In 2006 ACMI, in collaboration with Global Disciples Training Alliance (GDTA) began the Turkana Interdenominational School of Missions (T.I.S.O.M.), a Bible training school which offers certificate and diploma courses in theology and missions.

Mid-Year Updates

Our host, the Desert Boy, who was the founder of many of the churches here, led us as Bishop Mulandi Ordained Reverends, pastors and Evangelists. They received certificates and a charge from him. There was a graduation the following day, Saturday and 73 students graduated (1400 students have graduated since it started in 2007).These were celebrated by their people as they gave gifts to the graduates, even of goats!   We got to learn that 27 people die daily in Turkana region without knowing Christ, thus a call for workers in the field. The Global Disciples Training Alliance(GDTA) and the churches here are thus working training people in ISOM (International School of Missions) as they make more teachers of the word, to spread the Word of God and encourage literacy among the people.

Bishop Mulandi commissioned them and challenged them to be a light to the rest, as he called to all to seek education. He encouraged them saying that God had not forgotten them as the rest of Kenya seemed to have, but that God had placed treasures in the land for their use, if only God would open their eyes and direct them. This was an eye opener. We learnt that in this region, as people embraced Christianity, they got literate too and changed their mind sets.

Having gone for a long time without water, the rains that pounded the region proved fatal as nine people travelling to Lokitung (95 kilometres from Lodwar-Kakuma  road) as the matatu they were travelling in was swept by the water.

On Sunday, we attended a church service in Kerio (in the outskirts of kerio town). The two-hour drive was marked with vast land filled with sand and occassional small puddles left by the short rains. We came across 7 churches here, planted by the Desert Boy, all held under trees. They waved at him as we drove past. We walked into a group of Turkana people singing and shortly prayed for the offering. There was a sesion of praise and worship and it tore at our hearts to see these helpless people worship God so happily. The youth had three groups each with a song and dance, we greatly enjoyed this. Due to the hot sun, the children who fell asleep were left to sleep under a certain tree where there was shade and their mothers would once in a while go to breastfeed them. We learnt that they walk from long distance to make it here.

The genesis of this church was most interesting. We got to learn that when desert boy first came here, there were two powerful diviners whom he first had to talk to so to get through to the people. One of them got converted to christian and the other one refused completely. The following day however, he was found dead. When the villagers learnt of this, many got converted to. A good number of men here had been in the graduating class and a new class is due to open in this region in September.

Bishop Mulandi preached and mainly encouraged the older people and parents to release their children to school so they would in turn bring development to them. He advised them not to marry off their daughters but send them to school. This warm congregation sent with us greetings to bring to you.

Without water, food and even basic items, these community lead hard lives and especially if illiterate. Girls are married off young as young men walk long distances to buy food. The older men, we learnt, dont work, they just sit the whole day talking as the women and children feed the cattle, look for food and do all other chores. The frowns on their faces held many pains and untold stories. With water available, all their troubles would end, so they said. We were told that most people had migrated from the region due to lack of food. We walked on a dead sheep and were told the villagers had collected others and disposed. They collect the water in the puddles for drink, after rains but prior to the rains, the desert boy told us he had buried 12 people on the road as they walked together, dying from thirst and hunger. We noticed him carry water in his vehicle and would stop when we met with anyone and would fill their gericans with clean water. He called to the boys and young men we saw with herds of goats, montioning them to come for water. What a heart of love and a way to reach out!