DAY 3

The Mara in all it’s glory

Another full on day is coming to an end and we are really tired. It’s been a wonderful day beginning with our 6.30am breakfast call from the Maasai staff at Leleshwa just after the spedy sunrise. As we sipped our first drink of the day we were sure we heard an elephant, but no sightings yet!

A breakfast meeting followed shortly afterwards with Mike, our host. He had digested the Etc plans for the secondary school overnight and had some great input, useful questions and much encouragement for us.

Mike and his Maasai navigator, Rinka then took us to Mpopong school but again had to go the long way around crossing a flooded river with severely eroded banks which made us once again grateful for the 4WD, the grab bars and their expertise in dealing with the terrain. With Rinka’s help we found our way, crossing some of the most stunning scenery I have ever seen, passing Maasai  herdsmen and their  manyatta (family compounds with a fence stockade for the livestock at night). Their children (who should have been in school) were working or playing, some even taking a dip in the rainwater puddles!

Mpopongi was our first opportunity to meet with teachers and children. It’s a school that this year received it’s first set of teachers through the Etc scheme and Gerry was keen to see how they had got on and what progress was being made. It was also our first opportunity to distribute some of the gifts made by you lovely people at home. I don’t think I will ever forget the look on the faces of the kindergarten children who all received a doll, or the sound as they sang the dolls a lullaby. When they sang in their first language of Maas the sound had power and soul. The children were age 5. It was a very special moment.

The older girls received the bags in a far more bashful way, but the blessing to them and the practical nature of the gift was very much appreciated. The teens and pre teen girls seem to be particularly shy and a little wary I thought, but from the response of the teachers (who also wanted a bag to help carry their books) we knew the scheme was a winner. The smiles say it all.

We had brilliant chats with staff and children and left feeling encouraged to continue our support of their school. The head was absent…as usual…nuff said!

Mike and Rinka who had been off to scout out the next river crossing then took us slipping and sliding on our way to Sarova Mara near Sekanani gate (the gateway into the National Reserve), stopping on the way to have a picnic lunch. It was just breathtaking…the thoughtfulness of Mike and the environment – the bigness of the sky for one thing!

So finally to Sekenani – a quick stop at the school and then off up to the Sarova Game Camp where we will be based all week. The camp has helped Etc a lot in the past by accommodating it’s visiting teachers in their staff quarters. Gerry lived here for 3 months and it was wonderful to see her reunited with so many good friends from that time. There was much hilarity and hugging. It’s possible one of those friends may take us on a sunrise balloon flight in the morning….aaaaaaghghghghgh!

Before supper we met with Agnes, the deputy from Sekanani school – the woman with the vision for the all girl school. It was an important meeting and has given us all a lot to think about. If you are a pray-er…please pray…I don’t know what for, but God does. We had supper together and are now trying to get online to let you lovely people at home know what’s occurring.

Hope you are enjoying the updates and they are not boring you…

Loves