A little history: Carole learned about Hellen in 2007 from one of Tim Mead's weekly prayer letters. Tim is an orthopedic surgeon who until this past summer worked at the CURE International hospital in Kijabe. In 2007, Carole went to Kenya to meet Hellen. Just before his death, Carole’s husband Cliff encouraged her to find ways to support Hellen’s work.
Hellen was raised Masai and as a young girl a thirst for learning. She told Carole that from a hillside near where children were learning at a Catholic boarding school the would listen and write her lessons the dirt where she sat. Teachers took notice of Hellen and offered to educate her. It was at this Catholic school Hellen was introduced to Christ.
Masai are monotheistic. In their creation story, Enkai dropped Masai and cows from the sky on a skin. Carole has told us ever since we met Hellen last fall that cows are precious to Masai and that their creation story teaches them that all cows belong to Masai. That if there weren’t an ocean between our continents, the Masai would own even US cows. We thought Carole was kidding, but we hear the same story from Ntutu and Sabore. Cows are the currency, occupation and livelihood of the Massi. Everything of value to them, including women, is weighed in terms of cow. A rich man has many and a poor man has few; as a result, rich man may also have many wives, having traded brides for cows as a dowry price.
Though thoroughly Masai in terms of culture, Hellen absolutely opposes the practice of trading women and girls for cows and against early marriage. In the name of Christ, she dedicates her life to rescuing, protecting and offering women and girls education and opportunities to lead meaningful lives.
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