Watching "sending" video with Family Mlay

Dear Family and Friends,

Sunday afternoon we walked to Family Mlay's house to watch the video which had been taken at Riziki's (their 2nd born) "sending" last October.   A sending is the formal recognition & celebration of their engagement.  But the sending only occurs after each family has sent go-betweens to the other family, making sure that approvals will be given before parents will proclaim anything in public.

Very nice of Rick Orem to share a few photos he took, including this one as we were just settling into the short hallway that serves as Family Mlay's living/dining room.
Baba Festo, also a math teacher, is next to Mike. 

 

Continuing in the other direction to the very small kitchen, showing the bride's daughter Faith with her aunt Devotha (Mlay's 3rd born), then Jackie, their niece whom they adopted (along with her brother Deo) when parents died, and another relative, Tuma.  

In a bit of a relay, sister's Prisca (last born -- in black jacket) and Bahati (1st born) replaced Jackie and Devotha.  

You cannot see Marieth, but here is Shaddai (David & Kellen's daughter) with her parent's cousin, and Jackie again, all of whom are around the corner in the small corridor leading to the one door out of their house.


Finally to the video, where Festo & Marieth are reading a prayer for Riziki and her finance at the "sending".

Marieth, never at a loss for words, told us "Men are too terrified to read in front of people.  It's always the women who read."  



Riziki, Mlay's 2nd born, and her fiance.  Remember Faith (above) ?  She is the couple's daughter.  The fiance is not the focus of this event, so he is not formally dressed.  However, toward the end of the sending celebration, the bride-to-be goes walking through the crowd of guests, spending some time trying to find her fiance.

This, we were told, is the "British cake", formed in the shape of traditional Chagga tribe's houses.  Bites were served to the guests on toothpicks.



This, however, is the "African cake" -- a whole roasted goat, head and all !!  Pieces of it were also served on toothpicks to the guests, then the rest was cut up and served as one meat option for the delicious meal.


We were served ground nuts (peanuts) and bites of roasted goat while watching the videos.

In case this made you hungry and you live near DeKalb, Inboden's does roasters to rent, and we can connect you with a local farmer who raises goats !!

Peace and love,  Mike and Sharon