Sunday, September 28, 2008

SUNDAY WITH THE MASAI SEPT 28

Today McKenna and I finished our time with the Masai children. We were privileged to help Pastor Shane and Terry by doing the Sunday school and by singing some Swahili songs for the adults. The place was packed out. The children were dismissed after a while and after McKenna and I finished our songs, we walked on the dusty dung laden road to the tree under which were gathered 50-60 or so little Masai children. We sang songs to them and talked to them about loving each other. “Jesus is the King and He has commanded those who follow Him to love one another…”

McKenna and I did a little skit to demonstrate this by pretending to have an argument and then remembering Jesus’ words and apologizing to each other with a hug. The kids loved it. I hope that long after we’re gone love will grow.

There were Masai children who asked us if we’re coming back. It’s always so sad to say goodbye to little children. I told them that if they follow Jesus we will meet again for sure around the throne of God for ever and ever.

This afternoon I a Masai man come to seek medical attention because he had been knocked over by a cow. Terry is kind of the residential nurse. Another boy came with an eye infection and a Masai mama came with a cut from gathering sticks for a fire. I got to administer cleansing and a band aid for her. Terry cares for anyone who knocks at her door. She also teaches literacy classes and the children absolutely adore her.

Pastor Shane has asked that McKenna and I sing at their morning prayer meeting and after that well begin the amazingly bumpy journey back across the rift valley. This has been the most different place that I’ve ever been in and I’m most fascinated by it and especially by the beautiful Masai people. I’ve met such amazing people including Shane and Terry, and also John and Almay who also work for the Masai.

Outside the wind is blowing strongly and I wonder if the lions are prowling around. Some baboons chewed into Shane’s water line last night and they had some elephants pounding around just a few hundred yards up the hill last week. What an amazing place.

In 13 years the Masai have had some good changes come into their lives. For example,Terry had told them that if they didn’t begin to bury their dead instead of leaving them on the ground that lions could develop a taste for human meat. They bury their dead now. The Masai who are coming to church are becoming loving husbands instead of beating their wives. Terry was so happy to see a Masai carrying wood for his pregnant wife – a thing just not done by Masai men. One of the missionaries have offered to send a young Masai girl away to school if she decides to not have a forced circumcism, which the Masai consider a rite of passage even though it’s illegal in Kenya. These missionaries truly care for the Masai people and it’s very inspiring to me and McKenna. Tomorrow we head back into the extreme poverty of civilized Nairobi.

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