Visitors in the Night

It was a beautiful, moonlit night.  We stood together in a large circle, hand in hand, as we prayed together.  The refreshing night breezes gave no indication of what a warm, sultry day it had been.  Stars sparkled brightly beside the nearly full moon.  It was so serene, so calm, so peaceful.  What a contrast from just an hour before!  I headed back to my house, but knew it was pointless to try to sleep…so here I sit, computer on my lap, typing away.  

Last night, I headed to bed a bit earlier than sometimes ~ excited about the opportunity to catch a few extra minutes of sleep.  Somehow, things didn’t go as planned.  The more exhausted I felt, the faster my mind raced.  An hour passed, then two.  At least we have electricity, I cheerfully consoled myself.  Trying to fall asleep when you are hot and sweaty brings the definition of miserable to an entirely new level.  Yet even with my rackety fan whirring away so faithfully, I was still wide awake.  Finally, I got up to take some sleep-aid.  I crawled back into bed wearily.  Tomorrow would be here long before I was ready for it! 

Suddenly, I jerked awake.  2:07 a.m.  My bedroom was filled with the earsplitting sound of the shrill alarm.  Slowly, slowly the sound began to penetrate into my tired brain.  Someone was in the compound.  Someone who was unwelcomed.  Someone who didn’t belong.  Someone with wrong intentions.  Quietly, I strained to hear what was happening directly outside my bedroom window.  Running feet.  Excited voices.  Bright flashlights.  Agitated chickens.  The screechy gate.  And still the deafening alarm.  The sound of terror.  What was going on out there?  Amidst all of the activity, I heard Marlin’s voice, then Tommy’s.  Apparently, our visitor was gone.  I shakily got dressed and joined the huddle outside my house. 

In the short time that I had slept, Gerold’s were stripped of the majority of their electronics.  Their fourth night here!  What a terrible introduction to life here in Kisumu!  Definitely NOT a very welcoming beginning!!  Somehow amidst the many family members, the back door was left unlocked, allowing easy access into their house.  Would the thieves have entered anyway?  Only a little over 3 weeks ago, Joseph and Becky woke up and discovered they had received unwanted visitors during the night who had left with a stash of valuables:  their desktop computer, laptop, phone, cameras, iPad, Kindle, iPod, projector, high-dollar binoculars, a leatherman, 2 back up hard drives, and a decent wad of cash.  They worked hard to enter Joseph’s place… They had pried open the metal security grate over the window and slashed open the screen, then removed a couple window panes and an inside bar so they could climb through the window.  Would they have done the same here?  Or were they only passing through checking for an opportune spot to strike?  How frequently do they prowl through this place?  It is somewhat eerie to realize that quite likely they are inside the compound more than we ever realize. 

Gerold had been awake for at least ten minutes before he became aware that someone was in the house.  He heard someone rummaging around in the office and when he realized that it wasn’t one of the boys, he hollered.  As he came out of the bathroom, after washing his hands, he saw the guy go flying past in the hallway.  Some of the children were already awake before Gerold switched on the alarm, and when he yelled, at least one of the boys came tearing out into the hallway and saw the robber round the corner into the kitchen.  Was there only one?  Or were there more?  If I would have been alert, and immediately looked out when I heard the alarm, I could have seen him run by my bedroom window.  I’m rather glad I didn’t.  The thief obviously wasn’t finished with his nightly work, and left a large pile outside in the courtyard.  He had been to Gerold’s room and the boys’ room before the office, but apparently didn’t get to Sylvia’s room yet.  Just knowing that someone was within inches of your face, watching you as you slept, stealthily removing money and electronic devices that were within your reach is just exceptionally unnerving!  I feel so sympathetic for Gerold’s!  They haven’t even survived their first week yet!  Satan is busy doing all that he can to work against God’s kingdom. 

Here’s a picture taken close to two hours after they scared the robber off.  He seems to have bent down the razor wire and crossed the hedge from the school to our west.  The men were looking for anything that had possibly been dropped or left behind in the thief’s mad scramble to escape.