St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church
Laytonsville, Maryland

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The Situation:
As of January 2, 2008 the situation for St. Bartholomew's friends in Kenya was dire. In a conversation with Father Sosiness Demo, founder and director of St. Mark's Mirembe Girls' Home, he said simply, "We are in trouble here at Mirembe, brothers and sisters. Please pray for us."

According to Fr. Demo, the town of Migori, where Mirembe is located, has been virtually shut down by angry mobs protesting the disputed results of the recent Kenyan presidential elections. Businesses have been looted and burned, homes robbed, cars stolen or burned and schools closed. There is virtually no food available.

Fr. Demo reported that a man living next to the orphanage was killed during rioting, the Mirembe van was damaged by rock throwing rioters and he is concerned that the orphanage could be seriously damaged or even destroyed. Fearing for the girls' safety, he has moved them, along with his wife Mary and their two daughters, to a farm in an area of the country where they will be relatively safe. Fr. Demo remains at Mirembe with a security guard to help protect the property.

What We Can Do:
First, as Fr. Demo has stated, St. Bartholomew's friends at Mirembe need the prayers of all parishioners. Once things begin to settle down, however, they will need more than prayers. Mirembe will need increased financial assistance to survive. According to Fr. Demo, food prices are skyrocketing (in those areas where food is even available) and most other goods and services are certain to follow suit. Mirembe looks to St. Bartholomew's as a major source of support and assistance in nurturing and educating the orphaned girls of Mirembe. If you would like to help Mirembe through this crisis you can do so by issuing a check payable to St. Bartholomew's, annotated "Mirembe," and placing it in the collection plate or mailing it to the parish office. If you would like to help support Mirembe on a regular and on-going basis, please contact Brent Grimes at 301-972-3072.