One Saturday at Westgate Mall

A main street in Kisumu where Joel and I frequently travel

On September 21st, the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya was attacked by the Al Shabaab terrorist group.  Watching the news unfold I had this depressed, distressed, and disgusted feeling, but I've had this feeling before.  We all had it on September 11, 2001 when our hearts sank with the Twin Towers in New York.  Again, I had this feeling on December 16, 2012 for Newtown, CT.  Again, April 15, 2013 with Boston, MA.  I had it again, when I was in Uganda in 2010,  when Al Shabaab attacked a night club with bombs killing at least 74 people. I was in that very town the week before this attack.
The news from an array of sources, and the briefings from the Kenyan government have conflicting stories about the resolve of the Westgate attack.  Some say terrorists were caught, others say that they escaped by changing their clothes and running out with the victims. Am I scared that the terrorists might still be out there? Terrorism is everywhere.  Evil persists through the workings of Satan and demonized men.  How else do you explain horrific events that you or I cannot even think up? 
This terrorism will not stop Joel and me from performing our duties here at Capstone, building up God's kingdom, and recognizing that God is in control of all things. All of this has made me a stronger Christian. It's made me think about how God is in everything.  Thinking about this event makes me trust him more through understanding that we will never know why some things happen, but we do know that God is God and He reigns. He will keep His promise no matter what happens.  The theme of Psalm 91 is "God's protection in the midst of danger.  God doesn't promise a world free from danger, but He does promise His help whenever we face danger." (Life Application Study Bible) And, Psalm 91 states"

This is what the guards look like on the street

"If you make the Most High your dwelling-

even the Lord, who is my refuge-

then no harm will befall you,

no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

Kisumu does look a little different since the recent events. When we go to the grocery store now our car is checked for bombs upon entry. Security has been tightened in town along the main street with several guards in military attire and guns at their side. I do appreciate this as our senses have been heightened. 
Pastor Isaiah, Associate Pastor at the ELCK church we attend here, and Capstone staff member wrote the poem below about the attack.  This poem captures that way we all feel during this time, and how we will continue to glorify God through all this.

One Saturday at Westgate Mall

By Isaish Apiyo

Dew dripping form the leaves

Along the streets of Nairobi, trees singing in rows

Children playing in rows, cooking for fun and fame

People sipping and shopping in circles

Beware! Men in full combat gear here

Soldiers not aware of their waywardness

The center cannot hold

One Saturday at Westgate Mall

Boom! Crack! Bang!

Sound of gunshots

Helter skelter people run, tables turn upside down

The hunted huts in a day

Heartless, ruthless, faithless

Heat in the heart of the city

Hurting our hearts

One Saturday at Westgate Mall

Happy Saturday - now turned dark

Like a bird in the snare

Hearts bleeding, little hearts crying

Where is Daddy?

Help me Mummy?

Bullets pulled us apart

No tale, color, nor tribe

One Saturday at Westgate Mall

Who are you terrorists?

What do you believe?

Smiling in death; stealing destinies

Like Hitler, you crush our hearts

Even the Kidneys for the King

Helpless bodies lie on the floor

In the heart of our city

One Saturday at Westgate Mall

In God we trust, "Jesus will save us all"

One Kenya indivisible

Together we stand, bravo my brothers and sisters

Names called for the roll

At the trumpet call

Never say die soldiers declare

You terrorists! We picked up the pieces

One Saturday at Westgate Mall