A local pastor took part in a small, international ceremony

in Kenya recently to memorialize those who died in the United

States Embassy bombing.

Representing Christians around the world, Father David

Epps, pastor of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church

in Peachtree City along with three American bishops, one

European bishop, one Southeast Asian bishop, one Kenyan bishop

and other priests laid a wreath at the site last month in honor of

the 213 Kenyan families who lost a relative in the terrorist blast.

"It was a dangerous journey, in light of the $10,000 bounty

placed on American heads by the terrorists," Epps said. "Many of

the passersby stopped and glowered at the van full of

non-Africans who had stopped at this place of pain and anguish."

There was a pile of thousands of flowers there, he said, four

feet high and five feet wide, mixed with toys, personal notes,

written prayers and religious articles. On a wall behind the altar of

flowers were dozens of photographs of the Kenyan victims.

"The sadness of the place overwhelmed us all," Epps said.

"The glare of the onlooking crowd softened a bit as we touched the

photographs and wept." The Episcopalian contention gathered

around the flower pile to read Scriptures, to repent, to pray and to

intercede for the nation of Kenya and its citizens.

More than 5,400 people were injured and 250 killed in the

August blast. Many are still hospitalized over a month later, and

more than 200 still need reconstructive surgery. Twelve Americans

died in the bombing.

Epps said he and many of us are often outraged at the loss of

American lives in such situations, but fail to consider the loss of lives

of people from other countries. He said the Nairobi trip changed

his attitude.

"The face of anguish has no nationality," he said. "A

Kenyan child cries just as sorrowfully at the senseless loss of his mother

as a child in upscale America. The blood that flowed so freely

in Nairobi Aug. 7 was all red and it was all precious.

"I will never be able to forget, or ignore, again."

Epps was in Africa for two weeks, during which he

attended pastors' conferences, the consecration of three bishops and

ordination of 12 clergy in Kenya and Uganda, among other activities.

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