On the Road Again...

I know this blog is titled Pastor Steve's KENYA Relief...but I don't think I should create a DIFFERENT blog for every place I go. 'Pastor Steve's Crazy Cambodian Campaign', 'Big Daddy's Oaxacan Adventure', or 'Comrade Steve's Soviet Journeys'...it's all a bit much...let's just meet HERE and you can see where I am from day to day.

Speaking of today... I woke up this morning with a thought that has become all too familiar... 'Where the heck am I this morning?' I looked out my window and saw the Livobareshno Metro station and the Dneiper River...for some of you that's a big clue...for others, no clue at all. I'm on the Left Bank in KIEV, UKRAINE. It is still winter, but the sun was out yesterday and the city is absolutely beautiful. Kay Warren and members of her family and AIDS/HIV Initiative will be here tomorrow for 4 whirlwind days of ministry in Ukraine. Kay will be speaking at Pastor Anatoly Koluzhney's New Life Church for 3 Sunday Services... (Pastor Anatoly was the first Soviet era pastor to receive Rick Warren's 'PD Church Health Award')...following the services Kay will address a women's conference for 800 Christian leaders from around Kiev and visiting the home of one of the AIDS families at New Life. We'll be meeting on Monday with Christian leaders from the Orthodox, Baptist, Pentecostal and Evangelical communities and discussing their church's approach to the AIDS crisis in Ukraine. If you read Russian you'll love this press release about Kay's visit... http://news.invictory.org/issue16707.html

On Monday night we go by train (photos coming) to the city of Mariopol, Ukraine on the coast of the Azure Sea. We will be meeting with Pasor Ghenady and his congregation Church of Good Changes (one of the great names in church history!) Ghenady is a real champion of orphans and street kids outreach and Kay will be visiting his church's ministries to the drug addicted kids Mariopol. In Kenya the street kids turn to glue and 'changa' (street brew)...in Mariopol they shoot Tramadol and heroin... I'm talking about 10-year-old orphans and runaways. Tramadol is a super strong pain reliever like morphine or oxycontin, but on the mean streets a young boy or girl can easily get high for a few cents or a sexual 'favor'. The results are tragic and widespread...addiction to Tramadol is quick, for many kids it is IMMEDIATE, on their first high. And coming off the drug is a nightmare of pain, sweat, tremors and vomiting. No one...absolutely no one cares for these street kids, but their drug dealers and the Lord Himself. Take a look at a few of the street kids that have come under the care of Pastor Ghenady's 'Pilgrim' homes.

I LOVE getting your comments while I'm on the road, so if you have a moment, click on 'comments', log in and send a word. Megan weeds out whackos and bill collectors.

I know this blog is titled Pastor Steve's KENYA Relief...but I don't think I should create a DIFFERENT blog for every place I go. 'Pastor Steve's Crazy Cambodian Campaign', 'Big Daddy's Oaxacan Adventure', or 'Comrade Steve's Soviet Journeys'...it's all a bit much...let's just meet HERE and you can see where I am from day to day.



Speaking of today... I woke up this morning with a thought that has become all too familiar... 'Where the heck am I this morning?' I looked out my window and saw the Livobareshno Metro station and the Dneiper River...for some of you that's a big clue...for others, no clue at all. I'm on the Left Bank in KIEV, UKRAINE. It is still winter, but the sun was out yesterday and the city is absolutely beautiful. Kay Warren and members of her family and AIDS/HIV Initiative will be here tomorrow for 4 whirlwind days of ministry in Ukraine. Kay will be speaking at Pastor Anatoly Koluzhney's New Life Church for 3 Sunday Services... (Pastor Anatoly was the first Soviet era pastor to receive Rick Warren's 'PD Church Health Award')...following the services Kay will address a women's conference for 800 Christian leaders from around Kiev and visiting the home of one of the AIDS families at New Life. We'll be meeting on Monday with Christian leaders from the Orthodox, Baptist, Pentecostal and Evangelical communities and discussing their church's approach to the AIDS crisis in Ukraine. If you read Russian you'll love this press release about Kay's visit... http://news.invictory.org/issue16707.html



