Eucharist in the Maasai Mara - our final days and good byes

June 11^th to 14th

Arden and Henry, one degree South of the Equator.

Barbara sported the Safari look.

Saturday morning we departed early for Wilson Airport and Safari in the Maasai Mara. Some of us have been here several times. Each time is different - different animals, different guides and different traveling companions.  And much is familiar - the welcoming manager and staff of the  Fig Tree Lodge, our guide, Nickson. Wonderful meals, vast savannahs dotted with grazing animals, bumpy roads and river crossings are memories we will take 

River Crossings were as fun as any Six Flags ride.

home.  

















We will all remember the young leopard up at tree with his kill, a Thompson’s Gazelle.  We watched as he climbed down from the tree after we disturbed his rest, his belly distended from eating. As we left him we wonder who will finish his kill; will it be shared with others? Since the leopard is a solitary animal, maybe only he will feast until he grows tired and goes to search for water and the vultures arrive.

Beginning of the Great Migration.

The Great Migration will begin soon – we saw the early arrivers – small groups of wildebeest and zebras. We saw several groups of elephants with young which is encouraging since they continue to be hunted for their tusks.

Two of many elephants we saw.

On the lookout for big cats hiding in the grass.

Male lion returning from a hunt.

Mother lion with her cubs.

Judith with one of our Maasai guides.

Ruth on the Tanzania/Kenya border.

A very civilized bush breakfast in the wilderness included coffee in china cups.

Perhaps most memorable to us will be celebrating the Eucharist in the Mara with Ruth and Benno presiding.  Our Maasai guides and drivers joined us in the Eucharistic feast, one even crossing himself at the appropriate times.  Perhaps the Catholic missionaries have been here before us.

The Reverends Ruth and Benno Pattison presided over the Eucharist in the Mara.  "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us."

"The Blood of Christ which was shed for you. Preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life." Our guides said this is the first time any of their groups had held a church service in the Mara.

An educational experience was the visit to the Maasai Village where we learned how these once nomadic people live. Today they still herd, but move their villages less and the children go to the village school and get involved in the tourist business. Many do get advanced educations in law and wildlife management. They are working hard to keep their culture from slipping away. The dance and chanting by the groups of men and woman was earthy and guttural.

We returned Monday night to Karen Inn for our last night and shopping and reflections. We shopped at a corner street market for fabric, beaded belts and bracelets where we haggled for a good price, a practice which is challenging for some and frustrating for others.

Tuesday we visited the Elephant Orphan Center, Karen Blitzen’s (Out of Africa) home and the Kazuri bead center.

The words from Karen’s book resounded in our heads:

“I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong hills …” We stood on her farm where her relationship with the Kikuyu people inspired the village, now a home of many expats and wealthy Kenyans, to be named for her. We will all read the book or watch the movie when we get home.

“If I know a song of Africa, does Africa know a song of me?”

Our last night at Karen Inn we reflected on our days together and the process of returning home. Stewart and Henry surprised us with the dance and chanting of the Maasai tribesmen complete with shukas and clubs.

Final thoughts to ponder as we depart for home:

How do we leave?

What did we pack we did not need?

What do we leave and what do we take home? – a rock for many of us and a spirit for others

A stone from Tanzania where for a moment we were illegal

I am here now.

I am because you are.

A new understanding of mission.

Relationships.

Indelible marks: moments that mark your soul

“You’re are not African because you are born in Africa.

You’re African because Africa is born in you”

Friday, June 10th - Our Final Work Day

Our team and the Comet House boys in front of the newly completed Sibley Study Hall

We have been off line for a few days but are now catching up on the blog.  Friday, 6/10/2016, was our final day to work and to dedicate the new Study Hall at Comet House. We have been successful beyond all expections.  In five days,

• We tore down Mama Anthony's home and constructed a two room home with a living and sleeping area and an outdoor kitchen. The cooking fire is no longer in the sleeping area. 

• We built a new home for Peter and Wycliffe's family. Their mother had been saving metal sheets to put a roof on their mud hut.  Instead, they received a totally new home.  

• We completed the new study hall at Comet House and built bookcases, desks and benches to go in it.  We obtained new mattresses for the boys and the 2 new homes, a utility sink for the bathroom and completed touch up painting on Comet House. 

• Basketball goals were erected at Comet House and at the Thogoto Model Primary School (fomerly called the Magatuini School).  This is the same school where we built a library in 2011 and that Fredrick attended as a child.  The school is a struggling public school near and dear to Fredrick. Siblings of the Comet House boys go there along with Sylvester of 2012. Spikeball sets were presented and tetherball poles erected at both the Comet House and school.

 Our primary project was a Study Hall for Comet House.  We dedicated the Study Hall in honor of Jane and Jim Sibley of St. Anne's, whose support made the new building possible.  A copy of the dedication service is at the end of this blog entry.

