Surprise!

A pig was squealing in the middle of the night in Kawi village.  An unusual occurence that awoke our friend, Meti.  She thought perhaps a thief was stealing it.  She didn't have a pig and there was nothing she could do so she went back to sleep.

This was the night before Mother's Day.  The women of the Kawi Church of the Nazarene didn't know it but the men of the church were preparing a mumu feast to honor them!  Pastor James had recruited even the non-Christian husbands of some of the women who attend the church. They had secretly bought a large pig, hiding it in someone's car so the women wouldn't know about it. All night the men worked, first killing and butchering the pig - traditionally a man's job - and then cutting and peeling a huge pile of vegetables - a woman's job. 

The next morning, the ladies of the church were greeted with a beautiful banner that said "Happy Mother's Day!  We love you Mumma. You are our heart!".  The men entered singing a welcome song and showered the women with flower petals.  Pastor James spoke using the passage from Genesis 1:27.  He talked about how we must honor our mothers and our wives.  We must never call them names or hit them.  We must share the workload with them.  We can wash clothes.  We can change the baby.  We can cook food and wash dishes.  If you've shown disrespect to your mother or wife, you must say you are sorry to them. 

Pastor James said, "Look at me.  See my head, arms and legs.  Now look at this woman.  We are the same.  God created us equal.  A mother is even better than a man because she can grow a child inside her body!". 

At the end of the service, the men insisted that the women come and look at the mumu.  I think they wanted their approval!  Then the women went back inside the church where they were served first and ate until they were full.  The men ate outside with the children.

In a culture where women are mistreated and devalued, what these men did was an amazing thing.  Many of these women have never felt this special since the day they were bought by their husbands.

As this wonderful time was ending, the women told the men "Don't worry.  Father's Day is coming!". 

JB