African Funeral

Today, I work up at 5am to head into Soweto for a 7am funeral.  I didn’t know you had to get up so early to bury someone, but evidently you do.  Funerals here are somewhat like ones back home, but different at the same time.  It was somewhat organized with a program and order of events.  Basically, there was a speaker, then a song, a speaker, then a song, a speaker, then a song, a speaker, then a song, etc… for about two and a half hours.  It was actually quite nice, but a little long.  I was one of two white guys there and honored to have the chance to pray and share a bit of the gospel.  Anyway, that was part one. 

Then you go to part two in the program, which occurs at the burial site.  It was very sad to go to the cemetery.  There were fresh graves everywhere because there is so much sickness and death in this area.  At least six funerals were going on at the same time ours was and on our way out others were coming for additional funerals for the day. 

 

Men and women were pretty much separated with the women and family seated or near the tent and the men around the burial plot.  Unlike the burial plots that I have seen these did not include a vault in the ground.  There were only holes dug into the ground, at least 10 feet deep.  The body was in a casket much like ours, but with a plastic or glass covering over the face so you could see the body without opening the casket.  Before burial this covering was sealed with a wooden attachment.  The casket was wrapped in a blanket and lowered into the ground, then the family tossed dirt onto the casket, and finally the men filled the hole with dirt.  It was nice to see how the community all helped to bury the man and showed such respect for him.  It made me think about how quickly we do things in the states and do not always take the time to show respect for those who have passed.

We then returned to the family home to find a line around the home waiting for the family to return and the meal to begin.  Unlike the states where church members and friends provide food for the family, in Africa the family provides food for those who attend the funeral.  Something, I do not think I will ever understand. 

Standing at that cemetery, I think I realized for the first time since arriving in Africa how blessed I am.  To have been born into the loving Christian family that I have and the country that I know and love.

African Culture Shock (Not Really)

So, yesterday Given and I were ministering to a woman who lost her husband.  During our visit Given volunteered my services as “pastor” to receive the body into her home.  

Today I met Given there and did what I was recruited to do.  It was a great experience and extremely enlightening in the area of African culture.  I arrived at quarter to four and met with the woman.  She was grateful that I had come.  Promptly at four the body arrived from the funeral home, which is very odd since African time usually involves things running extremely late.  I met the body and pall bearers and led the procession into the home.  Here they take the body into the bedroom and spend the night with the deceased person.  I greeted the family in the name of Jesus and shared from John 14.  Following this I explained the passage and prayed for the family.  This went well and it was very nice to share God’s word with those that I had only met recently.  

We then went outside and noticed that there was a cow tied up outside.  I was a bit worried knowing that many sacrifice animals at funerals in ancestral worship.  However, this cow was being butchered for food for the guests of the funeral.  So, I was able to witness this activity and even asked to join in by my dear friend Given.  Fortunately, I wore my suit and did not get to get my hands dirty.  

It’s strange to me how people in this area have so little and yet culturally they are expected to provide so much for their guests.  The cow cost nearly $1000.00 US and is being prepared for those who attend the funeral.  Much different from the covered dish lunch that we have back home.  I am happy that God gave me the opportunity to share his word this evening and for allowing me to experience the African life and culture.

Holiday Soccer Club

Today the team went into Soweto and had a great day of ministry.  We began the morning with visiting and had a couple of nice visits, meeting parents of the kids we work with during the week in Girls Club and Soccer Club.  It's great to meet parents who are so happy that you are taking the time to spend working with their children.  It was nice to begin building relationships through this ministry and we hope that it continues to grow the Bible Studies in the area and hopefully a church within the year.

Following our visiting time we went to an open field and set up cones to mark off a soccer pitch.  As soon as we got there kids came out of every nook and cranny.  It doesn't take much to get the kids out of bed, just a soccer ball and a few white guys.  Anyway, we had a blast playing with the kids and sharing a story from the Bible with them during half time.  God is so good and gives us so many opportunities to share his word and have fun at the same time.

Indian Ocean Trip

Mammy came to visit and we traveled to the Indian Ocean for the first time.  It was pretty amazing.  Africa is so different from province to province.  The water was blue in Umhlanga, where we stayed, and the girls loved the waves.  They were a little rough however for me to take them out too far.  We also went to a water park and to the what I think is the biggest mall in the Southern hemisphere.  Pretty cool, with a climbing wall, indoor surfing, an IMAX and more shops than you could get to in a day.  Isabel and I went to see How to Train Your Dragon there and had a blast.  On the way home we went through the Midlands Meander and saw many small shops and farms.  We stopped at a farm had a cheese tasting and bought some fresh cheeses.  We also went to a candle dipping place where the girls made their own candles.  The ride home was beautiful until the rain began, but we made it home safely.