Tuesday was a very eventful day. We began the day in a nearby Masai village. It was a pretty basic visit (they are all amazing but I realize that I have spoken about many.) We were given a tour while Pr. Hafermann registered the people for baptism. The tours led by Moreto are always fun and full of sarcasm as he shows us around everyday life in the small huts. Moreto asked us about the attitude in the US like in general. In broken Kiswaili we tried to explain that, while everything is nzuri in TZ it is not in the US. Smiles and greetings are far less rare. We asked if the smiles were often disingenuous in TZ. Of course, they are not, he told us. While the people may be hurting in many ways, they are always happy to meet each other and the idea is that a smil comes from within, so when you smile it always an indication of the joy inside. This is nice and all, but I wonder about the extreme poverty and illness and malnutrition that we have witnessed. I suppose that happiness is not always married to these things. Maybe it is possible to find joy everywhere.
Notably, there were thirteen baptisms yesterday and the kids were especially happy to play with us.
In the evening we went with Roohid and Mamka to the Hindu temple for a Diwali celebration. I am certain that Peter wrote extensively about it. I will just say that it was very exciting and we were welcomed very wholly by Roohid and Mamka and the priest. Though the people were a little shut off as this temple is somewhat conservative and like a very exclusive family. There was a blessing last night and so many fireworks and a giant meal (normally served by men, but served by the women in this conservative sect.) Diwali is very much a family affair, there is a short blessing and tonight there is chanting but most of it happens at home with the household deity. I learned a lot, but am honestly too tired to write any more so I will write another time about it...if you are lucky.
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