On Monday night we go by train (photos coming) to the city of Mariopol, Ukraine on the coast of the Sea of Azov. We will be meeting with Pasor Ghenady and his congregation Church of Good Changes (one of the great names in church history!) Ghenady is a real champion of orphans and street kids outreach and Kay will be visiting his church's ministries to the drug addicted kids Mariopol. In Kenya the street kids turn to glue and 'changa' (street brew)...in Mariopol they shoot Tramadol and heroin... I'm talking about 10 year old orphans and runaways. Tramadol is super strong pain reliever like morphine or oxycontin, but on the mean streets a young boy or girl can easily get high for a few cents or a sexual 'favor'. The results are tragic and widespread...addiction to Tramadol is quick, for many kids it is IMMEDIATE, on their first high. And coming off the drug is a nightmare of pain, sweat, tremors and vomiting. No one...absolutely no one cares for these street kids, but their drug dealers and the Lord Himself.Take a look at a few of the street kids that have come under the care of Pastor Ghenady's 'Pilgrim' homes. (Megan...please insert a few street kid photos here)I LOVE getting your comments while I'm on the road, so if you have a moment, click on 'comments', log in and sned a word. Megan weeds out whacko's and bill collectors.

Great News about Mobile Medical Clinic Vehicle

Without any formal word going out, folks from our Kenya Missions teams have been praying about helping Sister Freda take her clinics to the refugee camps in the Kitale area, which presently are housing 80,000 + IDP (internally displaced persons…refugees…)


Since the posting of the ‘Why we hold Mobile Medical Clinics” on youtube and this site, over $30,000 USD has come in to Saddleback for this project and we soon have teams going with Freda to serve at the camps in Endebess, Cherengani Hills, Kiminini, and Showgrounds.
One cool family…who hasn’t even been to Kenya, gave a gift that sent me to my knees.

Amazing…keep tuned in …I’ll report to you from Kitale and Nairobi next week. I will be in Kiev and Mariopol , Ukraine next week and will blog from there…(and maybe throw some cool Russian words in for effect) But right now I’m kind of blown away by the generosity of our church community and our Kenya PEACE advocates.


This picture is actually Stonic’s awesome 1996 Land Cruiser and Jim Dobbs photo-shopped the red cross and other affects…but the real deal will look something in between ‘Pimp My Ride’ and ER.

ANSWERED PRAYER!!!

Kenya's rival leaders sign a power-sharing deal mediated by Kofi Annan to end the country's post-election crisis. Hallelujah!

Click the link below to read the full story!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7268903.stm

Why We Hold Mobile Medical Clinics

Why We Hold Mobile Medical Clinics:

#1 Because many people FEAR the hospital, because of bad past experiences and tribal traditions.

#2 Because so many folks are TOO SICK to make it to a formal clinic or District Hospital .

#3 Because I don’t know of ANY way to more clearly reinforce for our teams the ‘face’ of disease and illness.

#4 Because the very DISTANCE of travel to many hospitals makes it almost impossible for the sick.

#5 Because the COSTS for treatment are very often what keep village folks from seeking treatment.

#6 Because a little effort and a few resources go a very long way.

#7 Because Jesus Christ cared about people’s heart and BODY and soul.

#8 Because we are following the Lord’s example and His command. (Matt 22:39)

#9 Because it’s the RIGHT thing to do. (Titus 3:1b) ‘Always be ready to do whatever is good.’

#10 Because Sister Freda does them, and frankly, ANYTHING she does…I want to be a part of.

Why I go to Kitale

Roadblocks

Jeff Frum took this photo one day on the road from El Doret and it reminded me of a camp song we used to sing…

‘So high….you can’t get over it…
So low …you can’t get under it …
So wide…you can’t get around it…
Oh, rock-a-my-soul’

Ever had one of those roadblocks in your life?
Not every roadblock is made of rocks and fallen telephone poles.
Some roadblocks are financial….anybody out there stuck at one?
Some roadblocks are physical…your spirit wants to do things that your body just rebels against.
Some roadblocks are self-imposed…we sabotage our own pathway by terrible decisions.

Some days, all I can do is sit on the very roadblock that is hindering my walk and say, “OK Lord, you’ve got my attention…now what exactly do you want me to do?”

I had absolutely NO idea, at the moment of this photo, as we were stuck as stuck could be…that a group was right behind us, that was going to literally pick up our Land Cruiser and place it on the other side of this barrier. I was looking at the barrier, Not the Divine answer.

In that micro-moment between despair and submission, the Truth of James 1:2 screams.

‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete.”

I’ve got quite a few more roadblocks ahead of me before I can deal with the real meaning of those words…'mature and complete'.

I invite you to take a moment and post a comment about roadblocks…whatever they look like.

An Encouraging Word

I’ve asked Megan to post the following letter that Juliet Jones, a member of Saddleback, recently wrote her friends, colleagues and family. Juliet is Kenyan American. Born and raised in Nairobi , then attended university in the US where she has become a US citizen. She and her mom, Mary, went with our mission team to Kitale in 2005. Her heart breaks for her homeland, but she REFUSES to fall into despair.

