The last two months were a major test for Kenya and all Kenyans. I tried to update you on the events asking you to pray as it was difficult sometimes for me to pray intelligibly.

It was frightening because for 8 years, I prayed daily and fasted regularly against similar circumstances in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan and the list goes. On several occasions the call of duty/ministry brought me face to face with the impact of such crises on the continent while serving at the Association of Evangelicals in Africa. There was no doubt the Kenyan crisis was going to be likened to or even supersede those that had come and gone. All the signs of what drove Somalia into the present failed state were imminent. A determination and resolve for self destruction that still shocks me was cut in stone as no one seem to care; not even our leaders were willing to listen when some of our neighboring countries were urging us not end up like them! The destruction of lives,properties and essential public infrastructure that I witnessed personally leaves me wondering if this was not the work of the foulest, wild and wicked evil spirit that took over our hearts and minds? It was totally unnecessary to unleash violence on ourselves not to mention that we are already paying for it now through a high cost of living as prices of virtually everything have gone up…!

Thankfully, with your prayers, God used Koffi Annan to pacify the parties who have now reached a political settlement. You also prayed for me, Aaron and Kaarli when we embarked on the Caravan of Hope, a risky adventure which has now been embraced by the Kenya church ( see www.Nationmedia.com ; Sunday Nation of 23rd March 2008 article “ How clergy took battle to Grim Reaper”). Msafara is swahili word for Caravan! They renamed it “Msafara wheels of Hope”.

Sense is coming back to Kenya as many (and hopefully everyone will) remorsefully look back at what happened and seriously ponder why it happened! Before I left Kenya for Burundi on the 3rd, I had to urgently cut shot my trip in West Pokot-Webuye to avoid being caught up in a planned mass action called by the opposition. I made it in time for a peace follow up meeting in the most troubled part Kibera and here is how Aaron Sundsmo described the meeting:

We met with around 40 youth leaders (age 18-25) and a few other older community leaders who are also interested in participating in the process. We had a good 6-7 hours with them to talk through the practical steps that we could take to start rebuilding their communities.

I was happy to see that we met with the “real” youth. One of the members had been in a militia/gang and recently left. One currently occupies someone else’s house and wants to give it back to the rightful owner. Each one had a remarkable story to tell. Unfortunately, almost all were unemployed and not in school. All of them were full of innovative ideas that the rest of us had not thought of before. We decided that they after the meeting on Saturday they would talk to people in their community during the week and we would meet again next Saturday to decide whose home we should rebuild first.

Lives need emotional and physical healing, reconciliation and restoration. Physical aid is needed to start again. The figures have been put at around 300,000 families displaced. We are glad that the coalition government has committed herself to help rebuild. No details of how and when and to what extent this is going to be done. In the meantime families continue to shelter in IDPs’ camps. In the meantime the rain and planting season is back… Again City Harvest has no capacity to handle all these needs but we shall do all we can with God’s help to catalyze and move the church into action. Please note that Kenya needs you now more than ever! It is possible that with the outbreak of violence many who had planned to come and be part inevitably canceled their travel plans. May I appeal to you to reconsider and please come? You will help us first hand in restoring broken and hurting lives…the need is not only great but urgent!

News update from our friends in Kenya…