Trey and Eliud erect the sign.

A shiny new building for studying.

Sprinkling with holy water.

Laying on of hands to bless this new building for learning.

After lunch we departed for a football (soccer) match at the Thogoto School where the Comet House/St. Anne's Team triumphed over Thogoto 3-1.  Perhaps it was our St. Anne's Serves t-shirts that gave us the edge.  The kids were welcoming and loved touching our hair and braiding it. Several of us found ourselves surrounded by children while they looked at our cameras. Touch is so welcoming and loving by these precious children of God. They begged us to return "tomorrow". There is no doubt we all want to return. 

A new basketball goal for the Thogoto Model Primary School.

Benno taught shooting skills.

A two-pointer!

Comet House/St. Anne's vs. the Thogoto School.

Judith got a new hairdo from the girls...

... as did Sally.

Nancy's new friend enjoyed selfies.

Our day ended with a team dinner and a celebration of Caroline's 22nd birthday. Tomorrow the Jarrard's will go home and we will go on Safari in the Maasai Mara.

Happy Birthday, Wanjiko!!

Ruth has been our spiritual leader leading us in reflections. She has blessed us with new insights on world mission to which we are all called through our Baptismal vows.  We have found the Gospel in Kenya!  We go in peace to love and serve the Lord, guided by the Holy Spirit.

Dedication Ceremony for Comet House Study Hall

A reading from Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8  

"For everything there is a season...I know that whatever God does endures forever.  God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him."

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

A Litany

We give you thanks O God for our teachers and instructors.
For Eliud.  We give you thanks.
For Thomas.  We give you thanks.
For Ann.  We give you thanks.
For Sho Sho. We give you thanks.
For Nancy. We give you thanks.
For Lucas.  We give you thanks.
For Peter. We give you thanks.
For Kevin.  We give you thanks.
For Jessica. We give you thanks.
For Fred.  We give you thanks.

Blessing of the Study Hall and Asperges.

This is the Time.
We are here now.Bless this water O Lord, by your Holy Spirit.God is in this water and it is Holy, and by it we bless this place.

(With asperges and responses)
Bless these corners, that this would be a firm foundation for these boys and for their learning."This is the time.  We are here now.

"Bless this roof to shield them from the elements so they will know they are hid under the shadow of God's wing."This is the time. We are here now.

"Bless this door for their coming and their going that they will know God with them at home and away."This is the time. We are here now."

Laying on of hands 

All gather around the building and lay hands on the walls, together saying.

In the name of God the Father Son and Holy Spirit ~ Bless this Place! Amen. "

Another post will follow soon.

We Worked, We Played, We Kissed Giraffes!

Today was our fourth day of work - we finished building the second home, built beds for both new  homes and continued painting ... and painting ... and more painting.  We also found time to play today - visiting the Giraffe Center run by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, home of the endangered Rothschild Giraffe.  AND WE ALL KISSED A GIRAFFE!!

And as we have done every night, we ended the day with reflection time.  Tonight, Ruth and Benno led us in singing Oh, Gracious Light.

O Gracious Light Phos hilaron

O gracious light,

pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,

O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,

and our eyes behold the vesper light,

we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,

O Son of God, O Giver of Life,

and to be glorified through all the worlds. 

I Am Here Now

Eliud, our  local carpenter, has been a wonderful teacher to us all.  As we each become more confident in our newly found construction skills, Eliud bounces from one team to another to look over our work and offer advice.  Whenever we make a mistake, he simply announces, "I am here now."  

"I am here now" became our theme for the day as we each try to live in the moment, enjoying each other and the work we are doing together.  It was a good day.  

Eliud, our master carpenter, and his two apprentices, David and Meryl.

These two cousins have had a wonderful bonding experience.

4 year old Jeremy helped 3 year old Henry get his shoes on the right feet.

Jenny has found a new career as a Boda Boda driver.

Henry and Alexandra rocked the paint brushes.

Emma enjoyed a moment in the kitchen with housemother, Nancy.

Peggy and Judith, paint buddies.

William, Theresea, Jenny and Emma took a break from construction to harvest sweet potatoes.

Julia worked in the kitchen with Thomas, Nancy and Theresea today,  preparing a great lunch for the team.

We've all worked hard - this picture of William captures it all.

For Everything There is a Season ... A Time Tear Down and a Time to Build

It is hard to believe we have only been working two days, and yet we have torn down one house and built a new one.  The walls and roof are up on the study hall and most of the furniture has been built. 

Peter and Wycliffe's Old House

Framing a new house for Peter and Wycliffe's family.

Peter and Wycliffe's new house almost finished.

Momma Anthony and Ethel

Momma Anthony's House prior to demolition.

It took team work to disassemble this small house.

In less than 2 hours we were down to the frame.

In just two days we have put up the siding and roof of the new study hall and built most of the furniture to go inside.

9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.  Ecclesiastes 3: 9-13