blog

Feb 25 - 26, 2009       

 

After we had finished handing out Christmas packets, we loaded up and headed for the lodge to spend the night. But, just as we were leaving, they loaded the generator that had been used to power the sound system so Cheri could speak, into the vehicle. It was to be delivered Ololaimutia a couple of miles down the bumpy dirt road. Driving in to Ololaimutia we noticed it was market day, with the market teeming with Maasai engaged in business, creating a blur of activity and incredible colors. Jan and I were explaining to Cheri, how we had stopped at a similar market and gone shopping once, making at least my husband, wonder if I was to ever return. Unloading the generator, we were off to the lodge, for food, a shower, and some rest.

 

The next morning as we pulled up to the gate of Masai Mara game park, we noticed there were more guards with guns around than usual and a pen full of cows, (we had never seen that before). As we waited for Jan to negotiate our entrance into the park, another truck of uniformed and heavily armed guards roared through the gate parking near the entrance. Cheri, Lynette, and I were busy talking, so we noticed them, but did not give them a second thought. Finally, we were off to Siana Primary school again, for Cheri to tell her story to community Maasai women.

 

As we got to the school, you could feel the tension in the air and there was a buzz of news. The day before the Mara guards had rounded up 10.000 Maasai cows in Masia Mara game park (it is illegal for them graze there). This of course, angered the Maasai. There had been rioting, in Ololaimutia by the market which resulted in Mara guards firing their guns in the air, and several people had to be hospitalized with injuries. Now we knew why, as we thought back on it, the people had not displayed their normal friendliness. The faces usually full of wonder, curiosity, and even shy smiles had been rigid, cold, and irate.

 

Everywhere, were Maasai with machetes strapped to their sides that were clearly visible. It was a little intimidating, but God was getting ready to use these cows, that had been grazing illegally, in a powerful way. It is so amazing how He works. So often we do not even notice it, and yet He is stretching out His mighty right arm on behalf of His people. You see, MDP needed to finalize the land, that the community had donated, for the building of the hostel, bakery, and perhaps a learning center. But, the day before the counselor, chiefs, and other important people were refusing to come meet with us. No matter what our coordinator, James Nanka did, they were not going to cooperate. So God took matters in His hand. They all had to be at Oloamutiaa to deal with the uprising as a consequence of the rounded up cows and thus had no excuse not to meet with us. After the conflicts were settled we did meet with them. That is how God used cows to further His work. How amazing He is! Cheri kept repeating the whole trip, "It is so amazing, I just love how God used cows to get His work done!"

 

As we were learning of the uproar, one by one, women shyly appeared in their bright colored attire, to hear

Cheri share her testimony. Going into the class room we pulled the bench desks, into a circle. As Cheri told her story of abuse, you could see the ladies eyes, facial expressions, and even body language chance, indicating they could identify with her pain. As she shared how Jesus had taken her life of drug addiction, abuse, and pain turning it into one that through His Holy Spirit facilitates healing in others, their eyes lit up with hope. Cheri stood under a tree, after the meeting was over, the women crowded around asking for prayer. One precious lady accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour! What joy there was not only in Maasailand, but also in the courts of heaven!