On Friday afternoon the team, accompanied by our new friend Darlene (a volunteer from Minnesota working in the library at MGLSS), drove into the hills to visit with Timi at his family farm. Timi is a you Maasae man who has just complete medical school, and will begin work at Salian hospital in the fall. Bethel Lutheran supported Timi through medical school, and Jack McAllister has been a mentor to Timi. Timi calls Jack Baboo, which means grandfather.
Timi and his mother no longer live on the farm full time, but, according the Maasae tradition, it is still run by the extended family. The farmhouse is a small concrete structure high on a hill, with stunning views all around. On the hill, the family grows corn, and keeps livestock. The fields are plowed each year with a rented tractor, except in places where the land is too steep, and must be tilled by hand. By local standards, Timi’s family is doing quite well.
When we arrived Timi and his mother greeted us quite warmly. The Maasae are an incredibly proud people. Add to that a mother showing off her son who just graduated from medical school… that may have been the proudest Mama in the world. We were all hugged and thanked until we were worn out.
Then Timi’s friends arrived. A group of about a dozen you men in their mid twenties, dressed in bright red shukas (Maasae robes) armed with rods and machetes, and wearing a dazzling array of beads march up the hill. The leader carried a large spear topped with a ball of black osterige feather. One warrior played a three-foot long horn. Not like a trumpet: an actual animal horn. The group chanted and sang, making sounds I hadn’t imagined humans making before. For about fifteen minutes, the warriors marched and sang around the small yard at Timi’s farm, with those of us observing constantly dodging out of the way. I’m pretty sure they would have marched over us if necessary.
The marching complete, the warriors then engaged in ceremonial dance with a group of you women, also in traditional Maasae dress. The men lined up on one side of the yard, the women on the other. The men continued to chant and sing. The women looked on as if unimpressed. According the translation we received, the men first sang about being Maasae warriors, and having no fear. Next they sang a spiritual song, praising God. Then, one or two at a time would step forward and begin to bounce. Each warrior would spend about thirty seconds in the center of the yard leaping straight into the air, as high as possible, in an effort to demonstrate his physical strength. When a warrior performed well, his mates would hold their rods in the air, and the jumper would tap them with his rod. Picture it as a Maasae “high five”. Towards the end of the dance the women began to sing as well, which signified that they were suitably impressed with the strength of the warriors.
After the dance of the warriors we toured the village. We saw a series of springs that provide only dirty water. The more affluent members of the village carry water in from elsewhere. The poor have no choice. We hope that with Timi’s assistance, Bethel may be able to aid the village in drilling a clean will. We saw the cow herds, that represent the villages wealth and prosperity. They are still guarded by you mean who carry spears to fight off predators.
We returned to the Timi’s home where Moma had prepared a large meal of rice, fruit chicken, vegetables curry, and bean. There was plenty of food, and lots of fellowship.
After the meal, Timi’s mother presented each member of the team with a shuka and a huge hug. Each member of the team was also allowed to hold the rod carried by Maasae men. That signified continuing welcome: All of us are considered friends who are welcome in the village forever.
It’s six in the morning now, and I woke up early to watch the sunrise, and tell this story. I hope to have a brief chance at the internet soon, and I wanted to share this with you folks back at Bethel. Although we were the representatives that directly received the gratitude of the family, it was properly meant for all of you. All of you supported Timi through out his schooling and helped a very impressive young man reach his potential in a place that desperately needs him. Please know that you work was very well done, and that gratitude from those you have helped is overwhelming.
Timi and his mother no longer live on the farm full time, but, according the Maasae tradition, it is still run by the extended family. The farmhouse is a small concrete structure high on a hill, with stunning views all around. On the hill, the family grows corn, and keeps livestock. The fields are plowed each year with a rented tractor, except in places where the land is too steep, and must be tilled by hand. By local standards, Timi’s family is doing quite well.
When we arrived Timi and his mother greeted us quite warmly. The Maasae are an incredibly proud people. Add to that a mother showing off her son who just graduated from medical school… that may have been the proudest Mama in the world. We were all hugged and thanked until we were worn out.
Then Timi’s friends arrived. A group of about a dozen you men in their mid twenties, dressed in bright red shukas (Maasae robes) armed with rods and machetes, and wearing a dazzling array of beads march up the hill. The leader carried a large spear topped with a ball of black osterige feather. One warrior played a three-foot long horn. Not like a trumpet: an actual animal horn. The group chanted and sang, making sounds I hadn’t imagined humans making before. For about fifteen minutes, the warriors marched and sang around the small yard at Timi’s farm, with those of us observing constantly dodging out of the way. I’m pretty sure they would have marched over us if necessary.
The marching complete, the warriors then engaged in ceremonial dance with a group of you women, also in traditional Maasae dress. The men lined up on one side of the yard, the women on the other. The men continued to chant and sing. The women looked on as if unimpressed. According the translation we received, the men first sang about being Maasae warriors, and having no fear. Next they sang a spiritual song, praising God. Then, one or two at a time would step forward and begin to bounce. Each warrior would spend about thirty seconds in the center of the yard leaping straight into the air, as high as possible, in an effort to demonstrate his physical strength. When a warrior performed well, his mates would hold their rods in the air, and the jumper would tap them with his rod. Picture it as a Maasae “high five”. Towards the end of the dance the women began to sing as well, which signified that they were suitably impressed with the strength of the warriors.
After the dance of the warriors we toured the village. We saw a series of springs that provide only dirty water. The more affluent members of the village carry water in from elsewhere. The poor have no choice. We hope that with Timi’s assistance, Bethel may be able to aid the village in drilling a clean will. We saw the cow herds, that represent the villages wealth and prosperity. They are still guarded by you mean who carry spears to fight off predators.
We returned to the Timi’s home where Moma had prepared a large meal of rice, fruit chicken, vegetables curry, and bean. There was plenty of food, and lots of fellowship.
After the meal, Timi’s mother presented each member of the team with a shuka and a huge hug. Each member of the team was also allowed to hold the rod carried by Maasae men. That signified continuing welcome: All of us are considered friends who are welcome in the village forever.
It’s six in the morning now, and I woke up early to watch the sunrise, and tell this story. I hope to have a brief chance at the internet soon, and I wanted to share this with you folks back at Bethel. Although we were the representatives that directly received the gratitude of the family, it was properly meant for all of you. All of you supported Timi through out his schooling and helped a very impressive young man reach his potential in a place that desperately needs him. Please know that you work was very well done, and that gratitude from those you have helped is overwhelming.
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