Wed 2-13-08
standing next to the Maasai girls choir (2-13-08)
a maasai warrior baptized (I love that you can see the cross on his skin)!Wednesday February 13th
At breakfast this morning I had an orange (that was green before it was peeled)! However, it still took a lot of work, as the outer whiteish membrane is much thicker than an orange we would eat-therefore I had to take out the seeds first then peel the thick membrane off, and then tried eating/sucking some of the fruit out-but it’s shaped more like a grapefruit inside. Also, it is much more tart than the oranges we eat! But, I was grateful for something new! Although, I was really enjoying eating bananas…something I’ve refrained from eating my whole life…until the past week! :)
After morning devotion I went to class for a half an hour to finish up my exercises and that way I will start fresh on Lesson #35 tomorrow! I came back to my room and for about 20 minutes was able to talk to about 4 different friends online (quickly of course)- but it was wonderful! I talked with a roommate of mine who was just here in Tanzania for the whole Fall semester and I have never typed more furiously as she asked me about certain people and experiences and I know the very same people or have been to so many similar places- so she understands and can relate completely! It was very exciting!
Anyway, Pastor H and I took off from the school around 9:20am (therefore I got to sit up front again) but we had to actually go into town to pick up the Evangelist for the area (Samuel) as well as Malaki again (one of the newly ordained pastors)!! Then the drive was really only about 45 minutes on almost all nice Primary road- just about a mile or two into the bush we had to go (but that was very bad “road”)!
On the drive everyone was reading newspapers as the President (Jakaya Kikwete) has just downsized his cabinet- cutting some people and adding more honest, and dependable people.
We arrive about 10:45am or so and another man (an evangelist I think?) joins us and we just sit in the church on a bench. One Maasai woman on crutches comes into the church and sits down on the bench next to me so I got about ½ page of reading done in my book… then PH and Malaki waved me over to go look at the herd of cattle that was walking by in the nearby trees. However, the cattle keeps running away from us so Malaki is leading, then PH and then myself but after about a minute we realized that we were not going to catch up with them, and then I felt something on my feet and realized that this was an area where there are Large ants running Everywhere- and they bite…so I started slapping them off of my feet and ran back to the safe zone: the church :)
Well, then PH tells me, ok- we (he plus Malaki and the evangelists) have to go now (of course I don’t know where or to do what) so I guess you’ll get some practice speaking today… so there I was sitting in this church next to this Maasai woman who knows not a word of English. What was I to do?! *(Luka was supposed to come with us today but since a wall fell over at one of his sites because of a storm he had to go fix it today- and although I still would have practiced Swahili with him, he knows some English and is more of a comfort as a companion-sometimes just knowing one friend helps…)
So, for a few minutes I try asking this woman her name (Marea), what she hurt (as in, the reasons for the crutches), and also about her family, my family, and simple info that I know how to say- like what date I came and how long I have been studying the language and when I will leave… (turns out that she is the mother-in-law of the Evangelist (Samuel). She also noticed one of my rings. I wear two silver ones: one with a cross and the other that says God is love… well- I told her what it says in kiiSwahili and then she wanted to try it on of course- and I figured she would want to keep it anyway so I never asked for it back… I have had it for years and so I really wasn’t heartbroken! A few more mamas came in and sat down as well as a few children…and somehow within a matter of minutes I found myself surrounded by about 20 children and about 5-6 mamas! I introduced myself again and told where I came from and I showed them a picture of snow on my camera…and also of my parents and Paul :) I showed a few of them some pictures from my mountain climb and some animals from Mikumi…then it was time to put the camera away! I was thankful when PH and the others came back but then they went to set up a couple benches under a nearby tree to start baptism registration…well that lessened the crowd a bit as Mamas went to register their babies/small children. I realized that sometimes it’s okay to just sit in silence and just sit and smile…because sometimes that’s literally all I can do! The elder mama came to get me for chai and I was excited, not just because I could get a little fresh air, but because I LOVE Maasai chai!!! I went to sit on the benches with the other men and while we were drinking our chai many more people had shown up and they all started to sing! Finally, it was bout 2:30pm and the 8 or so baptisms were registered and we were ready to begin! I went and stood in the back for the opening song and then the elder mama and the evangelist-Samuel- showed me to a spot up front on a bench. I sat all the way over right next to the wall!
The service was wonderful as usual…but it was definitely the best Maasai girls choir I have seen!! They had some awesome choreography (if one can call it that!) and sang quite a bit!! I have a shorter video that I will try and post soon!
