So I’m terribly sorry for being terribly bad at keeping all of you
updated. Internet was wretched in tanzania and then the fourteen guys went to Maasai land and had absolutely no internet.
updated. Internet was wretched in tanzania and then the fourteen guys went to Maasai land and had absolutely no internet.
Since I last talked to you things have gone pretty good. We’re all super excited to be
out of africa. It’s just been a long three months of hard work, being dirty
and being tired. Don’t get me wrong, Africa’s a beautiful place, with some loving and beautiful people. But, much like at home, doing the same thing for three months can get tiring, finding it harder to be motivated every day.
out of africa. It’s just been a long three months of hard work, being dirty
and being tired. Don’t get me wrong, Africa’s a beautiful place, with some loving and beautiful people. But, much like at home, doing the same thing for three months can get tiring, finding it harder to be motivated every day.
The Maasai tribe is one of the biggest tribes in
Africa, and most of them still practice their traditional lifestyles
(clothing, food, housing, etc). This was what we expected going into this “man-estry” so we thought we would be hot all day, drinking blood and milk, wearing flannel sheets over our bodies and having to be circumcised without flinching (yeah right…). But what we found was a bit different. What we experienced was a let down on these expectations, but no less valuable (or maybe even more valuable) than those expectations: We drove for about five hours outside of Nairobi in some rather comfortable vans. After driving over hills through clouds of dust (Kenyan dust is the worst), we finally made it to Enasampulai, a very small village in a valley of Maasai Land. People walked around in jeans, t-shirts with american logos, ball caps, and, you wouldn’t expect it, winter jackets. Living at over 9,000 about seal level, in a valley between two long mountain ranges, it gets quite cold when the sun doesn’t shine (night and most of the day). So I was bundled up with my sweatshirt and rain jacket with my “beanie” hat on most of the time. Church was run by some young men of the community, and was attended by many men and women from among the community.
Africa, and most of them still practice their traditional lifestyles
(clothing, food, housing, etc). This was what we expected going into this “man-estry” so we thought we would be hot all day, drinking blood and milk, wearing flannel sheets over our bodies and having to be circumcised without flinching (yeah right…). But what we found was a bit different. What we experienced was a let down on these expectations, but no less valuable (or maybe even more valuable) than those expectations: We drove for about five hours outside of Nairobi in some rather comfortable vans. After driving over hills through clouds of dust (Kenyan dust is the worst), we finally made it to Enasampulai, a very small village in a valley of Maasai Land. People walked around in jeans, t-shirts with american logos, ball caps, and, you wouldn’t expect it, winter jackets. Living at over 9,000 about seal level, in a valley between two long mountain ranges, it gets quite cold when the sun doesn’t shine (night and most of the day). So I was bundled up with my sweatshirt and rain jacket with my “beanie” hat on most of the time. Church was run by some young men of the community, and was attended by many men and women from among the community.
I’m not sure how much detail I should go into on these 10 days in Maasai Land, so I’ll save you the sore eyes and headache by summarizing it. We made friends with many of the people of the community: a man who had made a lifestyle of gambling, a mother named Esther who cooked every single meal for us and 
her several wonderful children, Joel who is the pastor of the church we worked with, Daniel who translated for us and has an amazing heart for building the Kingdom in his community, Nicholas who was missing his left eye and was blind in his right but had amazing sight in seeing the Lord, and a 125-year-old woman (Jeff and I prayed for her one afternoon in her home that looked like a museum display of cavemen, and we found out that same night that she had died- funny because we know it’s what God wanted). We saw growth in the church and Joel had a strong desire to explore discipleship more (which Africa desperately needs). We saw unity among some of the youth in the community. We think that, though this was a small community and not the trible experience we expected, we’re hoping that there will be more trips to Enesampulai in the near future. The people were filled with such love and hospitality, we just pray they lose their religious spirits (Gary) in order to real grow in the Holy Spirit.
her several wonderful children, Joel who is the pastor of the church we worked with, Daniel who translated for us and has an amazing heart for building the Kingdom in his community, Nicholas who was missing his left eye and was blind in his right but had amazing sight in seeing the Lord, and a 125-year-old woman (Jeff and I prayed for her one afternoon in her home that looked like a museum display of cavemen, and we found out that same night that she had died- funny because we know it’s what God wanted). We saw growth in the church and Joel had a strong desire to explore discipleship more (which Africa desperately needs). We saw unity among some of the youth in the community. We think that, though this was a small community and not the trible experience we expected, we’re hoping that there will be more trips to Enesampulai in the near future. The people were filled with such love and hospitality, we just pray they lose their religious spirits (Gary) in order to real grow in the Holy Spirit.
