The campus was charged to its highest level. Villagers from round about brought their wares and set up an open market beside the school buildings. The sports field was enclosed with bamboo structures covered with plastic tarps. A gas generator and sound system was brought in, and about three hours after the scheduled start time (that’s Africa!), the graduates, dressed in black and white, came dancing into the enclosure and took their seats in a special shelter from the mid-day heat.
A six hour program followed which included singing and dancing; speeches from school officials, board members, and invited dignitaries; gymnastics of a home-spun style; and finally a meal of goat, rice, potatoes, greens and soda for the graduates and their families and invited guests.
Part of the ceremony that proved to be a big hit last year was a fund-raiser where family members and friends made a donation and fed a bite of cake to their graduate. Last year, Joanne was asked to make a single cake that was cut into inch-square pieces. Needless to say, it didn’t last long. This year, Joanne made three cakes. Families gathered for professional photographs of their graduate receiving the bite of cake. The fund-raiser brought in more than 200,000 shillings.
Without a doubt, the longest day since our return in September, and one of the most memorable.
Yours in Christ’s labors,
Gary and Joanne
That is so cool! It reminds me of how our African friends here conducted their wedding!
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