Browsing by Author "Armada, Rafael"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Mission among the Pastoralists of West-Pokot
    (Tangaza University College, 2001-02-07) Armada, Rafael
    I have been living for four years in this country, having come as a Comboni Missionary and student of theology. During this period of time I had the great opportunity of twice briefly visiting Pokot land. Since then I became interested in knowing a different culture, accepting the challenge of crossing boundaries and reflecting upon the missionary activity among the Pokot. Staying there I discovered a very interesting land and people. Their environment, although harsh, appeared to me as beautiful and containing a serene harmony. The vitality, endurance and strength of the Pokot, as well as their sense of their own dignity fascinated me. On the other hand, I encountered an extremely isolated and difficult area, very distant from the rest of the country in most of aspects of life. Their social and economic standards were very much below the levels of the rest of Kenya. The process of evangelization and establishment of the Church, although quite steady, is also at its beginnings. Therefore challenges lie ahead in many aspects. The experience of entering into a different culture and people becomes, thus, a very enriching one. It involves looking at the reality with others' eyes, bringing the novelty of Christ, with its religious and social implications, into a different understanding of life and accepting being enriched by it. The first chapter of this work is devoted to the understanding of the Pokot people, starting from the environment and history that shape their way of living and beliefs. The second chapter deals with the process of acculturation and the journey of incarnation made by the missionaries in their evangelization, including an evaluation of the main social and religious activities. In the last chapter, I will attempt to bring into concrete reality a methodology of mission based on the principle of incarnation, when faced with a situation of change, both in general in Africa and in Pokot, in particular. Lastly, I will hint at some possible suggestions for new missionary activities or confirmation of the work done so far.