Sangasanga



Maasai and  Barabaig women dancing

 We traveled to the village of Sangasanga today to visit the Barabaig people. The ride there was two hours over the worst “road” imaginable. There were so many holes and bumps to deal with on the dirt path through the thick bush landscape. Once we got to the village (more of a central meeting place with about four other buildings) they welcomed us and took us to see their well down by the river and school building. The people are somewhat nomadic and have a hard time keeping the kids in school. For that reason, the teachers would like to dig some more wells and build dorms for the kids to stay in. It’s a large project that will require a good chunk of money, but their hearts are in the right place. We went to their church to sing a couple of our songs and listen to a few of theirs. While in the church, some Maasai people showed up and began to sing. Some of the women even began dancing with the Barabaig women during their songs. This was a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience since the two tribes had previously hated each other. To see them gathered in the same church interacting with one another peacefully was amazing. At the end of the event, the village leader welcomed us and expressed how happy they were to have us visit just before he turned to his people and advised them to not be afraid of us! It was very nice of him to reach out to us in that way. We also heard from a woman who is a Christian that had been from a different village and how today was an answer to her prayers. She had been praying for people to come use the church as it was meant to be used, and here we all sat, singing praise and joining together across cultures.


Barabaig, Maasai and  Us

 Outside the church, the young Barabaig men began to put on their show of jumping to show off. The young women were supposed to have a part but took too long getting ready so the Maasai youth began one of their own before we returned to the village center for a lunch of rice and beef (once again without any silverware). As we were leaving, a bunch of Barabaig women hopped on the bus with us to be dropped off further down the road. Along with them came a ton of flies! They swarmed around the women like crazy. To make the ride more bearable, we began a “dance party” and started singing along with someone’s iPod. It was fun for us but some of the women didn’t know what to make of it! Once they all got out it was a little more comfortable for our remaining ride back to the seminary. The roads were just as rough as coming in and we did manage to get ourselves slightly lost. The driver began following a car that looked like Pastor Hafermann’s when in fact it was some random person returning to their home. After a quick stop for directions, we got back on the correct road and made it back to the seminary. This may have been one of the most interesting days of the entire trip!
Along with the pictures that have been posted, we now have a video on you tube that captures more of our experience. Click on the link to see it and a big thanks to Lizzie for putting it together!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuFy8bAjHE0&feature=channel_video_title