As soon as we finished our walk this morning we organized ourselves to take the corn and cassava to the funeral grounds of the late Balogu chief. It is with much pomp and displaying. We could not just go and drop off the grain; Nazo had to call one of the elders so he could physically lead us to the palace. Of course we had to make up envelopes to give him to be presented in our name. The corn and cassava were the actual gifts but all the important people along the way had to receive a small gift too. We gave something to the Senior Regent, to the Junior Regent, the elders, the widows, the linguists, the man that led us, the family head and money to grind the grains that we took. This sounds like it would be lots of money but actually it was about 50 dollars that we put in the envelopes; it is just the necessity to follow tradition. After we arrived we waited in the truck until everything was ready for us to enter; we had to remove our shoes before going into the receiving hall. Steve and I were given chairs this time but many times we just sit on the floor on mats like the rest of the people. The Regent (the eldest son of the late Chief’s first wife) sat on cow skins on a cement platform a couple feet above his elders. After our gift was presented and the envelopes were distributed, the Princess Regent (the eldest daughter of the chief’s second wife) came to greet us. Before we left we went to visit the Chief’s widows; he had 4 wives and lots of children and grandchildren. When the widows were told about our gifts some started that high pitched trilling sound they make when something wonderful has happened like the birth of a child. It is sort of like us clapping. One of the Chief’s small grandchildren was carrying around a small bowl with water and hot pepper flakes. The child offers the visitors the water and invites them to wash their face. If you do not want to wash your face in hot pepper water you drop a few coins into the water as a way to support the grandchildren that are left behind with no grandfather to support them.
When we got back to the mission house Steve and Mr. Iddrisu manned the Child Center and Zorash, Meri and I started chasing dust! We had planned on cleaning the apartment this morning but Amama had visitors in her house so she could not come to work; she had to stay home and cook. Cleaning the apartment is a bigger job than cleaning the guest rooms in the main house so we saved the apartment for tomorrow. We took down all the curtains and washed the curtains and windows; the dust is terrible. We decided that we needed to order a tanker truck of water because of the heavy use of washing curtains, woodwork and floors. We want to make sure we have enough water when our kids come later this month. Have you noticed how I am able to work their upcoming visit into almost every Yendi Notes? Ha!
Thank you for the love, prayers and support.
In HIS Service,
Steve and Kandie
