HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Those three words usually come with a feeling of happiness and celebration and make you think of parties.  Normally that would be true even here in Kenya.  But not this year.  The year 2008 came instead with sounds of gunshots, yelling, people running and cries.  Due to a much disputed presidential election that was held on the 27th of December, Kenya has seen some of the worst days in its history.  Violence has erupted across the country.  Houses have been burned, people have been chased from their homes, churches have even been burned, and people have lost their lives.  The figures vary from one source to another, however; it is estimated that over 600 people have died and over 300,000 people have had to leave their homes.  All of this is due to ethnic violence brought on by a major dispute over the winner of the recently held presidential elections.

Please continue to pray for Kenya and your missionaries’ safety around the world.

Debbie Stamper, Kenya