A Tribute to Denny(SIMBA) and Jeanne Grindall

Denny and Jeanne Grindall introduced people in Seattle and Kitsap County to the Maasai people in the Greater Oloshoibor area, Kenya. They spent 14 years of their lives living with the Maasai for about 6 months a year. They brought these people education, water and the word of God.

If it were not for Denny and Jenne, MWEEP would not exist. Due to the love shared between the Grindalls and the Maasai, we were able to visit and begin our own relationship which became Maasai Women's Education and Empowerment Program (MWEEP), both in Kenya and the USA.

We feel privieged to continue the education work, especially for the girls and woman, that Denny and Jeanne began.

Jeanne passed away August 19, 2008 Denny passed away August 6. 2009

Enjoying a Sunset over Hood Canal, eating Oyster and Hearing About the Need for Education for Maasai Girls and Women

Cindy Dodge with her husband Mike opened their home to an event that included an amazing view of Hood Canal. Cindy had two friends join her in hosting the event: Carole Osterhaus and Sharon Heim.

They gave MWEEP an opportunity to come and share the stories of the Maasai girls and women in Kenya and highlight the need for their education.

Jon Day brought oysters off the beach for a BBQ treat. After a good deal of conversation and yummy food, a presentation, and wonderful desserts, women were touched to share their resources to make a difference for a girl or woman in Maasailand.

Another "friend" of MWEEP, Sallie Snyder, we in attendance to help in the kitchen. She had things running smoothly. We appreciate each person who contributes to the success of an event.

A Peony Farm Benefit Event

Ann Mossman, with her husband Jim, opened her Boone Brier Peony Farm for a benefit event that touched all our senses. We had wonderful food, beautiful peonies and iris' to view.

Those who attended were touched by the educational needs for the Maasai girls and women.

It was a very successful event.

We are so grateful to our event hosts. They are making a difference for women in Kenya.

If you are interested in talking about hosting an event, please email mweepboard@maasaiwomen.com. We would love to discuss this with you.

MWEEP Participation at Kitsap Arts and Crafts Festival

Due to a fantastic suggestion by Maria Mackovjak at Old Town Custom Framing and Gallery in Old Town Silverdale, WA, the MWEEP board voted to have a booth at the Kitsap Arts and Craft Festival in Kingston, WA on July 24th, 25th and 26th. She supported our decision with the payment for our booth. The Festival was including non-profits. http://www.oldtowncustomframing.com/

The event itself was a great deal of work; however, it was very successful. In the three days, we spoke with 250 - 300 people. They did have a chance to make a donation to MWEEP or to choose Maasai beadswork for a donation.

Liz D. one of our board members made beautiful cards with photos of MWEEP women from Kenya and some of the girls who receive help with school fees.

Sheila T., 3rd grade teacher at Pearson

Elementary in the N. Kitsap School District, taught her students about Africa, an African artisit Tessa Edwards and about making charitable contributions. Her class created art work in the style of Tess Edwards, making them into cards and selling them to parents and friends and donating the funds to MWEEP. Seven parents gave permission for the artwork to be made into more cards. For a donation, people could acquire the cards. They were a BIG hit.

We're In Maasailand

Living in a more remote part of Maasailand brings amazing experiences as well as causing us to wonder, can we really do this. Those of you praying for us, it is making a differenct.

This year we are seeing some green, it has rained a little awhile ago. We have never seen this before. Now they are anxious for more rain. Lucy, our host is having to bring water down to here place since her tank if about empty.

We are living in a metal house with dirt floors. No window in the bedroom, just a bed and our bag piled up everywhere. WE NEED TO BRING LESS.

Jon is at a male circumscion celebration today over at the next boma. He got to see the cow being slaughtered. He's hiked to the top of the Ngong Hills with Wilson the herbist and loving it. The next day they hiked to the Spring, he's gaining lots of knowledge.

I've been out to even more remote areas to visit with women who have taken the class and have already started their businesses. These are very determined women and working with extreme conditions. FLIES ARE EVERYWHERE. We are staying healthy.

We had our MWEEP meeting yesterday, that was a wonderful experience as well as exhausting.

Today we are in Ngong shopping for the food for the celebration, they are expecting about 100 people.

WE'RE OFF TO KENYA 2008

Jon and Loanna Day are heading to Kenya today, November 29, 2008. We'll fly on BA through London. Since we get in too late for the flight to Nairobi, we'll spend the night with our daughter's family in Reading, England. Then on December 1 we'll arrive in Nairobi late, spend the night and head out to Ngong (east side of the Ngong Hills) and then continue to Oloshoi-bor (east side of the Ngong Hills in the Rift Valley) We'll be spending the first 8 nights with Lucy.

Many of you have heard her story.

On Saturday, December 6th we will be attending an all day event -- the graduation of the women taking the coursework from Project Baobab/MWEEP. The women will be presenting their business plans after 19 weeks of attending class ( 3 or 4 Saturdays a month, June -November). The top 1/3 of the class will receive a $100 grant to start their business.

We will also be meeting with the girls who receive help with their school fees to attend secondary school and some of their parents. One girl is attending Moi University and she would like to give back to her community by having a meeting with the girls in the village. Even thought school is not in session in December, we will be able to visit Olooseous Secondary Boarding School where some of our girls attend.

We will also visit with a Kenyan organization called FAWE http://www.fawe.org/ and also the Green Belt Movement http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/ in order to make connections for MWEEP Kenya.

The second part of our trip we will be staying out of the Rift Valley on the east side of the Ngong Hills with Christine and her husband. She has been managing our coursework with Project Baobab. The MWEEP Kenya women and I will be meeting with Project Baobab to evaluate the coursework.

On December 19th we will be heading back to England to spend Christmas with the Marcus and Amanda Hahnemann family. This will be grandparent time.

African Dinner for MWEEP

The Maasai Women's Education and Empowerment Program USA had an awesome African Dinner at the beginning of this month for a fundraising event. We are now just wondering if it will be an annual event.

We had the amazing contribution of talent, skill and time when Simba Tirima and his wife Koi Tirima volunteered their time to cook the meal. Simba is the International Student Recruitment Director at the University of Idaho and Koi is a Professor of English at Olympic College in Bremerton, WA.

They cooked: Chicken a la Simba, Githeri, Baked Rice with Kenya seasonings, Ntorro, Chapati and Kenyan Chai. It was a very delicious meal with many going back for seconds.

A VERY BIG thank you to Simba and Koi. They made the evening special.

We also had guests from Project Baobab, Wambui (who works for Microsoft and is a Project Baobab board member)and Alice (the new Executive Director for Project Baobab who is moving back to Kenya). You will have read the blog about our work with Project Baobab in Kenya. Wambui spoke about the impact of educating the village women and the difference that makes for her, her family and the community. Thanks go out to both of them for taking the time to join us.

We appreciate our guests for taking the time to be there and to learn about the need for educational opportunities for the girls and women. We are so thankful for all the contributions and for those who have said they wish to host a "Dinner In" or a "Lunch In".