EASTER SUNDAY CHURCH IN KABALA & EASTER MONDAY FESTIVAL

SIERRA LEONE, 2014

Easter Sunday presented a great opportunity to attend a church service Sierra Leone style.  A Fambul Tok staff member, Rev. Emmanuel, invited me to come with him and his family to the Wesleyan church in Kabala.  What a wonderful experience it was.

When we arrived at the church pre-service bible study was going on with men on one side, women on the other inside the church, and youth and children outside. At the end of bible study the pastor (not Rev) instructed us to go outside and line up since we were all going to process into the church and down the aisle.

Rev’s wife grabbed me and guided me where to stand.  I had been very comfortable at the back of the church in an outside seat.  As we processed back in I ended up in the front row!!!  So much for keeping a low profile.  Actually, being the only white there I guess that was impossible anyway!!!

Then the service began!  There was singing, there was dancing, there was praying, there was a competition collection between the men, women, youth, children, and mothers.  A basket was placed on the table up front and the various categories danced and sang up to the table putting their money in the basket.  The basket was whisked away, emptied and returned between categories.  The men won because a visitor from America (Sierra Leonean) put in $40.00 = to 180,000SLL!

The actual sermon lasted about 20 minutes and was very interesting.  The entire service lasted for 3 hours!!!  The time flew, however, and I was amazed we had been there that long.  Getting up to dance on a regular basis sure keeps the blood flowing and the boredom at bay.

The next morning, Easter Monday, I joined the FT district team on visits to two villages.  The purpose was to interact with members of the Outreach Committee and the villagers making sure they were sufficiently

Meeting Before Bonfire

sensitized for the sectional Bonfire to take place on Thursday, 24 April.  My observation of this piece concluded witnessing all the steps leading up to the Bonfires that take place each year.

Then some of us were off to an Easter Festival taking place in a remote village.  Desmond, Jalloh, Ibrahim, Rev & his son, me and Mohamed made the journey.

When we arrived the place was already crowded, but still spacious enough to move around.  The village was in a fabulous setting by a river with a sand beach below a wooded area with hand made bamboo benches in the shade.  I could live there!!!  It was so peaceful.

Me, Ibrahim & Desmond

The Minister of Transportation (he personally paid to improve the road leading there to the tune of millions of dollars from his wealth amassed in US and England), Minister of Tourism and another VIP I can’t recall. 

Food and drink were flowing, both free and being sold by enterprising people.  A volley ball game was ongoing and Ibrahim joined that at one point.  Music and dancing and, of course, speeches.

Rev, Mohamed, Jalloh. Really there were having fun!!!

We wandered around people watching, sitting and listening.  People kept arriving by the semi-truck load all piled in the back, by motorbike, cars, vans and began pouring in to the park.  It seemed that one of the FT staff or Mohamed knew at least one member of the new arrivals. At one point the attendance estimate was well over 2,000.

When we left hours later people were still arriving and

People Watching

parking space was at a premium.  I loved every minute.  The people watching opportunities were just the greatest.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara