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USFWI MAKES EMERGENCY APPEAL

Link to pictures by Raymond Ojiambo, staff member of USFW Kakamega Orphans Care Centre

We cannot sit back and forget the plight of our Kenyan sisters and brothers following the election fraud which has left more than 500,000 "Internally Displaced People" desperate without adequate food and clothing and safe water. Many have lost their homes and businesses. General insecurity has led to a total breakdown of transportation and wholesale sectors. There is no one to feed the people and even if there were, food is so scarce that what is available comes at a highly inflated price. Our USFWI board member says that they are getting more and more reports of Quakers in Kenya who have been affected by this terrible devastation that has followed the National Elections which took place on December 27. The vote was close and when it was announced that the sitting president had won, pandemonium broke out because it was believed that election fraud had taken place. Many people have lost their lives. We are glad to learn that things are calming down in the past few days but the damage done will take a long time for recovery.

All of our programs and projects will suffer from the consequences of this terrible event. Many people are in hospitals for care from injuries sustained in these clashes yet the hospital finds it difficult to meet the demands and expectations. The lack of food and petrol to transport medicines and other supplies hampers their ability to provide for those in their care. Tuition at Friends Theological College will be difficult for those students as what money they have will be going toward subsistence. The College will face the inflated prices for food and fuel for which it has not budgeted. Samburu and Turkana are already working on a very limited income and now they face the same issues of inadequate food and other supplies.

The need is overwhelming to grasp. The USFWI has set up an Emergency Fund to which we invite you to join us in making money available to meet the many needs in Kenya. We have advanced $5000 which was sent on January 15th as an immediate contribution. We invite you to make your contributions to USFWI with a designation for the Emergency Kenya Fund. Send to our treasurer, Adis Beeson at 4305 Beeson Farm Road, Sophia, NC 27350. Emergency funds will be forwarded through Friends United Meeting and administered by the FUM African Ministry Office and Friends Theological College according to need.

Let us keep our friends in Kenya in our prayers. We pray that God will bring something good out of the ashes. Paul reminds us in II Corinthians 8:14, "Right now you have plenty and can help them. Then at some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, everyone's need will be met." We encourage local USFW groups and meetings to contribute as much as you are led. God can take the little we offer and help many.

The following sources can provide current updates on the situation: www.fum.org and Mary Kay Rehard's blog at
http://www.updatesonkenya.blogspot.com

Thank you for your response to this tremendous need. Give your contribution with a prayer that God will bless the Kenyans and supply their needs and that He will use what you give to help many.