Seeking God's Peace in Africa

Kenya

We are blessed and made hopeful by the news that Kenya’s warring political factions have signed a power-sharing agreement that hopefully will mean a complete end to the violence that has killed over 1000 and displaced over 300,000 and has caused tremendous economic damage.

It is easy in the West to dismiss conflict in Africa as an African problem, but seldom are problems viewed in the West as spiritual. Perhaps one of the greatest differences between the West and Africa is the recognition or denial of God. In the West, science, statistics, and analysts explain the world’s events. We talk about crime, decaying morals, and poverty with numbers and trends; we seldom hear that there may be a battle raging where forces of good and evil are at work.

We believe that God does have a role in this world; we serve in Africa not out of guilt so that we can simply improve the lives of other upright walking creatures, but because we know that God desires justice and love in the world and most of all, a restored relationship with him.

For this reason, we do not labor only on a physical level, but in a spiritual one—in faith and prayer.

This week we have been encouraged to hear that a movement in Kenya is also taking this position to seek reconciliation and peace in a country that has come under the attack not only of negative social trends, but of evil seeking to destroy whatever it can.

This movement, called Msafara: Wheels of Hope, begins a journey today through the country of Kenya, stopping in the major zones of conflict to call for healing, forgiveness, and peace. Thousands of Kenyan pastors are mobilizing their congregations to put into practice the things Christians so easily say, but reluctantly practice, “Loving your enemies, giving of your wealth, being willing to give up your life to help others.” (All those things that Jesus did, but that everyone else finds incredibly inconvenient, costly, or unpopular.)

For our part, we hope you will join us in praying for this movement, and in fasting—a practice we do to remind ourselves of others’ hardship, and to associate ourselves with those for whom we are praying. We will be fasting on Sunday. Will you consider joining us?

Information about Msafara is available here: http://www.msafara.co.ke/ or at their blog: http://msafara.wordpress.com/ Please read about this movement and pray for Kenya and the spiritual battles we face in our own lives and communities.

That’s it from us….Everyone is healthy and doing well.

Pictures:

1.) Lami has learned that it is difficult for Mom and Dad to extricate her from deep inside the cardboard house, making it a good place to be when they are trying to send you to bed.

2.) Tovah in her towel turban.

3.) Jen has gotten very good at reading French stories to the girls,

4.) Davis seeks alone time inside his shirt—the only place in this tiny apartment where he can be alone.

God Bless,

Davis, Jen, Lami and Tovah

Dear Family and Friends,

It seems like my heart and mind are in four different places, so this is sort of a schizophrenic letter with attempts to report on all four J

France

Thank you all for your quiz scores….it turns out that our supporters are not very French. For those of you dying to know where I got my points I will give you these two pieces of information: I do not carry a man purse but I have purchased a pair of Velcro shoes….

Our time in France is more than one third gone, and we are feeling like we are making good ground on learning this challenging language—Please continue to pray. I’m sure by the time we go we will feel like we should be staying much longer, but we are eager to get back to work in Africa.

Congo

Our next assignment is always on our hearts. I have been reading the history of Congo and it is incredibly dark, with over a century of colonial oppression in acts that have pillaged the country and murdered its citizens. While some African countries seem cursed by their poverty, Congo’s problems stem from its wealth. It is my hope that ELI’s work in Congo can encourage righteousness that puts others before self-gain. Please be in prayer for the country of Congo, and that the latest peace accord will result in a peace that no one alive in Congo has ever seen.

Pray also for Mudekereza, ELI’s Congo director, as he seeks to expand our ministry into the realm of treating Congolese with HIV/AIDS. I plan to visit Congo along with ELI leadership in June, at the end of our time in France. Jen and the girls will be going straight back to the USA.

USA

Our transition from France to Congo will have a hiatus in the US. This will be a time for us to connect with friends and family before our next planned two year term. We will do our best to be in touch with people and to try to see as many as possible while raising support and awareness for the work in Congo.

We will be based out of Ohio, but intend to visit California, the Northwest, the South, and the North East. It will be a busy time, as we intend to be to Congo by November. Please pray for the logistics of this, and for the task of traveling frequently with young ones.