Seven Hours was the time our journey from Mfangano Island to the Maasai Mara was supposed to take, but as with everything in Kenya, all things run on "Africa time'. Consequently any time estimates should be doubled to take into account "unforeseen delays’ (which included a hospital stop to drop off two sick team members, a detour to a supermarket, a tire repair and a road so bad, I wouldn't even ride a bike on, let alone drive a 40 seat coach). For this reason, we found ourselves pulling into our tent site in the African Savannah twelve hours late.
That said I've actually come to appreciate the time we spent on buses in Kenya. In fact I've often found it a struggle to force myself to read, sleep or even write a journal while on these buses for fear that I'll miss a sight, a passing vista or animal on the side of the road.
The final leg of our journey finds us in the world famous Maasai Mara region, the home of the "Big 5' (Elephants, Leopards, Rhinos, Buffalo and Lions) and the mysterious Maasai people. We’re also experiencing a very different side of this nation, its people and also assuming a very different role from any other we’ve experienced on mission. For our three days here we are officially "tourists' and a such have seen and experienced so many awesome and amazing things.
For two days we blazed a trail around the Maasai Mara, spotting everything from the annual wildebeast migration, baboons fighting, and a pack of lions devouring a zebra, to a family of elephants grazing two metres from our bus window, and a deep red sunset over the endless African savannah. We've also seen and experienced much while around the Maasai people, particularly in a local village…
The men welcomed us with a dance and jumping competition and then drew us into the village (made of thatch huts built from straw, mud and cow dung) and continued their welcome with a cow bloodletting and blood drinking ceremony. Thankfully some very timely rain fell and before we could share in this we found ourselves sheltering in the village houses and haggling for souvenirs in the nearby markets. That evening I had the chance to take part in a Maasai celebration dance, proudly wearing my new full Maasai outfit, an experience I don't think I will ever forget. Another pleasant windfall of our tourist experience has been a return to western conveniences like running water, showers, electricity and mattresses. I think it was an almost universal fact that after nine nights of rough conditions on the island, everyone had their best sleep.
While it has been an awesome blessing to be a tourist in these last few days in Kenya, to take some time aside to witness the awesome creation of our God and praise him for its beauty and complexity, many of us have struggled to ensure that we do not adopt our new identity too completely.
For me, I was shocked to discover yesterday that I was no longer really thinking in a mission mindset. In the past while in Kenya, I would view each person standing about as an opportunity for evangelism and each conversation as a potential spiritual discussion. But now that I'm a "tourist' I find that my greatest concern is ensuring that the souvenir brandishing women at the gates to the Game Park charge me reasonable prices for their wares. It was only last night that it occurred to me how many opportunities to witness to the gospel I had completely ignored while in the Maasai Mara. In some ways I think I may have convinced myself that as we relaxed and recuperated from our time of planned ministry I needed to have a "break' from the work of spreading the gospel.
Instead I’ve come to believe that this work is one from which there should never be a break. Noe of us can afford rest on our laurels. I may have been bold in sharing the gospel previously but each person I meet is as needing to hear as the next, regardless of whether that person happens to be around when I'm on planned ministry or not. This especially hit home when I learned that the Maasai are the most unreached people group we've come across in Kenya so far.
Why should this attitude of boldness be something I reserve for mission work anyway? Why shouldn't I take this commitment home with me? I am so thankful that God has drawn this shortcoming to my attention, so that as my time here continues to draw nearer and nearer to its end and as I prepare to return, I can ensure that I retain this passion for mission (and perhaps even share it) and remain a missionary when I'm back home.
Chris Entwistle is part of a Youthworks Year 13 Gospel Gap Year team visiting Kenya, Africa. The team of 26 students and 3 staff are on a four week short term mission in Nairobi and regional Kenya.
Photo courtesy Kevin Zim
