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October 2001
Dear Friends and Loved Ones,
Greetings once again from East Africa.
I write from Nairobi, where my heart is still heavy in the aftermath
of the attacks in New York City and Washington on September 11.
Perhaps it is especially poignant here in Nairobi, with the memories
still fresh from the Nairobi and Dar es Salaam bomb attacks just
three years ago, in August 1998. I sit in church behind those
scarred, blind, or bereaved as a result of the U.S. embassy bombings,
and we had many religious services in the city following the September
11, 2001, events, both Christian and Muslim.
At one of the services held in the main city park on September
15, one man stood up to bring greetings and to testify that he
had been buried in the U.S. embassy rubble for one week before
he was found and rescued, which renewed our prayers for the victims
in NY— hoping against hope for a few more survivors. I was
with a new friend here later the next day who has lost her son,
who was working on the 105th floor of the WTC. She lost her husband
years ago when he was about the same age as her son is now. She
has now gone to the States, making arrangements for his funeral.
(She is African American, her husband was Kenyan and was a member
of Kenya’s Parliament; his death was a mysterious, perhaps
politically motivated one). Life is hard—and God is good.
It truly is only our Creator God who is unchanging and ever faithful,
our only sure foundation. God does not promise us exemption from
the effects of evil, but he does promise his Presence in the midst.
This was the witness of the man buried for a week.
As I continue to teach and serve as chair of post-graduate studies
at Daystar University here in Nairobi, I have the privilege of
teaching and working alongside African colleagues, many of whom
are no strangers to terror. Coming from Congo, Sudan, Somalia,
Burundi, Rwanda, as well as Kenya and beyond, many have stories
to tell of humanity’s evils and of God’s goodness, of
unthinkable loss and of human heroes of faith who dare to stand
upon God’s faithfulness against many odds. The children and
I stay with two Kenyan young ladies, one who works in the slums
of Nairobi among the destitute, and one who works with an organization
attempting to empower small businesses for development. In addition,
our two other housemates are a young couple from Burundi, both
students at Daystar. Engaged for over seven years, but separated
by war in their home country, they each eventually came to Nairobi
for studies. We celebrated their wedding in July, which included
testimonies of God’s protection and provision, and their
vision for the future when they can return home and help in the
rebuilding of Burundi.
The other day, Justin (now almost 4) and I were in a government
office in town to collect a document. As we waited, Justin looked
out the fourth-floor window at a reflective-glass office building
perched on a hill across the main highway. He tugged at my sleeve,
pointed, and declared, "Look Mama, that’s where people
die." On a different note, that same evening, Imani, (age
2) ran to hug our Muslim neighbor, happy to see her special friend,
and eager to share her two sweets (candy). No matter what one’s
instincts are in the aftermath of September 11, rather than being
paralyzed by fear, distrust, or thoughts of revenge, may we move
forward in whatever way God has called each one of us, loving
God and loving neighbor. There are no guarantees for safety or
comfort, but may we work daily for justice, aware that decisions
we make even in our lifestyles make a difference in the lives
of others. Justice and righteousness (not mere charity, but justice,
and not revenge, but the alleviation of oppression) are themes
that run deeply through all of Scripture. May we be advocates
for the oppressed, regardless of race or creed. May we be bearers
of good news, addressing the roots of evil, and overcoming the
evil with truth and good.
The God of the universe, incarnate in Jesus Christ, chose to
reconcile the world to himself through suffering betrayal, humiliation,
and brutal death on a Roman cross. God is no stranger to the weight
of evil. But through that sacrifice of Jesus’ life, death
and fear have lost their power. As followers of Jesus, may we
be people who are propagators of hope and life, not hatred or
destruction. May God’s light and love ultimately dispel the
darkness of heart and soul around the world, drawing all peoples
to himself. May we each do our part, humbly, faithfully, and with
"sheer dogged endurance" (I Thess. 1:3, JB Phillips).
These are more thoughts, reflections and my own challenges this
time, rather than updates and specific prayer requests, but once
again, thank you all so much for your prayers, your support, and
your partnership in the work of the Kingdom.
Joy to you all,
Marta
The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 27
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