Bonne Annee!! Ruth awakened me at about 9:30. She had company downstairs she wanted me to meet. One was the wife of Raphael's cousin, and another older woman, and a young boy. The second woman hugged me extremely warmly when we were introduced. I asked Ruth why. She said that it is the custom here to treat a friend's friend just as you would the first friend. Being Ruth's friend here is an amazing portal.
We had breakfast (coffee, papaya, and croissant) and now preparations for lots of company this afternoon are underway. Barbara got up early and was given the honor of entering Robert's kitchen so she could dress a turkey. (Robert is an amazingly gifted chef; the kitchen is his domain.)
So I'll write about yesterday. We had a relaxing morning again. Ruth said it was a day of preparing to go to a party this evening. We would go the party at about 8 pm, then go to the church to ring in the New Year. Then they would bring the three of us home and they would return to the party which would include dinner and celebration into the wee hours. They have come to understand that we are not used to these late night hours!
So in the midday Sarah, Ruth's manicurist/pedicurist/masseuse arrived. The family room was turned into a beauty parlor. Ruth had her hair set on curlers and a complete facial and then a manicure and pedicure. I asked if I could also have the manicure. I explained that I had never had a professional manicure, nor a pedicure. So I got the whole treatment of my nails. Sarah knows little English so I worked hard at speaking in French and she was very patient with me. After doing my nails -- hands and feet – she did Barbara's. In the “women's room” yesterday we became very fond of her. When it came time to pay her, the charge for Barbara and me was about $24 each, but we each paid her $30. She wanted to give us change but we said, “Bonne Annee” and hugged her. As she left, she told Ruth that she was so excited because now she could go to the market and buy food for a real celebration at home. We felt deeply gifted by her even as she felt deeply gifted by us. That was so cool.
In the afternoon we continued to primp. What a fun day.
Things don't always play out as you had planned. Rather, we went to the church first (not the same church as on Sunday.) From about 8:00 until midnight there was scripture reading in both French and Douala, and several choirs sang in multiple languages including Lingala, Ruth's Congolese native tongue. One of the songs was “We are marching in the light of God,” sung over and over again in several languages including English. There was also a sermon. (Again, the pulpit was very high, like a reformation pulpit.) The church building was very large with people filling the nave and the pews at both ends of the crossing. Most everyone wore white. (Ruth wished we had known that. We were in our party clothes.) The worship lacked the intimacy of the Sunday service we went to, but was very interesting in spite of the fact that I don't understand French speakers!
As midnight approached, a prayer for the new year was said and then they began to sing another song over and over again. Ruth said it was about God's blessings for the new year. As the hands on the clock moved on, the pace got faster and faster, and the volume increased. Then everyone rang in the new year by breaking into cheers with all hands in the air. I took a video clip of this which I hope to post when I figure out how.
As we came out of the church, fireworks were exploding in the air. Ruth and Raphael's friends greeted them and there was kissing all around. The parking lot was, of course, very crowded. I couldn't help myself. I had to open the car window and wave and holler “Bonne Annee.” People hollered back, “Bonne Annee!” Ruth and Raphael and Barbara and Joe all laughed. Ruth said, “Oh, Carol. Always enthusiastic."
We came home then and Ruth and Raphael went to the party. So that was the day we spent primping for a party we didn't attend. But we didn't mind. It was a full and rich New Year's celebration and we didn't want to get stuck at a late night party only to see ourselves fade away!
Once home, they broke open a bottle of wine for the three of us before they left. We had our own toast-for-three, overwhelmed by the warmth of everyone and the hospitality of Ruth and Raphael, and the people who assist them. We have become very fond of all of them. (Ruth feels very fortunate to have several staff members. People need work and they have the means to provide jobs.)
So it was a blessed day and now, today, we will again be blessed by God with the warmth of our ever-expanding circle of friends. Ruth frequently expresses how baffling it is to be so largely blessed, a feeling I share. And she continually reminds us that receiving great blessing requires great giving. Back in the U.S we sometimes take our great blessing for granted, and hence forget the part about great giving.
All of you who read this, have a New Year full of both receiving and giving blessing.
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