Finding Peace

     Today it has been eerily quiet in this part of Kenya.  As I sit in the shade at the cafe up on the main road I am almost apprehensive about the lack of noise from passing cars and busy people going places.  

     At this moment the entire nation of Kenya is holding it's breath as votes are counted from their national election for many offices but most importantly for the office of President.  Five years ago, this same election was held and it ended it very extreme violence.  Over 1,200 people were killed and around 600,000 people were displaced.  There are many reasons (corruption, poverty, money, tribalism) why things like this happen in Kenya but probably the biggest reason is tribalism.  Many people in Kenya still very much align themselves with the tribes they came from (Kikuyu, Luo, Luya, Masai, Kamba, Kalenjin, Giriama, etc.) and also tend to vote along those same tribal lines.  When votes don't go the way one tribal group wants then it is easy for these groups to visit violence upon a nearby group that they don't like and have had long held prejudice against.  Even worse is that these public figures (politicians) use these tribal prejudices in their favor to stir up confusion and trouble at election time to muddy up the vote.

     All this to say again that it has been extremely quiet today here in Kenya.  Everyone is on edge waiting for election results and praying that their will be no violence.  On Sunday I attended church with my cousin in law, Brian Harrison, here in Nairobi and was encouraged by the worship/prayer service that was all about God blessing the election, God selecting moral leaders and God helping Kenya maintain the peace no matter the outcomes of the election.  People in this country yearn to not only have a successful, vibrant community (one that is bursting with natural resources and abundant beauty) but also a country that follows God and His will.  Paul writes, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcend all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6,7).  So I ask that you please pray for this country and the Kenyan people over the next several days.  I ask that you pray for peace to rule in the hearts of everyone involved in this election and that God will confound the steps of any who wish to do evil in the wake of this election.  I ask that you pray for those leaders who are selected, that they will be men and women of peace, wisdom and faith in God.  And most importantly I ask that you will pray that God will continue to bless this nation and help to them to be a people and a nation that follow God.