April 2007 -- Update Letter

Dear friends and partners in mission,

Along the garbage strewn streets of Eastleigh, small fires burn on every corner adding to the soot and grime of life in the largest home to displaced Somalis in Kenya (outside of the UN refugee camps). With the arrival of spring rains, the crater filled roads become treacherous and the side streets mud traps. They are filled with the congestion of matatus, buses and people, who weave through the chaos jumping from stone to stone on improvised bridges. Many Kenyans call this neglected corner of Nairobi “Little Mogadishu”, after the war torn capital of Somalia. It is in the centre of this slum that we travel each morning to the Eastleigh community centre, where we join the Carlines in teaching English to Somali refugees and building relationships within the Somali community.

Throughout these first three months, we have enjoyed a gracious welcome from our Somali students. Beyond our time in the classroom, we have begun to enter into their lives as some have opened their homes and introduced us to their families. Many of our students are also encouraging us in learning the Somali language. This has been a slow and challenging process, but we are not alone! Three of our students are now serving as our regular language helpers. We meet throughout the week to practice our Somali pronunciation and to build simple phrases. On one occasion, they walked us through our apartment with a tablet of pink post-it notes and helped us label our living room and kitchen in Somali (It has really added to the décor). We are so thankful for their patient help.

The Lord has blessed us in so many ways through resettling, illness, insecurity, and especially in establishing relationships. Late one Sunday evening, we received a phone call from a frantic Somali family who were missing their daughter (one of our students). Eastleigh is one of the most dangerous areas within Nairobi, especially at night -- not even the locals go out after dark. It is especially dire for a Somali to be out, as the police patrol this part of the city at night looking for Somalis, most of whom are in Kenya illegally. The police typically demand identification from the Somalis, and not having any, they are arrested and held at a local jail until friends or family members produce a bribe. Most families keep strict curfews so that everyone will be home by sunset. When we received the call, the girl’s mother and elder brother had already failed to locate her at any of the local jails. Where could she be? Fearing the worst, we prayed that the Lord would protect this young woman and show us how to help. We knew it unwise for us to travel back into Eastleigh and search for her, but we had many other eyes and ears ready to help. In East Africa, most people do not have land line telephones, but cheap mobile phones are everywhere. We began text messaging our students to be on the look out for this missing girl. Soon our students and their network of friends were on the hunt for her. Within an hour, she was found. We are so thankful for the privilege of being able to serve even in such simple ways and for the bonds we are forming with our students.

In April, we will return for a third time to North Eastern Province as we become orientated to the ongoing community development work of Canadian Baptist Ministries. Although NEP continues to be an area of great poverty and struggle, good things are happening. After a three month ban on the sale and consumption of livestock because of Rift Valley Fever, the Kenyan ministry of health has finally lifted the restrictions. This is a major answer to prayer for the Somali people who almost completely depend on their herds. Also, a recent medical treatment of the camel herd has been very successful in protecting the Somali camel cooperative against the spread of disease by the tsetse fly - another answer to prayer.



Please continue to remember us in prayer, specifically: for our work visas (e-permit and dependant passes) which are in process but need to be completed by June 20th; for our search for a home (we are looking for a place near Tristan & Emma’s school, on a secure compound, and within our budget); for us as we seek to replace our existing vehicle for one suitable for the conditions of NEP; for Tristan and Emma as they complete their first term of study at Rosslyn Academy; for us as we continue to learn the Somali language, and for God’s Spirit to be working for peace and reconciliation within the Somali community.

Thank you so much for your commitment to be a part of this ministry.
In Christ’s Love,

Aaron, Erica, Tristan and Emma


To become one of our Partners in Mission, contact Eileen Moore-Crispin at:

Canadian Baptist Ministries
7185 Millcreek Drive
Mississauga, Ontario
L5N 5R4

Email: eilenm@cbmin.org
Or visit the CBM website at http://www.cbmin.org/