I’m posting this letter from Juliet to challenge my friends to seek God’s advice on how THEY can be advocates for the displaced of Kenya.

Your conclusions are yours to make.

Steve

*******************************************

Dear Friends,

Some of you may know me and to some, my name isn’t familiar. Therefore, let me introduce myself. My name is Juliet Githieya Jones, a Kenyan, born and raised in Kenya and currently residing in the US. Because I grew up in Kenya, the recent images on TV, the newspapers, and the internet have been so troubling. Being so far away, it’s easy to be overwhelmed and feel as though there’s nothing I can do, but I know in my heart that’s not right. There are simple things one can do to be an advocate for Peace in Kenya.
· I’m not a politician
· I’m not a community leader
· I’m not wealthy
· I don’t have the ability to travel back & forth, but…
· I am a believer of Jesus Christ
· I can pray
· I can communicate with my friends and family in Kenya
· I can do small, but important acts of kindness, to encourage my brothers & sisters in Kenya.

I am aware that some of you receiving this message may not be familiar with what I’m talking about. In a nutshell, the December 27th 2007, Kenyan Presidential elections that we prayed would go well, and provide just the right leader, erupted in violence when the results were announced. This violence turned village against village, men against men, and, tribe against tribe. Probably, the saddest was the 50 people burned alive in an Assemblies of God Church, in Eldoret. If you would like to read about these events, here are some websites that I found useful: http://www.eastandard.net/; http://www.nationmedia.com/; http://www.bbc.co.uk/; and http://www.cnn.com/.
This is not the Kenya I know! These are not the peace loving people I remember. This is not the future of our Nation! I realize that I am just one person, but one person’s voice and action can make a difference. I want to share my action with you, not to tell you what to do but to encourage you to act in whatever way God leads you. Here’s my personal game plan:
1. I’m doubling up on time spent in prayer. As a divorced mom of 2, my prayer life starts @ 5:45 AM. I need to spend time alone with God begging him for his wisdom and direction. Because I believe in God, I also believe there’s a spiritual dimension to any conflict. If we fail to ask for God’s solution, we may miss the most important part of the equation.
“For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding”. Proverbs 2: 6 (NLT)

“If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent you asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind”. James 1:5-6 (NLT)

2. I am not going to get caught up in exchanges of angry words, finger pointing, and tribalism. Because I happen to be from the Kikuyu tribe, which is at the center of this controversy, it would be easy for me to get caught up in all the ugliness. But, the fact of the matter is, the forces of tribalism could destroy our great nation of Kenya, if left to their own devices. So, I am through identifying myself by my tribe – I AM A KENYAN and I am encouraging my friends and fellow countrymen/women from any of the approximately 42 tribes that make up the Kenyan population to join me in this quest to stop identifying people by tribes, and begin identifying ourselves as Kenyan brothers & sisters, and as people. I am not, by any means, asking you to abandon your culture or heritage, we all should be proud of those attributes. I am however, asking that we refrain from using our tribes as weapons against each other. We ought to strive towards living in unity, harmony & peace.
“How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony!”! Psalm 133:1 (NLT)

“We must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful”. Colossians 3: 13-15 (NLT)

3. I am going to begin baby steps to help with relief efforts in Kenya. The Red Cross has stated that there are over 500 dead and 250,000 displaced people from Mt. Elgon to the coast of Mombasa - from Pokot to the Mara, and this breaks my heart! If I had a million dollars, I would give it to provide relief for our hurting brothers and sisters back home, but I don’t. As I stated earlier, I am a divorced, single parent of two with a recent career change and at the current time, working towards attaining a permanent fulltime job. What I do know, however, is that I don’t have to wait until I’m wealthy to do my part. Jesus blessed the poor woman in the temple who gave what she had. I am part of a group, called “Reaching Beyond Ourselves” a non profit organization. This group is trying, in simple ways, to help turn around issues like poverty, ravaging diseases and broken relationships. This year, Reaching Beyond Ourselves has been involved in various projects in rural Kenyan communities such as:
· Clean water projects
· HIV/AIDS education
· Micro enterprise projects
· Relief work during the tribal clashes in Mt. Elgon area

I have decided that one of the ways to get the best “bang-for-my-bucks” is to invest in relief kits for the displaced people of Kenya. A simple gift of $45.00 provides a displaced family with 2 tarps, 4 blankets, 2 cooking pots, 4 plates, 4 spoons, 2 cooking/serving spoons, kitchen knife, water container, mosquito net, multipurpose soap, salt, plastic wash basin, 2 lesos (multiuse cloth), and a sewing kit. Reaching Beyond Ourselves is distributing these kits through the local church network in Kenya to these people who have been left absolutely destitute.

