Hallelujah! I wrote 2 grants that raised $54,000 to build a mothers’ hostel at the Oldonyosambu Theological College.
I recruited Rev. Dr. Suzana Sitayo to be a stakeholder on my research project, as in addition to being on the faculty at Tumaini University Makumira (TUMA), she is also principal of Oldonyosambu Theological College (OTC), which focuses on training the lay pastors for the North Central Diocese of the ELCT, a predominantly Maasai area. The training is mostly through theological education by extension (TEE), but twice a year, the student come for a week or so at OTC.
However, this residential visit is very difficult for mamas, because there isn’t adequate housing. The dormitory-style housing was built for men by the German missionaries many decades ago. But in Maasailand, all the women in the village are married and then are raising children. Each child is nursed for 2-3 years, and the next child comes with the next round of nursing. So, it is very difficult for Maasai women to access theological education in order to be equipped as a lay pastor and serve their church community. This is one of the few opportunities for rural Maasai women to have opportunities beyond being a mama.
Thus, Suzana’s idea was to build a mothers’ hostel, where a few en-suite rooms are available with an extra bed for a family member attendant. This may be a grandma or a sister with her own young child. The TEE student can breastfeed during the breaks. We hope that within 1 year, we will have our mother’s hostel ready. A quarter of the planned project is funded by the Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church Endowment Foundation in Decatur, IL. And three-quarters is funded by the Lund Missionary Society in Sweden, with Operation Bootstrap Africa (OBA) willing to serve as the project manager. OBA has experience with brining construction projects to successful completion.
There will be still a need to furnish the rooms for the mamas, and I’m hoping to get solar panels for the college. So, I continue to pray and think innovatively.
In summary, this is more than a building project; it is a women’s empowerment opportunity in a very patriarchal society! This hostel resource will provide access to mamas to live out their calling as a minister of the gospel and serve their church and communities. Thus, we celebrate with Hallelujah’s for the generosity of the FELCEF and the Lund Mission Society.
Mikitamayana Engai! / Mungu akubariki! / God bless you!