Saturday we celebrated 56 years of life for sister-of-my-heart, Florence Rubura!
Not only did she receive presents and her favorite foods for the meal, but she had friends come and celebrate with her for the first time ever!!
In Uganda people don't celebrate birthdays. The cultural focus is not on individuals but on whole families, communities and tribes. The individual is not lifted out much, and certainly nothing like I have known in my life.
Florence's daughters love celebrating their birthday, and made a big deal of celebrating Florence's. They shopped well for her gifts (took 2 days). Miriam treated her to a hair weave session downtown and stayed out with her from 10 till 5 when they came back. Rachel did all the cooking for the fancy Black Forest Cake, broiled pork chops, matooke (of coures) and other items. I helped with cleanup and straightening the living room.
It was so much fun to see Florence visiting with friends and sharing her life in ways different from what she had done before. The ladies were impressed with the quilted items that Florence makes and sells and which decorate our living room and my bedroom. Since 1 of the ladies also teaches at Florence's church, there was lots of teacher talk and ideas shared too.
All in all a very happy, blessed birthday for a wonderful woman who is amazing for her character, her strength, long-suffering-ness and faith in God to work for good in all things. Her life is a testimony to God's faithfulness here and now. I am so, so blessed to have her in my life.
What? No pictures?
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