Day 2 in Kenya - church and gardening

Day 2 was Sunday in Kenya.  We went to a Maasai Christian church.  It was very energetic and charismatic.  I recognized people from the village we visited.  There was lots of preaching in their native language, but much of it was interpreted into English, and sometimes they interpreted from Maasai into Swahili too.  They had many different preachers, some men, some women, and lots of singing.  Sometimes the preaching bordered on yelling.  I didn’t love that part, but I did love how every person, whether they were in the audience or on the stage, was participating energetically.  At one point they brought in the kids to sing and dance a song about how God created the earth and He loves us.  My favorite was when everyone started dancing, sort of a conga line, and invited us to join them.  We did join them and received lots of hugs along the way.  After that they invited us up to introduce ourselves at the front (through an interpreter) and to share a favorite scripture.  Several people looked up the scriptures shared in their bibles and said Amen.  They were very welcoming. 

 

We left after over 3 hours of church, but they were still going strong.  I don’t know how long they kept going but apparently church is an all day affair.  I was impressed by the effort they put into their worship, especially considering how they spend so many hours just getting water every day and preparing their meals. Yet they showed up in their best dress and devoted tons of time and energy to worship.  I was told before I came that God is everywhere in Kenya.  It’s really true. Every business seems to have a name that refers to God in some way, even the back of the taxis have scriptures and pictures of Jesus on them.  The people prayed for us and with us everywhere we went, and expressed gratitude to God for everything.  

After church, we changed and ate, and rested a bit, then we worked in the garden at the cultural center.  The groundskeepers showed us where they had planted seedlings to help people start garden towers, and we helped plant some more.  We also transplanted some seedlings into garden towers.  One of my favorite jobs was getting the rocks out of the soil.  I have always loved collecting pretty rocks.  Nearly every single rock I pulled out was sparkling quartz of one color or another. I saved several of the prettiest small rocks to bring home.  I’m a total novice when it comes to gardening.  I think the Kenyans expected me to know more, and were pleased to be able to teach me what they’ve learned from growing garden towers so far.   I have a garden tower in my yard but I didn’t really do well with it last year.  Now I want to try it again, I feel like I have seen the possibilities and how to do it better. 

One of my worries coming on this trip was whether I had anything to contribute, since I don’t garden or sew well and I am a total newbie to traveling too. It was nice to work and learn alongside the people, and to realize that we are not there to do things for them, but to give them the resources and confidence to do for themselves what they need to be self sufficient.  They are strong and smart and they are doing marvelously. 

This is a picture of the Wisdom tree, on the grounds of the cultural center.  It’s a beautiful peaceful place to sit and ponder and watch the moonrise. It’s also where my favorite bird lives.  I love the feeling on the grounds there.  Heidi said that multiple people, tribal elders, religious leaders of other sects, as well as our own, have all told her that this is sacred ground, that ancestors of the Maasai walked there and blessed it, and that they watch over the land.  There is a special feeling there.