A New Year & A New Village

December 31, 2013 (Tuesday) We have an early morning meeting planned in another part of Turkana land.  We enter a very small room made from the mud of the earth.  Pieces of cloth are hung from the walls as decoration.  It is cool inside and a welcome relief from the sun that beats down upon us. The room is small but it is full.  The drums beat and the singing begins.  Women adorned in bright colored beads dance in the small space that is available to them. Another takes over the drum and the worship continues. Children gather near the door and just gaze in at the white woman.  A quick smile sent their way brings a few giggles!  

I’m welcomed by the mamas and they tell me that they have been praying for me. When they heard of my injured ankle in May they prayed even more.

 

At the end of our service more food was given out. Hunger is not far from all that live in Turkana land.  It is a desperate and needy place especially when it doesn’t rain.

As we talk I am told about more fighting between the Pokot and Turkana.  It seems that many Pokot with machine guns have stopped the bus that travels out of Turkana land.  They had all the Turkana get off the bus and killed them.  The remaining people on the bus were sent on their way.

Soldiers have been called in to oversee certain areas of this desolate road that must be traveled if one is leaving here by vehicle.

Pastors, reverends and priests from this are have all come together for a conference to see what can be done to promote peace between these two tribes.  These tribes have been in conflict with each other for years and the problem is escalating.

January 1, 2014 (Wednesday) From the safety of my room I could hear those that chose to stay up see the New Year in.  Their music and singing woke the stillness of the night and morning came early, all though it was right on time.

Today we traveled across the river into a new village.  On one side of the river a large group of Turkana were preparing for a wedding. Others were taking advantage of this muddy river that flows down from Mount Elgon and were using it to bathe in.  The river calls out to those that want to refresh themselves. It is a gathering place for the children and adults.

A little further down the road there is a big sign encouraging everyone to register births.  So many people don’t have a birth certificate and it will hinder them from going to school if they have the opportunity to do so.   Birthdays are not celebrated and the date of their birth has never been important to them. They might be able to tell you about an event that happened around their birth but that is about it. 

One of the pastors that we are traveling with is sick with malaria.  Her counts are high and she needs daily injections to recover.  We encourage her to stay behind and rest but her heart is to continue on with us.

As we pull up into the soft hot sand near the little grass hut church the children come running from all directions.  Pastor Joshua welcomes us inside and the singing begins.  The little ones gather together and share a song or two for everyone to enjoy. 

One little girl cuddles her doll in her arms as she sings.  This doll is missing both arms. Children seldom are seen with toys, it just isn’t thought of as a necessity of life. 

One of the elders of the church tries on his new reading glasses. They are so happy that people in America have remembered their needs.

There are many special songs that are sung for the guests. It is the first time a white person has visited and the Chief was come with her. The sun is hot and beats down on us through the holes in the roof and still they continue to sing and dance to the beat of the drum.

 

The area is full of children and they are starving for affection.  I saw the looks and I felt the stares coming from them.  So I asked them if any of them had every touched a white woman before.  The answer was unanimous, “No.”  I placed myself in the center with children all around me and gave them permission to touch me. My arms had little hands all over them. They giggled and laughed.  Some tried to rub the white off.   When I knew they felt comfortable with me being close to them I started hugging them and holding them tight.  The smiles got so big and the giggles turned into laughter. What fun we had! 

My hair is something that they love to touch.  The color, the length, the softness fascinates them. Today I made it easier for them to touch.

We had a great time in the little grass hut church which sits on some of the hottest desert sand I’ve stood on.  The days here aren’t always easy. It isn’t a comfortable place to be, it’s hot! But when you see fifteen people ask Jesus into their heart you thank the Lord for letting you be part of such a grand day!

Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”

Physical & Spiritual Hunger

December 29, 2013 (Sunday) It doesn’t take long for the early morning sun to beam its hot rays down upon us. Inside the church we have some relief but there is no hiding from the rising temperature the fills the land.

 

The dust that fills the air around us has become a problem for me.  I’ve developed a cough that will not stop. I’m finding it necessary to wrap my head with a cloth while traveling on the motorbike to keep from breathing in more dust.

Pastor Paul stands in the midst of the intense heat and leads us in worship. The drums beat, the women dance, and everyone claps and sings. They are hungry, weak, tired and some ill but nothing stops them from praising God with all of their heart.

It is wonderful to see the church that we built in good condition but best of all it is good to see that the church is strong and growing even in the midst of such hard times. They have added new wooden benches to their stack-able plastic chairs because more are coming to their services. 

The men sit on one side of the church and the women and children sit on the other. The heat is extreme within the metal sheeted church but they are attentive and are soaking in every word.  Johnson waits for the end of the message and then just about runs to the front of the church. He has an intense hunger to know Jesus.  He welcomed Jesus into his heart and went home with the biggest smile on his face and a New Testament held tightly in his hands.

Alice, an older mama, also came forward and accepted Jesus in her heart. It’s wonderful to see the quick response and an appetite to learn more about Jesus.  The hunger is great in this land, both physical hunger and spiritual hunger. 

