Wow! This was special! And I could add, just as long as it was special. Longer if you don’t know a speck of Swahili, even with our own private translators, each girls who were Form 5 or 6, the step before college entrance.
We arrived about an hour early for the Sunday service, so we had a guided tour of the school. They have a great computer lab and science lab. Some of the girls have never even turned on an electric switch of any kind before they arrive.
Soon we went to the beautiful chapel, the roof in the shape of a Maasai warrior’s shield. We awaited the Bishop. He was actually on campus and we had greeted him. After an hour or so, following the entrance of the choir and with great pageantry, the graduates in their full Maasai regalia marched in, with the bishop equally adorned, including mitre.
There was much singing, a long sermon and the usual two hour service. We loved it.
We ate delicious lunch with other VIP. We ate leisurely, catered to in a special class room, decorated just for us, so we were a little rushed to get to the auditorium (which, as in any good secondary school, doubled as the lunch room). The girls treated us to a rhythmic dance as they entered, with more great singing. There were a few talent numbers with subsets of the girls forming the ensembles, with rhythm and singing. Then there was a long list of awards for various achievements. After the awards, there were six speakers. The bishop spoke a reasonably short time. I thought that was a good sign, since surely it would be bad manners for subordinates to speak longer than he did. But each of the next five speakers spoke longer than the previous.
One highlight, or lowlight, depending on perspective of course, was when my chair collapsed underneath me. There was a silent scramble to rescue me, without a beat missed by the speaker. I was much less sleepy after that.
Finally, the ceremony well celebrated, all went home. I don’t think I can adequately describe the spectacle of the beauty of these people and their costumes, so see the photos!
Ken
We arrived about an hour early for the Sunday service, so we had a guided tour of the school. They have a great computer lab and science lab. Some of the girls have never even turned on an electric switch of any kind before they arrive.
Soon we went to the beautiful chapel, the roof in the shape of a Maasai warrior’s shield. We awaited the Bishop. He was actually on campus and we had greeted him. After an hour or so, following the entrance of the choir and with great pageantry, the graduates in their full Maasai regalia marched in, with the bishop equally adorned, including mitre.
There was much singing, a long sermon and the usual two hour service. We loved it.
We ate delicious lunch with other VIP. We ate leisurely, catered to in a special class room, decorated just for us, so we were a little rushed to get to the auditorium (which, as in any good secondary school, doubled as the lunch room). The girls treated us to a rhythmic dance as they entered, with more great singing. There were a few talent numbers with subsets of the girls forming the ensembles, with rhythm and singing. Then there was a long list of awards for various achievements. After the awards, there were six speakers. The bishop spoke a reasonably short time. I thought that was a good sign, since surely it would be bad manners for subordinates to speak longer than he did. But each of the next five speakers spoke longer than the previous.
One highlight, or lowlight, depending on perspective of course, was when my chair collapsed underneath me. There was a silent scramble to rescue me, without a beat missed by the speaker. I was much less sleepy after that.
Finally, the ceremony well celebrated, all went home. I don’t think I can adequately describe the spectacle of the beauty of these people and their costumes, so see the photos!
Ken
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