Email: Blair Moorhead

Dear Friends,

As you may know, the last few weeks in Kenya have been eventful. Following the most contested presidential election in the nation’s history, violence broke out across the country. Thankfully, the other volunteers and I have been very safe—the prayers of family and friends have been so appreciated. Yet, just a glance at the newspapers will show you that many people in the country have not been safe.

It has been an interesting and saddening time to live in Nairobi. Several of my co-workers and friends have family members directly affected by the skirmishes, and areas of Nairobi have been devastated. Yet the situation is not without hope. This week, work has resumed across the capital; people are moving around much more freely. It also seems that political leaders are ready to dialogue, moving forward toward peace in Kenya.

One such peaceful step was seen last week when Desmond Tutu visited Nairobi. Movers and shakers bringing the Nobel laureate to Kenya included my co-workers at the AACC as well as the PC(USA) site coordinator here, the Rev. Phyllis Byrd. It was an encouraging look at what the church can do in situations like this. Religious leaders can show their solidarity and support, rooted in a faithful and strong hope.

The day the election results were announced I was on my way back from vacation with my dad and sister, who visited after Christmas. We left on our trip the day after the elections, and heard the votes come in over the lone radio at our lodge in the Masai Mara. We saw lions by day and played cards while listening to election news by night. The results were read just before dark, as we were driving back into Nairobi after the safari. Soon crowds filled the road, excited about Kibaki’s win. Through God’s grace (there was some intense praying happening in our van) we made it home safely, and my father and sister made their flight back to the United States the next day.

One of the most difficult things for me about the situation is trying to formulate a spiritual response. It’s hard to reconcile the months of serious prayer for peaceful elections by people across the nation with the violence that has taken place. But comprehension of events like this must be a process, not an instantaneous response. Perhaps a deeper peace in Kenya can come out of this conflict, which has revealed tensions not always addressed in the past. Perhaps questions can be asked that have not been asked before and solutions sought where they had not previously been looked for. Whatever the case, it is clear that prayer and reflection are occurring across the nation.

Your thoughts and prayers joining that chorus are very important, no matter where you are.

Sincerely,

Blair