Report from Lil Cornelius- the assault and robbery

For a number of years Bill and Lil Cornelius served our assemblies as Missionaries in Kenya. Later Bill would become the International Director for World Missions with the PAOC. Bill passed away suddenly while serving in this position. His wife Lil felt a strong sense of God's call upon her life to return to Africa and serve in the Pan African Christian College in Kenya. Lil is a mom and grandmother.

The following is an account of the assault and robbery that Lil recently went through. When we pray for the missionaries it is for good reason. It is an exerpt from her email.

Pastor Murray

From the Desk of Lil Cornelius
March 4, 2006

Dear Friends:
I know the grapevine is very active even across the ocean, and I've been getting emails from people who have heard rumours of an assault. Unfortunately the rumours are true, so I'd better fill you in, so that you will get it straight from the source - me. I don't have the time to do a proper newsletter, but this will give you the idea.

I had a terrible experience on Sunday, 22nd. Normally Pan Africa Christian College is a very safe place to live, but on Sundays, because people come from outside the campus for church, the security arrangements are more relaxed. Well, about 8:30 a.m. three young thugs got into the campus, pretending they had come for church, and came to my flat for "assistance." They thought for some reason that I had money, which I didn't. We've no idea who might have told them that, except for the fact that I do assist orphans through CCP.

I invited them in as I usually do. They managed to get me in the bedroom, pinned me down on the bed, choked me to try to get me to tell them where money was. I pointed to my change purse which had less than $20.00 in it, and then later after more choking I remembered that I had $40 American in a cupboard with my passport. I tried to indicate that I had something in the cupboard and they let me up to get it. All the time I was getting it, they were pointing their make-believe gun at me (I wasn't fooled though and they actually forgot it and left it behind) . They also pressed a knife against my neck.

In the meantime they had turned every drawer upside down, even going through things under the bed. They got my video camera and my digital camera (big losses at this point), plus a few other things, like watch and ring and a couple of pieces of jewellery. But the worst part was that they now had to figure out how to make their escape without being caught. That's when the big guy started choking me again and asking me if I was going to be quiet. I nodded "yes", because I couldn't speak. That's all I remembered till I revived from unconsciousness, found them gone, and managed to get to my Somali neighbour's apartment where my dear friend, Sofia, helped me to a mattress on the floor. Kirk and Shelley, Eva and Liz and other people came around, took me to hospital where I got some medication, then we came back and talked to the police and the Security Company.

I'm fine, except that I still can't talk properly... my voice was almost completely gone, but one week later it is improving - thought I can't sing a note. (One week after this was written I can report that the voice is coming back and I’ve really suffered no ill effects.)

Well, we don't know how God's purposes are worked out in all of this, but we do know that he is a sovereign God. Everyone on the campus has been incredibly kind, coming to see me and saying "sorry", even the little children of three years of age came up to give me a hug. We are the family of God, of all races and nations. So many Kenyans have experienced similar things - it is happening every day, I now can identify with their suffering and distress and the fear that people live in.

The picture below is my housing block... I live in the top right flat. The picture is of students who came to my house for a special session with a friend who lectures on Grief Counselling. The Counselling department at PACC is growing tremendously, and is greatly needed in Kenya, heading by a wonderful Kenyan lady named Anne Wambugu. (Lil is front row - right side)

Well, that's all for now. I appreciate every one of you and your tremendous prayer support while I've been in Kenya over these years, and I'm looking forward to meeting you in Canada. And thank you again for the many emails of comfort sent my way. One of my favourite verses is 2 Cor 1:4 which speaks of the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our distresses so that we in turn can comfort others. And that is what I have experienced.

Lil Cornelius