You will not be hearing from me for the next two weeks… because I will be flying to, yes, Kisumu.

We are still safe in Nairobi with the luxuries — electricity, water, food, cash, and gasoline. I have 4 commitments near Goibei, so I will be flying to Kisumu Tuesday morning, and returning after 2 weeks. It should be a wild trip: I will be traveling on public mini-buses, and perhaps on the back of a bicycle.

(How do you get 50 passengers in a 14-seater? Throw in a dollar.)

My 3rd meeting is 50 km from Goibei, and getting there will be, er, interesting. I will let you know.

Marge is not looking forward to being alone at the guest house in Nairobi: the building next door was broken into twice the other night.

We appreciate you interest. God bless.
Ken & Marge MacGowan

We hope to get Sherry to school Friday, but the political situation just got tenser this afternoon. Thanks for praying. God bless.

Ken & Marge MacGowan

They appeared about every 10 minutes for the first 5 hours. Horrible, blackened scars in the middle of the road, where illegal roadblocks had been set up during the last 2 weeks. Travelers had been told to pay money or have their vehicles torched. Many fled with broken windshields.

But the roadblocks were gone, and we continued on our way to Nairobi.

The trip started when we drove into war-torn Kisumu to join the convoy. No convoy. So we ventured on, with few other vehicles in sight. And the scorched asphalt greeted us every few minutes. After 5 hours, we saw another expatriate. Then we joined another main road, and the overwhelming flow of traffic out of Nairobi started.

Word was out. It was safe to drive.

Then there was the episode where I needed some simple work done by a roadside mechanic. Few tools. Little training. But the work got done. And we kept on driving.

Just outside of Nairobi we were stopped and informed by the police that we needed reflective triangles with our car. No, we had never heard that. “And now I will arrest you,” was the response. Silence on our part, followed by “you could forgive us, officer”. Then a threat to send us to court. When I stated that we were doing God’s work, he let us go. A great culmination to our drive to freedom.

So now we have unlimited water, electricity all day long, and food. The tiny grocery store across the street seems like Disneyland – we have not been to a sizable grocery store since Dec 21.

Thanks for praying. Sherry starts school on Friday, and we will travel back to Goibei when it is safe. God bless.

Ken & Marge MacGowan

It was the only vehicle in sight. A motorcycle. As we headed into a looted, burnt-out Kisumu, the cyclist flagged us down. His message was simple: garnish our vehicle with a few branches, or face stoning at impromptu, civilian roadblocks. So we proceeded, branch managers bringing re-leaf.

And Kisumu needed it. Large grocery stores emptied and smoldering. Our former cyber-café looted. A tense, angry atmosphere.

We had prayed that we could get cash, fuel, and a few basic groceries. We succeeded, and were relieved to drive back home past the burnt-out vehicles and barely-removed barriers.

Now we wait. Sherry’s school resumes next week, and it still unsafe to travel.

Nobody said it would be easy. Thank you for praying for us. God bless.

Ken & Marge MacGowan

Who could have predicted what happened this past week in Kenya following the election?

Kenya has been doing so well for so many years now and in fact has been a haven for other African countries who have had problem after problem with unrest and violence. Kenya has become a nation that is progressing rapidly in every way, including educational and technologically. Many people have been crossing the borders to attend the excellent training institutions, universities, etc. because Kenya has been a stable nation for so long now.

The progress we found when we came back here to live this year after a period of 19 years was astounding and we are so proud of the Kenyan people.

This latest development was totally unexpected and our hearts are burdened for these people as we have seen years of hard work, hard earned money go down in flames literally. People are distraught and devastated at what has happened. All the main cities and towns have been hit levelling a lot of places literally to the ground. There are now food, fuel, cash shortages that have crippled much of the Kenyan business world especially in places like Kisumu and Eldoret.

People are now living in fear of leaving their homes but even their homes are not secure and many people are homeless.

We have been home ourselves for the last 11 days and it looks as though we’ll be here for a few more days.