December 30, 2013 (Monday) Our service is held in a traditional built church with a thatched roof and sides made out of mats. If it rained we would get wet.  We lack a door to open and close so the goats are free to join us.  They visit but leave quickly.  

  

 The church is small and very full. It is good to see the need for expansion.  

 

Usually children run to greet me but today there is a little one that is fearful of the white skin!  I keep my distance so that she will not be afraid but it doesn't seem to help.

Peter one of the leaders receives a message during the meeting. There has been fighting in the interior parts and his brother has been shot.  The Pokot Tribe and Turkana Tribe have been fighting for generations.  They fight over land boundaries, cattle, goats and camels.  In years past they would fight using the bow and arrow.  Even today they use the bow and arrow but they have also added  machine guns to their weaponry.  It will take someone four hours to ride out into the interior to pick up the injured and then the return trip back before they can get to a hospital.

Eight adults came forward to accept Jesus in their heart at the end of the service.  There were also sixteen children that wanted Jesus in their heart as well.

After praying with each adult we took the children aside to make sure they understood what was happening. We talked with them and asked them questions. It was clear that they understood and wanted Jesus in their heart. We put the microphone to their mouths and each one that came forward said the sinner’s prayer out loud without hesitation.  Twenty four accepted Jesus into their heart today! We thank the Lord for drawing them and opening up their eyes to see the truth. 

We know the needs are great here and we want to encourage them and show them love. Today they will leave with a new message in their heart and food for their family. 

We wanted to pass out the food without fighting and chaos so we called for the women to stand in line first. They came with their old plastic bags or a tin can.  Some women took their colorful wraps and used them to carry their maize and beans in as they didn't have anything else available.

Before I came to Kenya a very special four year old girl took some of her toys and put them in my suitcase while I was packing. She wanted me to give her toys to the children in Africa. This was her idea and her heart as no one had suggested that she do this. A special thank you to my granddaughter, Vanessa, for sharing her toys with the children here in Kenya. I love you Vanessa!

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

No Rain, Death, Suffering

December 28, 2013 (Saturday) The Turkana live in extreme conditions. Each day they face the extreme heat of the sun.  Their face has the deep creases that the harsh weather brings. They lack water and the proper food to keep them healthy.  Their bodies are thin and weak.  Here in Turkana land it has not rained for three months. They live on the milk or blood of their animals and because of the extreme weather conditions their animals are dying.

We have our vehicle loaded early and after making sure everyone has enough water for the day we are ready for traveling.  The sun beats down on us and the earth is barren and brown.  The desert flowers have disappeared for a season. The winds are constant and with each gust the desert sand swirls through the air.  I am told that this high wind comes before every major drought.  I pray they are wrong.

We travel away from civilization to a people that keep the same lifestyle as the generations before them. We cross over dry riverbeds and the lack of animals along the way is noted.  Camels once healthy are now walking skeletons.  It is obvious that a life of hardship is moving into an era of severe suffering.

We travel toward the mountains that separate us from Uganda while the mountain ranges on our right separate us from Sudan. It has been Turkana territory for many generations. However the clashes between the Pokot Tribe and Turkana Tribe still go on as they struggle over the ownership of goats, cows, camels and land.

They are happy to see our vehicle coming and are ready to greet us. The elder mama is a woman of authority and represents the tribe. She stands to speak. I have been welcomed once again.  They have been praying for me and invite me to sleep under the stars with them.  They even suggest that I stay longer and they will build me my very own Turkana hut. I am told that visitors come once and never return but I have not forgotten them. I have returned many times to be with them. Today my name is Dorcas.

We gather under the Acacia trees for the message. The trees lack the green leaves but they are still useful for a little shelter.  Turkana men will not sit with women so the men sit together on one side and the mamas and the children on the other.  They come with their necks adorned in layers of beautiful colored beads.  These beads are worn night and day and become a symbol of their bride price.  If a man wants a wife he will need to buy her by giving her parents a certain number of cows, goats, or camels.  The fat of animals is applied to the beads to make them shine. It melts from the hot sun and runs down their shoulders.

Markings have been made upon their shoulders and in other areas to decorate their skin. Taking a thorn from the Acacia tree and making scars in the form of a pattern becomes a thing of beauty for the Turkana.

It is so very hot I am told the temperature for the interior parts is 120 today but it does not stop us from dancing.  The elder mamas go to the center and start and the others follow. They couldn’t be happier when the white woman joins them.  The drum beat gets stronger and the smiles get bigger as we join hands and dance together. As I tilt each shoulder toward theirs it signifies that I love them and as they do the same it speaks of their love for me. It is a wonderful way to start our meeting.

 

They are focused on every word and at the end two kneel in the hot desert sand to accept Jesus into their heart.

Some of the little ones have toys from America to play with as my little granddaughter, Vanessa, put a bag of her toys in my suitcase to give to the children in Africa.  This little dog had black spots all over him and it brought laughter to all those looking on:)  I don't think they had ever seen a dog with spots before!  Thank you Vanessa for giving your toys to the children in Africa.

