Meet and Greet

New Pavilion Party

Last weekend we had the opportunity to meet many of the villagers.  Many of the villagers were assembled to prepare for a temple celebration the next day.  The village had just finished building a new pavilion, so it is expected to have a ceremony of  making merit to the monks and blessing on the new building. 

We have not had the opportunity to mingle much in the village and get to know others inside this community, so we were excited to be invited to this event.  Earlier in the week, we met the head of the village who extended this invitation to us.  It is very important for us to build a great relationship with him as he controls everything that happens in this village.  He happens to be a relative of our Tuesday night host family!  Isn’t the Father good!

 

We are posing with the head of the village.

The older women of the village are preparing the flowers and food that will be given as merit to the monks.

This is a ceremonial basket which will be given to the monks.

The women were also preparing food for the ceremony as well.

Pickled Spinach wrapped in a banana leaf.  This will be given to the monks.

J helped the men set up the chairs…

While L mingled with the women and children!

J also had some time to get to know some of the men.

The monks will sit in these chairs as the villagers come up one by one to kneel and make merit with money, food, flowers, and other gifts in hopes that the monks will bless them and the building that was just completed.

This is a spirit house.

Before we left, the head of the village called all the village officials to come take a picture with us.  We sure felt like celebrities.

A small group that we were able to meet and get to know.

L and the head of the village’s wife.

Because we couldn’t stay for lunch, the village cook packaged up a meal for us to take on the road.

Even though our beliefs are much different, we were so happy to use this time to get to know the people.  We know this is just the first of many opportunities to meet and greet the villagers.

AND…while we were there, we learned the name of the village is Ban Tha NOT Siraphi!  We have been calling it by the wrong name.  You gotta love the language barriers!