By:  Jen Todd

When I came on my first mission trip to the Pokot a few years ago, my heart broke and God turned my life upside down when I witnessed how the women of Pokot were treated and the impact that had on families, children, and throughout the community. The women of Pokot ministry was born from that heartbreak and the hope of education and empowerment in January 2012. Thanks be to God and partners like Harvesters and Kensington Church, the seeds of change from the Holy Spirit have been growing across the generations of Pokot girls, teens and women and is spreading like wildfire in hearts everywhere. Here is a glimpse of what God has been doing…

Bright Futures for Girls
Every time I visit the Kodich Children’s Home and see the smile of my little love bug, four year old Ronda, I am reminded of God’s love for children and His bigger plan. Through the NoChild sponsorship program (nochild.org), girls like Ronda get so much more than just basic shelter, food and water for survival. They get the precious gift of knowing God, being loved, and getting an education that will dramatically change the course of their future. I instantly tear up imagining Ronda’s bright future as a godly woman with the skills, income and self-worth to take care of her family, live her purpose and bring the light of Jesus to the community.

New Possibilities for Teens  

Young teen girls in the Pokot, 9-15 years old, are encouraged and often forced to participate in early marriages and a cultural rite of passage to adulthood called female genital mutilation (FGM). This practive causes serious physical, emotional and spiritual damage. In partnership with Pokot Outreach Ministries and talented local Kenyan trainers, we have brought critical education to 1,900 women, men and teens in an effort to eventually put an end to these detrimental practices. The girls were OVERJOYED to get reproductive health training and 6,400 sanitary napkins given their lack of resources that results in the inability to function and weeks of missed school each year.

Spiritual and Business Growth for Women

The women’s empowerment program that started a year and a half ago has now expanded to three women’s group at Kodich, Kauriong and Chemolingot, totaling over 250 women! Sewing and beading skills training has supported their business growth and they are selling more goods and jewelry than ever before. We have been pouring into the women spiritually on our mission trips bringing the love of God to reinforce their value in Him and build self-esteem. But what has been most impactful is what God is doing through the relationships across the miles through our Prayer Partner Program. U.S. and Pokot women are being impacted in incredible ways by praying for each other and sharing their lives, love and encouragement through pictures and letters.

I recently received a letter from my dear prayer partner, Mary Twala, the first women I met at the Pokot who inspired me to start the ministry. She said “The Bible verse you gave me that says everything is possible with God, has been a strong tower of my faith and today I have peace of mind and hope that the future is bright. Remember this work you are doing is not only to empower the Pokot women, but you have made tremendous changes in my worldview and how I handle my daily struggles.”

Mary is right, this ministry is about so much more than empowering Pokot women. The role of the woman is so critical to the well-being, development and future families that this is about paving the way for generations of Pokot to come. It’s about lifting up the entire community and supporting them to live out God’s purpose and plan for their lives. And in turn, we too get to live out God’s purpose for ourselves – loving the least of these, being used for the Kingdom, and joining hands across the globe as sisters and brothers in Christ.

Dear prayer partners,

Greetings in the good name of our Lord,

We have enjoyed having Josephine home on summer break. She will transfer from Rochester College to Drexel University in Philadelphia. Rebecca, our second born daughter, will visit a couple in Hickory, NC where she may be homed while she goes to school there. We thank God for this goodness to us as a family.

Miriam and Jumboy are doing well. Jumboy whose favorite sport dreams that he will someday play in Chelsea, soccer club in England.

My wife Rachel is learning to cope without the kids until they return home every April, August and December. I need transportation; pray that God will provide for me to buy a used Toyota. I am facing a lot of challenges moving around for the work.

CHURCH PLANTING & EVANGELISM

The rain that has been pouring since January has subsided and has actually stopped completely causing a lot of worries as to whether drought is eminent ,that being the case, our church planting efforts are also altered because we will surely be disturbed here and there east Pokot is already hard hit and movements are starting.

Talking with Pastor Yusuf, the pastors are already concerned among the 30 churches in Chemolingot area. We had a wonderful fellowship with pastors from Sigor with a team from Heritage church in Michigan.

