I was kid free this Christmas and single for the first time in 25 years, so, when I discussed with my counsellor the prospect of Christmas, she said, ‘Why don’t you do something you would really love?’
When Barbara got in touch about raising money for her school and children’s rescue centre in the Masai Mara, Kenya, I asked her a cheeky question, ‘Can I come for Christmas?’ An unequivocal ‘yes’ was her generous response to someone she had only ever met on the phone.
At the Great Outdoor Gym Company our mission is to create a healthy people and planet. We had already planted 45,000 trees in Kenya with Eden Reforestation by supporting local communities to do so, so when I got the call from Barbara about her children's rescue centre and school, I thought I want to check this out.
I knew Barbara from our TGO activate activities. We had recreated Bob Geldof's song 'It's Christmas time' and over 30 schools had taken part in singing it alongside Ewan McGregor.
I flew to Nairobi and from there I got a transfer to Wilson airport where I would get my plane to the Masai Marai, Kichwa Tembo airstrip. My first impression of Kenya was the beauty of the people. I wanted some of that queen style. and I bought hat from Beth before getting my next plane.
When I walked out of the aircraft hangar, I was surprised by the size of my next plane. It wasn’t much bigger than a car! I decided to trust the pilot, as I wanted to enjoy this flight over the land towards the animal kingdom.
Touch down at Kichwa Tembo and Barbara was there waiting for me next to a Masai Warrior. She had a Shuka in her hand to give to me – a sign of the inherent honour this place bestows.
A bumpy journey back to her ‘home of hope’ we were greeted by onlooking giraffes and zebras on the outer edge of the official Masai Mara park. Although they drive on the same side as us, the actual route is to find a flat bit and go that way, whether left, right or centre.
Pulling into Barbara’s home, school and children’s rescue centre, the gates were opened by the children. Barbara calls 23 children her own sons and daughters. As I stepped out the car, a group of her children started walking towards me singing, bobbing their heads to the beat as they came. Before I had said hello they had me dancing with them and I was encircled and in the fold.
I realised that music and dance was the primary language here and I was already invited to join the dance, which I did embarrassedly but hoping some of their moves might just rub off on me – ‘God loves a trier!’
Jane led the ceremony, with a woolly hat covering her braids and a grin on her face. Later on, Jane showed me round. I was keen to listen and hear everyone’s stories and it started with Jane. Her mum died, her Dad was an alcoholic and she was abandoned, her step mother didn’t accept her. When Barbara found her she was 8.
Barbara has set the 5 acre plot up sustainably with rainwater harvesting and solar. Drawing on her background in farming she has chickens and grows vegetables: As Jane showed me around the chicken pens, outside toilets, school, the outdoor kitchen, I asked her how she felt since being here. She said she was very grateful for what Barbara had done and felt safe. She said she had the confidence to speak to anyone. She explained she had studied hospitality and now she wanted to travel abroad.
The next day was Christmas Eve. Barbara drove us to the market with Elizabeth and Kevin. My 150 dollars went a long way in this market. I gave the equivalent of £10 each to those present and we bought up skirts and dresses for the other kids. Elizabeth’s brother died last week and she wanted some Air Force one’s, so I tried some retail therapy as a first step towards making a connection with her.
That night we laid out the gifts from the UK and the market for the kids and I hoped that everyone would have something they liked. Barbara had requested bras for the girls, so M&S bras were aplenty.
The biggest hit was the solar powered Bluetooth speakers - which we proceeded to use in various parts of the 5 acre compound to compare music tastes, stand in circles with heads bobbing rhythmically and me looking silly trying to learn local dances, in exchange for my freer, hands in the air ‘moves’ to house music.
In the morning it was Christmas, and as I was getting ready, Elizabeth popped in my tent. She was clearly mourning her brother. She said she was trying not to think about it. I recalled Marianne Williamson’ saying ‘The dark night of the soul should not be squandered.’
I said, ‘don’t repress it. It’s natural. You are mourning. It’s ok to feel. That’s your heart speaking. Listen to it.’ She hugged me.
I have always been passionate about animals so for Christmas, I got the greatest gift - a self-drive around the Masai Mara, all the way to the Serengeti. Courageous Barbara drove us again. I feel the word for her is ‘driven’ - she will go anywhere. She even has been to Papa New Guinea where no man outside the tribe has been.
Barbara, 65, is a cross between a sergeant major and mother Teresa. She runs a tight ship, with zero tolerance, but everyone gets fed, clothed and have great living conditions.
A softer side came out in the Mara, Barbara marvelled over the beautiful birds on display. She is not a dip your toes in type of girl. She is all in! Confronted with large unknowingly deep puddle, Barbara’s faith is deeper, driving forward and we came out the other side. She reassured the local rangers who passed us by, ‘it’s ok to cross’.
We stopped for lunch at the Serena lodge where the kids were doing activities. Barbara and I talked more and the more I spoke to Barbara, the more I saw how much courage she had had to set this all up and do it alone leaving Australia.
Toto’s Africa was sounding in my ears after lunch when we drove to the Tanzania border and I stepped out of the car on the border between Kenya, the Masai Mara and the Serengeti. Kevin and Barbara encouraged me to get on the border pillar and I used my Shuka to rise up like a phoenix from the ashes. Something inside me was happening and transforming on this trip. I was rising. Conscious of recent sitings of lions in the exact location, I jumped back in the car after the photo.
Barbara, generously let me stay in her tent in my own double bed near the door. When guests stay at mine they get the sofa bed, or if they are really lucky - my bed! But Barbara, let me stay in her tent. I’m not the tidiest but she was very gracious. She made me hot water for my wash and gave me the key to her kitchen so I could make tea.
You are never alone in Barbara’s compound. From leaving the tent, you are greeted by the German shepherds, who follow you down the path to the kitchen. The smaller kids appear as you walk to the kitchen building, going through my bag. Fatima, Nailecku, Stacy, Lepara.
They are intrigued by all the things we have. ‘What’s this? What’s this’ Lepara thought he would take my passport as a momento, but when I ask Naileku to find it for me, she was able to find it in minutes. Even though everyone is spread out on this 5 acre compound, the next person is only a shout away.
The next morning Elizabeth came back in my tent. We were invited to a wedding and she wanted to lend me some Masai clothes. It was another generous and thoughtful act, developing our connection.
Elizabeth and the little children found garments and jewellery to adorn on me to make me into an appropriately dressed Masai wedding guest.
The route to the wedding was through fields. Fearless Barbara, navigated fallen branches and the lands’ undulations. But it was Jane that knew the way. The Masai satellite navigation is excellent Barbara explained.
Eventually we arrived at a site not dissimilar to a small Music festival. A valley surrounded by bush, the wedding party was in motion.
Greeted somehow by the mother we were encompassed by a group of bridesmaids and best men, bobbing their heads to a hypnotic Masai song that would top the charts at ministry of sound. The bride and groom was still arrive but it felt Barbara and us girls were guests of honour.
Taking into the small private mud floor house - we were offered glass bottles of coke. A very honorary gesture amongst the many people present who were not bestowed the same honour.
Back to the wedding we joined the bridesmaids and best men and we were now part of the welcome party. The Bride and groom were arriving at the top of the hill in their 4 x4. Barbara said, ‘a Masai bride’s job is to look miserable’. Down they came and the welcome party intensified with shrills and shrieks.
