The old man, Ndangoya, stopped me politely but firmly.
"Padre, why are you trying to break us up and separate us. During this whole
year [in Maasailand, Tanzania] that you have been teaching us, we have talked
about these things when you were not here, at night around the fire. Yes, there
have been lazy ones in this community. But they have been helped by those with
much energy. There are stupid ones in the community, but they have been helped
by those who are intelligent. Yes, there are ones with little faith in this
village, but they have been helped by those with much faith. Would you turn out
and drive off those lazy ones and the ones with little faith and the stupid
ones? From the first day I have spoken for these people. And I speak for them
now. Now, on this day one year later, I can declare for them and for all this
community, that we have reached the step in our lives where we can say, ‘We
believe’".

    I looked at the old man Ndangoya. "Excuse me, old man," I
said. "Sometimes my head is hard and I learn slowly. ‘We believe,’ you said. Of
course you do. Everyone in the community will be baptized."