Performing for the secondary students

Friday morning we ventured out early to perform at Duncan Christian School. Erynn’s wife, Kristin, who has also been to Tanzania with Pamoja, teaches French at the school and was delighted to have this be the first official performance of the tour. This past week was Missions Week at the school and the Maasai got to be a part of it by sharing their stories as missionaries to Tanzania. Eva got to tell about how she was lucky to be one of the first to grow up in a Christian Maasai home, and just how the living water is just as precious as well as drinking water in their village. Mathayo was able to tell his peers about the importance of education and overcoming fears with the help of God. And Yona told of how he used to persecute Christians but went through a radical transformation to now lead the Maasai choir.

The students were mesmerized. Jeremy suggested that perhaps they should be a little terrified of Yona. But after the performance, this did not stop anyone. There was a great crowd around the Maasai, wanting to hear Yona’s story of killing a lion, to see Petro’s headdress, and to try the ladies’ necklaces. It was all great fun.

Yona and Petro told stories to the crowd

Nemburis & Eva with some of the brave girls who were willing to try on the necklaces and dance with them

After performing for the older kids, we went outside to sing for the grades 1 & 2. Mathayo had joined them as they were playing on the playground, fitting right in with the other kids. As we have found, younger kids are never quite sure what to make of the Maasai, but at the very least, they are a captive audience.

The children were especially excited when we pulled a couple of their teachers to help the women dance.

The little girls were not quite brave enough to try on the necklaces themselves, but they did enjoy the looks of them very much. In the end, it took one brave boy to try on the necklace. And he also got into a jumping contest with Mathayo.

Thank you Duncan Christian School for hosting us and being the first official performance of our tour!