Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Visit To A Masai Village - Kenya 10/14

Truth Connect conducted a Leadership Training Conference (LTC) at Eldoret, Kenya in October 2014 (please see earlier blog posts).  Once the LTC was completed, Karen and I took a few days to see the beauty of God's creation in Kenya.  Peter, of Elida Tours (based in Nairobi and highly recommended), drove us from Eldoret to the Masai Mara, where for three days he guided our safaris (see the previous post).

One of the most interesting parts of the tour for me was a visit to a Masai Village.  Peter helped us locate a local tribesman who then took us to his village.  Once I negotiated our "entrance fee" with the Masai leaders, we were warmly welcomed into the village.  (I was forewarned that any Masai village we visited would want an "entrance fee." The fee is used to benefit the community as a whole.)

Dixon (left) led us to his village and we negotiated the entrance fee with these men.


Karen & I were warmly received by the Masai men.


Masai men jump high while others sing and blow a ram's horn.


Masai warrior blows a ram's horn.


Dixon places a lion fur hat on me.  Masai boys, when 15 years old, are sent into the wilderness to kill a male lion as a rite of adult passage. 

Karen is cloaked with a red Masai shawl, the prominent color used by the Masai. It is a color that demonstrates fierceness. Red also makes it easier for Masai herdsman to be seen by their herds of cows and flocks of goats and sheep.   


Masai live in small huts constructed from woven sticks plastered with cow dung.  The Masai women are responsible to build the family hut.

Karen and I sat in this Masai's house and talked about the Masai way.  He told me of the Great Spirit who made everything.  I shared with him how this Great Spirit sent His Son to take the away the darkness that we all have in our hearts.  It was an interesting discussion.


These children listened as we talk about the Great Spirit God who created the animals, people and all there is.  They heard that God loves them and sent His Son Jesus to die for their sin/darkness of heart.  They learned that they need to believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sin and to receive God's gift of eternal life.  Please pray for the Masai people.


Dixon shows Karen herbal bark used to make a medicinal tea.


A mother and her children.  Notice the brush fence, it circles the entire village.  Their cows and other animals are brought inside the fence at night to protect them from lions and other predators.  

This beautiful little girl waved goodbye to us as we ended our visit at the Masai Village.