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Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 10:57:21 +0300
From: Lisa Stewart <beachplumlisa@bellsouth.net>
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Wow. I don't know where to begin. I have just returned from a powerful 
three day emotional and spiritual experience.  Eden  Grace, John 
Muhanji  and I drove 3 hours north to a conference center in Mabanga 
located on the grounds of an agricultural training center - graduates go 
into rural communities to teach farmers techniques for bettering their 
crops. I don't know if it is government run or not. There are so many 
projects in Kenya (and all of Africa) that are sponsored by NGOs 
(non-govt. org.) or are public- private partnerships. And they are not 
all U.S. by a long shot. In my short time here in the western area only, 
besides those sponsored by Friends, I have seen schools, hospitals, 
training centers, churches and others things started or contributed by 
Danish, Dutch, Baptist, Catholics, Brits, Russians, etc.

Anyway, what we were there for was a three day training seminar for the 
peace teams that will be working toward reconciliation between the IDPs 
still in the camps and the receiving communities. The govt. has a plan 
to force them back and "force the peace". It is widely known/assumed 
that that will not work. What the peace teams will try to facilitate is 
peaceful resettlement of the IDPs back home into what is being called 
"the receiving communities". Dave Zarembka (AGLI) chaired the workshops 
and I was able to make a small contribution by sharing what little I can 
remember about group work strategies and doing some administrative 
stuff. But what impressed me so much is the faith of these Quakers and 
their commitment to the Peace Testimony. 29 of them came from miles 
around by foot and matatu just to volunteer to be a part of this. None 
among them owns a car nor has much money. Kenyan women wear traditional 
or western dresses but  the men ALWAYS wear slacks and a shirt and very 
often also a jacket and tie. They were made up of retired civil service, 
teachers, farmers, pastors, yearly meeting officials and working people. 
Some even took off from work. All were previously trained in AVP or CAPP 
(Change Agents for Peace - program of Norway Yearly Meeting) up to a 
leadership level in peace.One even once worked in Israel/Palestine after 
teaching in the Ramalla Friends School. The tasks covered in the three 
days was a strategic plan (goals, activities, time table, materials 
needed, etc.), techniques for listening and facilitating groups and then 
role playing. I was able to contribute in a small way by taking care of 
a few housekeeping tasks and sharing what little I can remember about 
group work strategies.

What is so remarkable and exciting is the strong belief among Kenyan 
Friends in the Peace Testimony, their committmet and their faith that 
they are doing God's work. They truly trust because this has never 
before been done in Kenya. They have no idea what will happen , how they 
will be received or how many will even show up . Last week Muhanji and 
another Friend met with the District Officers (govt. person) in Turbo 
and Lugari, the two areas selected for this pilot project. The D.O. is 
setting up meetings for next Thursday and Friday for the two teams to 
meet with the village chiefs and elders to simply listen. The sense is 
that, even though they are perceived as the perpetrators, they too have 
suffered and they too need to be listened to. The teams have already 
done this listening in the IDP camps. And the the process continues from 
there.

Miscell.Notes:
The funds for all these seminars and the transportation costs are being 
covered by the generous donations that we and so many others sent to the 
relief fund. These monies are being used to provide beans, maize, 
blankets, firewood, medicines etc. to the IDP camps. They are also being 
used to finance this peace work by covering travel and conference center 
expenses. Careful records of all the expenditures are being kept in 
keeping with honesty and transparency and none are spent without prior 
approval from the committee.
Wanting to try to "see that of God in everyone", Friends were cautious 
about what to call the communities that drove away their neighbors, 
killed some, burned their homes, took their belongings and, in some 
cases, are squatting on their land. Instead of calling them 
perpetrators, Luos, Luyas or Kaleingin (tribal names) it was decided to 
refer to them as "receiving communities". They too have been through a 
trauma and are in need of healing. To gain their trust and to appear 
authentically neutral, Friends want to avoid appearing to be judgmental. 
And, of course, they also avoid calling the IDPs by their tribal name, 
mostly Kikuyu.
When wondering whether or not to give their real names, Friends on the 
counseling teams knew that their own tribal identity would be recognized 
by their names. It was decided that honesty was called for and that they 
would attempt to stress that they are all Kenyans and that they are 
neutral members of a peace church.
All this went on in English, the THIRD language for most of these 
Friends! Their first language was their tribal language. Then they had 
to learn Swahili and then English. I am amazed that they all converse in 
English as well as they do. It is taking time, but I am becoming 
accustomed to the accent even though I still miss an awful lot.
The problems of life that we/I think are so important pale in comparison 
to the difficulty of life in an undeveloped country - the disease, 
poverty, hardships and tremendous needs. I clearly understand the sense 
of gratification that people who work here and elsewhere in humanitarian 
assistance receive from their jobs. Eden, Muhanji and others in the 
wider Quaker community here work around the clock for days sometimes and 
continue to remain inspired and enthusiastic.You don't hear them 
complain much about having to work.

Have to go. More later. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to one and all and especially 
to my daughter, Page!!'  Love and Light,
Lisa