It seems like such a minor thing here in the United States: access to sanitary pads for women.  They are readily available at an affordable price.  That’s not the reality in rural Africa.  While a variety of feminine hygiene products is available in large cities like Nairobi or Mombasa, there are no options for young women in rural villages.

Thousands of girls miss three to five days of school each month due to their menstrual cycles.  Those absences lower their academic performance and self-esteem.  It also widens gender disparities in educational achievements.  Girls may also endanger their health by resorting to unhygienic solutions, like leaves, old cloth, sponges, or cotton from mattresses.

The leadership and staff of Pokot Outreach Ministry’s children’s homes have long searched for a sustainable solution to provide young women with the supplies they need for their monthly menstrual cycle.  Over the past few years, several teams from the US have brought sanitary pads to distribute, but that was not practical for the long-term.  In July, a team introduced a reusable sanitary pad kit.

The kit includes all of the materials to make a reusable sanitary pad holder, two washable sanitary pads, and a pretty bag for discreet storage.  The girls will sew the kits themselves, not only giving them the satisfaction of being part of this solution, but equipping them with a valuable skill.  Once they master making the pieces, they can then begin to create kits to sell to others.

As the assembly and sewing was explained, the girls’ faces began to brighten as they realized the freedom this solution would afford them.  They eagerly waited their
turn to sew a few stitches on the sample.  Jane, the sewing instructor in Kodich, immediately went to her sewing machine to work.  Many of the girls gathered around as she completed an entire kit in an hour!

The sanitary pad kits were provided for young women through our partners in Kenya and South Sudan.  We are excited to be part of bringing this sustainable solution to young women and hope to be able to expand this program to our other African partners in the future.

 

Winter greetings to you all from the snowy and icy roads where I am struggling to drive!  I arrived in the US on February 11 and started my ground trips from Texas.  I thought down south was my kind of weather.  Boy was I wrong!

CHURCH PLANTING AND EVANGELISM

We are experiencing the power of the gospel all over our outreaches.  In December, we had a gathering of over 3,000 people in the northern part of eastern Uganda in Auorkeya Village.  The people walked for many miles from several other villages to come and hear the gospel preached.  These are people who have never heard the gospel because of the hostility towards each other.  Over 400 people received Christ as their Savior.  We thank God that people who sat out in the open and under very hot heat were very patient to listen to the gospel.

From there, we climbed the mountain of Korokow and preached to over 1,000 mountain people.  The mountain people are usually not open to meetings or gatherings.  That great number was really God-made and a good sign of God’s touch on them.  Over 100 people came to know Christ.

Thank you for your prayers for South Sudan.  Reuben is mentoring two men from the community.  They participated in the recent Pastor’s Conference for additional training and were challenged to help continue to the spread of the gospel.

ORPHANAGES

Some of you may have lost your parents when you were young.  You remember how difficult life was, but God’s hand brought you so far.  It is true for us that God has been the Father of the fatherless in Kodich, Kauriong, and Chemolingot orphanages.  He has provided such that these kids are now recognized as the only sure group among the Pokot that can excel in education.  The future is also bright for us as a ministry because it is from these kids that we get pastors, teachers, nurses, and other servants to work with us.

We thank God that Chemolingot will soon have good classrooms.  The buildings will surely enhance education quality at the orphanage.  We thank God for Pastor Leonard of Kauriong and Simon of Kodich for the spiritual investment they have made in the children in the orphanages.

WATER DRILLING

Maral has changed name!  It was a day like no other for the Maral area as the people came from the villages.  Traditional songs were composed by every village group to present to the huge gathering of people there to witness the historical moment – the completion of new boreholes!  The elders declared that they no longer wanted to remember the bitter past, but recognize the hand of God that has brought change.  Therefore, the area will now be known as Kanaan because God has blessed the people with water.  As the name of this place is changing, the people are also changing from non-believers to believers!  We preached the Word that gave them eternal water.

The people of Karita, Uganda, are now gathering and listening to the gospel at new borehole sites that are being drilled.  I cannot wait to see how the ten new water boreholes will touch and change lives in Uganda!

