A Letter From Joseph Koyei
Joseph Koyei, cultural ambassador for the
Maasai people of Kenya, paid us a visit last month
for about a week. We enjoyed his visit every bit as
much as he did (see below). The Maasai are a
respected tribal people famous for their tall
warriors. He taught us about Maasai village life,
told us about fighting lions (including grabbing one
by the tail because to do so is worthy of respect),
showed us his scars from doing so, and taught us the
best methods for avoiding an attack by rhinoceroses
and buffaloes. A few of us are going to get to visit
him in late May or early June on our Kenya trip. To
learn more about the Maasai people,
visit the
Maasai Association website.
Mum,
Thanks and this is a life experience visit. I really miss you all and if you have noticed as a man coming from the remote maasai village in southern Kenya, I was just holding back tears of sorrow as I get ready to leave my friends, older and younger, who all were very close to me and helped me through. It was just like home, and when I got back to Chicago Mrs. Annie Lee Brown, my host, asked me how it was. I told her IT IS HEAVEN ON EARTH, and she said she have never saw me happy as I was on Tuesday morning.
I got close to all and made me feel that I was just with my family. What impressed me most was the kindness of everyone, the Unity of families who came from different backgrounds, and the Love that the Rose Creek Village gives to the world. Beginning from Selmer city in southern TN to the poor orphans in INDIA and to the disadvantaged in the Kenya.
To me this is the best prophecy that the LORD GOD wanted us to show and share with one another. I would never compare RCV with the biggest mega church anywhere in the world, none of them do what the people of RCV do to each other, to the community around and to the world.
Again and again I try to think of words to express and I am short of words from this foreign language I just learned and now I turn to my mother tongue with which I am familiarized more and I say to each of you, starting from that 80-year-old lady to that few days or months old baby, "ASHE OLENG," which is the most expressive word in Maasai language for appreciation...and I am going to pray for you so God gives you blessings, courage and resources to continue doing what you are doing.
Bye and be blessed and you will be hearing from me.
Sincerely,
Joseph Koyei,
Cultural Ambassador of the Maasai people, Kenya.
