After the water has been fetched and the yellow jerry cans sit full of water in the shade of the house, Noomali prepares to walk again. This time she grabs her length of rope and sword and walks toward the bush in search of firewood. Gathering and hauling firewood is another essential job of the Maasai woman. The Maasai cook over an open fire fueled with wood and brush from the surrounding area.
Noomali gathers up the plastic jerry cans (a repurposed bright yellow plastic container that was originally used for cooking oil. These are then rinsed and sold as vessels for water storage) and a length of rope after she is finished milking the livestock and sharing a breakfast of Kenyan mixed tea with her family. She, her sister-in-law and her daughters (while on break from school) leave to fetch the day’s water.
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and God’s blessings in the new year!
