As I travel back to Kenya across the vast land from the palm tree filled coast of Dar Salem, Tanzania into the lush farm lands and mountains jungles, to the desert bush land there was an ever present PEACE of this land that flowed like the new tide with fresh waves, rhythmically flowing from one place to another, across geographical, cultural and religions regions. Like the rolling hills of the desert region flows gracefully under the feet of the young Maasai boy herding his sheep so does the ethnical, cultural and religious diversity flow gracefully from one area to another; Masai, Hindu, Arabic, Christian, Muslim all with their own uniqueness and flavor each carries it's own sense of dignity and confidence, striving and sometimes struggling to survive. Grace is given to the young Masai boy who makes his way in an ever changing, advancing world as he dreams of holding onto his tradition in his dress, language, tribal practices and cultural practices including the goal of fulfilling his dream of becoming a Masai Warrior, privileged to full rights of manhood to kill a lion, take a wife and giving his family new generations of future proud Masai Warriors. The training and dedication given to the Masai children that equips them to have the inner strength to turn away from the modern world and keep within their tradition is to be admired. Each Masai carries a strong inner sense of self-discipline and self-control instilled firmly in their character and daily life style. I wondered what are we as Christians passing onto our children to equip them to turn away from the corruption, evil and sins of this world. We teach them to accept Jesus into there lives, that He forgives us; we know that He died and rose for us. But there is one more thing that we often leave out, to "go and sin no more, change your ways! Jesus taught us to go and sin now more, calls us to change our ways, turn away from sin, don't comprise your Christian values for the short lived fun and glory of SIN! What are we teaching our children to over indulge in everything in our lives including God's Grace and promise of forgiveness? As Christian parents and leaders we need to provide guidance and training for our youth to be equipped to be Christian Warriors - able to pass on to a family what it means to be not only proud to be an American or African but proud to be a Christian Warrior, living a Christ like life, not afraid to take on the raging lions that may come to them in the middle of the day or the darkness of the night.

May God's blessings fall afresh on you,
Carol Carlyle