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.” Proverbs 3:27-28 (NLT)

“But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help – how can God’s love be in that person? 1 John 3:17 (NLT)

Saddleback Church members can give to these relief kits through an established “Kenya Relief” fund that is also fully tax deductable and in BOTH cases 100% of any gift will go directly to the relief kits and their distribution through local church networks.

Send Saddleback Checks to:

Don Thompson Coordinator of Kenya Relief Saddleback Church

1 Saddleback Pkwy Lake Forest, CA. 92630

And please note ‘Kenya Relief’ on the memo line.

I am writing you, not as a fundraiser, but as an awareness raiser. My conclusions don’t have to be your conclusions. But, I am challenging you to do what you can to help bring peace, security, safety and stability back to our wonderful nation of Kenya. PRAY, RAISE AWARENESS, and GIVE what you can. If you would like to give through Reaching Beyond Ourselves, you can send a check for any amount to:

Reaching Beyond Ourselves
21961 Calatrava
Mission Viejo, Ca. 92692

Since Reaching Beyond Ourselves is a 501c 3 charitable organization recognized by the US, your gifts are entirely tax deductible. I welcome any comments or suggestions…anything that would help to alleviate this human suffering. Thank you for your time and God bless you all.

Serving Him,

Juliet Githieya Jones

31441 Santa Margarita Pkwy # A284 Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 Nyakiega22@yahoo.com

speechless

There's always that ONE kid...

There's absolutely no explaining why one kid in particular catches your eye...and your heart...but it always seems to happen.

It's not that he is the smallest or the skinniest or the saddest...It's not that she is the prettiest or the smartest or the one with the sweetest smile.

Only God knows how the face of a Kenyan street kid can etch it's image so deeply into my mind and my life... but here I am, back home in the OC, at 3 in the morning, looking at this little boy's face just as clearly as if he was sitting here in front of me.

But the truth is...he's not here.He's still in a refugee camp in Cherengany.

I'm sleeping in my Dove Canyon home...he's sleeping under a tarp.
I have my wife by my side...he's surrounded by 7 other kids who have no idea who he is.
I have sheets and pillows and blankets...he stays warm by curling up close to the nearest child.
I have the love of my family and friends...he has no one to love him or to tuck him in or to kiss him goodnight.
If I'm thirsty, I simply get a drink of water...he has to wait in line for hours to get a cup of dirty well water.
I have a restroom to privately use when I need it...he shares one of the five public latrines with 22,000 people.
I can't even remember the last time I was really hungry...hunger is his constant shadow.
I stayed with him for a couple days...he may be there for months.

It's not the nights where I sit and see his face so clearly, in my memory, that bothers me. It's the thought that in a few months I will try as hard as I can to conjure up the memory of that face...but it will be lost...Replaced by an image on ESPN or a commercial on TV or a new titanium golf club...or my busy schedule.Even though I'll be back at the camp in a few weeks, chances are, I may never be able to find him...I don't even know his name.

But I know Someone who does...and He never forgets...

Stonic and Steve

Email from Sister Freda

Dear Megan,

Greetings from Kitale Kenya. Thank you for your letter and all the prayers for me, my people and my country as a whole. It is wonderful to learn that you are there for us in every way.

Well Megan as you already know, Pastor Steve has now left briefly for California after visiting Ruanda.

Megan the refugee camps are now swelling with many people arriving daily.There are more than six camps with in reach of the Hospital so I can help them.Fresh eruptions of arson, killings, rape and other atrocities continue.

Conditions in the camps are appalling.Sanitation is very poor due to limited water supply and congestion.There is rape in the camps.therefore the risk is a high of HIV infection and other venereal diseases,and so we are dealing with depression in the victims.

The food ration is inadequate and many women and children do not have a balanced diet as they only eat what is offered,the other day I took some bananas to the children and up to three were sharing one banana,they have learnt to wait patiently for the little that is offered,no fighting or jostling for food I feel so sorry for them that I shed tears.This being the dry season and all the grass has dried up the camps are very dusty making it a fertile breeding ground for jiggers,and most people in the camps have no foot wear and their feet are now jigger infected you can see little children walking as if they are crippled due to the jiggers in their toes.

