Well we thought we were going to a FGM ceremony locally known as a female circumcision ceremony, but that ceremony had already happened. The ceremony we went to was a rite of passage ceremony for the boys. it only comes every twenty years or so. Hence it is a very big deal for the community. It was interesting and there was lots of neat cultural displays but all in all we did not really like it. The ceremony is about a week long and if you want to be a "man" you have to go through it. If you dont go through it you are looked down upon. The first part of the ceremony is open to the public and there is lots of dancing singing, shooting of cannons, and magic displays. After that the boys run into the bush where they spend a week with the elders, and learn about manhood. It sound fine right? Well, it is also known among the boys and the elders that at least one boy will die in the bush, and it happens every time they have the ceremony. Someone does not come out. When they leave the bush all of the boys are covered so no one knows who died until later. We are not ethnocentric, we just don't like to see people dying, and young boys opening the doors of their souls to evil things.
Its quit sad really, which is exactly why we need to be praying for these people continually. Please keep them in your prayers.
Tom and Andrea
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2 comments:
So they purposely kill a child? Just shows how much they need a good youth program to actually educate their children and the adults. Hope you guys are learning a lot.
Adam
i always thought that things like this happened in the past...we will be praying that God will continue to work in the people there for His glory and their benefit.
- andrew and natalie
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