EAST AFRICA CHRISTIAN MISSION
Dick and Jane Hamilton went to Kenya, Africa in 1976 to a remote area along the border of Kenya and Uganda to an isolated group of nomadic cattle herders called the Pokot. These tribal people were totally untouched by civilization, and most had never seen white people. The Pokot were feared warriors who waged running battles with neighboring tribes for possession of the cattle. Trying desperately to keep their cattle and their families alive, they struggled for water for survival and famines were frequent. They had no schools and no medical help of any kind.
Dick began to repair the broken pumps on wells that had been drilled by the British during colonial times. Fixing the wells and bringing life-giving water proved to be the key to winning the hearts of the Pokot people. Churches were established, schools and clinics were built and people responded to the gospel message. World Vision provided well drilling equipment and over 150 wells were drilled with new life flowing into the Pokot region.
During famine time the mission established feeding camps through a partnership with World Vision and International Disaster Emergency Service, saving thousands of lives.
The Hamiltons lived full time in Kenya for thirteen years and after returning back to the Rogue Valley in 1989, they continued taking work groups to Kenya to repair the wells and do projects. Today they oversee the mission work and do public relations for East Africa Christian Mission, the organization they founded. The work on the Kenya side is totally under the leadership of Pokot Kenyan nationals.
Gold Hill Christian Church supported the Hamiltons and has partnered with East Africa Christian Mission for over forty years. The church continues to provide support for Paul York, a full time Pokot pastor, and for the Hamilton’s adopted Kenyan son, Lou Lomulen, who supervises the projects and continues to do the well repairs for the people to have life-giving water. Over twenty village churches have been established taking the water of life, Jesus, to the unreached Pokot people.