Pasaka Easter!

Celebrating Easter here in Africa, well, it kinda snuck up on me. There is not a Wal-Mart here that has decorations up three months before the holiday so there is not the prep like in the States. There are no over sized stuffed bunnies, baskets, or chocolate eggs. However, when the day arrives there is a simplistic beauty of the heartfelt meaning of the day.

The students were here over Easter so the Carters and I took hard boiled eggs and decorated them the old fashion way. Tami had brought dye from the States so we were able to color the eggs. We used crayons to make fun designs and had a blast doing it. The eggs shells are more brown here so we did our best to find the lighter ones. They turned out very creatively and we had fun doing it together. Then, we pulled the African families together to have an Egg Hunt. Now these kids are used to finding eggs but looking for them from the chicken to take them to the kitchen area. So, explaining what we were doing was kinda an experience! The Carter kids and I hid the eggs on the playground by the school. The kids had never done anything like this before but we told them to find the eggs. One of the older ones found an egg and he took off running for it. When he brought the egg he was given some candy and the rest got the hang of it real quick! They enjoyed the hunt and the laughter was the best part! After the kids were finished the kids then hid the eggs for the parents to find! They also enjoyed the task as well as the candy!!

Easter morning was a peaceful one. On the way to church the dirt road was lined with Africans in bright colored outfits walking for miles to church. Everyone in their best prepared to celebrate that Jesus rose from the Dead! As a team we were also very excited to hear that the village of Matale (within the bush) had hundreds in attendance for Easter. God is moving in a mighty way within the village and many are coming to know the Lord! It is very exciting to hear the stories from the native leaders!

I can't help but be grateful that as these new Christians are celebrating new life in Christ the grateful heart I have to be a part. The new life in Africa that I have now is not always easy but because of Christ I live and serve Him with a grateful heart!