Where do I even begin with this blog?
I am spending February in one of the most remote places on Earth, ministering to the most interesting people group I have ever encountered. Maasai Mara is known for two things: the wildlife and the Maasai tribe. The “town” we are staying in, Oloolaimutia, is less than a mile away from the Maasai Mara Game Reserve gate
Essentially, I am living where people go on safaris.
Zebras. Wildebeests. Giraffes. Antelopes. These were a few of the animals that greeted us day 1 as we drove into Oloolaimutia. Last Saturday, we went on a “game drive” (a safari) with our contacts and some Maasai friends. We saw male and female lions, African elephants, jackals, impalas, cheetahs, buffalos, hippos, and even more zebras, wildebeests, and giraffes. The big win of the day was spotting a black rhino. That may not sound like a big deal but one hasn’t been spotted in Maasai land for almost 40 years until today! It was definitely a day to remember. Even when no animals were in sight, the landscape was beautiful! I couldn’t stop taking pictures. It literally looked like God took His hand and carved out the hills and valleys. And the wonderful smell…no exhaust, no outhouses, no noise or trash; for the first time in a while, I smelled beautiful earth for hours upon hours. It was incredible.
I will try my best to describe and explain the Maasai tribe and culture, but I have only been here for a week so some additional research and images from Google might help. There are many, many different tribes in Kenya and one of the more famous is the Maasai tribe. They are known for their stretched-out ears, intricate, beaded jewelry, their jumping skills, and for hunting some of the wildest African animals. Until 5 or so years ago, it was common practice for 14-year-old boys to be sent out with the mission of hunting a lion in order to enter into manhood. This journey for boys in the Maasai community begins at 5-years-old when they are placed in charge of hundreds of goats and sheep. Everyday we see hundreds of animals being herded across the land, only to be followed by a couple of 7-year-olds, holding sticks. Oh, the things that have become "normal". But only part of the Maasai culture is captured in their appearance, dance, and tradition. The Maasai are some of the most welcoming people I have met. They are so welcoming and do everything they can to meet your needs while visiting them. Many of the “Muzungu” (Western) population they encounter are tourists, so it has taken us some time to set ourselves apart from other Westerners. But within the first week alone, I have made some amazing friends and feel so loved and cared for.
My team is the first World Race team to minister in the Maasai Mara! (I’m not sure if I mentioned this in last month’s blogs, but we were the first in Kybakuza, Uganda as well). We are working with an amazing man named Pastor Samuel and his brother, Pastor Stephen. Pastor Samuel actually founded our town 17 years ago and helped start the church, school, and clinic we work with. He became a Christian at the age of 16 and because of his decision was initially disowned by his father and kicked out of the village. Just as in many secular cultures, some things in Maasai tradition are fascinating and beautiful and others go against the culture of the “Kingdom of God”. So in accepting Jesus, Pastor Samuel as well as many Maasais, have to adjust their traditions in order to honor and glorify God in all they do. For example, two common practices amongst Maasai include drinking animal blood (usually from cows and goats) for males and forced marriage, as well as female circumcision for many young girls. Christian Maasais reject both of these practices. So there is definitely an adjustment period that takes place for both the individual and the community when a Maasai begins to follow Jesus.
After walking through that adjustment period, Pastor Samuel was welcomed back into the Maasai community and recognized as a Christian. Many years later, Pastor Samuel is now a respected elder in the Maasai tribe and has seen his entire family come to faith in Jesus. He has a passion for the Maasai people to know God and spends a lot of his free time going village-to-village sharing the gospel.
Since we are the first World Race team, a lot of our time has been spent building a foundation with this town. Before us, only one Muzungu missionary had visited Oloolaimutia, so they are not used to Westerners coming for any other purpose than tourism. We spend some of our afternoons visiting the Maasai villages, meeting with the people, and sharing with them the message of Jesus. Some of them are born-again believers, while others are not. A small percentage of the Maasai population is Muslim, while other non-Christians primarily believe in the existence of “a god”, but not much past that. Last week, we met with a nomadic group of Maasais as they passed through the town. It was so awesome to spend an afternoon with them and share the love of Jesus!
Almost every morning, we spend our time in the school, teaching and grading papers. I even grade the papers for Swahili class! On Tuesdays, we also work at the clinic and assist our Pastor at the weekly market. Every Friday, there is a revival meeting at the church where we sing, dance, pray, speak, and ask God for a revival in this town. On Sundays, we meet with two different churches, sharing in song and in preaching. The church is so encouraged by our mere presence, knowing that God sent us here to serve and bless them. So overall, things are going really well. We have built solid friendships with a lot of the teachers, fellow believers, local shop owners, and nurses at the clinic. A lot of our time is spent serving alongside them and encouraging them in their work. Sometimes it is easy to question our purpose for being here when our mornings are spent grading math and English workbooks. But it has been a great opportunity to practice joyful obedience and remember that God entrusts significant things to those who are responsible with the seemingly insignificant. I often bring to mind the fact that Jesus spent 30 years in subjection to earthly parental authority and the confinements of a carpentry trade before even beginning his ministry.
So please be praying that I would continue to joyfully obey, trusting the journey and plan of my Father as He develops my character and takes me to new places. Also pray that I do not lose sight of the kingdom work God desires to do and is already doing in this town. That I would see past grading papers and weighing babies in the clinic, knowing the kingdom of God is breaking in as we love, serve, and encourage the church. Finally, be praying for vision for my team as we ask God why we He has us here, and daily fulfill His purpose in bringing us to this amazing location filled with beautiful people.
I love you all!
**FYI: I was able to get a few minutes of Internet access to post this blog, but I will not have Internet access again until the end of the February.
