Lets Do Some Dancing

Lets Do Some Dancing

October 23, 2019

There is a beauty to the dusty brown of the Maasai country. In this goat infested and over grazed land it is the people who display the vibrant color to the land. The Maasai love deep reds and blues and look like colorful birds walking through the dry thorn bush.

Recently Neema Village volunteers went with Hannah Patterson, our volunteer coordinator pictured above, to a Maasai village where our baby Neema Grace’s family lives. It was our first trip to this village. Below is Neema Grace. You know that Neema means Grace so she is really Grace Grace!

Below is what Neema Grace looked like when Bekah picked her up at the hospital. She is a year and half old now. She was born in the hospital in Arusha. Her mother had died in childbirth which is so common for these slender Maasai women. The father was unknown. Neema Grace was premature and very small about 2 lbs.  No one came to see the baby in the hospital for two months so Social Welfare called Neema Village to come pick her up.  

Now Neema Grace is a beautiful little girl and it was time for her to meet her family.  Her mother’s brother had been located and has been coming quite often to Neema Village to see her. He had arranged the long trip out to see the family. Neema Grace was a bit tired by the time they got to the village and fell asleep in her grandmother’s lap.

As the cars got near the village the women began running and trilling to meet the car.  They had never seen Neema Grace so were anxious to meet this little relative.

She got to meet the Bibi’s, (her grandmothers, most older Maasai men have multiple wives and they are all called Bibi) and she met her grandfather and all the cousins and children of the village.

Her Babu (Grandfather) is pictured below and other relatives from the village.

At dinner last night the volunteers talked about how hospitable the Maasai people are. They invited them into their homes even though they are very poor and have very little. The village looked desolate and uninhabitable from their pictures.

But we never fail to see that the Maasai are very happy, giving people. They sang and danced for the Wazungu and our volunteers sang a song for them led by Judy Pankow from Buena Vista, Colorado. Neema’s family had cooked a goat and bought soft drinks for the visitor’s lunch.  It is almost too precious to drink when you see how poor they are.

Dr. Vanisha Chaugh, a neurologist volunteering from the UK, got in a little dance with the Maasai women too.

At the end of the day the volunteers had to say goodbye to the cousins and all the family and make the long drive home. I suspect a good day was had by all!

Neema Grace’s uncle has agreed that we can put her in a good school in Arusha. She will be in boarding school and be able to come to Neema Village on school holidays and we will take her out to see her Maasai family again.    

So put on some bright colors today and do some dancing! It lifts the soul, just ask the Maasai.

Be Blessed,

Dorris and Michael