It was a joy to participate in the first training seminar to be held in the brand new building of the Kakuma Interdenominational School of Mission (KISOM) while in Kakuma last month!

KISOM was established by an association of refugee churches over 20 years ago. They have been praying for a suitable building for their school and God has now provided. What a joy for IAFR to participate with God as he answered their prayers!

The photos above show where they have most recently been meeting - in an abandoned and condemned primary school in the refugee camp. The new building is on land owned by our refugee partner United Refugee and Host Churches (URHC) and is situated in an easily accessible spot just outside of the camp.

The hill in the distance is commonly known as "prayer mountain" - a place that refugees and Christian humanitarian workers have gone to pray ever since the camp was established back in 1992. What a perfect view from the KISOM campus!

IAFR has been partnering with KISOM for many years. Through our partnership with Wheaton College and the Humanitarian Disaster Institute, we have brought theological and trauma care training to refugee church leaders. While in Kakuma last month, we were encouraged to hear how they are taking what they're learning back to their faith communities.

IAFR has identified 5 essentials that strengthen hope and human resilience. Our investment in KISOM is a substantial contribution to each of them. Through KISOM we are:

1) strengthening refugee church communities;

2) deepening faith in Jesus Christ;

3) equipping refugee churches to help heal the wounds of trauma;

4) strengthening the capacity of refugee leaders to care for their churches;

5) and supporting the initiative and vision of our refugee partners (KISOM).

Many thanks to everyone who prayed and contributed to the KISOM Building Project over the years! We hope the sight of the new building fills you with joy!

Please pray as we are now working on the final touches to this phase of the development of the KISOM campus.

We recently received a grant from the 2018 Urbana Student Missions Conference that will make it possible to add 4 toilets and a rain water collection system to provide a sustainable source of water on campus. We're praying that we will have enough funding remaining to install solar power - a clean, reliable and sustainable source of electricity on the KISOM campus!

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