This weekend, we had the opportunity to attend a send-forth for a friend. This is a gal who has been cooking for us a few days each week for about the last 9 months. We have enjoyed getting to know her and her family. She is moving to another city and we are sad to see her go. She invited us to attend the celebration and prayer service that was held at her family's home this weekend. Here are a few photos of our afternoon.
Her house is close to ours, so we decided to walk. Here we are, approaching the gate of her home.
It is very typical when we attend an event like this that we are taken to a special room or area, away from the rest of the attendees. We were ushered into a sitting room, while the other folks were out in the courtyard. When it was time for the prayer service to start, Ryan, Abby, and I asked if we could go outside and sit with the other folks. The kids were happy to stay inside where they were protected from the sun.
I was asked to share some words of encouragement with her concerning her marriage. Let's just say that it is very intimidating to share those sorts of thought in front of a crowd of folks from a completely different culture. That's when you have to just stick with what God's word says and lean not on your own understanding.
Here is our sweet friend, Sarah and her handsome son Nathaniel. We are really going to miss them!
After the service, it was time to eat. Some of the guests received plates of jolof rice, chicken, and cole slaw. Other guests received tuwo (which is a ball of starch made of pounded yam or rice) and stew. From what I have observed, it is very common, when attending a social event here, for different guests to receive different meals depending on their relationship and position to the hosts. We always get rice and meat- goat or chicken at these sort of events. Of course, everyone gets a warm mineral to wash it all down with.
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