Today as I was doing a regular clinic at one of the camps,I came across several cases of malaria due to lack of mosquito nets,also malnutrition eye infections diarrhea diseases lung infections depression to mention but a few.

Talking to a few of the refugees none of them want to return to their homes as they have lost everything they owned.One of them an old man of 85 was milking his cow when the enemy struck and he was told to leave or die,as he walked a few meters away he looked back and saw his house and maize store burning and the enemy walking away with the old mans one cow.

Children mothers and fathers are separated and all around what we see is hopelessness.The day Pst.Steve left,another church was burnt near Eldoret and many people lost their lives as they fled others suffered severe injuries from arrow wounds the arrows cant be pulled out as they are barbed,which means in some cases major operations but in all cases a operation.

Yesterday we held another clinic by a Church refugee sanctuary here there are more than six hundred men women and children and their only shelter is the Church no beddings no clothes no food,Megan just pray that we get enough money to save my people,our people.

So long and God bless,

Sister Freda.

Oasis of Hope & Geoffrey's Email

Please be sure to visit www.myspace.com/oasisofhope and web.mac.com/oasisofhope. Lydia, Geoffrey and all of the people at O.O.H. are amazing servants of our Lord. God bless them richly for the compassion that overflows from their hearts. Brothers and sisters I urge you to remain steadfast in your prayers for this incredible organization that reaches out to the forgotten ones of Kitale, Kenya. Support them in any way you can!


--------------------------------------------------------

When I first heard that Steve was coming to Kenya , the first thing I thought was, Steve is becoming crazier! But NO, Steve is not crazy as you think too, he is just responding to the call he received many years ago. He has been coming to Kenya every year this time and nothing was going to stop him from doing the same this year. Coming to Kenya when every other person was struggling to get a seat on the next plane out of Kenya made me feel how much Steve loves Kenya...he loves us.

As I told you, I thought Steve was crazy when he decided to come to Kitale but NO, he became more crazy when he said to me “………Geoffrey, we are going to spend the night tomorrow at the Cherangany refugee camp…..” Well, at that moment, I thought about where the camp is situated and its risk as I had visited sometime that same week. This is the same refugee camp that was invaded by armed gangs and stole hundreds of cattle and disappeared in the neighboring forest besides the camp being at the police station. I was thinking all this things but there was no way I was going to convince Steve otherwise. So I said “…..it's okay Steve.” So that night when they were at the refugee camp, I spoke to him and he seemed okay despite the flare that went over the camp. I just prayed that nothing bad would happen there.

There is so much that I can say about Steve’s trip now that he is ‘safe’ in ‘ RWANDA ’. But I just want to send so many thanks to this great man of God. He has surely proved that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. God bless you Pastor Steve. I also want to send my many thanks to Dan Hamer. Not many would have loved to do what you did, with all those road blocks from Eldoret. Bravo too to Jeff, his first time in Kenya but went through hell. Hi Jeff, it is not always like that here, Kenya had just lost its mind a little, please come back again when things are cool!

And to all those prayer warriors from Saddleback and all over the world, thanks for your continued prayers. Those are the real prayers of the righteous, God bless you abundantly. Thanks again to all those who kept in touch with Steve and us, thanks Lydia, thanks Megan for the incredible job, thanks Juliet and many thanks to all. You are all heroes and heroines through Christ Jesus, keep up the good job.

Back to Steve, you know we just parted unceremoniously, after that urgent call, you left Kitale in hurry and we had a schedule the same day, otherwise, I am glad that you are safe and healthy and we can do that another day.

In Christ,
Geoffrey- Oasis of Hope.

Email!

Hey...just forwarding on an email I received....


Hey Megan,
I bet You are doing well.
We Visited Kachibore Refugee Camp where 20,000 people are left with no homes, house burnt to ashes, animals taken and innocent daughters raped. Steve and I spent the night at the camp. How can a Muzungu{White}Sleep in a refugee camp? They shook their heads with disbelief. Late in the night some came and discovered that a Saddleback Church Representative really was sharing with them the pain and loss in the cold.
Long live Saddleback, God Bless Steve.
Love,
James Juma Wanyonyi
Long time Saddleback Friend in Conflicted Kenya

From Rwanda

Stonic---Allen

Folks, oh how my heart was overwhelmed with joy when I heard the amazing news (detailed below by Steve) of the way our Lord provided safety for Allen and Stonic! Let us forge ahead, fervent in prayer and steadfast in hope in our Lord as our hearts cry out to Emmanuel for Kenya.