We had a food shortage yesterday but the Lord provided a way for us to buy food for ourselves and our 11 families that we support today. Ken prayed and went to Serem, a small town near us that isn’t safe but with prayer he was able to buy a few commodities thank the Lord for His provision and His protection. We now have about 7 items of basic foods here in a reasonable quantity to last another few days.

Our problem now is getting gas for the vehicle because there is none available anywhere near where we live and we only have one third of a tank left. We know that God will provide and we appreciate the prayers of His people and our friends and relatives.

We will need at some point to take Sherry back to school which is 9 hours away because of bad roads. We may need to fly if things continue as they have been the last few days. The trouble is that the airport in Kisumu is closed because of running out of fuel.

Another problem is that Ken doesn’t have his passport. It is being renewed and the Canadian High Commission requires that you leave your old passport with them while the new one is being made. He can’t leave the country. We kind of feel trapped but with God, all things are possible and He has always proved faithful.

Thanks to everyone who is praying and to all who have called us. You are amazing people. God bless you all!!!!

Marge, Ken, Sherry

Comment posted by Donna Bennett
at 1/2/2008 3:26:03 PM

Dear Cousin, I sent an email to your other address, but just wanted you to know that I am holding you in thought and prayer.

Love,

Donna

Comment posted by Sean and Judy Russel
at 1/3/2008 8:29:57 AM

Ken, Marge, Sherry….we’re praying for your safety and well being during this very difficult time in Kenya. Please take care.

Love S&J Russell

Comment posted by Dona
at 1/5/2008 6:29:46 PM

Thankyou for the updates. Thank You Lord that you knew all about this before. No surprises to Jesus. He is over all and in all and will work everything for your good. We expect to hear of great miracles of deliverance for all. We will continue in prayer and the Lord will hear us for your sakes. Love to all in Jesus, Dona
p.s. Can you just imagine the thrill of the 30 brothers and sisters when Jesus said ‘well done good and faithful servants’.

Comment posted by Judy Reuben
at 1/6/2008 4:28:05 PM

I am Jean Miller’s sister. She has been updated many of us on the disaster in Kenya. I have passed on your prayer request to our pastor at Ohsweken Baptist Church and rest assurec there are many prayers going up for your family from all of us. Our pastor and his wife are Paul and Mary Hansen from Brantford. In fact, Pastor Hansen included your family in our bulletin this morning for those who weren’t already aware of the situation. Our family will pray for you and your safety. Please take care. God bless you as you serve others.
Judy Reuben

Dear Friends:

I’d like to take a minute to present to you our partners and missionaries in Kenya who need our prayer support at this time. If you are following the news you will know that violence has erupted following the elections that took place on December 27, 2007.

Without going into the details of what is causing the unrest, we do note that poverty, the disenchantment of many people with leadership and ethnic rivalries all play a part. We also know that many of our Christian brothers and sisters are facing very difficult days and we need to stand in the gap for them.

We are asking you to pray that peace will return to Kenya, for protection for our partners in the Pentecostal Assemblies of God, Christ is the Answer Ministries and Pan Africa Christian University. We also ask you to pray for our missionaries that they will not only be kept safe, but will be “instruments of peace and hope.”

Pray for:

