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Feb. 11th, 2010

Dear Friends,

I arrived in Kenya yesterday evening and I felt at home as soon as I spoke to a Kenyan. The Kenyan people are so friendly and polite and there is something special about their smile. I was met by Alice's son Rudolph and a taxi driver named Mike. They took me to the hotel for 4 hours sleep before the long and arduous drive across Kenya's great Rift Valley. I have never seen the streets of this city of 5 million so quiet. It seems we have beat the traffic with our 4 am departure. I hope to arrive before the team leaves the church service in Migori. The road ahead is dark as we leave the city. Suddenly we come upon a roadblock with 8 policeman carrying automatic weapons. They were searching vehicles for contraband but I knew what was on their mind. Roadblocks are a common site with spikes across the road but we are usually waived through when we are in a safari tour van. They don't harass the tour companies but average Kenyans can be a different story. The police made us pull over for inspection. They told my driver Michael to get out of the car. I was sitting in the passenger seat wondering what was next. The policeman searched the trunk and asked my driver for $100 for not having little orange "life saver" markers for the road when you are broken down. He then asked Rudolph to exit and flashed his light in my eyes. What's in the luggage he asked. Mike told him it was my luggage and it could not be opened. Mike walked away with him into the darkness and returned saying he took 200 schillings (3 dollars) but he wanted the 8,000 or 100 usd. Micheal came to me and asked me to give him 1000 schillings, about 13 dollars. They let us go without a citation but some money in their pocket. This is a lot considering his wages are about 3-4 dollars per day. Mike said they would do this all night with the whole group splitting the money with their head policeman. That made me a little nervous but it was not ten minutes until we were waived down by another armed policeman requesting a lift down the road. Mike asked me what I thought and I didn't know if we actually had any choice. He got in the car sitting behind me with his big gun dressed in military fatigues. I of course was wondering if this was a set up. He asked us to pull over down the road about two miles and he thanked us for the ride. There are so many good policeman but corruption is a way of life for many. We are taking a different route today hoping to make up some lost time.Kenya is a beautiful country with very loving and appreciative people but survival and corrupt leaders feed dishonest behavior. I am encouraged with the positive political changes believe there is a better Kenya ahead. I am so blessed to have such an interesting life. I would have never chose to leave my home for a life like this but God had different a different plan for me and my family. Eight years have passed since we lost our precious daughter and if I could turn ball the hands of time it would be hard not to give up everything we have accomplished just to see her again. Acceptance is sometimes hard but God has given me faith in Him and His plan for my life. I remember the night I was diagnosed with lymphoma and thinking soon this 37 year old with three young children would leave them behind. Greta and I searched the scriptures for direction. I was given the story of Daniel about to be thrown into the lions den. We felt that God was able to deliver me from the cancer but even if He didn't, it was OK because he would care for my family. I read another account where a man was given notice of his impending death and he pleaded with God to give him 15 years. I felt God was going to give me 15 to see my children grow. I met the next night with my church elders and they laid hands on me a prayed for healing. One of the ladies praying told me God had more work left for me to do. I am grateful to be His servant. My prayer this morning is that you would join us in this work that KR is doing. We are seeing the fruit of our labor. Lives are being changed and the future of this country is bright. We invest our lives as acts of obedience and the creator of the universe does marvelous things. I am constantly reminded as I see so many suffer that I am to give back. I have more than I need and I cannot take it with me. I know that KR is accountable with its finances. I believe there is no better place to see your time or money used more productively. This is why I feel comfortable asking you to ask yourself have you been given more than you need. Kenyarelief has the opportunity to save thousands of lives with our health care outreach. The fact is we are limited by our funds. You can make a difference today. I will write more later.

God bless, Steve James