In July 2007, there was a call for 200 Ambassadors for Peace from the United States to go to foreign countries (together with 2,000 Japanese and 2,000 Korean Ambassadors for Peace)

I decided to volunteer and immediately contacted my District Leader. He placed me on the list of volunteers. A few weeks went by, and I received a phone call from Rev. Jorg Heller in New York. He was coordinating the dispatch of these Ambassadors for Peace and wanted to know when I would be going to Kenya. I was supposed to go by September 17. It was August already, so there was little time to prepare.

I decided to go to Kenya from September 3rd to 15th, thus beating the deadline by two days!

The mission was to spread the message of peace in the chosen country.

I did not really know how this would turn out. I did not have a specific person to meet once I arrived in Kenya.

I decided I would spread the message of peace in some way, but I did not want to develop a definite plan until I met the existing Ambassadors for Peace in Kenya. When I arrived In Kenya, I decided to go the FFWP office in the town of Eldoret.

Upon meeting the local Ambassadors for Peace, it became clear to me that I needed to work in the vicinity of Eldoret to spread the Peace Messages.

In Africa, most ethnic conflicts arise from seemingly insignificant disputes. Grazing land for cattle, water resources, and land boundaries are the most common sources of conflict. These small conflicts can escalate to community fights that lead to tribal and ethnic conflicts if left unchecked.

In every community, the primary responsibly for conflict resolution rests with the elders of the community and the local chief. Therefore I decided that I would promote the peace philosophy of UPF to local chiefs, sub-chiefs and village elders. Since most of them have experienced ethnic conflict in their lives, this was a message they could easily relate to. I also decided to visit teachers and schools.

During this year's visit, I met the village elders and chiefs individually and explained the importance of peace as the only way to progress. Peace creates stability in a community. This stability enables people to make small, incremental steps to make their lives better. I explained that the desire of God is for peaceful communities. I emphasized my role as an ambassador for Peace in America, and that our effort was primarily to create a peaceful world.

Next year I will return to the same communities in Kenya and form local peace assemblies. Out of these assemblies will emerge Ambassadors for Peace who will be appointed national Ambassadors for Peace. This honor will go to those who demonstrate exemplarily abilities in peacemaking at the grass roots!

Rev. Charles Cherutich