-Megan


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I was sitting on my flight from Nairobi to Kigali, Rwanda and thinking...."How messed-up are things in the world when I'm fleeing from murderous tribal clashes and escaping to the safety of...RWANDA."

When I get back home, I'll look the definition of IRONIC and it may just list this scenario.

I'm sitting in my room now, in Rwanda, SAFE but definitely NOT SOUND, trying my hardest to sort through the events of the last few days...and where God has led and how He has answered prayers.

GOOD NEWS...no GREAT NEWS...

Stonic and Allen patched together another pass at a back road passage to Eldoret and MADE IT SAFELY. They were allowed on a transport plane to Nairobi, filled with terrified families, but made it back to their wives after 2 days of 'riding out the storm' at our compound in Kitale. A 90 minute drive under normal conditions turned into 6 hours of roadblocks and side journeys.

THANK YOU ALL FOR PRAYING FOR THESE GUYS....

Each of these faces and voices have flashed before me in the most dramatic last few days, and then suddenly I'm sitting here at 3 am trying to make sense of all we've been through.



Sister Freda
Geoffrey from Oasis of Hope
James
Juma
Ben and Christine
The kids of Tumaini < Tumaini
Moses and Margaret
Butaki
Jason
Andrews mom, in the ditch (some things just never change)
Baby Moses
Patricia Sawa
Stephen Mairori
Peter
Lilac
Jacinta
Charles and Thomas...and Joseph
The inmates at Kitale prison
The kids from Mercy
And many, many more...



Pity Jeff Blum, who Dan Hamer brought to observe the plight of two GLUE BOYS, Charles and Thomas. This was Jeff's 1st mission to Africa and a few times, when we were surrounded by angry mobs with bows and rocks and machetes, I wondered if Jeff would venture out of the OC EVER AGAIN. Jeff is a champ. When Dan Hamer called from Nairobi last week and asked, " uhm, Steve, is it really safe to go to Kitale right now?" I didn't honestly know how God would get us through to Jeff and him, but I knew Dan wanted in the worst way to see his kids.
Stonic was unbelievable at every turn and crisis.



I had intended for this blog to be a couple paragraphs whenever I could splice together a message to Megan, and she has turned out to be such a blessing to me (and all of you).
Thanks Megan, I know how much you wanted to be here and how much effort and time this took in the midst of your last semester of your senior year of journalism school...I owe you big time...



In the next couple days I'm going to link a YOU TUBE entry to this blog so you can see some of the places the Lord has taken me in the past few day..And we'll all get together and pray for the future of Kenya....God save her...



" to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power, ...to Him be GLORY" Ephesians 3:20



Now I'm going to try and sleep for the first time in a few days.





-Steve

A Message from Dan Hamer

Since I am assuming that Steve has filled in everyone on this crazy trip I won't go into detail on that. Suffice it to say that when Steve says "Don't worry, Stonic and I just drove on the road between Eldoret and Kitale this morning and there's no problem", he is a LIAR!!!. Choosing to visit Kenya in the middle of a revolution is probably not the best time to visit but God has shown up in unimaginable ways. Despite the chaos, God has used our visit to encourage our ministry partners who are facing a very difficult time ahead. Please continue to pray for them.

What I did want to talk about is the miracle of being at the house which a group of "changed lives". As I looked around the room on Tuesday night at Steve's house in Kitale I saw example after example of the transforming power of Christ. Under Steve's leadership Saddleback's ministry in Kenya has been a part of each of these stories. There was Juma who left a hopeless life on the streets of Kitale to become a fine young Christian man after receiving a chance when a team from Saddleback took him to Tumaini. There was James who was always around on Saddleback trips since he was a very young boy. Dawn and DJ Shuster gave him a chance in life and he now has a good job as a prison guard and cares for his brothers and sisters and their children. There was Leloc who was a little neighbor girl who lived next to Tumaini but the infectious nature of the Christian life helped her cross over the fence to find Christ. She is now a beautiful sixteen year old who hopes to become a doctor. Charles and Thomas were there. Many of you know them as the little boys in "Glue Boys" who appeared to have no hope when their mother died during the filming. God had different plans and now they are amazing little boys with a bright future thanks to caring Christians that are determined to make sure they do not fall between the cracks. There was Geoffrey who is transforming the street children of Kitale thanks to his work with Lydia Monroe and others at Saddleback. There was Jacinta who cares for 22 children at the Purpose Driven Academy and treats each of them as a child of God. And others were there with an equally amazing witness to the power of relationships with a person that eventually led to a relationship with Christ.

