While is still fresh in my mind I take this time again to report a bigevent that happenned in Maasai land on 25th and 26th Sept, 2006. I wasenvited to attend a great gathering of maasai people at Wami Sokoine,Mvomero district. Most of them belong to the "Irkisaruni" Age-group andtheir wives amounting to one thousand four hundred and forty four(1444).In detail men were 751 and women 693 bringing the total to 1444. But somefew not counted can bring the number to 1500 including several pastors andEvangelists. The strange thing is that the number is significant in theBible about 1444,000 elect of God. (Revelation 7 and 14:1-5). They wereretiring from their duty as full time Morans and give way to the youngage-group named "Irkorinaga". They invited pastors from severaldenominations to come and bless them that they may have a good elderhood.I was among those invited to make presentations. I invited also the Womenministries director Of Eastern Tanzania Conference(ETC) Dr Ruth Eyembe toeducate about the effects of Women Circumsition - Female GenitalMutilation(FGM). She may report separately on her part but her semina wasunderstood. Hers was an issue in Maasai culture.I saw it as an opportuninity to give out the gospel of Jesus Christ. Iwent also for field recording. I took my radio CD presentations, Videodeck, projector etc and my assistant Adam Ole Siloti was with me. On 25thsept evening I showed them video presentation and sermon about theProspective of Maasai community in the present world. We made a powerfulappeal that attracted our audience.The next day ie 26th Sept,2006 we had a prayer ceremony at one of Maasaibomas. All people sit in several lines inside the bomas cattle enclosure.All men at north of the circle and women south of the circle. All Warriors(Morans) were called to release and put down their swords,in honor o JesusChrist. Eight pastors including me were stationed at the four conners ofthe circle to give prayers and blessing to the gathering each at the outerand inner gate I mean 2 pastors at each gate and one at the centercrossroads. I wondered because the pattern was like the organisation andmovement of Israelites in the wilderness. After the ceremony was over allmen moved in lines shaking hand to pastors and later women. This made itpossible for counting. After the prayer Isaya Ole Ndokote called Maasaicommunity to became Christians by joining any church of their choice. Somechurches represented were Calvary Assemblies of God, AZUSA ministries,Evangelical Lutheran church of Tanzania, Elim Pentecoste, RomanCatholic,Anglican church,and insignifant number of Adventist. But the bignumber was never attending any church I mean just indigenous (Pagan)people. They were ispired by the event to repent their past life andbecome followers of Jesus. It is a big step for them to invite pastorsinstead of ritual leaders by position Laibon. After the prayer was over four or five people approached me. They allwere commenting about my prayers that it touched their hearts. One daredeven to say that when my turn came he felt that God's hand was on him.The other said that when others were praying it was just as if they arejoking/playing except he was touched profoundly by two pastors pointingme and the other one I did not know. The other said his body and heartwas stimulated and the other said he was penetrated by my prayers.I thankGod that He made a distinction from the rest by giving power to attend myprayers. God did the same to Elijah and prophets of Baal at mount Carmel(1Kings 17-19).I had to interview One of key speakers, a Pastor from Kenya named IsayaOirishi Ole Ndokote. He does not know how to read but can speak the Biblepassages in Maasai language miraculously from his brain. He happened tocome to Tanzania as a Lutheran. Previuosly one of my friends from KenyaDaniel Ole Sinti told me what happenned with him in the past as I quote:"He was very famous preacher who belonged to Africa-Inland Church (AIC)sunday worshipers. But one day he anounced to his church that God hasgiven him a vision of a mountain growing from small beginings and laitersurpass all other mountains and all Maasai people will later come to thismountain to worhip". I compare this vision with what was shown Isaiah(Isaiah 2:2-4, Isaiah 18:1-7), Daniel 2, and repeated by Micah (Micah4:1-3) As members pressed to understand the meaning he went on tointerpret the vision, "I think this must be The Seventh-Day AdventistChurch. They formerly appear to be a small church but is going to grow andsurpass all other churches and be home where all Maasai gather".Immediately the members of his congregation were furious at him. "Insteadof interpreting that our Africa-Inland church is going to conquer allother churches you give victory to SDA's! We will no longer believe you astrue prophet" intimated Daniel ole Sinti who is an Adventist. So thepreacher was no longer respected at home church in Kenya. Perhaps that mayexplain why he is working under Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzaniabecause there is Africa-Inland church in Tanzania also. He himselfprounounces publicly that he does not belong to any church but his churchis wherever Maasai gather. He describe his mission as to reconcile varioussections of Maasai which fought each other in history. That attributes tohis fame in Maasai land of Kenya and Tanzania.You know sometimes our enemies or competitors can give us goodnews. Sightfor an example of Rahab in Jericho, she strengthened the spies (Joshua2:8-28). Gidion spying at Midians camp was strengthen by vision given andexplained by one of the midianites (Judges 7:9-17). So this story of amountain growing strengthen me also in our plan endeavour to reach out toMaasai people. In fact SDA church is still very small compared to severalchurches that have made effort earlier to reach Maasai people. I metseveral pastors from other churches extraordinary happy to meet us. Theyhad been following us through Adventist World radio Maasai program. Nowthey chalenged us to meet them at their homes. I am happy that we have thetruth that makes us to conquer!I wished I had team of evangelists/choir, my own car, time, travel budget,raptop computer, projector and PA system that I may start to preach invarious openned areas. The 200 stations already planned in our radiodistribution project can turn into churches. But the question comes whoshould be working at studio? Let us pray God may bring us to conquerMaasai land with the 3 angels message, the truth as it is in Jesus. Let usstudy the Bible, fast and pray: so that we can plan, organise and executethe plan, for the fields are ripe, it is time to gather. I wish theexorbitant money and human resource used on the war against terror wouldbe used to make peace and reconciliation (2Corinth 5:16-20) as signifiedby the Bible as beating spears to plow. Micah 4:1-3, Isaiah 2:2-4.Thefierceness and ferrocity of Maasai warriors, spears and swords applied inhistory would turn to what Paul explains in Ephesians 6:10-20 as the armorof God the quiet war for the quiet weapons against the stealth enemy usingthe strategy to hold the world a prison place of tortureand spiritualruin. Let us watch the kingdom of God is coming! I can perceive sights ofthe bright prospect which the future holds for the people of God who maybe presently at Adventist church or out still in various folds.Yours in the Lord's work.Lemareka T. Ole Kibasisi
My wife Theresia and our daughter Priscila was arround also
Ruth Eyembe the Women Ministries Director was there
Mrs Eyembe focused so much on women than men. I asked why she answered that she was afraid of the warriors.
