a great reminder

Shortly after Amelia left for the UK (now already 7 weeks ago!) I flew the regular South Maasai medical outreach, but this time it was a little bit different. First of all I did what we are starting to call the Maasai-Link, the idea with this is that we will like our two Maasai areas (Malambo (north) and south) every third month. In the north there is a well establish Maasai Evangelism School and MAF has been supporting them for many years by taking evangelists from Malambo to different villages in the mountains and around Lake Natron. What we now aim to do is exchange on Malambo safari every third month and instead fly teacher from Malambo to the south. A recent generous donation from friends in Canada allowed the village of Katahe in the south to nearly complete a building at the runway which has a fuel store, pilot accommodation, accommodation for teachers and a classroom. This building will serve as the centre for the Maasai-Link.

My ‘great reminder’ during this trip came in the form of another motorbike (pikipiki) ride deep into the Maasai bush to explore three different locations where there are Maasai bomas without any medical services. The previous time we did a trip like this was in December 2013 when Amelia and I spent more than 10 hours in the saddle of a little Honda 125 in 24 hours to cover 200 kilometres. It was not easy, it was back breaking following mostly single or no track and sandy dry river beds. I’ve made my mind up about marrying Amelia long before this trip, as a matter of fact we were already engaged and wedding plans were well under way. But just in case I wasn’t sure, I received this text message from my Maasai friend after we arrived back home: ‘Amelia is very fit for bush pilot you must take her for your wif I warn u.’ On this last trip I realised just how ‘fit’ she is when I also rode on the back. It is much more tiring to be the passenger than the driver (maybe a bit more when your normal ride yourself), especially on the little 125 with a very uncomfortable flat seat.

She didn’t have to do it in the first place, she did and I love her for it, but she probably won’t be doing it again, certainly not soon with the little one on the way...