Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper reported Jan. 24, "President Kibaki and…Raila Odinga have met for the first time since the disputed General Election." This came late in the day after a mediation contingent, led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, met privately with both sides. Nothing has changed yet, with both men insisting that they won the election.

The real basis of Kenya's violence lies not in politics, nor in ethic hatred, but in the fragility of daily life and the despair of any hope. But Kenya is expected to calm and return to normalcy, thanks to the basic decency of ordinary Kenyans.

Interruption of supplies, fuel, food, transportation and a potential collapse of the tourism and agricultural industries are a foreboding reality.

Jan. 19, our deacon Antonio (full names withheld for security reasons) visited the Elburgon congregation where Kalenjin tribal violence is being reported in the news. The Kalenjin tribe has used the current tribal strains to demand a clearing of all tribes from its ancestral lands. Portions of their Rift Valley lands were taken by the British during colonial rule. Afterwards, the British sold the lands to others instead of returning them to the Kalenjins. Now they claim for themselves the Rift Valley region, insisting that all others leave.

A few UCG members have come close to the violence in the Rift Valley and in Migori. Jan. 23, Geoffrey, our local congregational leader in Elburgon, slept outside with his neighbors to try to keep people from burning their houses and crops like they had done other houses nearby.

In Migori, our deacon Moses does not feel safe anymore. He is a Kisii living in Luo lands. This week some neighbors began stoning his family's house until others intervened on their behalf.

In one area citizens looted and burned the district hospital. In the city of Kisumu, citizens reportedly looted and burned nearly every business.

However, all of our brethren of all the tribes and affected areas have been spared any loss.

Many members continue to be affected by the disruption of services and supplies, particularly our Lou members in Western Kenya where our deacon Otieno says, "We are now in another world. Commodities prices have hiked up; transportation is too high; life has changed dramatically. But this is where we are now. We are just praying, since only God is able to solve the problem and bring our country to normal life we were used to."

The interruption of transportation has pushed prices of available food out of reach for many. A Good Works project was quickly funded in January and supplied the immediate funds needed for needy brethren to purchase the increasingly expensive food they require.

A question frequently arises from compassionate Church members, "What can we do to help?" We have already received sufficient funds for the current needs through the Good Works project. Those funds are already being distributed according to needs, particularly in Western Kenya. Most other areas have food and necessities available at this time. The current funds will hopefully cover any extreme needs the brethren have there through March. We will continue to monitor the situation and will announce future needs should additional funds be required.

At this time you can help most by remembering all of our brethren worldwide in your prayers. While this area is receiving a lot of attention, such situations are mirrored in countless other regions where daily life begs for the return of Jesus Christ's government. As Antonio told me, "Thankfully, we are all safe and doing well. We are praying for peace in the country for the sake of being able to continue doing God's work."