In the previous post I added a picture of myself and a couple older Maasai warrior men…they sat perpendicular to me on a bench and at one point they leaned over to ask me my age and then talked amongst themselves and a few seconds later they asked me something about, do I want to live here, (meaning in the village of course)…and then I heard ng’ombe (cattle)…and immediately I knew what they were discussing! Haha It’s funny how when one hears simply one word they can figure out the meaning of the conversation…and especially if it involves a girl. When “cattle” and “girl” are talked about it’s always about a brideprice!! :) So I just laugh and say “labda, labda” (maybe/perhaps)…
This was a packed house with all women and children on one side and the men on the other. It was mostly young warrior boys (in their young teens)…supposedly they have been a Christian congregation for about 3 years now but the only people that were singing the liturgy/hymns from the book were PH, Malaki, the other assisting pastor that rode his bike to come to the service, and myself… granted there are only about 4 hymnals, but I guess it’s the job of the Evangelist to teach them the liturgy/songs…one wonders what has been going on the past three years?!??
I obviously had no one to translate any of the sermon but I catch a little bit here and there and PH is so expressive so that helps. This congregation was SO captivated by PH…it was wonderful to look at their faces, just intently watching/listening to him. He makes them laugh with his actions/antics and knows how to make the Gospel completely relevant in their cultural context… after we sang my favorite song and exited the church, the Pastors asked if anyone wanted prayer and so many went back in to gather up front around the altar. I stayed outside and was surrounded by kids again- just looking at me…some touching my watch, my skin, my hair… and Samuel introduced me to his wife, Esther, as well as their baby. Esther took my glasses off to try them on! Then I showed the girls some of the pictures I took of the choir…my goodness are these kids desperate to see themselves on the camera. So, after a few minutes it was time to eat and I say “Inatosha!” (enough)! PH and Malaki and the other pastor were taking care of some other business so I sat down with the two Maasai men to eat. (Since the evangelist didn’t exactly get the news out that we would be coming for a service, no meat was killed…but that was fine by me!) We had bowls of rice and potatoes and that yummy orange sauce! ooh-and More Chai again!! There were actually a few spoons to use, but I decided to use my hands because honestly, the past few village visits we’ve been privileged to have silverware to use and I feel like I’m getting more of a “cultural experience” or just engaging in village life with them when I use my hands! I’m getting much better and making “snowballs!” :)
We left around 5:15pm and drove back to Morogoro, dropping Malaki and Samuel off in town before arriving back at the seminary about 7pm!
At breakfast this morning I had an orange (that was green before it was peeled)! However, it still took a lot of work, as the outer whiteish membrane is much thicker than an orange we would eat-therefore I had to take out the seeds first then peel the thick membrane off, and then tried eating/sucking some of the fruit out-but it’s shaped more like a grapefruit inside. Also, it is much more tart than the oranges we eat! But, I was grateful for something new! Although, I was really enjoying eating bananas…something I’ve refrained from eating my whole life…until the past week! :)
After morning devotion I went to class for a half an hour to finish up my exercises and that way I will start fresh on Lesson #35 tomorrow! I came back to my room and for about 20 minutes was able to talk to about 4 different friends online (quickly of course)- but it was wonderful! I talked with a roommate of mine who was just here in Tanzania for the whole Fall semester and I have never typed more furiously as she asked me about certain people and experiences and I know the very same people or have been to so many similar places- so she understands and can relate completely! It was very exciting!
Anyway, Pastor H and I took off from the school around 9:20am (therefore I got to sit up front again) but we had to actually go into town to pick up the Evangelist for the area (Samuel) as well as Malaki again (one of the newly ordained pastors)!! Then the drive was really only about 45 minutes on almost all nice Primary road- just about a mile or two into the bush we had to go (but that was very bad “road”)!
On the drive everyone was reading newspapers as the President (Jakaya Kikwete) has just downsized his cabinet- cutting some people and adding more honest, and dependable people.
