of the worse violence in Nairobi occurred.  From there we’ll go further afield as funds permit.  

Funds are being collected at the Saturn Road Church of Christ, 3030 Saturn Road, Garland, Texas 75041  tel: (972) 271-2444 and the Central Church of Christ, 304 Hargrove Road, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401 tel: (205) 758-1177.

 Berkeley Hackett

Dear Friends,

Today (Tuesday, January 8^th) a big protest rally scheduled by the Opposition for downtown Nairobi was CALLED OFF!  The country is slowly returning to normal, although it will take some time for people to trust each other again.  I’m convinced it was only the early (on-going) and earnest prayers of Christians that saved this nation.

 As tribal hatred and economic jealousy brought Kenya to the very brink of Gehenna, there were acts of heroism as individuals refused to give up their morality to their leaders, and often at great cost to themselves offered refuge to their neighbors and work-mates.

I’m smiling to myself as I think of some incidences that went on among the Eastleigh church members as tribal violence and mayhem swirled around them.  Isadora (Luo) and Njeri (Kikuyu) barricaded themselves in Isadora’s house and cooked a meal.  Brian (Luo) slipped out to gather news and buy food for 76 years old Charity (Embu related to Kikuyu).  Josephine (Luo) with her handicapped child fled her burning house in Mathare and sought help from Duncan (Kikuyu) in Eastleigh .

The church continues in prayerful intercession, as we assess the situation and begin emergency relief efforts.  The church is providing humanitarian aid on three fronts:

1.       Urgent help is needed for those who’ve been injured, burned out and displaced by the violence.

2.      Daily wage earners whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the chaos and insecurity.  Literally, their present situation is no work, no money, no food.

3.      January is the beginning of the school year in Kenya and many children lost books and school clothes as their families fled their houses with only the clothes on their backs.

 Through all of this I’ve been reminded of the ego-crazed leaders throughout the ages who inspired their followers to sacrifice their lives for their ambitions, and then I thought of our own Leader, who gave His life for us that we might have life more abundantly.

John “Kikuyu”, Isadorah “Luo”, Garen and Hunter “Americans” all worked together last Summer with youth in Nairobi

Love & prayers,                                                                                                                                                                                              

Charlotte

Dear Friends,

It’s so sad to witness the havoc wrought by the aspirations of an ego maniac.  Had the defeated candidate achieved his desire to be president, the violence would have been much worse.  Really Kenyans get along amazing well (for those of you familiar with the Kenyan work Bro. Duncan Irungu is a Kikuyu and Isadora, the college secretary is a Luo) but throughout his campaign the opposition leader preached tribal hatred and stirred up old animosities.

The government is in control and they have exercised great restraint; only the police have been called out, not the army or special units.  The horrific massacres took place up-country in the constituencies of the Pentagon (as they call themselves), the top leaders of the opposition.  So far the Kikuyu and other targeted groups have not retaliated, but a terrible legacy has been created.

Nairobi has no go zones, especially after dark, and Kibera (a big slum and the epicenter of opposition support) turned in on itself and self-destructed.  Today the defeated candidate has called for a mass protest rally; typically, this kind of rally ends up in shop breaking and arson.

The Eastleigh area (where the church is located) has been peaceful, but difficult of access. Its location between a couple of hot spots brought women from the slums of Mathare looking for foodstuffs and water.  We were able to supply both.  Berkeley, Bro. Duncan and Shosho Abinja spent all yesterday ministering to those who sought our help. 

Pray for all the beautiful people of Kenya , the Christians, especially.  I’ve reminded God over and over of Sodom and Gomorrah ; he was willing to spare those cities for ten righteous people, and Kenya has passed that number many times over.  We have great faith all things will be most well.

Years ago when Berkeley and I decided to dedicate our lives to the Lord’s work in Kenya , we agreed to accept the bad with the good and the bitter with the sweet.  In one way or another isn’t that the ordinary Christian life anywhere in the world?

Love & prayers, 

Charlotte