Kenya Update
March 1, 2008

Friends,
Below is the latest news on our monastery at Kipkelion in Kenya. It is the death-knell of our monks there, as they plan to move to Uganda. Please pass the news on to others.

Thank you for your prayers,
Tom Francis
(Holy Spirit Abbey, trinocosmic@trappist.net)

(The following is a message to Fr. Tom Francis from Abbot Bernard Peeters of Koningshoeven Abbey, Tilburg, Holland. English is the second language of Abbot Bernard; the message is unedited.)

-----Original Message-----
From: abt [mailto:abt@koningshoeven.nl]
Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2008 2:54 AM
To: Tom Francis
Subject: Re:

Dear F.Tom,
Yesterday I came back from Indonesia and found the two cheques. Many thanks
the brothers can use this money very well for the refugees. My prior is also back from Victoria. The situation is very difficult. There is a lot of mistrust about the agreement the politicians made because it is only a basic agreement. Now they have to face all the hot issues and most of the people are very doubtful. In 2001 they made the same agreement but after three weeks everything collapsed. The bishop of Kericho said to F.Isaac that this agreement is only to save the face of  Mr.Koffi Anan. People are very afraid for the time that is coming.

The damage around the monastery is very great. Most of the houses are burnt and people have moved to other places. In Kipkelion town is a great refugees camp with more than 800 people living under poor circumstances. The Irish missionaries are taking care of those people. In the monastery are now 250 refugees most women and children. The men are disappeared. Nowbody can say were they are. The refugees stay at night in the church and before the eucharist they have to leave the church. After Vespers they return to the church. During the day they sit outside and cook for themselves.

In the monastery are 15 police men and 30 militaries. The monks have to serve them
and that causes a lot of problems. They know that if they will leave the place the people will attack the monastery. So the police make misuse of this situation and is very demanding. The original people, Karenja tribe, is constantly attacking the monastery. The banana plantage is completly destroyed and even the most of the land of the monastery. They claim the land and cleaned the whole rift valley of all the others. First the Kikuyu's and later the Kipsigi and Kisii.

You know that the land issue is a very old problem and the community is aware that they have to do something about it but maybe it is too late. The people want only one thing and that is that the monks will leave the land and go away. During the last days there is circulating a list with names and buildings which have to killed or destroyed and on that list was also the monastery and several names of monks. So that makes the situation very dangerous. The monks can stay at the monastery because of the protection of the army and the police but if they will leave then the monks also have to leave. The monks are now very afraid that after the agreement the police and army will go back.

We are planning to make a refugee house for the monks in Uganda. The bisshop
of Masaka diocese has offered the monks a place were they can stay. M.Therese of Butende has visited yesterday that place and it seems to be a good place. Last Sunday two of the sick brothers are evacuated to Butende. Coming monday will also go Dom Bernard, Gregory and John Mary. With the help of the Dutch Embassy we are trying to let three of the youngest brothers come to Tilburg. One of them is the only vocation we have from the local tribe. He feels himself very unsafe, in the monastery but also under his own people.

I hope I can convinced the community to leave the place before the police or the army is leaving otherwise they will not survive an attack. The monks ar every concerned about the refugees and that is a good thing but they have to bring the refugees to Kipkelion town and handlle them over in the hands of the red cross. It is better for the refugees and also better for the monks. The discussion is also if a few monks will stay behind.

You see, Fr.Tom, that the situation is very complicated and peace is only there
on paper. It is difficult to say what the future will bring but if the community takes
a decission what to do then I will go so soon as possible to them. The coming days are very important. I will inform you as there is any news. I am very grateful for your prayers and the money. Please keep on praying for peace.

fraternally,
br.bernardus

(Note: If you are able to render any financial help contact Fr. Tom at Conyers: trinocosmic@trappist.net)