Celebrating Maize and Marriage
TANZANIA – Pastors Johnson Odoyo and Amos Komanya were the ones selected in the month of November to visit the Hadzabe. Several encampments of this tribe of hunters and gatherers in the Great Rift Valley of Tanzania have committed themselves to following “the God who made the sun” and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. They look forward to each encouraging visit from our Tanzanian pastors, and they were especially pleased with this past visit.
Johnson and Amos had been facing a drought in their own province of Mwanza, but despite the challenging conditions of their own home lives, they were quite unprepared to see the effects this drought would have on their friends, the Hadzabe. The animals that the Hadzabe hunt had migrated to find water, forcing the hopeful hunters to travel many kilometers on foot to find their game, and often they would return empty-handed to the great disappointment of a hungry village. Bodies had thinned substantially and some lay sick on the ground, weakened from lack of nutrition.
Our Department of International Missions sent relief, and no small amount of rejoicing took place when Johnson and Amos arrived at each village with large bags of maize. They laid hands on the sick and prayed for them, gave them food to eat and the ears of the listeners were readied to hear the Word of God.
Johnson and Amos had been told in advance that during their stay of two weeks there would be a wedding of four couples. Since the Lord’s commission includes, “Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you” it seemed only natural that these weddings provided an opportunity to teach the Hadzabe of God’s design for marriage. Four young men came from one camp while two brides came from another camp about 14 kilometers away. The remaining two brides came from elsewhere in the bush and joined the camp of the brides. Our travelers journeyed from one camp to the other, most of the distance covered on foot, to bring God’s instruction concerning marriage. They taught about fidelity, loyalty and respect for one another. They taught further on God’s unity and the oneness he requires for each couple to have. During the two-day ceremony, they instituted vows for each couple to recite to each other; “till death do we part.” They helped to construct four new marital chambers and provided soft drinks for everyone in the villages as part of the celebration.
Despite the numerous victories, there always is a strong element of personal sacrifice involved as sickness accompanies each trip. As might be predicted, both Johnson and Amos arrived home very weak with fevers and flus, although without regret since they place their lives in God’s hands. They have both recovered now and are praying about the next trip scheduled for April 2023.