We have discovered that when an endeavor costs something it holds more value. In this case we heard story after story of the value gained. However the most dynamic indication of the place of importance this opportunity held is the fact that 15 men and women began the program and after four months 15 men and women completed the course! Now, let me take you through a pictorial tour of the day :)
After about 1/2 hour of driving we came across this boulder/sign showing us the way to the church...priceless!
None of the photos of the ROUGH road can possibly re-create the hills, valleys and potholes our trusty vehicle navigated!
We were all grateful to have a skilled driver at the wheel - thanks James!
My neighbor, Lilian, created this masterpiece of a cake for us...notice it is in the shape of a book. Perhaps the greatest gift our students receive is the ability to read their Bibles!
After an hour and a half climbing over rocks and through valleys, we arrived at the church!
Pre-celebration discussion...
Children :)
The kitchen...as soon as we arrived Jeremy discovered that they had slaughtered a goat in our honor...here the ladies are creating a feast for later - YUM!
I LOVED the collaborative effort...so took several photos of this community endeavor.
She is so statuesque - but the real reason I took the photo was to show the meat at her feet. Then I was not quite sure how to react when she rushed over to look at the photo...of course grabbing my camera with her goat-fat laden fingers!
Making chapati! And let me just say - they were deeelicious! I loved the assembly-line...the woman to the right is rolling out the dough, the next one (with her back to me) would drape it over a stick and hand it to the one to the left who was cooking it over the jiko, which uses charcoal.
This lady motioned that I should take her picture and then had to look at it...and all the other ladies; with potato juice, chapati flour and fat on their fingers also had to look. They were speaking Maa (the Maasai language) so I couldn't understand their words, but their actions and giggles told me they delighted in what they saw :)
I think she was just learning to walk so did not move far from here until her older brother came later to pick her up and carry her to the tree where the other children were gathered.
Pastor Paul (Chairman of Starfish Charities board), Pastor John (also on the board) and Pastor Matayo (Pastor of this church)
Children gathered under the tree...
Pastor John (who has several children of his own) enjoying the children. The two girls belong to Pastor Matayo.
He was not too sure about me...
Of course the kids loved the camera...maybe even more than the ladies did!
He was fascinated by my glasses...
The students filed in singing and chanting...it was hauntingly beautiful...
These are the parents, children and friends of the students...
This is pretty much how he looked until he fell asleep :)
Denise enjoying singing and dancing with the children.
This is the teacher of the class...Kateria Nkuri. He loved talking and obviously loved to encourage and brag on the students.
I was not sure what was going on for much of the service so when the people began singing and swaying and then moving in one body towards us I was a little startled...
...but mostly touched and moved by the spirit moving in this place...
...until they came almost right to us...
...and then as one turned and moved away...
...until they found their way back to their seats.
Jeremy and the teacher acted as MC's...keeping the program moving.
The teacher spoke in Maa with Jeremy translating into English.
Pastor Matayo's wife was one of the students. Here she is telling us that she watched her husband complete a comprehensive literacy class designed for pastors...
...which inspired her to learn. His example impacted his church and the whole community.
I was SO excited to see the chairman of the church emerge from the student seats to come forward and share of how he and his wife are following the example set by Pastor Matayo and his wife!
That is true leadership!
The somber little guy you saw earlier finally fell asleep and was moved to the side of the church.
Pastor John, member of the Starfish Board, is also a member of an 'association' of local pastors from several different denominations.
Pastor Matayo is also part of that association, so Pastor John's presence here is extremely encouraging to Pastor Matayo as well as the whole community.
Pastor John is sharing about the impact literacy training had on his own congregation. If you look on the floor just in front of the red cloth you will see the little sleeping body :)
See the arms crossed over their hearts? They are receiving warm greetings from Rhonda delivered by me...
And of course the visitors shared a few words...this is Denise who encouraged them all to keep studying and to use their new skills to study God's word.
I think he is getting tired...
James was shooting video footage...this was pretty much what he looked like throughout :)
But he did stand to greet the group...
Another one bites the dust! This little guy was slouched on the chair earlier - remember?
This is the prefect for the class...she is the one who assures that the class is in good order.
It was good to see how proud she was of all the students...
...and how much she respected and admired the teacher...here she is glancing his way as she is sharing about the good job he did.
A special presentation of Happy Birthday...to the "Helper" (Rhonda)...Helper is also the group name they have given themselves.
Teacher is in the center "conducting" the group...
It was AWESOME to hear the Maasai version of the American Happy Birthday song.
These two Mzees (Swahili for old men) were given front row seats when they entered.
