Family,
What a week! It started off with a great discussion in Sister Scripture Study as we compared Zion's Camp to our own challenging experiences, having unrealistic expectations and learning to be content with our circumstances. One sister put it this way, "If you can't scrub the floor and be happy with it, then you haven't learned anything from it. Even the small and simple things of life contribute to our experience. We need to find holiness in all we do." Another comment sent a wave of laughter through the room. Pres. Kimball once said, "One day you are a peacock, the next, a feather duster!" So I guess the message from that is not to take yourself too seriously!
On Tuesday we did a business visit with Hans who works for an NGO. We took him to Christiana's shop and discussed her idea of putting toilets and showers on her property- there are none in the surrounding area and the government encourages these facilities to be built. Hans is helping her do the ground work for the project and will allocate the loan. We are hopeful this will be a profitable business for our sweet friend.
For months we've been hearing about the Kente Festival; an African cultural event in the Volta region that showcases the kente weavers and traditions of the people of the Agotime Traditional area. Kente cloth is woven on a loam, in strips about 4-5" wide and then sewn together. The patterns and designs can be traditional or original. The master weavers are highly respected for their skill and expertise. So, on Thursday we travelled 3 hours to Ho and then on to Kpetoe. It was well worth the drive! At Kpetoe we witnessed the best Kente weavers compete in competitions consisting of speed weaving, quality, and creativity in weaving the kente strips. It was amazing to watch how fast they could weave, know when to change colors and see the pattern unfold before our eyes!
In the afternoon about 70 of the local women participated in the traditional 'fetching of the water." Dressed in beautiful kente clothing they walked to the riverside to fetch water, then in a single file carried the water in bottles and clay pots to the forecourt of the Paramount Chief where the water was poured into a traditional pot. It was an amazing sight!
On Friday we caravanned with several other missionary couples to another village, this time crossing the boarder into Togo! The village of Afgame was 30 km down a dirt road. Here we watched a ceremony remembering the ancestors who fought in wars between the people of Agotime and the Ashanti region. In the olden times invading other lands showed your strength as a tribe, and captured villagers were sold as slaves. Dressed in red and black the various clans acted out battle scenes. Gunfire, drums, music and dance kept us mesmerized.
On Saturday we attended the grand finale in which the Paramount Chief and 37 traditional leaders from surrounding towns and villages of the area converge in procession at the "Durbar" grounds. The kente regalia with entourages in tow was quite a fantastic sight. I am so grateful we had the chance to go and see some truly authentic African culture. I took so many pictures I hope you will indulge me if I share them in several emails. It was so fun to photograph such a colorful event!
Back to reality now, and refocusing on the work....
Love,
Elder and Sister Lambert
Pictures: Kente weaving.
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