Published in Ekeyokon Newsletter of Diocese of Lodwar, August 2016 Issue.

The recent incident that took place on Sunday July 31, 2016 at Todonyang Mission where an Ethiopian man was shot dead by a Turkana man immediately we concluded Holy Mass has left me with a heavy heart since then. I feel very much ashamed and wounded because this man together with other people from across the Ethiopian Border had been invited to come and join us since the Parish – named after Our Lady Queen of Peace – was celebrating 10 years of its establishment Moreover these people from Ethiopia were coming to visit their children who are studying in the Parish school called Our Lady of Peace Integrated Centre. One of the functions we were to do after Mass was the opening of a new block of classrooms.

This learning institution was started precisely as a connector project with the aim of bringing the children from the two conflicting Communities, the Turkana and Dassanech to learn to study and to live together. The school, started by the Missionary Community of Saint Paul the Apostle, has been a success story. There are already over 200 children from both communities living amicably and interacting together without any problem until this assassin, with one bullet, managed on Sunday to derail the Peace process that has taken ten years to build. Whether he acted alone, with others or was being used by sinister forces, this man has done a great harm not only to the two Communities but has left all of us wounded and unable to comprehend the dark hatred and the devilish force of revenge alive in the heart of such an individual. To dare to execute such an act in a holy ground, in broad daylight in front of everybody – above all little children – as people from all works of life were meeting to celebrate the gift of life and the peace that was taking root makes me to believe that we all came face to face with the devil.

I pray from the depth of my heart that blood of this old man who was so full of joy as he danced with the other Ethiopian people during the Holy Mass will be the seed of lasting peace in Todonyang and other parts of our region, nation and the entire world where there is conflict and the people of God cannot enjoy – the peace of the risen Christ.

My shame at witnessing this ugly and devilish incident was compounded by the fact that among those who were attending the celebrations was a Catholic Priest from Omorate in Ethiopia and the Orthodox Father of a Church very near the border. What started as wonderful celebration ended in disarray with the one gun shot that felled the man.

I wish to thank all those people who acted quickly to restore calm. My appreciation goes to Fr. Alex Campon, Fr. Andrew Yakulula, Fr. Albert Salvans, Scholastica, Patricia and other MCSPA members; the Kenyan and Ethiopian leaders and security forces who were there; and all the people of good will, whom God used to manage the situation. It required courage and strength and they provided that.

Similarly I note with appreciation those who accompanied us to Ethiopia as we escorted the people from Ethiopia to their villages and also the body of the dead man to the Orthodox Church there. This was when it dawned on me that had we not invited these people to our function they could not have lost the dear one. This realization left me in anguished and with no words to console them. I only prayed from the depths my heart that this could not be the beginning another circle of revenge and counter revenge that have been witnessed before in Todonyang.

My plea to the government and all the authorities is to go after the killer. To leave him at large will enhance the culture of impunity that is prevalent in the region. If the government was to react swiftly in apprehending the criminal then with Justice, peace will prevail. I call upon both governments of Ethiopia and Kenya to really work for lasting peace in the area.

Too many lives have been lost and another life lost, whether that of a Kenyan or an Ethiopian, will just fuel the impression there that we have very weak government, both at the county and national level, that is not interested in the security of its own citizens but very active in corruption, in stealing the resources that is supposed to be managing and is busy enhancing the culture of impunity.

For all those who still have a sense of decency and with consciences that are still alive let us not be discouraged or demoralized by what is happening. We should not rest until we find a lasting solution to the challenges we are facing. Sooner or later we shall conquer all the evils we are seeing for God is with us since our Lord Jesus Christ assured us: “I have said this to you, than in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).

English:
Yesterday morning 13th August, we had the opening ceremony to welcome all the new trainees of the 7th course of Furrows in the Desert. We have a group of 5 women and 3 men. This time round the participants are not so young as in previous courses. They have a great potential, and their maturity can play a good role in spreading their future knowledge in their communities.  This time the number has also reduced, but we still have a lot of hope; they really want to be in the course, they are convinced. We are still waiting for 2 candidates from Nyangatom, the neighbouring tribe from Ethiopia, and 3 more from Turkana.

We had a nice opening accompanied by the team of Furrows, all the staff and the visitors staying now in the mission.

