I have posted about the street kid ministry before, and here was part of an email that I received from Charles Coulston on the bombing there at the embassy. It is interesting to note that of late there has been talk on this thread about capital punishment. Read what these boys and girls have to say. Also read of the "coincedences" of the people that were supposed to be at the embassy, were detained for one reason or another.
Nairobi and all Kenya has had a shocking experience. There have been bombs in this country before, but nothing like this. At most a few people have been killed or injured at one time. As the days go by, we hear more bad news, more bodies recovered, less hope for those still alive under the rubble. When the church met Sunday, we prayed for the dead, the injured, the families and friends. We shared with one another where we were when it happened. We feel sorrow and gratitude at the same time.
Tony Mauldin had planned to go to the American Embassy that morning, but he didn't, because the young man he was helping did not have all his papers gathered. I had planned to drive by the Embassy that morning on my way to another office nearby, but I didn't, because a policeman stopped me, having noticed that my road license was expired. Henry was with me, and we returned to the school with the car. There are of course many others who just missed being there. Sammy Gitau, the first street kid we ever met who runs his own street ministry now, was in a car going by the Embassy when it happened, and the window was blown from their car but none were injured. Sammy went to the hospital and offered his First Aid skills to help the injured. Another missionary from churches of Christ was in front of the Embassy when it exploded, but he was unhurt, since the entrance is on the opposite side from the blast. Peter Warutere, who works in admissions at KCITI, lost a childhood friend. One computer student named Susan was on her way to collect her KCITI certificate; she was on one of the buses in the street, and she was killed, leaving her husband and 4 children. Another KCITI student was walking by and received a minor leg wound. One of our street kids was downtown trying to get his national identity card; he was on the scene shortly afterwards.
One of the Bible study groups talked about this in street school class today. The question was, "what would you do with these people if you caught them? What if one of those killed was from your family?" The answers reflect something of this culture we live in. The boys all said that it is the family's responsibility to take vengeance, so they would kill them. When asked, "what if it were Kamau? (he's their Bible teacher), they thought a little bit, then said, "We'd have to take some action." Nahashon said, "I'd break their legs." So there is vengeance for a friend, but not to the extent as for a family member.
None of them thought vengeance should be left to God.
And none of them thought it was a matter for the law and the courts.
They speak out of a cultural heritage that has its roots in tribal life and that does not have room for an active God of righteousness. We have much to teach our kids about many things, and this is one.
Thanks for reading
dan |
