NTM

Enough culture to last me a few weeks was all thrown at me in a few hours.  But, it was a great opportunity to see things that I’d never even heard of before.

The 8th day of a baby’s life is cause for celebration.  Family and friends come from miles around to join in the naming of the baby and shaving it’s little head.  It’s a bit sad to see those beautiful curls being shaved away!

Religious prayers for the little ones health are said by all.  I sat there a bit uncomfortable as everyone chanted around me, but no one said anything.

The family spends an enormous amount of money (money that they will spend months trying to back to everyone they borrowed from) to serve rice and sauce to all the guests.  Ladies spend hours working together on one side of the house creating the feast to feed everyone.

The honored guests sit in front of the house during the prayers and to greet all the other visitors.  Guess where they told me to sit?  Yes, it was a bit like I was on display as people just kept wanting to greet me.  They brought me my own bowl of rice and sauce before anyone else had been served – I politely asked if a few could eat with me so I wouldn’t be just the “white lady to stare at”. (more…)

My thoughts are a jumbled mess these days.  I start writing and keep erasing because what I write is not exactly what I want to say.  I want to be able to communicate so many things, but it ends up sounding like my thoughts are all running together.

I want you to know the people who are becoming so close to our hearts even though you’re far away.  I want you to ache with sadness for them as they are completely caught up in a lifestyle and religion that gives them no hope and no peace.  I want you to hurt like me when you see them beating their wives and children, when they lie and steal.  There’s so many things I can’t adequately describe. (more…)