I and my assistant Adam Ole Siloti at the Maasai meeting site
THESE ARE SOME LETTER EXCERPTS
“Dear Beloved in our Lord Jesus. I greet you in the name of the Lord. I hope you are fine in the Lord’s vineyard. The aim of this letter is to greet and encourage you as a hero in the Lord’s work. You may not know me. But I saw you in Arusha and I also hear you daily in Maasai language radio programs. These programs have strengthen me so much “ Daniel Ole Sumuni, Mwanza, Tanzania.
“I must congratulate so much leaders and few ministers in AWR Maasai service who strive to serve and speak this language in a very perfect way. These include. Pastor L. Ole Kibasisi, Pololet Ole Mambega, and Pastor Loitopuaki Ole Lebabu”
L. L. Severe Arusha, Tanzania.
“Gospel and nurturing ministry in Maasai land are going well especially through AWR Maasai service. They have witnessed to us many things happened through radio ministry and they request you (Producer) to visit them so as to finalize their decision. We as a church decided to write to you when we saw our brethren from Pentecostal churches taking advantage and getting success of many souls through our radio conducting seminars house to house by using converted Maasai people from their churches in various places. Here at Mungeta are about 5 Maasai divisions with 209 inhabitants. “
Martin Mwamhanga, Evangelist in Maasailand .
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THIS ARTICLE WHICH APPEARED IN NOVEMBER 1ST, 2005
is very useful if implemented in Maasai land: Because of several reasons: first the work will mature since people will know how to read the Bible for themselves. They will be able to witness and in the way be strengthened in the work of God. You will add others yourself as you see how it worked in Brazil.
ANN Bulletin
Adventist News Network
Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters
November 1, 2005
In This Issue:
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* South America: Learning to Read Brings Many to Jesus
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South America: Learning to Read Brings Many to Jesus
Brasilia, Brazil .... [Taashi Rowe/ANN]
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When you can't fill out a voting ballot, read a bed time story to your
child, apply for a better job, or even understand street signs life can
be difficult to navigate. This is what each day is like for the
approximately 860 million people worldwide who do not know how to read.
About two-thirds of all illiterate people are women, according to the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO).
In many areas of the world women are often the last to receive any form
of education, but in South America women are leading the fight against
illiteracy. Here the illiteracy rates range from 2.3 percent in Uruguay
to 13.1 percent in Brazil, according to the United Nations.
With the theme of "Alphabetize to Evangelize," the Women's Ministries
department of the Adventist Church is leading a series of reading
workshops all over South America.
Evelyn Nagel, Women's Ministries director in South America, says
literacy is just one of the major issues facing women that they are
addressing. Adventist women worldwide have identified six areas that
affect women negatively.
Many of those issues are in line with the eight issues that member
states of the United Nations are working to improve globally by 2015.
The objectives, called Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), look to
eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary
education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child
mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other
diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global
partnership for development.
While the literacy program isn't new, Nagel says that 2005 is the year
they are emphasizing literacy.
"There are many women who are very enthusiastic about this project,
each one doing their part -- people who are interested in helping
spread the word in their churches and encourage others to participate
by donating funds or material," says Nagel.
The program involves many in the Adventist community from the church's
education department to its publishing houses in Brazil and Argentina,
as well as church members from all over South America.
"Alphabetize to Evangelize" has a dual purpose: end the crippling
cycle of poverty that is often a result of illiteracy, and share the
Gospel with students. The program uses the "Aprender é Viver" (Learning
Is Living) workbook in Spanish and Portuguese. While the program uses
traditional teaching methods, the entire content is based on Bible
texts. Each student who successfully completes the program is presented
with a Bible.
"In this manner we are helping to decrease illiteracy rates. At the
same time we want to take the Gospel to all people," Nagel says.
Odacir Pivoto is a former student who came back to the program as a
volunteer. In addition to learning to read and write, he learned about
Jesus. He began to attend a local church in Peru and was baptized
together with his wife.
The program is especially flourishing in many parts of Brazil, whose
1,290,000 church members make it the country with the most Seventh-day
Adventist church members in the world.
In 2001, six teaching centers were organized with 13 students, and one
student was baptized in South Paraná. By 2004, there were 74 teaching
centers with 274 students in South Paraná, and 50 percent of the
students have requested Bible studies. The classes have led to at least
15 baptisms. In other parts of Brazil local governments have supported
the project by providing funding for materials and a place for classes
to meet.
In Northeast Peru, the challenge of evangelizing through literacy was
embraced with great enthusiasm because the illiteracy index in the
region is very high, especially among women. From March to July
enrollment in classes went up from 80 people to 250.
"The literacy course for adults is a powerful tool to help people
develop in life, to learn to read, and above all learn to give
themselves to Jesus," said Marlene Garcia, a women's ministry leader in
Southern Brazil.
