Final Resting Place

Today was Elizabeth’s funeral. We left about 7:30 am and drove to George’s place. We mostly knew where we were going, and it was confirmed by the amazing road we’d traversed last week.

Here is a picture of George's house, the casket, and setting up for the funeral program.

Elizabeth had converted from the S. Church and while they had not participated much during her illness, they came out in numbers for the funeral. Following the policy of inclusion, the Branch President allowed the other churches time to sing and to share after all the family fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, siblings, friends and neighbors had shared. Most of this was in the “mother tongue” and so we tried to look interested. Then as the ministers stood to share the volume increased, the passion, excitement, did I mention volume? dominated the meeting and made me uncomfortable. The spirit wasn’t there. I leaned over and asked the Branch President if the meeting had just been hijacked. Later I learned they were speaking against the church and they expected us to respond with anger and start a fight.

But the Presidency responded with love. Without knowing what the pastor said, but knowing that some people said we were a devil church, I spoke first about Elijah (1Kings 19, I think) when the Lord was not in the thundering, the earthquake, or the fire, but was in the still small voice. I said I would speak softly, but hoped the spirit could be felt. Then I read from Moroni 7 about how we can know what is true—that which draws us close to God—and we need to be careful about judging unrighteously. And from Matthew 7 how you can tell a tree by its fruits. And then spoke about how we will be judged by our thoughts, words, and actions.

Elder Fox spoke about the plan of Salvation, and Pres O. used passages from the New Testament to talk of using this life to prepare to meet God, of the celestial kingdom, and how one should be willing to suffer for Christ’s sake. Somehow we all tied this into Elizabeth living righteously, going to a better place, and being an example of good for us all. Several people commented that there was a different spirit while we spoke and people paid attention. One pastor apologized and said he'd been misinformed about our church. And George's family was very happy we came. His uncle asked for the church to come there and said he'd donate land for the church.

During the service, the grave was being dug. I suppose that’s why we needed a 3+ hour event. It also allowed for the cooking of food.

Here are the children at the grave side.
We moved Elizabeth to the grave and sang while she was being buried. All the hymns were sung at a rollicking gallop. I came "Nearer My God to Thee," faster than I ever have before! Then we went to eat. They had prepared a cow, a sheep, and tons of mendazies (like Mexican fry bread), ugali, rice, gathare (beans and maize), potatoes, cabbage, and other tasty treats. We ate with our hands. They asked us to hurry as other people needed to use our plates when we were done. People showed up all during the funeral program. As they came later and later, I wondered if they just had difficulty with transport… or … like some in the USA… they just came for the food.

Elder Fox was impressed with the classic outhouse African style and had to take a picture of it.