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Breaking News in Turkana
15 March 2011

John Moru, pastor-in-charge of Turkana Friends Mission in northern Kenya, has sent news that water has been reached in the well-drilling efforts financed by donors in response to the 2010 FUM Summer Mission Project! After more than three times the $10,000 goal was raised by FUM meetings and individuals, research was conducted by FUM staff with volunteers Ron Bryan and Lloyd Stangeland to study the feasibility and likely success of a well in Katapakori, a village in the hot, dry desert area of Turkana.

Having a well in such a village can be a blessing in many ways. Nomadic people who follow their animals to grazing lands are more likely to find community near a village where there is water, and subsequently have access to schools, churches and health facilities. Children can come to school more regularly because they don't have to walk many miles to fetch water for the family. Katapakori is one such place where John Moru and his team have established a Friends church. The well will be fenced to prevent damage from animals, yet will be open for the village people to fill their water jugs.

"Water of Life" was the theme of the 2010 FUM Summer Mission Project. Several bio-sand water filters have also been purchased with your donations. Also in two Turkana villages, the molds and supplies to produce them have been donated for a micro-enterprise so that people now have jobs and income from the sale of the filters. The filters are made of concrete, stand about 40 inches tall, and contain a metal plate and three layers of gravel and sand. When dirty water is poured through the filters, clean water comes out and is safe for drinking. When water is obtained from a lake or river and poured through the filters, water borne illnesses are drastically reduced. There are filters in Katapakori. But they will be used much more frequently now that there is water to pour through them. Thank you for bringing the water of life to Turkana!

Photo, top right: Water is found; above, left: Pastor John Moru tests water from borehole; above, right: Men fill their jericans at the borehole