You Know You're in Tanzania When...

Last night we were invited to dinner at the home of Immanuel and Momma Machanga. He's the contractor who has built the buildings on the Tumaini University campus. He's 72 years old, been married for 51 years and has 9 children, not all living. His home was filled with a couple of children, several grandchildren, Momma's mother (over 90 years old) and a neighbor who is Maasai.

Of all the interesting conversations I've been in since coming here, his is one of the most interesting. As Immanuel translated, this Maasai man told us he is 62 years old. He has five wives and 30 children. His oldest child is 34 years old and the youngest is 2 months. When we asked him if he could name all his children, he paused, took out his cell phone and called his youngest wife. "What's the name of our newest child?" he asked. He hung up, smiled, and told us the name. Imagine as a parent, trying to get one of your children's attention and running through 30 names before finding the right one.

He owns 500 head of cattle. When fattened for market, they will fetch about $1,500 each. They graze throughout the countryside. Masai, you know, believe all cattle belong to them. They graze them wherever they find grass. But this Masai man was also a good business man. To avoid the possibility of disease wiping out his herd, he divided them into smaller groups and grazes them in different parts of the country. Some of his sons tend the herds. He's thinking of selling his cattle and investing in land and buildings. His fellow Masai don't like to hear that.

He's told his sons, "Marry only one wife! More than one wife is too expensive." With a twinkle in his eye he added, "If I had only one wife, even she could own a car."

One of this man's sons is a theology student at Tumaini University. He's in a program called "The Wandering Shepherds Program." He will be ordained to follow the nomadic Masai tribes around to preach and teach about Jesus Christ. I don't know whether this Masai man is Christian (though he prayed with us that evening), but he is very proud of his son who will be ordained a Christian pastor.