They taught the Pastors on livelihood and healthiness of the church which will reach to her neighbors and to the world according to scripture. Now our Pastors zeal is renewed and are ready to reach out to areas like Kamanaw, Akiriamet and Nyangaita just to mention a few.

The Karamoja, Sabiny and Pokot of Ugand,a who have been many enemies over the years are really opening up to the gospel. To be able to penetrate into this area, there is need to hold more meetings to calm down the tribes in order to preach of the gospel.

A few weeks ago, more than 1,000 people from 11 participating churches gathered in Uganda to worship together. Talks will continue in September, October, and November and we are praying that God will meet the financial need for $3000 a month for this outreach and for the gospel to gain.

SOUTH SUDAN

Pastor Reuben Meriakol and his wife, Loice, are preparing to depart for South Sudan. They are making progress on their house and are preparing to receive their first group in mid-September. We hope to reach Toposa one million; Boya 200,000, Dielinga 800,000, Jie 200,000, Nyangatom 300,000 and all of these 2.5 Million are unreached.

ORPHANAGES

Chemolingot orphanage is going on well. The kids are enjoying teaching of the word of God in the children Sunday school, among the 400 kids Sunday schools around Chemolingot. We have just completed the gravity water from tap too the tank down to the dining hall to make it easy for the kids.

Kodich is adjusting to a new headmaster and recently won second place in the national music competition. We thank God for the children in colleges and universities because they are such an example to the young kids and a hope for us in the homes in many ways. It is an ongoing challenge to pay school fees for these children, but we are thankful that God has allowed us to invest in their futures.

Kauriong is developing into an Eden in this area due to the fence around the compound that is keeping out the animals and providing security for the children. A water system has also recently been installed that takes water to all of the buildings and will eventually irrigate a small garden.

WATER DRILLING

Praise the Lord that we have been able to drill 20 wells already this year. We are so thankful for the provision and the involvement of so many people through the Hope Water Project in Michigan. We are praying for safety and good results for those running in the Detroit Marathon to provide water for the Pokot.

Thank you for your faithful support of the ministry in Pokot. We are so blessed to be partnered with you in ministry.

 

By:  Ksenija Savis

The lyrics from Sara Groves are like a constant whisper in the back of my mind ever since I returned from documenting & visiting the Pokot in 3 remote regions of Kenya, Chemolingot, Kauriong & Kodich.

 As I continue to process my time in Kenya, there are three things that are certain & clear:

1) When it comes to love & giving of yourself to others, there

is no such thing as “not enough” or “too little.”

2) I saw what I saw, and I can’t forget it.

3) The Pokot are people who shine like no other.

 

I have experienced overwhelming warmth & joy in the Pokot, of all ages. I have felt it in their handshakes & hugs. I have seen joy in their smiles & a sense of community in their lives that we do not have at home. I have watched countless children walk around holding hands, or arm in arm. I have heard them call each other brother & sister. I have seen 3 year olds pick up a crying one year old and carry them on their back. I have seen immense joy as they get their nails painted pink by one of our team members. I have communicated with the elders despite our great language barrier. I have watched their watermelon-sized smiles as they grab my hand & place it to their heart.

I have heard the children sing & it was as if I felt a sweet piece of Heaven wrap me up. I have watched the children play for hours on end in the same area, with the same friends, with the same dirt & rocks to run on… yet all with endless smiles & screeches of laughter. I have walked by the children & felt their arms reach out to gently touch my skin. I have been asked ‘what my name is’ by what must be hundreds of beautiful faces.

I have had the ability to make others smile just by taking their picture & saying “roriya!” (smile!) in my broken Pokot. Their roaring giggles as I showed them their photograph on the back of my camera will be forever stamped into my heart. I have seen beauty like I have never seen before – there is no make-up, or hair accessories, or fashionable pick of clothing… yet the Pokot truly shine.

Above all this, I have seen God’s undying love, grace & perseverance — just by looking into their eyes.

The Pokot have redefined my definition of poverty. Their love & willingness to learn is like something I have never seen before. They have a richness that cannot be bought nor given.

It is in their soul. It is in their spirit. It is what makes them shine on.