Turkana Missions - About us

*About Turkana Missions, Kenya, East Africa.*
Hello, my name is Eddie "Ekiru" Williams. I was raised in Bushnell, Florida in rural Sumter County. I was saved through the ministries of St. Catherine Baptist Church in Bushnell on 30 april 1991. I graduated from Florida Baptist Schools in 1993 and surrendered to the mission field in kenya in may 1998. during my time in Kenya, I have lived in Nairobi working in the slums of the city; in Western Kenya working in the rainforest villages; and now in Turkana working with one of Kenya's last unreached tribes. A Letter from our Sponsoring Church
Getting there. The Turkana people live in the north western district of Kenya....bordering southern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Uganda. their numbers exceed 600,000 and are scattered throughout the deserts of northern Kenya. They survive off their herds of goats, sheep, donkeys, and camels. Currently, we have churches in Napetet, Kalokol, and Nanyangakipi; Bible studies in Nangolipus, Nakatichok, Laroo, and Natiir; and the Landmark Baptist Bible Institute-Turkana in Iodwar. Each church has a national pastor and each bible study is led by a national preacher. all of our pastors and 5 preachers are enrolled in lbbi-turkana. In addition to evangelism, church planting, bible and pastoral training, we are hosting medical clinics, teaching adult literacy, and building wells for a clean and permanent water supply.		Area Location of Turkana Missions In Kenya Click to see Larger
		My name Ekiru is Turkana for rain. I count this as a high honor to be given this name from a desert dwelling people. Who we help and why! In the extreme northwest of kenya, the Turkana people have lived for centuries and have grown in numbers exceeding 500,000. They were never really conquered by the British during their colonial rule of East Africa. Therefore, their ancient culture remains intact. Several families living in close proximity to each other form a village averaging 300-500 people. These villages are ruled by the elder men who form a tribal council. The leader of this council is the local chief. Another powerful and influential man in the village is the traditional medicine man. He is greatly feared and respected by all.
History of the Turkana people Men and young boys have the responsibility to care for the family's herds of camels, donkeys, cows, goats, and sheep. Before dawn, they begin their long day in search of water and grass for their animals. They will return to the safety of home after dark and for a few hours of sleep and then will do it all over again. those that live along the shores of Lake Turkana are fishermen. Women and girls wake before dawn and walk many kms in search of water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning at home. They have the responsibility to build and maintain the family's grass huts.They also make their own charcoal for cooking and gather lemon-sized palm fruits to feed the family. All the animals are milked which provides breakfast for the family. Women are also known throughout kenya for their woven baskets and mats made from palm leaves which grow in abundance along the dried river beds. Temperatures in this desert area of Kenya average over 100 degrees everyday with highs of 120 degrees, except during the rainy seasons. In the months of April and September, the annual average of 13 inches of rain falls. A few villages have government sponsored schools for the children, however, most adults have never had the privilege of an education and can not read. In the villages where there are no schools, no one can read. One of the biggest challenges I have is teaching literacy to any and all who want to learn. Another area of need is in medicine, most villages have no access to medical help. The medical officer of health at the government hospital in Lodwar town is working with me in taking mobile medical clinics to these isolated people, he provides the doctors at no charge and half of the medicines, I provide the rest of the meds and the transport, through these efforts, children are being vaccinated, malaria & tuberculosis are no longer killing families, and the people have help with their sickness.
Help us Help others. Doctors advised me the best way I could help these remote villages with their medical problems is to provide them with clean drinking water. This can be done through digging a well, in the 2 villages where we have dug wells, intestinal infections have all but been eradicated. if you would like to help us help the Turkana with these basic needs, here is how: 1 medical clinic costs $100 per village; digging 1 well costs $1500; adult literacy for 1 village costs $400 per year.