Each with a story. Each with a transformed life thanks in large part to Steve and his ministry in Kenya that so many of us have been blessed to be a part of. When we are praying for the political situation in Kenya, we should never forget to praise God for the changed lives and the mission ahead to have an even greater impact in the days and years ahead.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!!

EMAIL I RECEIVED:

Megan, Steve wants to pass on an urgent prayer request for Stonic and Allen. The three of us flew out safely but Stonic and Allen, trying to get back to their families in Nairobi, had to drive. They got most of the way to Eldoret when the second MP (Member of Parliament) was assassinated in Eldoret. Their safety was immediately at risk with mobs burning trucks just ahead of them on the road. They had to turn back to Kitale. For Stonic to turn back it must have been bad.Pray that Stonic will have wisdom on the timing and discernment on the route to get back to his family.

A Broken Heart

AGAIN, JEFF FRUM:


After Stonic literally climbed over the biggest roadblock yet, a telephone pole fortfied with boulders in his amazing "Indiana Jones" like Land Cruiser, Steve asked Dan and me if we could just stop by the Kachibora Refugee Camp.We ended up spending a couple of hours walking through this surreal scene of extreme poverty. It didn't take long to attract every child in camp to our side. The three funny Muzungu's lead hundreds of kids in singing and dancing. It was a privilege to provide a brief moment of escape for these innocent victims.We were told by the Red Cross there were over 6,000 children in this camp that were separated from there families in the chaos. 6,000 new orphans!What amazed me was the pure joy in these children's eyes. They couldn't stop touching us. Dan and I were walking with twenty kids each clinging to us and I said to him that this place just can't exist on this planet. How can this happen? No human being, created in God's image, should ever have to live in conditions like Kachibora. Yet, God was working to redeem lives in the midst of all this suffering. My life cannot be the same after seeing what I've seen.

Perspective from the backseat

THE FOLLOWING IS A MESSAGE FROM JEFF FRUM:

This is my first trip to Kenya so my anticipation of adventure was high. Especially traveling with two veterans, Dan Hamer and Steve Rutenbar. I never could've prepared myself for our journey on the backroads from Eldoret to Kitale. Steve warned us there were roadblocks the entire 50 mile stretch so as a good rookie would do in the back seat - I had my camera ready. Five minutes into our journey we slowed to drive over downed powerlines and around fires set to block the road. Stonic, our driver, a fearless Masai warrior, contined to navigate this dangerous stretch. I looked out to the left and saw a mob running toward our car upset that we passed their obstacles. I thought - this would be great picture - after I snapped the photo Steve yelled back at me, "Put the camera away!". I'm thinking I could've used that information a few minutes ago!The mob completely surrounded our car and began climbing onto the vehicle. I looked at Dan and wondered if this was it. Dan with his dry humor asked Steve, "Was it like this when you came this morning?". We began wondering if we had offended Steve in any way because it sure seemed like he was trying to get us killed! All joking aside, God intervened through the amazing courage of Stonic and through the compassion of Steve as they talked us through more than a dozen roadside confrontations. I saw angry men carrying machettes, bows and arrows, wood planks with nail spikes, and rocks charging our truck for three hours.In a strange way it is such a blessing to get out of Orange County where my pace of life often prevents me from seeing God at work. He is doing miracles in the hearts of Kenyans - I was a witness of that today!

Exit Strategy

I first heard the term 'exit strategy' in a missions class at Wheaton Grad School, and I'm very sure it had nothing to do with what we went through today.

Since the killing of the MP in Nairobi(go to http://allafrica.com/stories/200801290995.html to read a story about it), and the subsequent tear gassing of his home and mourning family, there has been an incredible step up in anger across the country, even in otherwise calm and pastoral areas like Kitale. Harmon Parker, the founder of Bridging the Gap, called me with a message from his friends in intel at the US Embassy and the UN. He said the Kitale area could be next area to explode and the Embassy is asking Everyone get to safe ground because ALL roadways will be closed down in the next days.
Angry mobs between ElDoret and Kitale have taken over the highway and

search every car one lorry for Kikuyus.

Moi's Bridge has been completely torn down, making it impossible to pass the way we traditionally do.

The area of MATUNDA is in complete chaos, no vehicle is able to pass...roadblocks of steel and telephone poles and boulders are all across the road today the community of Soy...where there is always a little market going on is just crazy...people are lashing out...saying they want justice, but being incited by the boldest in the change drinking crowds.

