Christmas 2007

Christmas 2007

So much happened over Christmas, here are a bunch of pictures to help you visualise how the celebration went here in Kadiolo. :-)

Caleb sang with his Sunday School class. I uploaded the video yesterday, but while the video include the motions and sound, it was not a close-up picture. We gave a candy packet to all the Sunday School kids at church.

The women sang as well. They love to sing in Bambara, or Senoufo. (each language has a very different musical style!) These women were really glowing with joy Christmas eve!

Of course, if you are going to a big celebration, you have to get dressed up. Lisa, Hilary, and Emily all did their hands and feet with henna. It lasts a week or so, but is considered beautiful the day of the celebration.

What celebration is complete without food? We had a potluck at church. An african potluck is different than an American one. Everyone still brings food, but plates are made up and served to each person. Here is Emily in the forground with Pastor Youssouf, Pastor Ibrahim, and a few others. Karin is there, too. Hilary and Lisa in the background.

Plates were made up like this one. Chicken, and rice or noodles for most people. They even gave us a spoon to eat with! (I don't know about you, but I'm not too into eating with my fingers. Pizza, ok. Rice with a gooey sauce, no...) :-) This was my plate. Really good food!

I was asked to preach Christmas morning. I'm wearing the Christmas uniform. The church (global) in Mali orders a special fabric made for Christmas most years. This year, Ben, Tom, Caleb all had a shirt made. Hilary had a skirt, Emily and Lisa had dresses made. When the clothes came back, the tailor had made me a hat as well. It was a special occasion, so I wore it.

The banners behind me where made by Lisa as her gift to the decorations for Christmas at church this year. Nice Job! Dieu est avec nous. (God is with us.) and on the right, in Bambara.

We were blessed this Christmas by friends who came to church to celebrate. This is me with our neighbor, Bamba. He came with two of his children, and I think enjoyed the celebration a lot.

He stayed a couple of hours, but his daughters stayed later with Lisa to dance. Dancing is a big part of a Christmas celebration, you know. I don't imagine that your church held a late night Christmas Eve dance, but that is how we celebrate here. It is a joyous time where hymns are played up tempo, and the people dance unto the Lord.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas. May God bless you in all the things that matter eternally in 2008!

Thanks for stopping by,

Tom & Lisa Seward