Kenya Journal Day 4- Serving with a Side of Rain

On our 5th day in country, but our 4th with activities, we were set to serve in a school, meet the women from a Maasai tribe to learn about their businesses and farming that they developed with the help of 410 training, meet with the leadership council again, and have a farewell ceremony. Things didn’t exactly go to plan, but it was still probably my favorite day.

Read more: Kenya Journal Day 4- Serving with a Side of Rain

Even then, the bus could only go so far safely. Out we got and began walking. It put into perspective the challenges that the students and teachers undertake to get to school. Many of them walk for miles, and some of them sleep at school because they wouldn’t be able to walk home in a day. We heard recently that a student was charged by an elephant walking to school. That definitely put things into perspective for us. It was humbling. I am thankful that Ben and I watched the Kenya episode of most dangerous school journeys before we left for Kenya so we understood what the lead teacher was explaining. (https://youtu.be/Rm9ow1RDTAo)

We approached the school, which had a partial brush fence, a few buildings, a large area for the children to play, rain catchment, and good water sources. We were welcomed in with more singing and dancing.

Once fully welcomed, we started the day with prayer and worship. Every day is started in this way. It was beautiful.

We were asked to do a teaching on being content and bring some activities with us. We brought frisbees, bubbles, and a Bible song. Ben taught on Joseph’s brothers, how they were very well off to have flocks so large that 10 brothers had to watch the animals. A Maasai young man could be in charge of 50-100 animals, so the teaching analogy was very relatable to them. He taught on how even thought they were well off, they wanted to take Joseph’s coat. We had fun with the kids, but they seemed kind of hesitant to interact more with us, until I asked about their garden. Then they were answering questions in English and showing me around their gardens. Their beans grew up a structure made of acacia branches, which created shade for the spinach. The sweet potatoes grew in front of them to keep the weeds at bay. It reminded me of our “Three Sisters” in the US.

Sadly, the time came to leave the school in Mutirithia. We made our way to the women who had gone through the F2F (farming) training and business training. Our host told us that when these women first began this training that they were at a point in their lives that they didn’t have very much hope. There had been several hard years of drought and many were at the point that they worried about their families starving. After the training brought them farming skills and increased their rain storage, they were able to survive with the help of the vegetables they grew. 410 Bridge definitely encourages helping those less fortunate than we are, so the women we able to help feed their neighbors and no one starved. It was hard to imagine, because when they greeted us, it was with such joy and thankfulness. The rains had come, visitors were present, they were able to share their successes. It was a beautiful time to visit the Maasai women. They gave all of the praise and glory to God. It was amazing to see the transformative work of the Gospel, which was brought to these people through 410 Bridge.

We were told ahead of time if it starts to rain that we would need to start headed back before the roads got worse. When the rain started to move in, the bus had to move to a more established road. Most of the team went when the driver did. The leaders of our group went up to the home of one of the women, so Ben and I joined them. It was a special moment to pray with them and be welcomed into their home. I was also gifted with a necklace by one of the women to “bless me as a friend”. I was so overwhelmed and touched that I didn’t really know how to respond. What a blessing.

We did leave as the rain came down in earnest, cutting our day short. Most people in this area get home as quickly as possible, or run the risk of getting stuck where they are. Everyone except the group that was in the home had already begun making their way home. No school farewell, no final meeting with the leadership council. It felt a bit odd to just disappear as the rains came, but everyone else already had.

Getting back to the Maiyan, our laundry had arrived, a blessing to us to be able to pack less. It was time to repack all of our belongings, for in the morning we would leave the work behind, just to have an experience that would make us fall in love with Africa even more.