There are very hungry people here that are struggling to survive. Today we have 1700 pounds of maize and beans along with some salt to encourage them through this hard time.  Some will be given to the people here and some will be delivered to other areas before the day is finished.

Before we leave my interpreter comes to me and with a quick and to the point sentence he says, “Show them your ring.”  I turned and there was a group of men waiting behind me.  I held out my hand and he pointed to the ring as they looked on.  Then he looked at me and explained that these are the men that have come to marry you. Although I did not have to tell them how many goats or camels my husband had to pay for me the ring seemed to end such thoughts of marriage.  I’m glad that I am a woman that likes to wear her wedding ring :)  The day has been very full and we are ready to find shelter from the hot desert winds.

Thank you for blessing those in Turkana land. You have made their hearts and mine glad! 

James 2:14-18  What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone clams to have faith but has not deeds?  Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

The Sun Scorched Land

December 26, 2013 (Thursday) The very first church that we built sits on the hot desert sand in the northwestern part of Kenya.  My bags are packed and soon I will be in the land where the Turkana tribe has lived for generations.  Traveling by road takes about 9 to 12 hours by bus on some of the worst roads in Kenya.  Not only is the condition of the road to be considered but the high temperature, the dust, the age of the bus, the condition of the tires, the bandits and the machine gun fire that takes places between the Pokot Tribe and the Turkana Tribe along the desolate road.  Taking all of these factors in mind it doesn’t take me long to decide to fly.

It’s a small plane and the flight leaves from an airport just two hours away.  Soon I’ll be stepping into a climate that averages 100 degrees every day.  

The mountain ranges below are rugged and covered with the green of the dense forests.  The evidence of life is not seen.  In time the blanket of green fades beneath us and an open and empty land emerges. There is nothing but wide open land as far as one can see.  It is brown, lifeless and cracks beneath the heat of the sun.

We land safely and are welcomed with a rush of hot air as the plane door opens. The hot wind swirls the dry earth around us.  Beyond the very small terminal is a group of people lined up at the fence.  Nine of these people have come to greet me and to see me safely to my room. 

The Chief is among them and has become a friend of mine since my first visit to Turkana land in March of 2010. I was enjoying some cold water when an older man with a walking stick over his shoulder approached me. He was dressed in the traditional way with a red plaid robe and sandals made from old tires. He was selling a dried fruit that grows on trees. He had the bundle of fruit tied to the end of his walking stick, hobo style. Each piece of fruit is the size of an ear of corn. When it is dried it becomes something they use to wash with. I bought a couple to bring home to show people and then asked if I could take his picture. He agreed. From there it went really bad as some nearby men demanded my camera as they felt I had dishonored an elder. I didn't comply and they continued verbally attacking and threatening that it was now a legal issue. They spoke English but it didn't matter what I said they didn't want peace. Even though the men opposed I called the pastors I had met with earlier and told them I was in trouble and needed them. Within five minutes four pastors showed up on the scene and sat with us. You could feel the whole atmosphere change and peace settled in over the situation. The lions wanted to devour me but the angels shut their mouths. Psalm 124   The Chief heard of this incident and the next day he came and apologized for their behavior.  He then walked with me the rest of the day. He wanted everyone to see that I was his guest and his friend.  He informed me that no one would bother me as he was the government here.  So through this troubled time in 2010 I gained a wonderful friend.

December 28, 2013 (Friday) The fan that hangs from the ceiling was on as high as it would go last night.  The air starts to cool around four in the morning but shortly after that the sun rises as hot if not hotter than the day before.  The cold water warmed by the sun makes a refreshing shower and brings some life back to the tired body.  From my window I watch the monkeys play in the trees.  Beautiful shade trees are hard to find in this area and even the monkeys know that they have found an oasis in the midst of the desert land.

I was here earlier this year, in May, and woke up to a flash flood.  We had severe thunderstorms during the night and it had also rained in the mountains.  The water from these storms had rolled down the mountain ranges toward us. The police came in trucks to remove us from the area as the river had completely surrounded us.    

The water had started to enter my room and was continuing to get deeper. As I walked toward the main gate I stepped into a sink hole.  It took two strong men to pull me out as I was helpless with the water rushing around me.

The water filled each room; it took down trees, and left a coating of slippery mud every place.  The Sisters told me that every room had to be repainted and there were so many snakes and spiders around the compound during that time.  They were even seen in the rooms. They have worked hard and now the place is shines. 

We are preparing to travel further into the interior parts of Turkana land tomorrow. So we are checking on prices for maize, beans, salt, cooking fat and also transportation.  Prices continue to rise here as everything is brought in by bus or truck.  It’s a hard life and so many are suffering here in Turkana land.

The Turkana are known for making beautiful baskets.  The women will make baskets as a way to earn money for food for their family. It is a beautiful art that has been passed down from woman to woman throughout many generations. 

Ecclesiastes 1:5 The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.