They thoroughly enjoyed the celebration...here they are praising God in the beautiful Maasai way...notice the little girl in the front...she was great to watch!
They keynote speaker was Pastor Paul...most of his message was in Swahili with Pastor John translating into Maa...
...but he was so animated that I was thoroughly entertained!
Not sure if he is scared or fascinated!
He was moved from the center of the church before Paul started preaching!
The kids got squished as new people came in...but they didn't seem to mind.
This precious lady was leading newcomers by the hand to seat them up front...
Then it was time for certificates to be handed out. Bear with me, I have included every single student with name for the benefit of Rhonda who is in the states and could not be with us. She was with us in spirit though!
Manyara Kolikan (this is the wife of Pastor Matayo)
Keis Miisia (the spot on my head is sun coming in thru the tin sheeting roof!)
Nekoama Saoli (see the spots on the curtain behind us?)
Satetua Ronyo (wife to the chairman)
Silantoi Keteria (this is the wife of the teacher)
This is the husband to Simaton Mushe - this is one of the couples who learned together! Below is a photo of them together.
Simaton had been, I believe, at the hospital, but rushed home to be able to join us.
Sikaine Parmisa
Simaloi Kurito
Naipei Lentano
Ronyo Lebelati (the chairman of the church)
Kurito Mushe
Letowon Riamet
Sokoyion Mbelati
Patiaka Kushuni
And the teacher - Kateria Nkuri
Group shots...
Curiosity...
Handing out gifts; a Starfish bag (which is extremely handy!), a leso (which is used as a wrap, a baby carrier, a towel, you name it!) and a hygiene kit (assembled in the US in zip lock bags - also valuable!)
Opening the gift bags...
Watching...
Registration fees paid up front are kept by Starfish throughout the course. At the celebration the money is paid to the church leaders for use of the building. Pastor Paul made it very clear to all present that the money was NOT going to the pastor, but to the church.
Here Paul is presenting the money to Pastor Matayo and to Chairman Ronyo Lebelati
Showing unity they hold the money together.
Time for the class to present gifts to the visitors...here she is putting a bracelet on me :)
Here she is presenting me with a gift for Rhonda...
A cross for James...
...and for Paul...
Jeremy shows off his cross
Pastor John posing with his cross...
And Denise was presented with a special necklace.
Time for the cake! Denise graciously cuts, while Paul waits...
Paul fills the first plate for the students...
Serving the students...
Tea and juice arrives...
Meanwhile Pastor Matayo and Teacher Kateria play with a recorder loaded with sermons by Charles Stanley. This was a gift presented to the teacher.
Waiting for cake...
Serving members of the community...
The end of the cake...
After serving me my piece, Paul took his piece!
After cutting the whole cake, Denise takes her piece :)
Chalk boards at the front of the church, used during class time...
Taped onto the back wall...
Paul served the leftover orange decorations (pure sugar!) to the children...
Jeremy packing take-away cake! Unfortunately he left it in the car when we dropped him at the property :(
After the celebration we were ushered into the back room to be fed :)
This is the gracious lady who was escorting late comers to the front of the church during the service. She is an old lady and we are assuming she is a leader in the church and is held in high esteem.
I was shocked when the chairman of the church entered the room with a basin and bucket of water to assist us to wash our hands before eating. This is almost always performed by women.
Since the basin has a crack in it (see photo above) Jeremy jumped up to hold it at an angle so that water did not continue to spill out.
Then the chairman returned with our food! Amazing...and so impressive...this is true servant leadership.
YUM! Chapati (a bit like tortillas but better), mashed potatoes (my personal favorite) and goat meat - which I LOVE...I was a happy camper :)
I think all enjoyed the food...
After lunch we received tea...which I spilled all over myself while kids and ladies were grabbing my camera. It was okay cuz I was having so much fun!
I think gathering under trees is very typical for the Maasai.
Then photo shoots! This is Teacher Kateria and his wife, Silantoi. Before the shot was taken Paul shouted "hold her hand! You two are married and love each other"...we are thinking Paul needs to come out here to teach classes on healthy marriages :) It was fun to watch Silantoi grab for his hand...
Kurito and Simaton Mushe...students together. When Paul told them to hold hands she looked very dubious...so he settled for draping his arm over her shoulders.Chairman Ronyo and his wife - both students
Pastor Matayo with his wife and two of his six children...and his tea!
Photos on demand!
Saying farewell...
It was a long and wonderful day! So worth arising at 5am to leave the house by 7am...God was truly glorified on this day.
We celebrated the goodness of God and how He is working through Starfish Charities and the Maasai pastors to positively impact the Maasai communities. Can you see why I am so excited to be part of Starfish and what God is doing?
