Two weeks ago my life changed. It was an ordinary Saturday
and I had luckily gone upcountry to visit my friends for the weekend. After swimming in
a pool, I checked my phone and found 6 missed calls and multiple messages. “Please
confirm your location...Trouble in Westlands- stay clear”. WHAT? Trouble? What
type of trouble? I thought.
The ugly truth then revealed itself.
A shopping centre about 10-15 minutes drive away from my
house has been attacked by an unknown number of terrorists. They stormed the
building, firing randomly at innocent shoppers and workers. The worst part was
that they held the building and many, many people hostage for hours... These
hours then just kept passing and turned into days. 4 very long days.
4 days of pain. 4 days of deaths. 4 days of terror. 4 days
of 24/7 military choppers flying over my house and place of work. 2 mornings of
hearing gunfire and explosions as I lay, crying in bed. 4. LONG. Days. VERY long days.
Different news reports were saying different things. Some were saying that it
was over. Some were saying there were many hostages.
It was and still is a very confusing time. It is hard to
tell what the truth of the situation is. How many terrorists were inside? How
many hostages? How many people are still unaccounted for? Who set off the
explosions? Did the terrorists escape through an underground tunnel?
One of my shopping centres...the only place in Kenya that I could
find the appropriate sprinkles for making Fairy bread....The place I was at the very
Saturday before exactly the time the terrorists arrived a week later. I went to buy a new pillow and food for Jesus Helper’s. The place I
used to love going to for ice cream.
I thank God that I was not there on that day. I pray for
those I know who were there and had to see and experience things one should
never see or hear. I pray for the children at my school whose fragile little
hearts are aching. I pray for the children from school who were shot and lost parents. I pray
for healing for families who lost parents, cousins, brothers, sisters, loved
ones.
I have always been one to be careful of my surroundings in
Kenya...but now even more so. I analyse everything. Is it safe to go to that
place? Do I need to do that? Will that place be busy? Can I go at a different
time? Should I go alone?
Please pray for Kenya. We are hurting here. And it cuts very
deep. I also pray for people in the world who have ever experienced such horrors. I
pray for those who live daily in war zones. I can only just begin to imagine
the pain that they go through each day.
I could also use your prayers for sleep. I have not had a
good nights’ sleep since this began. I am running on adrenaline that wore off
about a week ago. I continue to try and give the children in my class a normal
routine...I am trying to be the usual enthusiastic, carefree ‘Miss Ross’ who
sings songs and plays games and gives hugs...But my heart is simply heavy. I know God
is in control and always has His way in everything. So I pour my heart to him
and take rest in knowing that he spared my life for a reason. Please continue
to pray for all involved and for ultimate healing for my home. Asante Sana.
Peace....
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid". John 14:27
Waithera x
Praying for His peace to wash over you, and for rest, so you can go and be peace for others. Thanks for sharing...
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