Last night as I ate PALAK PANEER with a buttered NAAN – if you don’t know what I’m talking of you have missed some of the best food in our world! – I remembered the TV show we watched the previous night. Reporting from where we were eating, Diamond Plaza, the announcer called this place .jpg)
“Little India” – the place in Nairobi for homesick Indians. As we heard a nearby Mosque calling out the evening prayers to mark the end of fasting for the day and men praying in a part of the shopping area, I thought of another part of Nairobi, Garissa Market in Eastleigh. If Diamond Plaza was more active due to Ramadan, Eastleigh was “hopping” last night – but it is one of the busiest shopping areas in the city. Kenyan savvy shoppers say you can find anything you can imagine at Garissa Market at unbeatable prices! This part of town is also known as “Little Somalia” – another part of Nairobi with a very different cultural atmosphere! Some say more Somalis are in Nairobi than in many towns in Somali! And if you have ever been in Eastleigh you trust this statement! There are also many, many Somalis in northern Kenya in relief camps fleeing their warn-torn country or those who have settled in the northern arid parts of Kenya.
Why am I sharing this with you? This morning when I came to page 17 of the Saturday Nation, I was reminded again of Garissa Market as I read the article, “Why nobody dares touch the cash and gold in Eastleigh.” I’m also sharing this because the Somalis in Somalia, in Kenya and those in the United States are people who need to know of our Father’s salvation and love. The Joshua Project website shares that the primary religion of the vast majority of these people is Islam. There are Christians among the Somali, but a BBC article shares their struggles.
“In a secluded house just outside the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, a group of men and women meet at least once a week to meet in secret … they live in constant fear of persecution” (“Somali Christians Struggle in Kenya”, BBC News/September 1, 2008).
So this month during Ramadan, the Muslim month of prayer and fasting, pray for boldness and opportunities for Kenyan Christians to share their source of joy and peace with the Somalis in our country. Pray for strength and fearlessness for Somali Christians. Pray that Kenyan Christians and missionaries will find sensitive ways to strengthen and encourage these few Believers. The Joshua Project, who provide research on people unreached by the Gospel, suggest: “Pray for effectiveness of the JESUS Film among them; ask God to anoint the Gospel as it goes forth via radio and television to the Somali; ask the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel; and ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Somali.” They share another prayer that is especially needed during Ramadan – “that God will reveal Himself to (those celebrating Ramadan) through dreams and visions.” Bert Yates --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“Why no one dares touch the cash and gold in Eastleigh” – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/467668/-/tkbrmg/-/index.html
“Somali Christians Struggle in Kenya”/BBC News/September 1, 2008 – http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7464035.stm
Joshua Project/Country Listings: Go to this site and then click Somalia: http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php
Joshua Project/People in Country Profile/Somali – http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php?rop3=109392&rog3=SO
The Somali of Kenya – http://strategyleader.org/profiles/somalikenya.html
.jpg)
“Little India” – the place in Nairobi for homesick Indians. As we heard a nearby Mosque calling out the evening prayers to mark the end of fasting for the day and men praying in a part of the shopping area, I thought of another part of Nairobi, Garissa Market in Eastleigh. If Diamond Plaza was more active due to Ramadan, Eastleigh was “hopping” last night – but it is one of the busiest shopping areas in the city. Kenyan savvy shoppers say you can find anything you can imagine at Garissa Market at unbeatable prices! This part of town is also known as “Little Somalia” – another part of Nairobi with a very different cultural atmosphere! Some say more Somalis are in Nairobi than in many towns in Somali! And if you have ever been in Eastleigh you trust this statement! There are also many, many Somalis in northern Kenya in relief camps fleeing their warn-torn country or those who have settled in the northern arid parts of Kenya.Why am I sharing this with you? This morning when I came to page 17 of the Saturday Nation, I was reminded again of Garissa Market as I read the article, “Why nobody dares touch the cash and gold in Eastleigh.” I’m also sharing this because the Somalis in Somalia, in Kenya and those in the United States are people who need to know of our Father’s salvation and love. The Joshua Project website shares that the primary religion of the vast majority of these people is Islam. There are Christians among the Somali, but a BBC article shares their struggles.
“In a secluded house just outside the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, a group of men and women meet at least once a week to meet in secret … they live in constant fear of persecution” (“Somali Christians Struggle in Kenya”, BBC News/September 1, 2008).So this month during Ramadan, the Muslim month of prayer and fasting, pray for boldness and opportunities for Kenyan Christians to share their source of joy and peace with the Somalis in our country. Pray for strength and fearlessness for Somali Christians. Pray that Kenyan Christians and missionaries will find sensitive ways to strengthen and encourage these few Believers. The Joshua Project, who provide research on people unreached by the Gospel, suggest: “Pray for effectiveness of the JESUS Film among them; ask God to anoint the Gospel as it goes forth via radio and television to the Somali; ask the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel; and ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Somali.” They share another prayer that is especially needed during Ramadan – “that God will reveal Himself to (those celebrating Ramadan) through dreams and visions.” Bert Yates --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“Why no one dares touch the cash and gold in Eastleigh” – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/467668/-/tkbrmg/-/index.html
“Somali Christians Struggle in Kenya”/BBC News/September 1, 2008 – http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7464035.stm
Joshua Project/Country Listings: Go to this site and then click Somalia: http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php
Joshua Project/People in Country Profile/Somali – http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php?rop3=109392&rog3=SO
The Somali of Kenya – http://strategyleader.org/profiles/somalikenya.html
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