The meeting started with a slow pace due to drought that had persisted in the area for sometimes, some villagers had gone to search for food. Some, about sixty, attended the camp meeting despite the scorching hit of the day. As the program went on, suddenly, a message came from the village, and then there was a commotion.

It was on 20th August 2009 when i had traveled to Kang'olitiang' for an annual general camp meeting. Rough terrain as it were, i started at Kapenguria at around 4pm where i was joined by one of the missionaries in Kangolitiang , Christine, who was also coming from Kericho. We arrived at a place called Konyau at around 8pm. Pr. Ernest Korir, a missionary, arrived to pick us by a motorbike. Christine had to spend a night at Konyau while we traveled to Kangolitiang arriving there at around 11pm. Warm welcome through joy and singing by the campers greeted us.

The following day, we started the lessons with a slow pace due to hunger being experience in the area. By the time I was going there, the press had reported that six people had succumbed to death. I taught a lesson on "The Holy Spirit" while Pr. Ernest Korir taught on "The Apostle's creed".

Within no time, there was a commotion and upon inquiring, it was reported that one of the church members needed help to be taken to dispensary for delivery. Young men, with a wheelbarrow were in handy for the work but later on, women preferred to carry her on a manila sheet, which was more comfortable. There is no vehicle in the area. Shocking as it were, after delivery, the nurse in charge told the women, that the infant was dead. Among the women was an experienced midwife respected for the work in the village. Sad mood engulfed the place, one of them send a word to the meeting place for prayers, the leader of service without delaying, stopped the program and called for attention and within no time a siren of prayers were in the air.

Double Blessings!

While the campers were praying, the midwife who was in the dispensary swung into action, doing what she knew best for the infant to live again. Other women surrounded her in a prayerful mood and suddenly the child gave a sharp childish cry; and the women shouted praises and worship to the Lord for the miracle. The child lived and he was named after the camp meeting "Kiptuyot"

Saturday came and plans for Sunday started. There was an arrangement for baptism on Sunday morning but the problem was shortage of water. The nearby stream was too shallow for baptism by immersion. There were suggestions to scoop some sand on that Saturday evening but some said by morning the sand would have filled it again. Not knowing what will be done, we went to sleep living everything to God.

The Next Move

The following morning, Sunday, everybody went down to the stream to figure out the next move in readiness for baptism. Surprised as we were, the stream was full of water- up to the waistline. God enabled a heavy down pour during the night in the far hills for us to have enough baptism water. What a double blessings!!!. We baptized 136 saved members who had gone through class catechism some even for the last two years. Then went back to the church and had Holy Communion. After sermon delivery over 20 people gave their lives to Christ and others-over 40 rededicated themselves to the Lord. We had a total of over 300-service attendance.

Kang'olitiang' has got now 17 Local churches subdivided into three sub-district for easier administration.

The current missionaries are Pr. Ernest and Ann Korir and Christine Chebet

Prayer needs and praises

1. Pray for the missionaries as they trained indigenous pastors and completion of pastors' school at Kapeng'uria for this purpose

2. Thank God for the young Kiptuyot and pray that He will grow well to serve the Lord

3. Thank God for those who got saved and be part of their spiritual growth

4. Thank God for the baptized members and pray for them to grow strong spiritually

5. Pray for the completion of the church construction and primary schools' buildings

6. Pray that relief food may become available for the villagers at this period of severe drought

7. And pray for us in the office to find resources for a capacity building and empowerment program to church members through their indigenous pastors to learn how they can exploit the God given resources available within their land in order for them to have enough food even during dry seasons. These include production and processing of honey as well as better storage of food to last longer period among others. The program will be expanded to other Arid and semi arid regions like Turkana, East Pokot and Maasai. High potential areas like Kericho, Bomet etc will not be left behind also as well as urban churches so as to increase their church giving to support missionaries, pastors and church ministries. The church would be empowered to reach also the vulnerable in the society such as widows, orphans among others. Let us join hands together for this noble task by sending your support. Contact us for more information.

By Walter Rutto