Nancy with 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Environmental and Human Rights Activist Wangari Maathai
Here in Kenya, the Young Adult Volunteer Team and other Americans planned a worship/prayer service to celebrate the inauguration of President Obama called “Fulfilling the Dream.” The service provided Americans, Kenyans, and many others with an opportunity to celebrate those who “paved the way” for such a special day. It was an opportunity to recognize God’s work in history through the lives of civil rights leaders in the US and in this region. This service was the vision of our coordinator, Rev. Phyllis Byrd, who also made arrangements for the team to watch the inauguration with Wangari Maathai, Kenya’s Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
However, I was at a clergy meeting in Eldoret (training ground for many of Kenya’s elite marathon runners), so I watched the ceremony in a cafeteria. The clergy meeting focused on the role of the church in reuniting the people of Kenya. Many clergy spoke of how their congregations fled when the ethnically and politically charged violence broke out in Kenya a year ago. They lamented that more church leaders did not speak out against the tribal division.
Generations: Grandma Bessie, Shirley, Nikia and Assata
After a long day of prayer, discussion, and strategizing, I joined forty Kenyan archbishops, bishops and pastors in the cafeteria to watch the much anticipated inauguration event. We huddled around a projector and gazed at the images on a large sheet hanging from the wall. It was a little surreal, yet extremely touching to share the moment together.
The next morning, I was asked to start our meeting by telling the group the significance of the inauguration for the US. I did my best to share what it meant for me as an American and as an African-American. I told them about my conversation with my 89-year-old Grandmother on the night of the election. It meant more than anything, to hear the excitement in the voice of a woman who has seen more discrimination and racial hatred than I could ever imagine, and who still lives in a small southern town with train tracks dividing blacks on one side and whites on the other.
Peace Statue in Mozambique. After the country’s civil war, the Christian Council of Mozambique traded tools (sewing machines, plows, etc.) with the people for their weapons. The weapons were turned into artwork. (photo by AACC)
After I spoke, the bishops insisted that we take a moment to pray for the continued racial reconciliation in the United States and the leadership of President Obama. They prayed because they believed that if this level of progress could happen in the US, then it could also happen in their battle scarred country. They found strength in the example of the United States of America and the American people. In the midst of the prayer, I felt so humbled, yet so proud to be an American.
The day after the inauguration, every picture of every paper was about the new 1st Family of America. There were articles about Barack’s dancing, Michelle’s fashion, the kid’s puppy…but the article that I think sums it all up said of Obama, “He is Nobody’s Messiah but Everybody’s Hope.” What a special moment in history.
To God be the Glory,
Shelvis
Posted on January 29th, 2009 by Shelvis
Filed under: Uncategorized