Praise Jesus.
This is a second entry that reflects on my time in Maasai Land.
I had the above verse going through my head when I walked into a Maasai church for the first time -- a small school in the hills of Kotel. Women were colorful as ever celebrating Jesus with song and dance, yet little presence of men. But wow, God is moving in Maasai land!
Early mornings there typically included sitting around a table (drinking hot chai tea) with 5-7 Maasai men working for community health & development who have all become Christians, they are some of the many Christian pioneers of their community. The work day would being with conversing and fellowship which takes early morning priority! The peace that accompanies faces and settles around the table is remarkable, unlike anything I have experienced before. This is an attribute that I can only accredit to God for all of these men have deep convictions of Christ flowing through their African spirit. Amen. Praise You Jesus.
Most of our work in Maasai land consisted of doing repairs on cracked filters, installing BSF`s and doing follow-ups. We worked with a gentlemen by the name of Elijah (around 50 years old), he is the water-track manager for Maasai community health dept. He is also a good worker, fun-loving, adventurous, humble, sincere and carries many songs in his soul, and like myself enjoys doing development work and ministry -- though he the experienced one. Elijah grew up like most boys who become men and became a Maasai warrior (to graduate he needed to kill a lion with a spear, in total he has killed seven lions in his life). When he became a Christian he was one of the first (witnessed to by indigenous visiting evangelists) in his village, he faced persecution through violence and isolation, but over the years (26 years as a Christian) he has become a well respected leader in the community, he is also a pastor. It was an absolute privilege to spend time with him throughout our three week stay in Maasai land, to learn from his work on the BSF`s, to hear him witness and pray for the BSF beneficiaries and to see him preach. To see Jesus in Him!
Christianity is growing in Maasai land, they now estimate that ten percent of population are Christians (thirty years ago it may have been 1 percent). But as already mentioned it is very evident that God is strongly moving amongst them.
After one of the church services we attended we were invited back to the home of a widowed lady, Namelok. While enjoying tea, Peter asked her about her testimony, it was extremely moving. She started going to church after her husband was killed in an accident over a year ago. She was warned not to go to church by her villagers, they claimed she needed to go to a witch dotor instead (apparently all of her husband`s siblings had died and they believed the family to be cursed).
This sweet older widow told us that she then heard a voice from heaven that said ``I am God, and I will help you`` WOW. She then told her neighbors that she refused the help of witch dotors, and was going to church instead. However, as the days went on villagers continued to harass her, they even threatened her life. Yet after hearing The voice from heaven speak the same message at two other times she refused to give in and go to the witch doctors, stating that they could take her life but that she would remain faithful to Jesus!! Wow. I was blown away by this story from a lady who had no need to be falsely extravagant about religious testimony, just the sincere telling of a widowed Maasai women who simply encountered the awesome and living God. As mentioned above, the convictions of Christ are running deep in the spirit of many Maasai people!
Members of the church in Kotel, Namelok (the widowed lady from the above story) is on the far left.
Maasai homes are incredibly ancient in design and function, amazing experience to be welcomed in.
Namelok's family.
The above two stories are just some of the many that I encountered there.
``...every tribe and tongue and people and nation.`` Revelations 5:9
we serve an awesome God! Imagine Heaven!
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