BEDBUGS, BOGS AND MASAI:

Tuesday:

Well, we finally arrived [11:20pm]. It was to be a "2 hour journey"! We left at 6:10pm [but it was meant to be 2] things kind of snowball here- I promised to take some furniture to Engarenaibor for some newly married friends- Julius couldn't afford the transport. it would fit on the roof rack but 'could you take a few more people?" "OK" Hmm- how many is a few? We already had all our gear and half a local house of furniture. Pastor Isaac told me he would borrow a trailer. It arrived..... but not empty- it was already half full with MORE furniture!

The guys packed the trailer, roof rack and the care- they did it well- but people kept appearing! It ended up being 10. So after 2 hours of packing at 5:30 we left for .......... groceries.

"I thought you have them" " not yet" 6:40 we left town - trailer had no lights and we had 3 police checks to go through- but ... 10 loudly singing people and police seeing an mzungu driving [white] fixed all our problems. Along the way a car broken down- 2 children joined the gang and we bounced our way for nearly 5 hours delivering things here, people there... and fell into bed exhausted at 11:30.

Wednesday:

Time I am told to leave here is 7am. Well its 8:15 now an the rain has poured down. Pastor Isaac says we will push our way the 2-3 hour 50km if we have to. Government officials supposed to be waiting for us there.

Thursday 10:30am:

I waved to an inquisitive child peering through the many holes in the wall- she ran away as soon as she knew I saw her. As always, there are many young generation- who would be surprised when one Masai here has 17 wives with an average of 8 children per wife- work that one out!

Yesterday we ended up leaving at 11 for the 2-3 hours journey. At 6:30pm we arrived! [Pastor Isaac and his wife Mama Alpha have walked or bicycled here many times- its whey you call commitment] We bogged out several times- guess its no wonder either. I had 20 Masai on board and two children and me and a trailer of stuff and a roof rack of all our gear! It was a miracle we made it through the mud. At one mud river we dropped the trailer and all the people. I gunned it after putting heaps of branches downs and then we pushed the trailer across. But the 7.5 hour journey was a happy one. - Masai singing all the way in the sardine can. As we drove in, Gilai wondered what hit them I think!  

We were greeted by an angry village chairman " I have not given you permission to be here" He was drunk and I learnt later is a witch doctor. This is not the first time for me to see wicked spirits stirring up certain leaders. Anyway, we sorted that one out and Stanley set up the video and Alex helped me with the screen - it was dark now. My car had held us up a bit- twice we stalled and due to its age, we had to wait for it to cool down before it would start] The generator cut out at the end but everyone was happy- it is a big event for them and the film helps open there hearts and much seed is sown.

I felt bad taking a whole room for myself- but was glad of it even without the holes in the wall. 4:30 am a man started praying- others joined him and soon the whole house was awake. 'Please, I need more sleep!' Stanley and Alex and 2 others were sleeping in the car- I wished I was with them!

There are few Christians here. But Engarenaibor, where Isaac first started, was like this. Now there are many vibrant godly people there and the overall well being of the village has changed for good so much. This village of Gilai is very run down- house walls broken, overflowing toilets, drunks every where at night. But the Lord in peoples hearts can change all that.

I am looking forward to seeing Sharon- she will be home now from UK

Friday:

Right now I feel like packing up and going home- the generator is costing us all the time and finance we have put into getting here. Many are here to hear and I feel we have half failed due to a generator. Anyway we preached, and the people enjoyed it. Then the team walked around with tracts talking to the locals.

Afternoon: This is a village where few know the goodness of the Lord- maybe 7 they tell me. Even though I have lost a lot of what little hair I have left , they appreciate us here now... already!! Just a matter of 3 days. People bowed their heads and prayed we prayed for the sick.

Saturday:

It rained last night- I hope we can get out tomorrow - Sharon and Kirsty will be back. If it does, there will be no way- you could be stuck for a week or a month. Cook is trying to get the fire going with wet wood for breakfast. The chickens are having theirs- eating from the pots we will soon eat food from ! Two have just come in my room. I passed two shops this morning- both had goats in them or on the verandah.

Mama Alpha is happy,- she tells me how much she has heard the village has been blessed by our visit. I feel this as well, but find it hard to overcome the frustrations. We 'fixed' the generator 6-7 times yesterday- and still it broke down half way through the Masai Jesus film.. But still the people are blessed and you can see the barriers being broken down. We praise God that He can even use the hassles we have.

I wondered why the village has such high 6 foot fences. Last night I heard the reason- hyenas. Yesterdays market brought many young men with spears- spears for protection against buffalo and lion. They listed very much to our words about Christ. One lady asked Mama Alfa " Who is Jesus- a man or a woman?"

I just asked Julius what the insects were in my mosquito net. He put his hand to his mouth in shock and told me "KUNGUNI!" The dictionary told me 'bed bugs'. Hmmmmm - this is turning out to be a trip! Hope I don't get rickettsia. We will have to leave all my clothes and mattress in the shed when we get back.

The team are going boma to boma giving out Swahili tracts we brought with us. Some people read and they love to have them. Isaac is 3 hours up the mountain to visit a sick lady.

So much to learn about Masai ways. I am reading outside my 'holey room' - three old men passed. As the last went by my car, he spat twice towards it muttering some words. I thought he was unhappy and cursing us the way he spoke. But one of my friends laughed when I asked what he was doing. She wouldn't tell me but spoke in Maa to Julius. he told me the old man was BLESSING us. His words were thanking Orrorei Lengai [God] for us being here and asking him to send us back again. Thank you Jesus for the open door. I feel we will be working in the area more.

There are 264 children at the school. Less than a quarter are girls- its not considered worth it for them to go. But there are 2700 children in the area- only 10% go to school.

I heard a low hum like bees swarming. It grew louder and louder. Then there was singing. Through the hole in my wall I could see spears everywhere!

"What are they doing?'

"Going to a girls circumcision ceremony"

Hundreds gathered just beyond the village. Groups of young girls sauntered there with red paint and large collars soon after. I learnt later, though many were as young as 10 years of age, these girls would be sleeping with the Moran warriors that night. They believe they will not develop breasts unless they have frequent sex with whoever in their generation. It is abhorrent to me. Imagine what AIDS would do in this situation if it gets in.

Home:

We managed to get out ok on Sunday though the road was washed badly in places. From the heavy gear changes, the gear stick came out in my hand at one point but we fixed that enough to drive. We were not able to use the film last night but we shared with those that came. You could feel the positive reception. Many were physically healed over the few days and they knew Jesus had walked amongst them. Isaac has asked me to help teach 50 new leaders in the area. I am going to put some time into the young leaders and surrounding villages in the next two years when we come back. They are ripe for help so now is the time. 

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