Eastleigh

Eastleigh

A place of fear, AlShabab’s stronghold (the African branch of Al Qaieda). The place where Somali's immigrate. Little Mogidishu. This is the way I have heard this place described by many different sources.

Until last week I had never imagined or dared to venture into Eastleigh, a suburb in the heart of Nairobi. It is a place with a reputation. And a bad one. Regular suicide bombings and grenade attacks. A neighbourhood which is generally only in the news for bad things.

 It was by chance that I ended up finding myself here. I thought that the place I was going to was separate from Eastleigh, but it turns out I was wrong. As the matatu pulled into this place the roads changed to mud-filled, potholed hills. The signs were all written in middle-eastern characters that I didn’t recognise. I realised where I was, but there was no turning back. I had gone on a shopping adventure with the Pastor’s wife from the orphanage, the aunty and 2 of my precious girls. This place is known for rock-bottom prices for clothes and we were on a mission to buy 45 Christmas outfits, so they needed to be cheap as possible!

The streets were filled with Muslim women wearing hijab, only their eyes could be seen underneath the long black robes. And men speaking a million different languages. We shopped and shopped and shopped. When we went to buy the boys clothes at one shop there were 2 Somali men selling their things. The interaction was nothing short of a God thing. They were chatting with me and being the only white person around they thought it was fascinating to speak to someone obviously not from Kenya.

 

One of the men saw a scarf that I had inside my bag, that I’d been wearing in the morning. He said to me “Put that on- you need to be Somali”. I took it from my bag and drapsed it around my head. “Good- you’re a good woman now”, he smiled happily at me. I laughed and took off the scarf immediately. He asked me why I didn’t want to wear it like that anymore (like a good Muslim woman). I said “I’m a Christian. I don’t believe the same things as you do”. The man laughed and translated what I was saying into Somali to the crowd of people now staring at me. They smiled and laughed with an eager, anticipatory look. It was a simple conversation and I have no idea of the impact (if any at all) it had on the crowd of people. I am hoping and praying that it sparked something in one of their minds. I hope it encourages one of them to know the real God. The one who saves, restores and loves.  

Will you join me in prayer for Eastleigh? This place needs God. It needs love. It needs peace. I am praying for the innocent people who are caught up in the violence and terror of this place. I am praying for the men and particularly the women, oppressed. Mostly, I am praying that God’s hand moves over this dry land.

Your lives aren’t small, but your living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively! 2 Corinthians 6:12-13 Message

 

Waithera. x