Burial Day in Nawantale

Today is the burial day of the deceased villager. Malaria is how this 57 year old, strong man died. Hence, the reason in three years why the government has challenged the villagers to all have a mosquito net over where they sleep. Right now, even at the compound, Kay and I are the only ones with a mosquito net. We arrived with a very large bag of rice and water for the family. We were greeted by the deceased older brother, Sanon Ludigo. Sanon serves as an elder in the project. He didn’t waste any time finding us and thanking us for our presence. In fact, once we showed up the pastor began speaking in English and another gentleman translated for all the residents.

Once the ceremony was over, anyone who wanted to attend the actual burial was welcome to. It was further back on the property and I’d estimate approximately half of the attendees also went to the burial. The ones that didn’t found their way to Kay, Sammy and my feet. They were showing their respect and greeting us. Sammy took us to his mothers’ home – his father had three wives however Sammy’s birth mother died about a month ago. All the women and their friends/relatives sat side by side on the ground under what shade they could find by their house. We pulled up chairs and joined them for a brief conversation. The women talked to us (and about us J) and Sammy and Paul translated for us what they could (or felt was necessary J).We had medicine for a lady whose daughter had been very sick. We carried immodium to her house and were invited into their thatched hut for conversation. We obliged and joined them for a brief minute and then headed on our way to the compound to began garden club.