2nd Agricultural Training for Farmers, Northern Kenya, Marsabit

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
— The Bible, 2 Chronicles 7:13–14

Upon my arrival, I encountered a markedly changed situation. Clan warfare had ceased, and the land appeared noticeably greener. Ponds and reservoirs once again contained water. Toward the end of the previous year, government representatives, clan elders, Muslim leaders, and Christian pastors had come together to bring an end to the conflict.

In the face of severe and prolonged drought, they recognized that far more urgent matters existed than continued violence. Consequently, they made the decision to rent a soccer stadium for one week at the beginning of 2023. Each day, a different ethnic or religious group gathered there to seek God and ask for assistance. This extraordinary initiative led former adversaries to publicly confess their wrongdoing and pray for forgiveness and rain.

The stadium was filled each day—sometimes with Muslim participants, sometimes with Christians. They prayed consistently, and within days the rain returned. Although the soil was initially so dry that flooding occurred, by the time of my arrival Marsabit was experiencing conditions close to a normal rainy season.

I told them, “God has demonstrated His faithfulness to you. When you pray, He hears, because you are turning away from violence and transforming your attitudes, actions, and lives.”

While much can be achieved through agricultural practice, the weather remains beyond human control. God is the One who hears and responds when people turn to Him. I shared accounts from Germany, describing how God had sent rain for our fields in direct response to prayer.

An elderly sheikh named Adan offered a personal testimony. Ten of his twelve cows had died after being forced to survive on plastic waste. The remaining two nearly perished during the floods. He pleaded with God to spare them, and they recovered. Adan publicly expressed his gratitude to God before the group and became one of my strongest advocates.

On this occasion, the group developed a strong sense of unity far more quickly than during the initial training. The DMM leaders and two sheikhs became close collaborators and effective ambassadors.

One sheikh shared that, in his sermons and even during the morning call to prayer, he now urges the community not to cut down trees, but instead to plant them. He also encourages the practice of FMNR and cautions against the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

Many participants confirmed that cancer is widespread in Marsabit. Nevertheless, Roundup (glyphosate) was being applied weekly, often without protective equipment, whenever it was affordable. This was deeply concerning.

Highlight: Compilation of a list of native plant species, including their properties and benefits for humans, animals, and surrounding ecosystems.