We thank and appreciate all the efforts from everybody who is involved in Furrows in the Desert in one way or another: Missionary Community of Saint Paul the Apostle, Brit Olam,  The Arava Institute of Desert Studies, here and Israel, as well as to all the benefactors who to make this dream possible.

Maque Falgás

Spanish:

Ayer por la mañana, día 13 de agosto, celebramos la apertura del séptimo curso para dar la bienvenida a los nuevos alumnos de Surcos en el Desierto. Tenemos un grupo de 5 mujeres y 3 hombres. La media de edad de los participantes de este curso es mayor que en cursos anteriores. Este grupo tiene un gran potencial, y su madurez puede ayudar a difundir los conocimientos que aprenderán durante el curso en sus pueblos y comunidades. Esta vez el grupo es pequeño pero tienen gran ilusión y realmente quieren estar en el curso. Aun estamos esperando a dos candidatos de Nyangatom, la tribu vecina de Etiopía, y 3 más de Turkana.

Ha sido una bonita ceremonia de apertura, acompañados por todo el equipo de Surcos en el Desierto, los trabajadores del proyecto y algunos de nuestros visitantes que se encuentran ahora en la misión.

Muchas gracias a todos por todo el esfuerzo que se está llevando acabo desde aquí: La Comunidad Misionera de San Pablo Apóstol, Brit Olam, El Instituto Arava de Estudios del Desierto, desde Israel y también a todos los benefactores que hacen posible este proyecto.

Maque Falgás

On Sunday 31st July some Christians from Kakuta, Nyangatom, Ethiopia, accompanied by their priest, Fr Angel Valdivia of the Missionary Community of St Paul (MCSPA) and catechist Charles Abong, went to Lebere village to celebrate a joint mass with Turkana Catholics from Kibish, Kenya. During the mass three Nyangatom warriors disrupted the prayers and took all the Turkana as hostages. According to the perpetrators 31 cows had been taken by Turkana raiders before and therefore they were now holding the hostages until their cows are returned. Among the hostages were Catholic Church catechists from Kibish and Lokomarinyang, an ECD teacher from Kibish, 3 school children, 3 girls and 5 women. The situation was delicate and even authorities and police from Ethiopia together with the elders were very careful in handling this very delicate situation. After a few hours’ of meetings, the only way forward found was that the men and children would be released but the women would be held back but under the care of Lebere village’s most important elder. For three days the mission personnel have been making efforts to take care of the women and coordinate with the authorities of both countries to have the hostages released in a peaceful way.

It is with great sorrow and pain in the heart that we inform you of a shocking incident at a well-attended Church function yesterday.  In the presence of several hundreds of people attending the event at Our Lady Queen Of Peace (Todonyang Mission), a Dassanech elder from this neighbouring community in Ethiopia was murdered in cold blood. There were children and adult faithful, the Bishop of Lodwar, Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich, and Ethiopian and Kenyan authorities present. Bishop Dominic was presiding over the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the parish, the confirmation of 50 Christians and the blessing of 4 new classrooms. The celebration of the mass had just ended and the fund-raising family day contributions was about to start. The killing of the elder occurred in front of the Pontifical Missionary Children of all the Deanery (over a 100 children) and the children from the Parish school (more than 150). Other persons present in the mission compound were the Orthodox priest and deacon from Koro (Ethiopia); Fr. Goesh Abraha, the Parish Priest of the Catholic Church in Omorate (Ethiopia) with some of his visitors; Fr. Imo Bassols, the parish priest of Lokori Parish, Turkana South, who had come with a delegation of Catholic Men’s Association of Lokori Parish; Fr. Albert Salvans from Lobur Mission and members of the Missionary Community of St. Paul the Apostle with visitors from their various missions of Nariokotome, Kokuselei and Todonyang; the Assumption Sisters from Lowarengak Parish, the local MCA and Turkana County authorities and elders of the area.

The motive for the murder is unknown, and it was carried out right before the Kenya Police, GSU and RDU units. Everybody present was shocked and the children of the school were very traumatised. The perpetrator escaped amidst a group of young turkana warriors who appeared to be backing him. The name of the deceased is Mzee Lobakate Lobolemai from Koro village in Ethiopia. Bishop Dominic, Fr. Alex Campón, the parish priest and Caritas Lodwar Director, Fr Goesh Abraha, Fr. Albert, and Scholastica Wamalwa and Patrizia Anniballi from Nariokotome Mission, together with the Ethiopian Orthodox priest and deacon and all the ethiopian delegation (the Deputy Chief Administrator from Omorate was among them) who came to the celebration escorted the body of the deceased back to Koro village where the rituals and prayers for burial where held, headed this time by the Orthodox priest.