• President Mwai Kibaki, that God will cause him to seek justice and peace.
• Raila Odinga, Leader of the Orange Democratic Movement and the main presidential opposition who claims the elections were fraudulent. May the Lord cause him to be a man of peace!
• Bishop Elkanah Salamba, General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God, our partners in ministry for nearly 100 years.
• Bishop Bonifes Adoyo, leader of Christ is the Answer Ministries (Nairobi Pentecostal Church), that the Lord will give his church great influence amongst the leaders of the nation. Pray for Roslyn McKenzie who serves as the Children’s Pastor.
• Pray for the leaders at Pan Africa Christian University. Kirk and Shelley Kauffeldt are currently in Canada, but Bob and Joan Lloyd, Andrew Douglas and Eva Friesen are currently at the university. Pray for the safety of all the students that will be traveling back to school.
• Steve and Heather Chaloner, Regional Directors for Africa, who live in Nairobi. Pray that the Lord will give them great wisdom and strength in these difficult times.
• Helen MacMinn, leading the Transformational Leadership Development Program and Marilyn Bush who works alongside Helen giving oversight in the coastal region of the country.
• Deborah Sirjoosingh, who recently returned to Kenya and is currently in Nairobi en route back to Northern Kenya.
• Ken and Marge MacGowan, who direct CREATE, and are isolated in western Kenya. They are currently having difficulty obtaining food and there is no fuel available for travel.
• Pray for all our Missionary Kids (MKs) who come from other countries to study in Kenya at Rift Valley Academy.
• Our associate missionary partners, Gary and Brenda Kean in Nairobi and Peter and Becki Franz, who are living in Eldoret, where there has been significant violence over the weekend.
• We also are praying for the Kenya Assemblies of God and in particular the church that was burned with over 30 people killed on Monday.
• Paul and Lynn Kohls, Maurice and Maureen Potter and the Anonbys who will be traveling to Kenya soon to teach at Pan Africa Christian University.
• Pray for Janice Foss, who returned to Canada on Tuesday to attend her father’s funeral!

This has been a devastating development in a country where we have always expected more. Please continue to pray for real peace in Kenya.

Peace is not only a lack of violence, but the result of justice.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed by Your Name!
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven

Murray Cornelius
Assistant Superintendent for International Missions
The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada

Comment posted by Sharon Douglas
at 1/12/2008 4:13:25 PM

Just a quick note that Andrew Douglas is not at PAC in Nairobi Kenya currently. He came back to Kincardine Ontario Canada in July 2007. We are all very concerned about the situation in Kenya as we have been there several times on mission trips. We pray for the safety of the missionaries and the students at PAC. We have had wonderful opportunities in the past to meet many of the missionaries and people of Kenya and our hearts are with them at this time of need. Sharon Douglas. (Andrew Douglas’ mom)

Hi friends.

Thanks so much for your caring note. We appreciate your prayer.

Today I was able to drive out to get some food, so we are able to continue waiting at the mission station.

Sherry’s school is delayed, and travel there is impossible anyway.

God bless.
Ken & Marge MacGowan

Comment posted by Judy&Hugh Parkinson
at 1/7/2008 12:15:24 PM

We are so gratefull for the visit and time praying on the porch {summer 2006}. Thanking God for you and His protection.
Our love and prayers
Judy & Hugh

Hi everyone,

Our former Pastor Ken MacGowan and his wife Marge, daughter Sherry desperately need our prayers at this time.

They are in Kisumu, Kenya where there is lots of violence. Please check it online.

There was a recent election in the country and the people are rebelling in a violent revolt. Many are being shot.

We called them this morning and they have been stuck in their mission base home for 4 days and are running out of food and supplies. Ken said that there is a major showdown that is suppose to happen in the area on Thursday Jan 3rd and if they do not get out by that time that they will be stuck there.

His visa is presently tied up at the consulate as he was in the process of having it renewed, therefore even if they wanted to leave the country, he needs his visa!

Online it says that the Kisumu airport is closed as they have run out of gasoline.

Please pray:
1. That they would be safe as they leave to get food and supplies as the place where they have to go is 5 kms away and this is where the worse violence is taking place.
2. Please pray that his visa would be released without any problems.
3. General safety for all of them and God’s peace in their lives during this situation, their daughter Sherry is 17 and I’m sure must be scared.

Please pass this on to your prayers chains and other prayer warriors as we take a stand as the body of Christ for these beautiful servants of His!

- Jean Miller (Brantford, Ontario)

Comment posted by Judy&Hugh Parkinson
at 1/2/2008 9:56:14 AM

We are praying! Have passed this sos on to other pray chains.