It's hard to define my emotions in words.

Day 5 of the Kenya elections has come and gone.

Still, there is no official word on the new president.

We thought by now we would know.

That's what our minds were prepared for.

Now it's hard to plan tomorrow;

let alone what will happen next week.

We're staying close to home so we aren't caught out and about when the announcement is given.

Schools were to reopen Monday but that's been postponed till next Thursday.

I wonder if it will happen even then.

I've been thinking of the children who are suddenly spending day after day at home.

Kenya has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in the world.

1 out of every 5 girls gives birth sometime between the ages of 10 and 19.

It's a tragedy.

Not long ago I was reminded of the reality.

"Madam Jamila," the young girl started out.

That's what they call me in our neighborhood.

"I wondered if you could assist me with something."

I hadn't known this girl for long.

She came to my house when I invited the neighborhood mamas to come for chai.

It was the first time I had met her.

She was young.

Younger even than my oldest daughter.

Just a teenager and the child on her lap

was already walking.

She had pulled me aside.

I listened quietly to her story.

"I was going to school.

Then Covid came.

We were just staying at home.

I got pregnant and I couldn't go back."

Inwardly I had braced myself.

I thought she was going to ask if there was a way I could pay for her to finish high school.

"Could you loan me some books?

I want to read and keep growing my mind."

That's all she asked me for.

She had seen the shelves of books in our living room.

I went inside and picked two books for her to read.

When we hear statistics and data we can shake our heads and be aghast from the safety of our own comfortable corners.

But when we come face to face with the raw reality of this hurting world there's nothing to do but let our own hearts be broken.

We weep and ask Jesus to wipe our tears.

I'm trusting Jesus

that He will care for all the children in Kenya

who don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Tears mingled with my prayers tonight.

I prayed not only for my own children

but for all of God's vulnerable children everywhere.

"And wherever they may bide, lead them home at eventide."

( taken from Amy Carmichael's "Prayer for the Children")

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