Worship at Sokoine

“Where are the warriors of our lands?

Where are the women of our lands?

Where are the elders of our lands?

The children and our cows are left unattended.

The yellow fever acacia and birds of the savannah are singing the songs of peace.

The elephant cries for a peaceful home.

A free home from mice (Translation: red and black ants)

They all need a land with peace.”

Our past poems have been offered by various team members.  But today’s poem is from Adam, a Maasai man who was with us during our day today at Sokoine.

Before we journeyed to worship in the Maasai village, we stopped at the hospital for Dr. Andrea and Dr. Arleigh to check on their patients.   Our young Maasai man showed improvement in some areas but regression in other areas.  We ask that you continue to pray for him.

Sokoine is a Maasai village—the same place where we dropped the goat off yesterday—where we have worship“Where are the warriors of our lands?

Where are the women of our lands?

Where are the elders of our lands?

The children and our cows are left unattended.

The yellow fever acacia and birds of the savannah are singing the songs of peace.

The elephant cries for a peaceful home.

A free home from mice (Translation: red and black ants)

They all need a land with peace.”

Our past poems have been offered by various team members.  But today’s poem is from Adam, a Maasai man who was with us during our day today at Sokoine.

Before we journeyed to worship in the Maasai village, we stopped at the hospital for Dr. Andrea and Dr. Arleigh to check on their patients.   Our young Maasai man showed improvement in some areas but regression in other areas.  We ask that you continue to pray for him.

Sokoine is a Maasai village—the same place where we dropped the goat off yesterday—where we have worshipped twice in past years. We arrived at 10:30 AM, but before worshipping the Massai served us chai and chapati (a delicious flat bread.)   It was at about this time that we were approached by Adam who recognized us from our first visit in 2008.  Cindy, Andrea and Pati were all members of that first team.  Adam is married to Vicki, a daughter of the patriarch and matriarch of the village.  She had just delivered their 3^rd child 10 days earlier and wanted to be at home with her mother when her time neared.  He speakes Maasai, Swahili and English so was very helpful in translation.

Worship began with several songs by the choir. Our group was introduced and several Maasai gave their greetings back to us, interpreted by Adam.

When it was time for the next song, our group was asked to sing. We knew this beforehand and had prepared to sing the song that goes, “Father, I adore you. Lay my life before you. How I love you.” The song has two more verses in which Father is replaced by Jesus and Spirit respectively. We sang the song in rounds and received a gracious applause. Eileen led our little choir since she has extensive musical training from studying it in college.

After church we were greeted by everyone in the congregation.  While we waited for lunch to be prepared, Adam invited several of the team to visit his home and meet his family.  Arleigh, Andrea, Lance, Eileen, Bill and Pati followed Adam through the low and narrow entrance to the two room hut.  The team members and Adam completely filled the tiny gathering room.  His other two children brought low four-legged stools for our comfort and Vicki joined us to show off her beautiful baby boy.  We were honored by the visit and took pictures that we will print with our photo printer and send back to his family.

Meanwhile, inside the church the choir girls were led in some impromptu dancing by a man named God-Pray. Some of us danced while waiting for lunch (Bailee, River, Catherine, Courtney, and Diane!)  Lunch was served on benches under a shade tree and was a generous serving of rice topped with a fragrant beef soup.  We thanked the men and women for lunch. We then went to visit an elder of the village who is related to Bishop Mameo. He recently visited the doctor and wanted our doctors to advise him on his treatment.

After church some of us came back to the seminary while the rest of the group went into town to buy fabric and other goods. Tomorrow we will go back to Mazimbu Hospital to work.  ed twice in past years. We arrived at 10:30 AM, but before worshipping the Massai served us chai and chapati (a delicious flat bread.) 

It was at about this time that we were approached by Adam who recognized us from our first visit in 2008.  Cindy, Andrea and Pati were all members of that first team.  Adam is married to Vicki, a daughter of the patriarch and matriarch of the village.  She had just delivered their 3^rd child 10 days earlier and wanted to be at home with her mother when her time neared.  He speakes Maasai, Swahili and English so was very helpful in translation.

Worship began with several songs by the choir. Our group was introduced and several Maasai gave their greetings back to us, interpreted by Adam.

When it was time for the next song, our group was asked to sing. We knew this beforehand and had prepared to sing the song that goes, “Father, I adore you. Lay my life before you. How I love you.” The song has two more verses in which Father is replaced by Jesus and Spirit respectively. We sang the song in rounds and received a gracious applause. Eileen led our little choir since she has extensive musical training from studying it in college.

After church we were greeted by everyone in the congregation.  While we waited for lunch to be prepared, Adam invited several of the team to visit his home and meet his family.  Arleigh, Andrea, Lance, Eileen, Bill and Pati followed Adam through the low and narrow entrance to the two room hut.  The team members and Adam completely filled the tiny gathering room.  His other two children brought low four-legged stools for our comfort and Vicki joined us to show off her beautiful baby boy.  We were honored by the visit and took pictures that we will print with our photo printer and send back to his family.

Meanwhile, inside the church the choir girls were led in some impromptu dancing by a man named God-Pray. Some of us danced while waiting for lunch (Bailee, River, Catherine, Courtney, and Diane!)  Lunch was served on benches under a shade tree and was a generous serving of rice topped with a fragrant beef soup.  We thanked the men and women for lunch. We then went to visit an elder of the village who is related to Bishop Mameo. He recently visited the doctor and wanted our doctors to advise him on his treatment.

After church some of us came back to the seminary while the rest of the group went into town to buy fabric and other goods. Tomorrow we will go back to Mazimbu Hospital to work.