This week we had off because of New Year's. On my Peace Corps "tip" sheet it notes "go guesting" which means if you are invited for tea GO. My host family is an important figure in our village and for the most part they have people coming over constantly, the visitors are either family, friends, business associates or neighbors. The weather has been cooperating, cold but the sun has come out several days and of course I have been very happy. I love the sun and sunshine. My counterpart called me to come to Zaqatala for tea. I spent the afternoon with her and two of her nieces. We ate and talked (my Azeri is NOT getting better but I think her English is!). The next day I received a call from another English teacher from school to come to her house for lunch, her grandmother wanted to meet me. She lives in my village and I thought another nice afternoon with just the three of us having tea. We arrange to meet at the school at noon and we will walk to grandma's. It was cloudy and overcast when I left but I didn't think much about it, so I didn't wear a hat (my 1st mistake). So I walked the mile to school and waited. I received a call and she said she was on her way (1/2 hour later). Now it is getting a little colder but still didn't think much about it (2nd mistake?). She finally came and we went to grandma's house and as I walked into the back yard there were enough tables decorated with place settings to feed an army. Oh, it isn't a small family lunch!! It was 150 family members celebrating (I later found out it was a traditional Muslim holiday). I was introduced to about twenty people cooking and preparing the meal in the back yard. We then proceed to go into the house (darn I forgot my camera and it was definitely a Kodak moment) and when the doors opened about 12 small women (about the size of munchkins) dressed in black covered from head to toe sitting on couches. They were all very sweet and welcoming (hugging and kissing me, pinching my cheeks and laughing). We talked (of course the teacher translated) and she asked if I understood anything they were saying, it didn't sound Azeri, or Georgian, or Russian. I said "no", well it is Avar (a Angolloyd sect) language. Oh joy another language I have NO clue as to what it is. And "NO" none are similar, they are all very distinct dialects! Then I was told, we wouldn't eat until 2 PM (I was getting a little hungry as it was 7 AM when I had breakfast and I thought we would be eating at noon). Oh well, then I start to hear praying in the next room. All of a sudden I was told stand up, raise you hands, sit down, stand up, hold your hands this way, sit down, stand up, this went on for about two hours. Now it is getting later (let alone, now I am very hungry) and I look outside and it had started snowing and snowing very hard I might add. Oh no, I tell my host, I am sorry I need to be home before dark, I must leave by 4 PM. At last the praying stopped and then the men who were praying were fed first. After that, then all the little old ladies that were in the room went to the next room (I was not invited) and they fed all the people outside as well (the tables were all moved under a tarp and these people were as happy as can be because they were eating even though it was snowing and cold!). There was only three of us in this room, and now it is 3:45 PM, I am hungry and I am starting to worry, I need to walk the two miles to get home and the snow is coming down pretty hard. (Now I am thinking, that they probably won't feed me, I was an infidel and I want to leave before they realize I was a Christian!). Boy, does my mind go out in left field when you are starving (okay maybe NOT starving but really hungry!). At 3:50, my host came in with rice and some kind of meat (which I kindly said "no thank you", I am sorry I don't eat meat), so she brought pickles and pickled tomatoes because I told her I was a vegetarian. But before I left I did get a bag of fruit to take home. At 4 PM, a relative who had a car (thank you God) drove me home. Before I left, I went into the eating room with all of the older Haman's (this is what they are called) and they all laughs and hug and kiss me and told me to come back. Whew, no killing the Christan today! I learn one thing today, when we were praying, I prayed to who I believed in. I prayed for a good year and to bless the family that included me in their celebration. Watching the older women praying was a blessing as their hearts were so pure and kind. A day I will not forget.
Life Challenge: Impact as much as you can of your spiritual being to those who are on the road with you and accept as something precious what comes back to you from them...Albert Schweitzer
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