In the madness surrounding the spread
of coronavirus, Kenyans are being told to stay home.
That’s not a new thought for North
Americans. For some businesses and employees, this is financially devastating.
But for many millions of Africans, the
stay-at-home order has a more catastrophic impact than it does on most of us.
What many North Americans probably don’t
understand is this: Millions of Kenyans need to earn a small wage each day so
they can buy the most basic of food (like beans and rice) for the family dinner
each night.
Kenya’s Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe finds words for the agonizing obvious:
“But how can we stay at home when you
need food . . .?
That’s the question we all ask
ourselves.
How can you stay?
[If we don’t have
food]
. . . this . . . pandemic [is] going to
kill all of us.
How can you stay home when there is no
food?”
It breaks my heart to think of them
going hungry.
It was not uncommon for any number of
Kenyans I knew—
moms, dads, kids, and grandparents—
to go without food for a few days
if they needed to pay for medicine
or if they had to pay for their
children’s school fees.
But we all know this:
No one can do without food for the
duration of this pandemic.
Please join me in praying for Africa’s
millions of dear people
who are experiencing the desperate ramifications
of the coronavirus.
At a time like this, I recognize yet
again
how important it is for people to have
Bibles
in their own language, their “mother tongue,”
the language in which they express
their love,
the language in which they sing
lullabies to their children,
the only language in which they can
really understand God
and communicate with him intimately.
Knowing that,
I’m thankful God gave me an opportunity
to support the work of
Bible translation
in both South America and Africa
Let’s pray Africans and all people
around the world can find peace and hope in the following:
Do not be anxious about anything, but pray
and ask God for what you need, always giving thanks. Philippians 4:6
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| Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background |
Place all your worries and cares into
God’s hands because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t
be afraid, because I am your God. Isaiah 41:10
I leave you the gift of peace, the
peace of mind and heart, the kind of peace you can’t get from the world. Don’t be
stressed and afraid. John 14:27
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will
be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
Click here to read World Vision’s glorious “Prayers for people affected by the new coronavirus.” It will bless
and inspire you.
Click on the following links for more
information about coronavirus in Kenya from VOA’s Mohammed Yusuf:
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