We got together with Butaki and Stephen Mairori, and found out there was an airlift out of the airstrip by Sister Freda's. Some of you guys who flew to Kakuma Camp by Sudan, remember this strip...it's basically just a cornfield with a weathervane. As much as we didn't want to go in this way, ...we had 30 minutes to decide ...Stonic told us, "Steve, get on this flight...it will be the only way back to Nairobi for a long time."

So we quickly prayed for and said goodby to Ayub, Mary, James, Juma, Jason, Lilac, Freddy and Sylvester, all of whom have been riding out the storm on our compound, and headed to the airstrip.

Stonic talked with the pilot of the turboprop and Dan Hamer, Jeff Frum and me on the flight...Nathan Chesang, the board chairman of ICM and director of Circle of Light, a partnership with the COORS family, pulled up with his son Allen and prayed for us. Then...before we could even reflect on the last few days...we were in the air and heading for El Doret.

El Doret Airport was quite a scene...Military EVERYWHERE. Marksmen carrying machine guns and rifles.... hundreds of soldiers being moved onto and off Airforce transport planes. We're pretty sure they are headed for Kitale to fortify things there. Each soldier , steely eyed, with the look of combat ahead .Let me tell you this is not the city we have ministered in over the last 10 years...it's absolutely Dodge City..Hamer and Frum and I watched from under an acacia tree, sucked down an Orange Fanta (mmmm) and tried to picture what lay ahead.

From the air... fires and smoke all around...well that's for another message....

Thanks for your prayers and encouraging comments.

Sister Freda

Hey Folks!
No, it's not Steve this time, but rather, me, Megan Affleck. Thanks so much for checking the blog daily and for your ardent pleading before the Lord's throne. Below is a copy of the e-mail I received the other day from Sister Freda. Her insights paint a poignant scene that breaks my heart, but encourages my fervent prayers to the Lord.

In Him,
Megan
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Dear Megan,

Greetings from Kitale , Kenya . The once peaceful country has now become war torn.

Today, as Pastor Steve Rutenbar and I headed towards Kachibora Refugee Camp 35 Kilometres East of Kitale Town on the foothills of Cheragani Hills, we saw many abandoned homes; these houses were burnt by arsonists after announcement of Presidential election results. As one woman described to us is that the grass thatched houses were set on fire, while the stone houses, petrol was used to set the houses on fire. There are other refugee camps, on Kitale Show ground, which is a Kilometre from the town centre, Wamuini Refugee Camp which is 5 Kilometres West of Kitale Town and Endebess Refugee Camp which is 15 Kilometres North West of Kitale Town.


We arrived at Kachibora Refugee camp; we saw rows of very small tents, which housed family members of up to 7. Entering the tents we saw dusty and flea infested floors, there were no blankets or anything to cover the floor, most houses had little or no earthly belongings. We met mothers and sick children. In the camp there were cows and calves tethered securely on the posts at the side of the camp.

The women made make shifts Kitchen that were composed of three stones and what was used as firewood was maize stalks which emit a lot of smoke and burn very fast to cook the very little food they have been supplied with. Other women were washing clothes with filthy water.

Many women and children were lined up for the precious commodity of water which was brought by Red Cross tanker. This water was not enough for over 20,000 people living in the camp. Men were sitting in small groups discussing and pondering what next.

Talking to some people we learn that on the night of 30th December 2007 immediately after result of the Kenyan elections following the dispute of elections hell broke loose all that did not belong the tribe that is indigenous that region were driven away by the arsonists who razed their houses, and killing some of them.

So day and night, women, children and men walked miles to get to the nearest police station which was many miles away to seek help. Help come several days late as the roads, everywhere was blocked, women and children had run through the night. One woman who was then seven months pregnant , with a toddler on her chest and another on back with two younger ones on her side, she ran non stop to the centre only to have a miscarriage a few days later. Another one who is 56 year old widow with her nine children left their home after their house was torched and all her sheep and goats perished. She was glad that she was alive with her children. She ran and thanked God for her miracle of life.

Another man who was a senior pastor was ordered out of his residence and shot dead. All his cattle were stolen. Policemen and other government officials have been killed in these tribal clashes.

Hunger, disease, devastation is felt all through the camp. Women, children, and men sleep on the bare ground. They have nothing to cover, no clothes to wear, no shoes, no medication as the medicines are scarce, and those on Anti retroviral have no medicine and this will affect their health in that they will have to start their doses all over again when the it is available. There was one woman who asked for a bible.


Pastor Steve is preparing to stay in the camp praying for these people and giving them moral support. Please Megan pray for him.


God’s blessings!


Sister Freda.