On the Ground in Karamoja at last!!!
Dear friends,
We arrived in Karamoja last week days!! Here is a video that we made to give a history of our involvement in Karamoja. Please click on the link below.
Last week we visited Kamera Village. This village is huge and there are about 100 families each enclosed in thorn branch hedges with small, narrow entrances. Some of us nearly didn’t get through!
These are very interesting lovely people and they received us with such a wonderful welcome with much joy and dancing. They were so happy to welcome us inside their compounds and show us all the gardens that they have made under the instruction of Isaac and Gabriel who is a local Karamajong.
Young men are noticeably absent but the elders of the village are overseeing everything. They sit on the small carved stools that they carry around and remain a little distance from the women and children, but still protecting and guarding them. They received us very warmly, and also the message of Pastor Moses testimony. We prayed for many for healing, and Frank said that 60% of the people he prayed for were pointing to their tummy! It was probably empty.
We had thought that the people must be eating quite well because everything looks so green, but they have no mature crops. Every fireplace of every compound was cold with nothing cooking. One lady was drying the leaves of a local weed to eat and another very thin old woman was being fed some blood that they got from the Moroto slaughter house (see the picture below). Traditionally, the Karamajong eat blood and milk like the Maasai. However, in this village, due to all the problems with cattle raiding and the removal of all protective weapons by the government, the people have lost their livestock. They no longer have herds of cows or goats. Agriculture is their only resort.
They need food desperately. Please pray for funds to come in so that we can bring food next week. Please give what you are able. Please share this with anyone who may be interested in keeping this community alive and healthy. Isaac told us that the little girl in the blue dress would not be here today were it not for the food relief and Plumpy'nut.
To donate go to : https://www.tcius.org/donate
The current crops will only be ready in August as long as rain continues. Their gardens are supplying some greens and vegetables, but they have no solid food like corn or sorghum to eat with them. For the past three days we have had rain here - there has been much rejoicing. Please pray for steady rainfall to continue.
They have given us all local names-Sue has been called "Nakiru"- one who brings rain.
Frank is called "Apa lokwan" which means the father of the White one (always meaning the largest big white bull) and
Moses is called "Lochap" which means the one who weeds or removes weeds.
With much appreciation for your partnership,
Frank and Sue - aka Apa lokwan and Nakiru