Decades of Work Bearing Fruit in Kenya
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The impact of nearly 40 years of work by the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) in Kenya was never more evident than in the past week a week that began with the enthronement of His Grace NEOFITOS as the first Bishop of Eldoret and Northern Kenya, followed by a visit to St. John the Baptist in Lodwar and the distribution of thousands of pounds of food in the drought-stricken Turkana region. “[Turkana] is in the middle of the desert and has been suffering greatly through a drought for three years; animals are withering away,” said Fr. Martin in a video message. “But people are strong in the spirit as hundreds have been baptized [into the Orthodox faith]. And the bags and bags of food we’ve brought helps us care for [the people of Turkana] physically and spiritually.” |
One week, many blessings: (top row) His All-Holiness Patriarch THEODOROS II with newly enthroned Bishop NEOFITOS of the diocese of Eldoret and Northern Kenya; Fr. Martin Ritsi is greeted by villagers in Turkana; (bottom row) thousands of pounds of food ready to be distributed; Patriarch THEODOROS II among the people of Turkana. (Photos courtesy of the Uganda Orthodox Church.)
Since 1985, OCMC has been sending missionaries to Kenya, building churches, supporting clergy, and supporting projects that are fostering local eucharistic communities.