The sky was clear, Praise the Lord. Over night it looked like it might pour down rain. But it did not. This is a high altitude place. It rains often. There is usually heavy dew in the mornings and many times fog and heavy mist from low clouds cover the area. It is tea country and there is also an abundance of dairy and flower farms. Today I am visiting a camp, here in this lush area, for the displaced from the violence in the Kenyans elections. There have been over 7,000 people staying here; a few have left, most have not.
 As I enter the camp I must register and I get a tag that says I am a visitor/volunteer. The feeling is somber, people milling about. There is a man at a loud speaker system. His job is to make announcements that hopefully can be heard throughout the camp. To the left, as I enter, is the kitchen area. I have never seen something so massive. They are cooking in what looks like 50 gallon drums that have been cut into thirds. A good idea; it would be difficult to find a pan big enough to cook rice and beans for 7,000 people.
There is a somber air among the adult. They understand their plight. As I walk down the paths that weave in and out of tents and piles of furniture and belongings, people glance at me suspiciously. They know I present no danger, but danger has entered the camp. Even yesterday three men came with machetes, and were chased away. These people do not feel safe even here.
 The Red Cross run this camp. Baptist Global Relief and Baptist missionaries help where they are needed. Some of the resources are coming from the area residence. For instance, Baptist Global response was hauling water for everyone in the camp, the effort was great, but it was not enough. A member of the rotary club in Tigoni asked how they could help. The fire truck resulted from that conversation. Now the Tigoni fire truck fills the water tanks with water for personal usage and Baptist Global Response fills the tank for the kitchen use.
As I am standing watching the fire truck’s operation an impromptu game breaks out among a few of the children behind me.  A missionary kid (mk) has brought along a soccer ball. They play for only a short time, but it eases the monotony some. Missionaries are going out to the camps in and around Nairobi to show God’s love and their concern for the plight of the displaced. They are helping with food preparation, medical issues, counseling and even playing with the children. Sitting all day with nothing to do can be stressful. Especially when you don’t know what the future holds. But we go to tell them Who holds the future! |
