Turkana: A People, a Desert Area, a Lake, a

CultureAnd…A Ministry of Friends in Kenya

Where is Turkana?

The Turkana People are one of about 42 ethnic groups in Kenya

They are nomadic, moving their animals according to grazing possibilities

About 75% are developing Christians They wear brightly colored clothing and women

adorn themselves with beaded necklaces to indicate their wealth and marital status

Main resources: The animals they raise, fish from Lake Turkana and Palm tree leaves for basket-making

What about the Turkana People?

Turkana’s people

These men carry their stools and their walking sticks.

Landscapes of Turkana – Blowing sand, dry arid ground, thorn trees

Mud from Termite Hills is used to help build the huts they live in.

The Livestock of Turkana - Camels

And Donkeys….

And Many, Many Goats

Natural Resources – Fish from Lake Turkana and Palm Leaves for Basket-Making

Friends women make baskets and are looking for ways to market them.

Turkana Friends Mission was started in 1970 by Ersal and Dorothy Kindel and two students from Friends Theological College, Hermon Otioko and Nathan Wamalwa. The mission was a response to a serious drought. The current stated purpose is to create Christian Quaker communities that discern and obey God in holistic outreach, discipleship, education, peace, integrity and sustainable development.

What is the work of Friends?

A Board of Directors is approved by EAYM-N to hire the Pastor-In-Charge and oversee management and finances.

Turkana Mission is one of 7 Partner Projects of Friends United Meeting.

FUM’s current goal is to send $2000 per month to support the ministry team in Turkana: 10 pastors, 6 pre-school teachers, and 4 on the coordinating team. There are other people that must be paid, too: The security guards, cooks, office assistants and part-time teachers. $2000 is not enough.

Turkana Mission functions with a constitution that calls for decision-making in the manner of Friends.

Turkana – A mission of East Africa Yearly Meeting North

Turkana Mission Office in Lodwar

Pictured here are five rental units to help fund the ministry. They’d like to have twenty because the ministry is growing.

Opening Village Meetings thru Church Extension

Support Monthly Meetings Provide Facilities & Learning Resources for Schools

Water resources –drill bore holes Literacy education for adults Encouragement for girls education Working toward self-sufficiency Reaching the refugees in Kakuma

The Work of Turkana Mission Consists of:

These are some of the churches

Lodwar Friends ChurchOpen now for three years

More Churches

Kalokol Friends Church Lokoyo Friends Church

Yet others look like this:

Katilu Friends Church: Mud walls, dirt floor, tin roof

Nakweei Friends meet under a tree, with no walls to keep out the blowing sand.

Regardless of the location, the Turkana people sing and dance joyfully. Double click on the picture.

This church even had a choir perform for us. Double click on the picture to hear them.

Friends work with the Government to establish schools in Turkana

Lokoyo Primary School Lochuga Primary school

The standard way of teaching is to write material on the board for students to copy in their tablets. There are few or no books or teaching materials.

And sometimes there isn’t much elbow room.

These are school kitchens where lunch is prepared for the children. The menu is most likely to be boiled maize (corn), sometimes mixed with yellow peas, often supplied by USAID.

Students perform for guests. (Double click on the picture)

Eden Grace tells these 8th grade boys she will bring a prize for them if the girls in their class finish school. “The girls need your encouragment,” she says.

At age 14, many girls are married.

Girls drop out for other reasons, too.

How do children play? No video games or TV for these children…

Bicycle tire races Bottle caps on a wire. Is it a toy, jewelry, or musical instrument?

Let’s meet the leaders of the Turkana Mission Team

John Moru (right) is Pastor in Charge of the mission.

John Lomuria serves as treasurer.

Meet these family members.

John Moru with his wife & son. Their daughter is not pictured.

John Lomuria’s wife and children

John Moru and his wife, Grace have served the missions for 11 years.

John Moru, his wife Grace, and Paul Makada chairman of Turkana Friends Mission

And Thanks to John Muhanji and Eden Grace for their encouragement!

John Muhanji, Director of Africa FUM Ministries

Eden Grace, FUM Field Staff assisting John in this work

Some favorite photos

And more photos…

Let the little children come…

And more children….

And their fathers are welcome too.

The 2010 Summer Project “Water for Life” resulted in a new well in Katapa-ekori. The local people added the concrete trough to catch water for animals.

It is important to involve the local leaders to help maintain the well. Here are the Area Councilor and Assistant Chief at the borehole.

John Moru and government officers at the well.

The women are thrilled that they won’t have to walk all day to find water. It also means children can attend school rather than fetch water that might be miles away.

Isn’t it just like Quakers to appoint a committee to oversee the use and maintanence of the borehole?

This is the community meeting for nominating borehole committee members.

Meet Evangelist John Ereng with his new bicycle. (Yes, another John!)

Kalokol Sunday church school choir. They like to dress alike to indicate their membership in a group.

USFW in Lodwar presents aid to the regufee camp in Kakuma where the Turkana Mission Team has started a worship group.

John showing Bible and hymns books to Kakuma members.

Pastor Paul and other two members receive gifts on behalf of the mission team.

It’s hard to find the way across the sand where there are no roads. So, these guys are installing sign post for the new Nakwei Meeting.

Pastor Simon Ekaran at Nakwei sign post.

Turkana Friends Mission recently purchased this vehicle to make their travel across 200 miles more manageable.

Come back and see us. We love visitors! Thank you for helping us!

FRIENDS UNITED MEETING101 QUAKER HILL DRIVERICHMOND, IN 47374

Phone 765-962 7573

Website: www.fum.org

Or Contact Terri Johns: terrij@fum.org

For more information, contact