MISSIONS STATIONS

Please be in prayer that God will enable us to start additional mission stations in Nyargayta, Akorkeya, Tipeet, and Karita.  These areas are very ripe for harvest!  The word of God really grows well in strategically located mission stations, which include a medical clinic, a church and boreholes.  It allows us to also reach out to the surrounding villages with the hope of adding additional stations.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for:

– Reuben and Loice in Kapueta, South Sudan

– God to call more laborers to the ministry in Uganda and for POM as a ministry

– Souls to be won through provision of clean water

– God to provide for four mission stations

The Women of Pokot ministry was started three years ago with a mission to educate, empower, and reclaim the Pokot women’s identity and worth as a beloved and valued child of God.  We began with a goal of empowering two women’s groups to have sustainable businesses to generate income for their families.

We are ecstatic to report that both groups have profitable sewing and beading businesses, strong leadership, and have qualified to receive a substantial business loan from the government! They own goats and chickens to feed their families.  Many also have side businesses selling honey, tea, and renting guest huts. The best part is that they also unite together as a team to spiritually and emotionally support one another and others in the community.

Now that we have seen the success of economic empowerment, we are tackling a bigger challenge: eliminating the brutal, centuries old practice done to Pokot girls.  Women in the Pokot, along with 130 million women in Africa and around the world, live with the consequences of a ritual called Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), otherwise known as female circumcision or “cutting” of the female organ.

This rite of passage is performed on Pokot girls 9-18 years old as a preparation for adulthood and marriage, which is typically arranged by the family to a much older man who could be three to even four times her age.  Pokot fathers receive a hefty dowry for their child brides in the form of animals, usually cattle, which culturally is a great sign of wealth.

The physical effects of FGM are devastating.  Many girls will die during or after the ceremony due to infections or bleeding, and many more are left with serious medical problems and difficulties birthing children.

The abusive practice of FGM limits the value of girls to merely a source of wealth and has continued for decades, though it has been deemed as a punishable crime against humanity around the globe and in Kenya.  As you can imagine, it’s not just their bodies being left wounded and broken, this also breaks their spirits and their opportunities to live out their God-given purpose.

However, we have hope and good reason to believe we can shift this detrimental practice. This ministry has been blessed with a faith-filled and talented Kenyan leader, Rebecca Chebet, from Pokot Outreach Ministries (POM) who is bringing truth and enlightenment to the Pokot through our Anti-FGM awareness campaign.  Becky is pictured above with girls that sought refuge from FGM.

Becky and her team began this campaign in August 2012 to debunk the FGM myths and impart facts about its physical, spiritual, emotional, and legal impacts.  It is grounded in biblical principles and a rights and values based approach from the United Nations, who also has declared ending FGM a top priority around the globe.

Our Successes

• 7,000 Pokot community members and influencers educated on the negative spiritual and physical impact of FGM
• 50 community leaders trained to advocate for girls against FGM and early childhood marriage
• Hosting rallies attended by thousands of Pokot observing UN’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM
• Launching of the first ever “Alternative Rite of Passage” for empowered Pokot girls that say NO to FGM

To learn more or join the empowerment movement, visit www.womenofpokot.com.

Greetings from all of us in Kenya!

CHURCH PLANTING & EVANGELISM

We need prayers in East Pokot especially filling up where pastor Job Rutto left. His absence is a big hole to fill.  Pray that God will bring us a preacher for Chepturu and many other new places.  The preachers from the west have offered to make frequent visits to help them. Miriam, Job’s wife, and the kids are doing fine apart from loneliness for her and being all alone in parenting.

The churches are doing well where we have boreholes and a good settlement, while we are facing challenges with people relocating where there is no reliable source of water.

We continue to push with preaching of the gospel to areas like Lotongot, Akitiamet, and Amaler in the northern part between the East and West.

The 23 churches so far established in Uganda are going great. This area remains relatively peaceful hence giving us a good base to present the gospel. We have seven men undergoing trainings to be pastors from the area.

