Christmas doorstep deliveries!

Here in Macenta, we have a regular flow of doorstep vendors who sell mainly foodstuffs - bananas, oranges, lemons, bread, chickens, deer...There's Mama, who comes with her young son Jean strapped to her back at least twice a week. We can make an order with her and she'll bring it usually without any problems. 

We live in a Christianised part of the country where people happen to eat pork. Christmas is a busy time for farmers that are killing pigs left, right and centre. This morning, after Mama left, two chaps arrived with a wheelbarrow with its contents covered in banana leaves. A quick reveal showed masses of pieces of fresh pink pork meat, £1.40 a kilo, nice. One of the guys rummaged around with his bare hands, looking for the bits Sarah had asked for. She bought one kilo (scales bought also) consisting of ribs with the fat cut off.  She proposed they’d wash their hands with soap and water before moving onto the next client...

Rest in Peace, Mama Mariam

We have some extremely sad news to share. Our dear housekeeper, Mama Mariam, passed away on Sunday after a long illness. She was 57. She had a heart problem that was being well managed with medication but was complaining of a stomach problem for many weeks before she died. It’s true that for her, life has been far from easy. Married twice, abandoned by both husbands, she has been the sole breadwinner for her nine children (including two sets of twins) and other dependants. She had worked for the Mission Philafricaine for several decades, seeing many missionaries come and go. For us and for the Pfister family before us, she was a precious pearl for us, not only a cook or washer of clothes, but an extremely wise and loving woman, with whom we, I (Sarah) in particular, could have some very open and frank conversations. Through the years, we saw her love and respect deepen for us and our household – including Rowan our cat, to the arrival of Gabriel, whom she cared for tenderly. When Gabriel and I visited Mariam around two weeks ago, she’d been off work for more than a month. She was touched that Gaby instantly recognised her again and desired to be sat on her lap! She didn’t know that he had started to walk in her absence! She was so happy to see him take steps with confidence. She managed 100m to accompany us when we were leaving. With her warm smile, she waved us off. That was the last we saw of her alive. She was buried on Monday, in a very emotional ceremony, with perhaps more than 300 people there. She was president of the women in the local church for some years, a mediator called to help diffuse family conflicts. She was a woman who loved reading the bible and loved God.

Good memories: Mariam with Gaby

Her daughter Anne, had taken on some of her responsibilities working for us here. It’s clear that she will be regarded as the main breadwinner and will perhaps start to receive demands from relations for financial support. It’s a very sensitive situation and we pray that Anne manages it with maturity and patience.

Mariam with Sonja her granddaughter and Gaby

Rest in peace, Mariam, and rise in glory. Our prayers extend to her children and grandchildren.