Out of Africa: Part 5 – Arrival with the Masai

On my recent trip to Africa, I disciplined myself to keep a daily journal of what transpired and how I felt about it. These entries are from that journal.

Friday, October 21, 2005

After driving over 300 kilometers in sub-Sahara Africa in a four wheel drive you have a new appreciation for the roads in the United States, no matter how bad they are. We drove for over two hours of this seven hour journey over roads where there were no roads. We drove where the safari vacationers were, only we kept going. There is something very unique about riding down the road, paved and unpaved, with zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, warthogs walking beside the road with the sheep and the cattle. The funniest part of the journey, was to see road kill beside the road, much as in the states, except the animal killed was a zebra!

That was the easy part of the journey. I had no intestinal issues, and no near death experiences, but I did have a near life experience once I arrived. It impacted me tremendously. Here are some details of that experience.

We came down the dirt “road” to where the Area Development Program was located and saw something that I will never forget as long as I am allowed to breathe air. There, lining the road waiting for us, (we were 90 minutes late!!) were several hundred Masai Tribesmen. There were men, women, children, boys and girls. Lining the road, dressed in their best colorful attire (matching for the children) singing to us and swaying as we drove past. They were waving to us and acting like we were visiting dignitaries! They followed the cars in on foot, and when we stepped out, the children came upon us singing and one after the other asking to be blessed. We were then told by World Vision’s Project Manager (an amazing African man – that in itself would be another blog) that they would like us to make our way to the stage for a short program.

We went to the stage area and were given the seats of honor. There small children continued to come up to us to place our hands on their heads to bless them. Some of these kids were the age of my grandson Gavin. I wanted to cry but that is the ultimate sign of weakness among the Masai. Also, it is hard to shed tears when they seemed so joyful. These precious human beings felt better because I touched them! There is something incredibly humbling about that experience.

It began to rain so we suggested turning the stage so almost everyone could get under shelter. They were going to do this entire program standing in the rain while we sat in the dry if we had not made this suggestion. The Manager gave the layout of the program (aided by an interpreter) with us as the guest of honor and opening prayer. He once again welcomed the visiting guests from America and they began the program.

The smallest children gathered in front and sang praises to God in the Masai tongue. Simon leaned up to me from behind and translated the words they were repeating as they sang and danced. It was then he told me that this was the first time many of these children had ever seen a white man in their life! Next the older children sang songs similar but more mature, also about praise to God.

Finally the women came forward and sang to us. I was reminded that the night before Simon told us the women sang to the men. As they sang, one of them came to each of us and presented us with a bracelet. My hand was too large for it, but oh how I wanted to force that bracelet on! Tears wanted to come once again, although I choked them back.

Finally the women did a skit, as the entire group laughed. The skit was about a woman in labor, with the purpose to show us they needed a maternity clinic here. Women die often in childbirth, or it was very difficult and the travel out for assistance was all but impossible. I was reminded again of one of World Vision’s primary objectives to assist in the HIV fight was the empowerment of women in the communities as the cultures could adapt and accept. This one already saw the need on some level.

A political representative of the President came forward to extend his welcome and greeting. Along with one of the World Vision personnel from Africa who reminded everyone, what they knew, but we did not, that because it was raining was a good thing. Rain here is a sign of blessing, and this showed God was going to bless our next four days among the Masai.

Afterwards, each of us was invited, to give a greeting which was translated for the entire community. The ceremony closed in prayer and we were escorted to the guest quarters, where I now sit. There is no doubt in my mind, that this is the nicest place to stay for 50 square miles aside from expensive Safari hotel locations. The people we are here to meet live in huts, I had a room in a building.

Once in the house, they served us coffee and cookies as we sat and talked about their plans for us for the next four days. They have been planning and preparing for our visit for MONTHS I was told.

We conversed about what the community both wants and needs and their plan with World Vision to bring that about and release total control of everything to the local people by sometime around the year 2018.

We were given 30 minutes to rest before they gave us our dinner. It was served buffet style and included soup, salad, vegetables, mutton, goat and fresh fruit.

I now sit in this room writing and asking the same question I asked on opening night, “God what are you up to?”

Check back, photos will be added later today.