WATER DRILLING

    Moving stories of miscarriages, Typhoid sickness, bee stings, stresses in looking for water, and carrying it after finding are tales we hear told by the
people whenever we are establishing borehole committees.  As we go from village to village hearing these testimonies, we see a lot of joy and hope in God’s provision for water.  Borehole water completely eliminates waterborne diseases and we have seen a lot of healthiness after a borehole has been installed.

As village settles it is so encouraging to see how they embrace the gospel and many other places are so happy and joyful to have clean water, Cheponyoryo in Chemarel could not hide her joy when she said that she never thought she would see water in the desert of Chemarel.

We thank God for gifts and sacrifice made by people for the water that now goes hand in hand with the gospel and church planting.

ORPHANAGE

Kodich orphanage excelled again in the national music festival.  They topped in western Kenya and became second in Kenya overall.  They also did well in the Kenya national examination and a good number of them are now in high schools. We prayerfully hope that more will pass the national exam in November.

Kauriong has not been a good performer of either the academics or the social activities.  We have had to change the headmaster and now have a new pastor.  We are seeing good signs now, and the school kids have a choir that sings in the church. The Pastor has started discipleship steps for the kids and also devotion time for the orphanage community.  He and Luke have cultivated a good relationship with the teachers, which has really harmonized everybody.

MEDICAL SERVICES

We continue to touch lives through the services we give through medicine. Some of you may have had the opportunity to come over on one of the medical trips.  The facts about a medical trip is that people see and perceive love from the person giving the service, then God’s love in the willingness of the individual to come over and give the service.  Every time a medical team comes there is restoration of health in such a way that it really touches the people.

In November we shall start mobile clinic to villages. We had temporarily stopped because of transportation shortage.  We are hoping and praying for God’s intervention for need for another vehicle.

FGM

Rebecca Chebet has very successfully headed our fight against circumcision of girls.  For those of you that don’t know the pain that Pokot girls go through, it is very brutal. A Pokot girl must be circumcised at the age of 12-15.  The crusade is on and local leaders have complemented us for facing it head on. I have personally confronted leaders and have been complemented in meetings for bold speaking against this practice.

On U.S. side we thank Jen Todd of Kensington Community Church in Michigan for standing with us and raising the funds we need in fighting this inhumane practice against girls and women.

December is coming and we will have a youth conference that we shall have about 2,500 young people coming to hear the word of God.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

• For Reuben in South Sudan, for the peace of that country

• Loice’s pregnancy and child birth to be safe

• For the work in Uganda to be rooted in the word even as it spreads like wildfire

• For safety for our Pastors as they face the spiritual battle so they will be safe yet bold.

• Pray for our children so that they can be wise in making choices

 This may be hard to believe, but the fire in the Kauriong dormitory was actually a blessing.   It caused the leadership to take a hard look at the safety and security of the two dorms for the girls.  The dorm window openings were covered with a strong mesh wire and screen making it difficult for the girls to get out of the building except for the doorway.  Fortunately, the fire occurred during the day and that was not a problem.  The funds raised to complete the roof repairs were sufficient to install all new window frames that swing open and have glass panes to keep the cold weather out.

The other great blessing that you can see in the picture is that we were able to build two walls with gates connecting the two dorms.  This provides the girls extra security at night.  The staff is excited about the new additions and praise the Lord with joy and thanksgiving!  Thank you for responding so unselfishly to meet the need for the dormitory repairs!  To Him be the praise, glory, and honor.

In December, Pokot Outreach Ministry will hold its annual youth conference. The four-day event is filled with music, fellowship, and Biblical teaching.  In the past three years, over 800 teenagers have accepted Christ at the conference! The theme for this year is Luke 15:11-31, the parable of the Prodigal Son. Teaching will focus on God’s acceptance of us despite making bad choices in the way we live and the redemptive power of His grace.

Youth come from many different areas, and transportation is provided to and from the venues.  Due to an increase in anticipated attendees, this year’s conference will be held in eight locations.  Over 2,500 youth are expected!  Your help is needed to make it a reality. The cost of the conference is $9,000, which covers all expenses including transportation, sound equipment, and location fees.  Help bring the Gospel to these young people that are eager to hear the word of God.   We pray that God will continue to move in a mighty way in the Pokot youth.

 

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.