One thing that some of us guys wanted
in africa was traditional tattoos or piercings. But the group we were
with didn’t do tattoos and no longer did ear piercing. But one thing
they do is “branding”. They take a rolled leaf, stand it up on their
arm or leg, and burn it down to create a scar as a decoration. So all
of us guys decided this would make up for the lack of tattooage. So
(don’t tell my mom) I got three of these “burns” on my upper right arm
just above my anchor tattoo. They hurt only a very little bit when they
were being done, and have not hurt since. So these scars will remind me
(and others) about what God has called me to, which is bringing the
gospel and love of Jesus Christ to the traditional people of Africa.
in africa was traditional tattoos or piercings. But the group we were
with didn’t do tattoos and no longer did ear piercing. But one thing
they do is “branding”. They take a rolled leaf, stand it up on their
arm or leg, and burn it down to create a scar as a decoration. So all
of us guys decided this would make up for the lack of tattooage. So
(don’t tell my mom) I got three of these “burns” on my upper right arm
just above my anchor tattoo. They hurt only a very little bit when they
were being done, and have not hurt since. So these scars will remind me
(and others) about what God has called me to, which is bringing the
gospel and love of Jesus Christ to the traditional people of Africa.
We spent a few days in Nairobi where we were reunited with our teams (old and new) and found out where each team was going for our month in India. During our leaders meeting, I found out where we were headed. I made a joke, saying “Are we gonna work
with Mother Theresa?” (knowing that she is dead), but I then found out
that we are going to Kolkotta!, which is where Mother Theresa started
her ministry to the poor and sick in the area! We do not have a main contact (no
contact at all right now), and the ministry and accomadations are up to
us. There are many, many ministries and organizations in Kolkotta, and many
foreigners come through this area. After some crazy transportation in India and getting separated from each other for a while, we finally found a nice hostel where many backpackers and tourists stay. It’s super cheap, has great internet, and there’s food all around. We are already regulars at the Blue Sky Restaurant and we found the children’s home that Mother Theresa started (we’re going there tomorrow to volunteer). It’s all right here so we dont’ even need to take public transportation. Indian culture is much different from Africa, China, and even Philippines, though it reminds us a bit of the latter. We do have
to be careful with the communication and words we use in blogs and
e-mails when we’re here, but not nearly as important as in China.
with Mother Theresa?” (knowing that she is dead), but I then found out
that we are going to Kolkotta!, which is where Mother Theresa started
her ministry to the poor and sick in the area! We do not have a main contact (no
contact at all right now), and the ministry and accomadations are up to
us. There are many, many ministries and organizations in Kolkotta, and many
foreigners come through this area. After some crazy transportation in India and getting separated from each other for a while, we finally found a nice hostel where many backpackers and tourists stay. It’s super cheap, has great internet, and there’s food all around. We are already regulars at the Blue Sky Restaurant and we found the children’s home that Mother Theresa started (we’re going there tomorrow to volunteer). It’s all right here so we dont’ even need to take public transportation. Indian culture is much different from Africa, China, and even Philippines, though it reminds us a bit of the latter. We do haveto be careful with the communication and words we use in blogs and
e-mails when we’re here, but not nearly as important as in China.
So
the team is super excited about what the next three weeks has in store
for us. Please keep us all in your prayers, especially with 1.) health: our stomachs are used to potatoes, rice, and corn with little spices, and we’re getting spicier stuff that can really mess us up; 2.) unity: we’re still a young team (and I’m a new leader), and having split up as men and women for the past to weeks we’re still growing and working through the growing pains; 3.) Spiritual climate: there are definitely clashes (not necessarily physical or violent) between Hindus (who worship thousands of gods [remind me of cartoon characters]) and Muslims (Allah). This doesn’t effect us too much, but you can sense that many of the people are effected quite a bit by these many wierd gods. Pray for our protection; and 4.) Ministry: There are many different opportunities. Mother Theresa’s stuff deals with children and the sick, but there are many, many homeless all over the streets. It breaks my heart whenever I see an entire family (I’m talking father, mother, two babies) laying on a blanket on the sidewalk. So please pray for discernment on what we should do as a team, as well as individuals.
the team is super excited about what the next three weeks has in store
for us. Please keep us all in your prayers, especially with 1.) health: our stomachs are used to potatoes, rice, and corn with little spices, and we’re getting spicier stuff that can really mess us up; 2.) unity: we’re still a young team (and I’m a new leader), and having split up as men and women for the past to weeks we’re still growing and working through the growing pains; 3.) Spiritual climate: there are definitely clashes (not necessarily physical or violent) between Hindus (who worship thousands of gods [remind me of cartoon characters]) and Muslims (Allah). This doesn’t effect us too much, but you can sense that many of the people are effected quite a bit by these many wierd gods. Pray for our protection; and 4.) Ministry: There are many different opportunities. Mother Theresa’s stuff deals with children and the sick, but there are many, many homeless all over the streets. It breaks my heart whenever I see an entire family (I’m talking father, mother, two babies) laying on a blanket on the sidewalk. So please pray for discernment on what we should do as a team, as well as individuals.
Again, I’m sorry for not communicating more, but I hope that The Lord blesses you with what I can say in these blogs. Thank you so much for reading and supporting what God is doing in me and through me on this journey.
