Next, came the wedding dance. The groom's brother advised me ahead of time that I must join the
dance to give honor to the newlyweds and the villagers. So before the church ceremony started, I had
a short lesson on the basics from a lady cousin of the groom...the rapid shrugging motion and
matching hip shake.
The groom's mother came forward and I followed her. We did a little instant dance and then the
village women came and challenged me to mimic them...we had a great exercise! In order to humor
me, the emcee commented that I did the ritual so well, even better than them! I knew he just wanted
me to feel at home.
Next came the wedding feast. Each visitor was given a chance to eat. I was given a plate heaped with
so much food, I was only able to eat a fourth of it. It was self-service for the villagers but I noticed
that there was no rush to the tables. Everyone waited for his turn patiently. Everyone was fed.
As darkness covered the village, one by one the wedding guests left. They were happy and contented.
And I was doubly blessed for having had come and met our wonderful brothers and sisters in rural
Kitale, Kenya.
Lily Escara Lare (BSE Biology’85) writes from the campus of Maxwell Adventist Academy in Kenya where she SHINES ON!
as the Science and piano teacher. Arriving at her new post late August, she is still in the process of exploring Kenya. So far
she loves it. Lily has recently joined the CyberFlashes team as one of the editors. Next week we will enjoy her first issue of
CF - Spectrum!.
6. “Asante Sana Yesu!”
Tidbits from the life of Dr. Abelardo Osorio & Dr. Ofelia Poblete Miranda Osorio
I
f you were serving in rural Africa right now and you were expecting your child to be born in the
next few days, what would you do? We served in Abidjan, an upscale Metropolitan city in the mid
‘80s, but still our young missionary friends choose to go home to their home countries as the date
of their baby’s birth came closer. They preferred to be close to family and in a place where medical
facilities were available. Who could fault them for wanting family and a hospital nearby?
I was probably 5 or 6 years old when I overheard my grandmother talking with my mom. Grandma
was worried. My aunt Ofelia Osorio (Mom’s sister-in-law) was expecting another baby to be born and
yet they could not leave Africa where they served because there just was too much work to do and
Uncle Boy was the only doctor at Kendu Bay at that time. Needless to say, my baby cousin Arlidette
got born in Kenya. I don’t remember if her brother Bortz got born in Kenya or in Bangladesh, but all
four children were born at the mission field. And although Grandma was worried at that time, now
we all think that having Kenyan-born cousins in the family is pretty cool!
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