We arrive about 10:45am or so and another man (an evangelist I think?) joins us and we just sit in the church on a bench. One Maasai woman on crutches comes into the church and sits down on the bench next to me so I got about ½ page of reading done in my book… then PH and Malaki waved me over to go look at the herd of cattle that was walking by in the nearby trees. However, the cattle keeps running away from us so Malaki is leading, then PH and then myself but after about a minute we realized that we were not going to catch up with them, and then I felt something on my feet and realized that this was an area where there are Large ants running Everywhere- and they bite…so I started slapping them off of my feet and ran back to the safe zone: the church :)
Well, then PH tells me, ok- we (he plus Malaki and the evangelists) have to go now (of course I don’t know where or to do what) so I guess you’ll get some practice speaking today… so there I was sitting in this church next to this Maasai woman who knows not a word of English. What was I to do?! *(Luka was supposed to come with us today but since a wall fell over at one of his sites because of a storm he had to go fix it today- and although I still would have practiced Swahili with him, he knows some English and is more of a comfort as a companion-sometimes just knowing one friend helps…)
So, for a few minutes I try asking this woman her name (Marea), what she hurt (as in, the reasons for the crutches), and also about her family, my family, and simple info that I know how to say- like what date I came and how long I have been studying the language and when I will leave… (turns out that she is the mother-in-law of the Evangelist (Samuel). She also noticed one of my rings. I wear two silver ones: one with a cross and the other that says God is love… well- I told her what it says in kiiSwahili and then she wanted to try it on of course- and I figured she would want to keep it anyway so I never asked for it back… I have had it for years and so I really wasn’t heartbroken! A few more mamas came in and sat down as well as a few children…and somehow within a matter of minutes I found myself surrounded by about 20 children and about 5-6 mamas! I introduced myself again and told where I came from and I showed them a picture of snow on my camera…and also of my parents and Paul :) I showed a few of them some pictures from my mountain climb and some animals from Mikumi…then it was time to put the camera away! I was thankful when PH and the others came back but then they went to set up a couple benches under a nearby tree to start baptism registration…well that lessened the crowd a bit as Mamas went to register their babies/small children. I realized that sometimes it’s okay to just sit in silence and just sit and smile…because sometimes that’s literally all I can do! The elder mama came to get me for chai and I was excited, not just because I could get a little fresh air, but because I LOVE Maasai chai!!! I went to sit on the benches with the other men and while we were drinking our chai many more people had shown up and they all started to sing! Finally, it was bout 2:30pm and the 8 or so baptisms were registered and we were ready to begin! I went and stood in the back for the opening song and then the elder mama and the evangelist-Samuel- showed me to a spot up front on a bench. I sat all the way over right next to the wall!
The service was wonderful as usual…but it was definitely the best Maasai girls choir I have seen!! They had some awesome choreography (if one can call it that!) and sang quite a bit!! I have a shorter video that I will try and post soon!
In the previous post I added a picture of myself and a couple older Maasai warrior men…they sat perpendicular to me on a bench and at one point they leaned over to ask me my age and then talked amongst themselves and a few seconds later they asked me something about, do I want to live here, (meaning in the village of course)…and then I heard ng’ombe (cattle)…and immediately I knew what they were discussing! Haha It’s funny how when one hears simply one word they can figure out the meaning of the conversation…and especially if it involves a girl. When “cattle” and “girl” are talked about it’s always about a brideprice!! :) So I just laugh and say “labda, labda” (maybe/perhaps)…
This was a packed house with all women and children on one side and the men on the other. It was mostly young warrior boys (in their young teens)…supposedly they have been a Christian congregation for about 3 years now but the only people that were singing the liturgy/hymns from the book were PH, Malaki, the other assisting pastor that rode his bike to come to the service, and myself… granted there are only about 4 hymnals, but I guess it’s the job of the Evangelist to teach them the liturgy/songs…one wonders what has been going on the past three years?!??
I obviously had no one to translate any of the sermon but I catch a little bit here and there and PH is so expressive so that helps. This congregation was SO captivated by PH…it was wonderful to look at their faces, just intently watching/listening to him. He makes them laugh with his actions/antics and knows how to make the Gospel completely relevant in their cultural context… after we sang my favorite song and exited the church, the Pastors asked if anyone wanted prayer and so many went back in to gather up front around the altar. I stayed outside and was surrounded by kids again- just looking at me…some touching my watch, my skin, my hair… and Samuel introduced me to his wife, Esther, as well as their baby. Esther took my glasses off to try them on! Then I showed the girls some of the pictures I took of the choir…my goodness are these kids desperate to see themselves on the camera. So, after a few minutes it was time to eat and I say “Inatosha!” (enough)! PH and Malaki and the other pastor were taking care of some other business so I sat down with the two Maasai men to eat. (Since the evangelist didn’t exactly get the news out that we would be coming for a service, no meat was killed…but that was fine by me!) We had bowls of rice and potatoes and that yummy orange sauce! ooh-and More Chai again!! There were actually a few spoons to use, but I decided to use my hands because honestly, the past few village visits we’ve been privileged to have silverware to use and I feel like I’m getting more of a “cultural experience” or just engaging in village life with them when I use my hands! I’m getting much better and making “snowballs!” :)
We left around 5:15pm and drove back to Morogoro, dropping Malaki and Samuel off in town before arriving back at the seminary about 7pm!
in Him,
Alana :)
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