While COVID-19 is ravaging the US and the rest of the world, there had been relatively few reported cases and deaths in the country of Kenya and no reported cases in Pokot. That is, until the first week of August when the first reported case of the disease in the Pokot region was announced.

Prior to the announcement, Pokot Outreach received special permission from the government to conduct seminars in villages, around water points, and in shopping areas where people gather to make them aware of the situation, educate them on how to protect themselves, distribute soap and masks, and encourage the people with the love of God. The ministry has also been on a number of radio broadcasts sharing similar information.

Because of the remoteness of most of these locations, Julius Kaprech reported that nearly all of the people had never heard of “COVID” or “coronavirus” and were surprised to hear that the disease had no cure. Many were scared and uneasy with this new information. Others were skeptical that it was true. As news of the presence of COVID in Pokot spread, several of these skeptics have communicated with ministry staff their appreciation for what the ministry is doing for them. Those that knew Julius Murgor and the Pokot Outreach team trusted that they were being told the truth and were grateful to be informed on how to protect themselves. They expressed their thankfulness that someone cared enough about them to share this information and to pray with them for their protection and safety.

The water points, at which the team met groups of people, served as great demonstration areas to show people how to use the handwashing stations and to use the soap in their homes. Social distancing is a new concept for them, as it was for all of us, and some in the meetings still need a little practice. The women seem to have a better handle on it than the men.

Things in Kenya are opening up and the daily Coronavirus infection rates are on the rise as people move in and out of major population centers into the rural areas. Pokot Outreach’s efforts are ongoing and additional funds are needed to reach everyone that the ministry is targeting.

Rebeca Chebet from POM hosted the annual International Zero Tolerance Day rally against FGM (female genital mutilation) on February 6. Although this horrendous cultural practice is against the law, it is still a threat for Pokot girls. Almost 1,000 Pokot gathered to learn more about the physical and emotional impacts of FGM, hear how God has changed the women that have laid down their knives, and celebrate girls saying no to FGM.

During the rally, four women relenquished their knives! Because FGM is illegal, it was incredibly brave for them to do so publicly. The punishment could be a minimum of three years in prision, as well as fines of 100,000 to 200,000 shillings, equivalent to $1,000 to $2,000. Please pray that these women will remain steadfast in their decision to no longer be part of this heinous practice.

POM’s ministry in Kenya continues to expand with churches being planted, giving rise to the need for additional pastors. There are several ways that you can help the growing church and advancement of evangelism. Currently, 40 church buildings need roofs at a cost of $300 each. Thirteen students are waiting to attend Bible College. The cost is $1,000 per year per student.

Providing a Bible in the native Pokot language is an important component of the continued discipleship of new believers. We would like to provide 300 new Bibles at a cost of $12 each.

Recently, construction of a rescue dorm in Kodich was finished. This dorm will house young women who are taking a stand against FGM, especially those in immediate danger. This safe place will allow girls an opportunity to finish their education and live a life free from the effects of FGM. The dorm, which will house 60 to 65 girls, needs furniture. One third of the $15,000 cost has been provided leaving a need of $10,000.

We are grateful for the partnership that we have in bringing the love and good news of Jesus to the needy world. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

The Women of Pokot ministry is focused on encouraging and discipling women in the harsh world of western Kenya. Partnering with People on Mission, its goal is to train up women who are committed to reaching other women in the community and sharing God’s love with them. The ministry also supports the National Zero Tolerance Day, which speaks out against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). 

Pokot culture places little value on women. They are treated more as possessions, and are not allowed to own or inherit anything. Young girls will bring a dowry of up to 45 cows to struggling families, contributing to early marriages, often to men much older than them. Because of FGM, many endure monthly physical pain and complications in childbirth. Each day, they carry the burden of finding water, food, and shelter in a land stricken by constant drought. They work hard to pay school fees, knowing education will provide a better life for their children. While their society treats them as having little value, we know that God values each precious Pokot woman and her children. 

For the last few years, I have had the privilege to be a part of the Women of Pokot team from Kensington Church in Michigan. Each February, our team spends about two weeks traveling to encourage, educate, and empower the Pokot women. In Kapenguria, we hold a training day with leaders from the local women’s groups. Transitioning away from a focus on basic training in job skills, as the women have excelled in that area, training is now focused on discipleship. We share our stories and listen to theirs, pray together, lead Bible training, and encourage the women to be Godly leaders in their communities. After experiencing the power of “listening prayer” during our team training, we were excited to share this spiritual tool with the leaders and women’s groups. Just as we had experienced, the

women let go of the lies they had believed about their worth and value, and heard God speak clearly His true names for them, hearing words like “Ambassador,” “Rock,” “Strong Tower”, and “Child of God.” God truly has great plans for each one of them as they continue to grow as Christ’s ambassadors in their families, villages, and communities. 

We also support efforts to end FGM among the Pokot. Partnering with Becky Chebet, a local Kenyan and United Nations-trained anti-FGM presenter, the team attends and speaks at the local National Zero Tolerance Day rally, typically attended by more than a thousand Pokot men and women. The team also travels with Becky as she speaks at local high schools, standing with her to share with young girls that they “are fearfully and wonderfully made” by God and offering hope to those who have already undergone this horrific practice. We also use every opportunity to encourage the young women to finish their education and be leaders among their peers. 

