Easter in Africa

Although our community is mostly Christian and Easter is a big deal
here, it is not nearly as grandiose as holy week in other latin
countries, or as commercial as Easter back in America. We did have a
procession to commemorate the passion of Christ, but without flower
carpets or costumes like we saw in Guatemala; only black marker
numbers on white paper nailed to the electric poles on the highway
marked the stations of the cross, where we knelt 14 times on the
asphalt under the hot tropical run, often holding up semis hauling
their cargoes to and from Malawi. The most hilarious part was our
Argentinian priest's use of a backwards-turned baseball cap to protect
his fair skin from the potent UV rays of the sun. We should have done
likewise as the whole ordeal left us dehydrated and exhausted, causing
us to bail on the subsequent Good Friday mass, after several hours of
all Chichewa praying. Many people enjoyed telling us that they saw us
leave early. We also skipped the evening vigil on Saturday, which
included baptisms, that started after dark and lasted until past
midnight. Easter Sunday mass was packed and also included a wedding.
So no chocolate bunnies, Easter grass, creme eggs or marshmallow Peeps
for us, just lots of church and the sugar cookies Janet made to give
to all our neighbors!