NAIBORKEJU
Orbit Baptist Church Naiborkeju
The Orbit Baptist Church Naiborkeju is Orbit’s third church located in Samburu, Kenya. The church started on the Lekilit family land after we started doing the Zawadi and Christmas Basket Projects in 2010.
On September 11, 2015, we built a temporary building after we received permission from the Lekilit family to construct on their land. Our sponsors and volunteers, Jack Arwood and John and Kaye Thomas, helped construct the building alongside the Lekilit family and some of the church members. We hope to construct a more permanent and larger building soon since the church structure now is not able to house all the members. We are grateful to First Baptist Church for the funding in not only building the current structure but also in supporting Orbit’s desire to construct the next structure.
Today, the church has over 50 families from the neighboring villages and about 170+ adults and children. The Sunday school part of the church is quickly growing each year.
We are thrilled and thank the Lord for the growth of Orbit Baptist Church Nairborkeju and look forward to what the Lord will continue to do in the lives of the Samburu people through this church.
Samburu People
Samburu is 7 hours north of Nairobi. The Samburu community still live in mud, cow dung, and stick houses. Beds are made from cow hides. Homes are fenced in with Cedar post and Acacia branches to keep the livestock in and lions out. Young children help with the goats, cows and sheep during the day. Teenaged boys go thru a few years of being Morans or warriors. They are separated from the others, eat together, and live in camps, often with their livestock. Every night Morans roam through the bomas (compounds) insuring their safety from theft or wild animal attacks. The Morans decorate them selves in bright colors and go thru a 6 months of celebration before their right of passage in to manhood.
Aside from the church, we work closely with the community. Income generating is very difficult in this region and child marriages are sill too common. Our presence there has done a great deal to advocate the advancement of women in the tribe and to stress the importance of education for all children.
