Recently, my team and I had the privilege of visiting IDP camps, bringing food to them, visiting them, worshipping with them and sharing God’s Word. IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps are filled with people who were kicked out of their homes about four years ago and are now forced to live in small tents. Long story short, during the elections four years ago, tribalism flared up. About 50 tribes live in Kenya. While these tribes often get along, during the elections, things can get tense since which tribe has power can affect which tribe gets favored for the next several years. After the elections, the minority tribes in their areas were kicked out by the majority tribe. In addition, many of them watched their homes and businesses burn down. A fellow missionary in Kijabe who works with the IDP told me that she once heard someone say that the scariest part is that the person who is chasing you with a machete is the same person that you once sat next to in church.
As we visited these people, we heard some of their stories. One of the most frustrating parts is that it’s not like these people weren’t trying to succeed in life. Many of them had successful businesses and were doing great until hatred wrecked their lives. We visited one lady who lived with her 10 children in a tent not much bigger than a walk-in closet. When it rains, her whole home floods. When we first met her, she told us that she was so grateful to God for the food that we brought because now they could eat lunch. She told us that her husband left her and their children because he was from the Luo tribe and she was from the Kikuyu tribe.
Please be praying for these people living in IDP camps. Another IDP camp near the one that we visited has had homes built by Habitat for Humanity, and the people that we visited are hopeful that the same will soon happen for them. Pray that God will provide the resources for this provision. Pray that the people can find jobs to provide for their families. And pray that the people will keep hope.
Please also be praying for Kenya as a whole. Elections will be happening again at the end of this year. Pray for God’s peace to reign throughout the country and against the hatred and tribalism that tore the country apart during the previous elections.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
P.S. Another way that you can be a part of God’s work in these camps is by praying for and supporting a current team of missionaries that are working with the IDP. The Kenya Initiative team is a branch of Adventures in Missions. They came to Kenya about a year ago and are working with the people of the IDP camp. Besides building relationships with them and sharing God’s Word, they also run other projects such as providing food and helping the people get loans to start businesses. You can find out more about their work and how to support them by checking out their blog.