Due to this despicable act, the school at Todonyang Mission has been closed and the children sent back home, and all development and pastoral activities of the Parish has been put on hold until security and confidence is restored. We await the security forces of Kenya to apprehend the culprit, dismantle this group of warriors, and return security to the area.

Let us pray from the bottom of our hearts for the end of violence and evil acts. May peace be restored.

Fr. Álex Campón, MCSPA.

La falta de alimentación adecuada es el principal enemigo de la salud de los habitantes del Valle de Angar Guten, especialmente los niños.

Por lo tanto además de la asistencia que se presta a los enfermos desde el proyecto de salud comunitaria, la Comunidad Misionera de San Pablo Apóstol tres guarderías en tres poblaciones diferentes de valle donde 400 niños de entre cuatro y seis años reciben cada día desayuno y comida, revisiones médicas básicas cada tres meses y educación preescolar.

Parte de las legumbres, verduras y frutas que comen los niños se producen en los huertos de las guarderías de esa manera las madres ven que es posible producir comida en sus casas para poder alimentar a toda la familia.

Blanca Beltrán

For the past 11 days a team of educational specialists from Israel, the Turkana County Government and the MCSPA education committee, went round through the different MCSPA missions to meet and discuss the best way to help and improve the education in Turkana north.
Thy visited several schools along the lake deaneary and especially the educational centers run by the MCSPA, especially the two schools at Todonyang and Nariokotome Missions, the ECD’s (early childhood development centres) and the MCC’s (mother and child centers) in the area.
The team will now work and come up with the best way forward to encourage the parents, the children and the teachers to improve our ways of teaching and learning.
Thanks a lot to the Israeli team, Milett and team, the county and government representatives and all the MCSPA’s education committee.

Lillian Omari, MCSPA

Esto es motivo de felicidad y optimismo. Hemos pasado por muchos retos durante estos 3 años y medio; pero curso a curso vemos como se va consolidando una nueva forma de vida para los turkanas en la que ven la posibilidad de producir alimentos tanto para sus familias como para las comunidades en las que viven y generar su propia economía. Estamos formando agricultores y lo están empezando a integrar en sus vidas. La mejor representación de esto es SITFA (Asociación San Isidro de agricultores en Turkana), creada en 2014. La semana pasada, durante dos días, se han reunido todos los miembros de la Asociación por tercera vez y con la ayuda de dos facilitadores se han dedicado a potenciar el concepto de asociación, a revisar las actividades realizadas durante todo el año e ir dandole forma para presentarse ante los diferentes ministerios y pedir ayudas; el comienzo de su propia independencia. Y como colofón tuvimos la graduación de los 13 alumnos del 6º curso que ahora son graduados y nuevos miembros de SITFA. Una celebración por todo lo alto con representantes del gobierno y otros visitantes que nos acompañaron en un día tan especial en Turkana.

Maque Falgás

Today MCSPA members invited family and friends to celebrate an open day and launch of New Ways For Africa Trust. The day started with the Eucharist and baptisms of two babies: Mildred and Tiffany. The celebration was presided by Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich, Bishop of Lodwar.

More than 250 family and friends attended.

New Ways for Africa Trust is an non-profitable, non-political organisation that we have set up in Kenya in order to encourage our friends and family to support our pastoral and development work with prayers, time and skills as well as material help. If you would like to join us in those efforts please write to newways.forafrica@mcspa.org

We thank all the people who attended the MCSPA Family Day and launch of New Ways for Africa Trust for their friendship, prayers and support.

Lillian Omari

Truly, “Education is the key to life”. A bright morning with bright students, with bright minds, in their super cool uniform of St. Joseph’s Mother and Child Educational Centre (SJMCEC), at Nariokotome mission, during their morning learning session. A whole generation of literate minds yuhuuu!!!.

Thank you all for supporting the MCSPA projects. Asanteni!!!!

Lillian Omari
MCSPA