Embedded Files
In mid-September we got our first chance to visit Maasailand! The community that we visited has a really traditional way of life (except for the fact that they've converted to Christianity). They live in mud huts, are pastoral, and wear traditional clothing. This community is the home base for the En-kata choir, which Pamoja Ministries has assisted to tour North America several times to raise funds to build a local primary school. We've met many of these people when they visited Waterloo a few years ago. It was great to see them in their element. It was also so great to visit the school that we've heard so much about!
The lucky bean trees were just starting to bloom. Amazing scenery...even after 5 long, dusty and bumpy hours of it!
Weaver bird nests. Incredible!
A stop at "the Rock". It's a lone giant rock beside the road. What a view!
Just when I started wondering if we'd see any baobab trees...there they were!
Finally arrived...news spread fast and soon we had a large crowd of young observers.
Here are the kids playing the shade behind the cooking hut. This hut was originally built by a German missionary as a medical hut. It's now a cooking hut behind the church. Apparently, cooking inside the huts preserves them as the smoke keeps the termites away.
Although we brought our own food, we hired a Maasai woman to heat it up for us. She builds a fire in the corner of the hut and cooks over the coal in a thin aluminum pot. The rice was perfect and even though our stew was still frozen she managed to thaw and heat it without burning it at all. This takes so much skill! The women can move hot coals around with their bare hands, but handling something frozen makes them squeal in pain! Besides our rice and beef stew, we enjoyed steaming cups of sweat chai tea. It was a deeply satisfying meal shared with friends.
As night fell, the boys brought the herds back home for the night. We crawled into our tents feeling the warm sand under our sleeping bags, and fell asleep listening to the incredible voices of the choir practicing in the church.
The following morning, after breakfast, we got a chance to visit the Ngata School. This incredible school enables the Maasai children to stay with their families while attending primary school. It's a registered English-medium private school that was built and funded by a Maasai-run faith and development organization.
Although the children happened to be on a 2-week school break while we were there, the 4th year class was at the school preparing for their upcoming state exams. They honoured us with a performance of the national anthem, clearly proud of their school, heritage and country.
So, what did the kids get out of our trip?
So, what did the kids get out of our trip?
Here's what they had to say.
Here's what they had to say.
Google Sites
Report abuse