At 6:45am a turboprop plane took our team to Turkana County, Kenya. This desert area is a stark contrast to the temperate climate of Nairobi and the Rift Valley with all it’s lush green plants. It’s sandy and hot, hot, hot. There are a few trees growing, but mostly just scrubby thorn bushes can be found. Cumberland first got involved in Turkana many years ago because there are still some unreached people groups in this area, people who have never heard the name of Jesus. The people live in tribes and have always been nomads looking for water. We landed in Lodwar Town, which has electricity and stores and people can be seen on motorbikes, but in 5 minutes we were driving on all dirt roads, and after that driving through little the scrub bushes because there was no road.
We are joined on this trip by Reverend Joyce Munyiri, Bishop David’s wife, who is the director of Education for GOA. Also traveling with us is Josphat, the house father at Tumaini, and Samuel who does videos and photos and media for GOA. Why did we come all this way?
Schools. People live spread out up here, and not all tribes have schools nearby. Today we visited the Naotin (sounds like now-a-tin) Adult Literacy Center. In this community many families don’t send their children to school, or don’t send all of them to school, needing some to watch the herds of animals, typically goats. Perhaps sending kids to school is a more recent thing, because now there is a public school for children, but many illiterate adults. GOA began this school for adults under a tree, and they met there for years. They had a blackboard but it would wear out quickly and break. The number of adults wanting to learn has increased over the years and they now have 2 teachers and 58 learners.
Today we had the privilege of dedicating with them a school building, partially funded by Spendless 2 Give More donations. It had inside chalkboards and desks and books and everything. The dedication ceremony began with them singing to greet us in 2 lines, and then the put us in a line in between them and walked us to the school. They we wearing their new school uniforms, a green tartan plaid wrap, which is the style of clothing they wear up here. Many a Maasai shepherd can be seen with his plaid wrap tied over one shoulder, and then at night it is his blanket. The learners looked so proud of their uniforms and the women wore stunning bead necklaces that they make themselves.
Inside they sang songs in their mother tongue, Turkana language, as well as Swahili and English. They recited a poem, and one of the teachers gave the history of the school.
They had the learners sit according to their grade level and it was amazing to see all ages mixed up in the different grades. There was a grandmother in one of the beginning classes and another girl who completed her coursework at the school (approx grade 8) and passed her national exams. She went on to trade school to be a hairstylist.
The dedication was a beautiful praise to God for His faithfulness and how He had provided for them. They sang songs about Jesus and the dancing was joy filled and energetic! What a privilege to worship with other believers! And Andrew found a minute to play soccer with some kids. No common language needed for futball!
On our way out we stopped by the church of Pastor Mark. He was a learner in the Naotin Adult Literacy Center. He began going because he wanted to be able to read the Bible. After he passed his National exams, he went to a trade school to learn how to repair cell phones. He now pastors a church and runs a repair business in Lodwar town, being a bivocational pastor, or “tent maker” like Paul. Talk about a transformed life. And he isn’t the only one. Others can read the Bible now too, and own a Bible they can bring to church and read at home.
Many of you know this, but it is an absolute joy to travel with Rob through Africa. He knows so many people, and to know Rob is to love him. All these people light up when they see him and say, with their rolling, British sounding R’s, “My friend! Pastor Rrrrrob!” He befriends everyone he meets and is the last one in the car every time, always chatting with one more person. He can connect with anyone, and I’m constantly taking notes on how to be as friendly as he is. Today they gave him a traditional stool like the men in this area use. I found him under a tree sitting with the other men on similar stools. He is such an encourager, and we are a better team and a better church because he is part of us.
Tomorrow we get to see another school, this one for children!
We are joined on this trip by Reverend Joyce Munyiri, Bishop David’s wife, who is the director of Education for GOA. Also traveling with us is Josphat, the house father at Tumaini, and Samuel who does videos and photos and media for GOA. Why did we come all this way?
Schools. People live spread out up here, and not all tribes have schools nearby. Today we visited the Naotin (sounds like now-a-tin) Adult Literacy Center. In this community many families don’t send their children to school, or don’t send all of them to school, needing some to watch the herds of animals, typically goats. Perhaps sending kids to school is a more recent thing, because now there is a public school for children, but many illiterate adults. GOA began this school for adults under a tree, and they met there for years. They had a blackboard but it would wear out quickly and break. The number of adults wanting to learn has increased over the years and they now have 2 teachers and 58 learners.
Today we had the privilege of dedicating with them a school building, partially funded by Spendless 2 Give More donations. It had inside chalkboards and desks and books and everything. The dedication ceremony began with them singing to greet us in 2 lines, and then the put us in a line in between them and walked us to the school. They we wearing their new school uniforms, a green tartan plaid wrap, which is the style of clothing they wear up here. Many a Maasai shepherd can be seen with his plaid wrap tied over one shoulder, and then at night it is his blanket. The learners looked so proud of their uniforms and the women wore stunning bead necklaces that they make themselves.
Inside they sang songs in their mother tongue, Turkana language, as well as Swahili and English. They recited a poem, and one of the teachers gave the history of the school.
They had the learners sit according to their grade level and it was amazing to see all ages mixed up in the different grades. There was a grandmother in one of the beginning classes and another girl who completed her coursework at the school (approx grade 8) and passed her national exams. She went on to trade school to be a hairstylist.
The dedication was a beautiful praise to God for His faithfulness and how He had provided for them. They sang songs about Jesus and the dancing was joy filled and energetic! What a privilege to worship with other believers! And Andrew found a minute to play soccer with some kids. No common language needed for futball!
On our way out we stopped by the church of Pastor Mark. He was a learner in the Naotin Adult Literacy Center. He began going because he wanted to be able to read the Bible. After he passed his National exams, he went to a trade school to learn how to repair cell phones. He now pastors a church and runs a repair business in Lodwar town, being a bivocational pastor, or “tent maker” like Paul. Talk about a transformed life. And he isn’t the only one. Others can read the Bible now too, and own a Bible they can bring to church and read at home.
Many of you know this, but it is an absolute joy to travel with Rob through Africa. He knows so many people, and to know Rob is to love him. All these people light up when they see him and say, with their rolling, British sounding R’s, “My friend! Pastor Rrrrrob!” He befriends everyone he meets and is the last one in the car every time, always chatting with one more person. He can connect with anyone, and I’m constantly taking notes on how to be as friendly as he is. Today they gave him a traditional stool like the men in this area use. I found him under a tree sitting with the other men on similar stools. He is such an encourager, and we are a better team and a better church because he is part of us.
Tomorrow we get to see another school, this one for children!