Joys of 2011: Good Rains

Water is life.  There is no better way to put it when it comes to the Maasai.  What can you do without water?  The reality of drought and searching for water is a constant burden that weighs heavily on the mind of every Maasai.  However, this year God blessed our community with ample rains.

Coming into the year, the area had basically had enough rain but no more.  If either of the two rainy seasons failed, we would have verged towards a serious drought.  Thankfully, after a few rains in March and no rains in April or May, the rains came with a vengeance in June and July.  This was a big surprise for many people, the heaviest July rains in decades.

The short-rain season usually begins mid-October and runs to mid-November.  This year we got all that plus some.  Between October 2 and December 5, we had 29 days of heavy rains.  That is more than most long rains and turned our home into a veritable garden of Eden.  Beyond the blessing we received, almost all of Kenya also received good rains in October/November, ending a severe drought in the Northeast of the country.

All in all, this year has been blessed with rain.  The cows are fat and pregnant, milk is plentiful, the goats are many and going  for high price, and the grass is still green going into January.  We can thank only God for this blessing and say together with our Maasai neighbors, "Ashe Enkai."

The Ewuaso/Najile road flooded by the Ewuaso "River"

Mt. Suswa and the Rift Valley in its green glory.