What a tangled web!

Erica and I enjoying the wide open spaces of the Swara Plains, it was here nearly a year ago that we first met the Cheetah that took such a liking to Erica. A number of people have spotted a mother Cheetah and her cubs roaming the plains over the past few months, but we were not so lucky as to have spotted her ourselves.

A big thanks to everyone who has been praying for Erica's surgery today. She is now home and recovering well. Praise the Lord!

Early this week, I was out for a walk with Ava when we came upon this impressive arachnid. I'm not adept enough to know the name or type of spider it was, but I did happen to have our camera with me -- Yikes!

Not unlike the trap of a spider's web, the present situation in Kenya is complex, tangled, and dangerous. Over the past weeks, it has become apparent that beneath the disputed election results are deep rooted threads of fear, mistrust, tribalism, injustice, betrayal, and corruption that have been building up strand by strand for decades and even generations -- And now Kenya is caught within her own web.

In Western townships like Kisumu, Nakuru, and Naivasha (to name a few) the death toll rises as people lash out in violence. If the political leadership does not act quickly at striking a compromise, the country may spiral into such a state that they will not be able to bring it back. Already the rage has destroyed railway lines, businesses and burned entire villages to the ground. and now it threatens ethnic violence against whole tribal groups. Each day we are hearing of new threats being made in the name of tribalism -- Neighbours turning against neighbours.

The problems which Kenya faces are complex, but the answers begin with courageous, and yet powerfully simple, actions -- Honesty, humility, and forgiveness. We are praying for God to lead Kenya's political, civic, and church leadership to make the courageous steps needed to draw Kenya back from the destruction it is swiftly headed. And to deal transparently, honestly, and graciously with the disputes and injustices which brought about this crisis.

I am glad to say that bold acts of humility and compassion are already happening: Churches are crossing political/regional/tribal lines to care for their fellow Kenyan neighbours; Good Samaritan's are risking their own security to protect neighbours of different tribal groups; And communities of faith are opening their homes and houses of worship to shelter the wounded.

Please continue to pray for Kenya!

Also in Prayer:

* Please remember the thousands of people fleeing their homes because of threats of ethnically targeted violence. We have several good Kenyan friends who have been forced to abandon their homes out of fear of attack.

* Please pray for our Somali friend Indos who is trying to get his sick mother out of Somalia to recieve medical attention here in Kenya.