Each year, the Pokot women say how amazed they are to have women come from the other side of the world to meet with them. As one Pokot woman shared, “It is a miracle that I would share a meal with a you!” And while they tell us that meeting together refreshes and encourages them, our team members leave forever changed and challenged by the strength and courage of the Pokot women, who truly become our sisters in Christ.

By:  Stacy Mallard, Guest Contributor

Some of you have had the opportunity to work with us in one of the three countries where we are spreading the Good News – Kenya, Uganda, or South Sudan.

In Kenya, we are currently equipping many new laborers. Ten evangelists have just graduated and are busy spreading the news, while another ten are in training. Pastors and church leadership are also busy learning strategies for taking the Gospel to other areas and casting vision for church planting. The goal is to make every believer a soul seeker in our ministry.

Orphanages

It is common for the grown orphans to think back and say that they cannot imagine what their lives would be like today if they had not been cared for in the orphanage. These are children that would have hardly been eating, hardly have clothes to wear, hardly have shelter, hardly be loved and therefore would hardly smile or laugh in the villages, and would have no hope in life. Today, God has moved some of these kids to universities and colleges, with some in medical school, law school, and teachers college. The nation of Pokot is beginning to see a source of future leadership in these kids. And so does POM! We see preachers, teachers, nurses, and other ministry workers coming from our orphanages. They have been given a spiritual foundation, and they love the Lord!

Water Drilling

When the Samaritan woman at the well asked Jesus if he was greater than their father, Jacob, who dug a well for them, she was expressing how water was such an important element in their society.

The water wells POM drills have become many things to the Pokot people. Because of the many good things water brings to a village, everyone in the village looks forward to having a well drilled.

Water wells are a great asset that God has given to us. Many people have come to Christ because of water. One well groups people together, gives clean water, allows women to rest from journeys finding water, saves babies from miscarriage, allows school kids to learn instead of looking for water, and stamps out disease. One well ignites a village of 2,000 to 4,000 to become lively and vibrant. Schools have started along with the churches that we try to plant with each well. The wells attract a crowd, and pastors have a ready-made gathering. While we rejoice over the positive things that water has brought to our ministry, we have a challenge. When God provides the finances, five to six boreholes can be drilled each month meaning that we need to have that many new preachers each month. Please pray with us for the Lord to send more men willing to lead these new churches.

Medical Mobile Clinics

When POM first started, the Pokot people wondered if the God of Christianity really saw their medical needs. I pointed them to seek first the Kingdom of God and that all of the rest of their physical concerns would be provided according to His will. Twenty years later, I can say that God has answered these prayers step by step and little by little over the years.

Mobile clinics have enabled us to go to places where no other medical services are available. Treating the physical ailments of the people opens the door for conversations about the Great Physician.

Conferences

Over the years, God has given us the opportunity to minister to Pokot women and youth with annual conferences. These week long meetings include fellowshipping, sharing testimonies, and hearing the Word preached. Hundreds of women and youth give their lives to Christ! They return to their villages and begin sharing the new hope that they’ve found. Each year these conferences grow and we trust that God will continue to move.

Please pray with us:

1. for the overwhelming need for more laborers to be trained

2. for safety in South Sudan

3. for God to provide a multipurpose center in Karita, Uganda

By Julius Murgor, Pokot Outreach Ministries

Thank you for your continued support and prayers for our ministry to the Pokot people of Kenya!

Peter Siwa and a team of our preachers had a truly amazing year!  After a mass killing between the Pokot and Turkana tribes that took over 200 lives, the two communities have decided that there has been enough bloodshed and have agreed to uphold peace.  We have held peace meetings and organized soccer matches to bring the two communities together and to share the good news of Christ.  As a result, there have been seven new churches planted in this region!

We continue to add clean water wells throughout Pokot villages.  One of the most common statements we hear is: “This water is like blood transfused to a sick person who needs blood”.  It’s miraculous to see the change in the health and wellbeing of villagers as the clean water begins to stamp out waterborne diseases like thophoid and cholera.  Women are saved from hours of walking to find water, as well as the physical burden of carrying the heavy weight.  Spiritually, boreholes have played a major role in church planting as people will settle and build new villages adjacent to the wells.  The meetings we hold in villages when surveying drilling sites and turning over boreholes give us the opportunity to expose the people to the gospel.

We continue to see the tide turning against FGM as we continue our education on the dangers of this horrendous practice.  When we first started this campain, many thought we were out of our minds.  But now, we are seeing increased support from some of our country’s elected leaders.  Girls are seeking refuge with us as they flee their villages looking for protection from FGM and forced marriages.  We continue to hold training for tribal leaders, women and men, and church leaders.  We also recognize and reward those that stand against the practice.

These are some of the ways that you can pray us:

– That God will use physical water to open the eyes of the Pokot to see the spiritual water.

– That God will bring more people to be trained in our training center

– That God will provide the $70,000 needed to establish a mission station in Uganda

– That peace will come to South Sudan, and that people will come to the the Lord and more churches will be established.