Russ, Sylvia, Jonathan, Elisabeth and David
January 2008
Dear Friends,
Fuel prices in Uganda soar to $20 per gallon due to political turmoil in the neighboring country of Kenya following presidential elections there!
Happy New Year! We trust that this message finds you well in 2008. Unfortunately the new year has not started very well for us here in Uganda. As you are probably aware, things are not going well in our neighboring country of Kenya following presidential elections on December 27th. Riots, looting, and tribal clashes continue. Hundreds of people have been killed including some who sought refuge in a church near the town of Eldoret and were burned alive in the church building. Thousands of people have fled from their homes and are living in impromptu refugee camps.
My parents are missionaries to Kenya, and they were here visiting us for Christmas. They delayed their return to Kenya, but finally went back on Tuesday. They arrived safely at their home in Nanyuki on Wednesday. They report that things in Nanyuki are not bad, and that they are safe. However, other missionaries, especially those in Nairobi and areas in western Kenya where the problems have been more severe, are definitely not safe. Some missionaries have chosen to leave the country for a while. Some are coming here to Uganda where there is peace.
However, the problems in Kenya are affecting us here in Uganda as well. Uganda is a landlocked country, and most of our imports come in through Kenya. Since the turmoil began in Kenya, things have not been coming through from the Kenya port to Uganda. The biggest problem so far is the lack of fuel. Uganda does not keep fuel in reserve, so there is an immediate fuel crisis here. Fuel prices are skyrocketing: first doubling, and now quadrupling. A gallon of gas now costs $20! As fuel prices go up, transportation costs increase, which in turn affects the price of food and other commodities. The price of eggs has already doubled.
We have been planning to start teaching our Bible Institute classes on January 7th. I will be traveling to and from Mbarara in the southwestern part of the country each week this month to teach. It is a six-hour drive one way, so the outrageous fuel costs will really be a problem for us this month.
Please pray for peace in Kenya! Pray for the safety of the missionaries and the Kenyan people, especially those who have been displaced from their homes. Pray for the situation to stabilize and return to normal so that things here in Uganda can return to normal as well. And pray for us as we attempt to minister here in Uganda under these extreme circumstances. Thank you so much.
Yours in Uganda,
Russ & Sylvia DanielsWeb Editor - Don Tarvin
Updated 27 Apr 2008
