Following the man in red I stooped low and squeezed through a small half circle entry into a small dark room of a typical Maasai hut, made from mud, cow dung, and sticks, and built by the women of the house. As my eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room, I began to notice my surroundings. After entering I had to continue to stoop low because of the height of the hut that must have been around five and a half foot tall at the max. As we made our way across the hut to sit on the edge of what my eyes were now registering was a crude bed that took up around one-third of the room along the back wall. Next to the bed on one side was a small 3x8 room that served as guest accommodations, and also for the livestock to sleep at night away from any prowling wild animals. I had been graciously invited to visit this home of a Maasai family out in the bush.
The smoke from the small fire in the center of the room began to bring a slight sting to my eyes as we sat and talked. It served as a dual purpose: to cook and boil water, and to ward off any mosquitoes. The fire evidently had no affect on the other insects that I could see crawling along the thatch roof, and in the corners of the dirt floor. Because of the natural insulation of the thick mud walls, the heat was retained efficiently inside the hut. Although it was probably in the mid 70’s outside, they felt it to be cool, so it must have been close to a hundred degrees inside the hut.
Along one side of the hut was a small table that held two or three steel pots, and several cups. This was the extent of the kitchen furnishings. In the far corner across the center and to the left was another small room where the females of the house sleep. The man of the house and the male children sleep in the bed, the women sleep on the floor. The only light aside from the fire came streaming in from pie shaped holes in two of the walls about the size of your hand.
As I began to talk with this family clothed in red, which is the typical Maasai colors, a thought came into my mind fitting for the scene; “Taking Jesus to every Hut and Heart.”As I looked into the eyes of the women I could see, almost feel the emptiness, smiling but without any life. The children were grinning of the excitement of a foreign visitor, but riddled with sickness. My mind wandered of what it must be like for these women. They do not have the singular affection from their husband, because many of the men take more than one wife. They bear the load of taking care of the children, and much of any physical labor involved with building a house, taking care of livestock, and cooking for their family, and a variety of other duties. Many of the women deal also deal with the bloody practice of genital mutilation, or female circumcision, which surely contributes to their dull emotionless expressions. This practice has been passed down for centuries and carries with it certain damaging consequences emotionally, spiritually, and physically. This is reality. This is evil. This is Kenya.
As we talk, the family seems overjoyed and honored at having this Mazungo (Swahili term for a white person) as a guest. The women smile shyly as the man tells of their way of life, and proudly makes reference to his accomplishments: Many cows, and many wives, and killing a lion with a spear. This is the extent of his understanding of happiness and position in life.
But below the gracious hospitality there is a war taking place. A war a person cannot see with the naked eye. Only through spiritual eyes can you see the battle. It’s a battle between heaven and earth, between the Kingdom of God and the god of this world. The devil has a stronghold here, you can sense it, you can feel it, and you can certainly see the results.
What is it that can break this stronghold? Why am I sitting here in this Mud hut hours from civilization? Because I know the answer and the answer is Truth. Truth! Truth is what can break centuries old customs and traditions that devalue women, and enslave them. Truth is what turns a man from pride and position and evil practices from the pit of Hell, to a man who can love and treat his family right!
So the challenge is simply this. How can we get Truth to those who are in desperate need? We must do our part, we cannot fail or…they many never know the answer.
