Cultural Accountability

Yesterday we attended an all-day party at Juka's house. It was an interesting party with interesting cultural meaning that I would like to try and relay.

When a couple gets married here, the couple has a sponsoring 'God-Father' and 'God-Mother' (usually a couple) who coordinates the wedding activities and the parties that follow. It results in a significant cash out-lay and much responsibility for the days around the wedding. They almost function like a wedding planner to a degree. But, in addition, it is also a life-long accountability commitment with very real cultural responsibility. For example, one couple we knew was having significant marital problems and they were summoned by the God-Father to come live with them for a week to work out the difficulties. When a marriage fails, the God-parents feel very responsible for the failure.

Another piece of this is to understand it is a great honor to be asked to be a 'God-Father' or 'God-Mother' no matter what the sacrifice. So to say 'no' is again something that is very very difficult to do.

Juka's "God-Father" and "God-Mother" made a commitment to have an annual party with all of the people they have sponsored. It provides a time of fellowship, accountability, and celebration. Each year, it is held at a different couple's house. In this case, Juka and his wife have sponsored seven couples themselves and they are responsible for them. So, the party consisted of Juka's God-parents, and all of the couples they have sponsored, plus the seven couples that Juka and his wife are God-parents for, plus all of Juka's friends (of which we are honored to be considered).

These are a lot of words but it shows the circles of influence that go from the first God Parents to Juka, to those they are ministering to. It was a joyous time of prayer, singing, and celebration. Juka lavished presents on each of the couples he sponsored but in this case, he presented gifts to each couple he sponsored and to his God Parents, and each couple gave gifts to Juka and Elina and all the guests brought host presents also. There was a Mozambican lunch and much ceremony and with all the gift presenting and then the accountability questions before all of us 'witnesses' where each couple was quizzed on how they were doing as a couple and they were publicly encouraged and in some cases admonished. It was an amazing thing to witness but also illustrates the tight community at the village level. This is a common practice here but the blessing is that all the families were Christian and so you see this wonderful Cultural practice in a Christian context. Juka had to have much support from all he knew to pull this off and many were up all night preparing. It wasn't extravagent, the gifts were not 'high dollar' items, the food simple (rice with a topping) but delicious, and something like 20 people were assisting in some way. Seeming like chaos to the new observer but running smoothly all day to those engaged in the culture.

Juka sent us an invitation and reminded us the day before to 'be there at 1000". We asked if this was Mozambican 10 (could be 11, could be 12), but he was adamant that he was starting at 1015 with the program. Juka is normally very prompt (maybe we have corrupted him!) and so we thought we would be there on-time, and were the first to arrive. The party started at around noon because that is when his God-parents arrived and it ended just before dark. Our friend Melvin uses this expression to explain this phenomena, "we have watches, Mozambicans have time." It think it is a great saying.

In the photo, you see tarps above to shield the hot sun (yes it was very hot) with many tables and chairs. The community pooled their dishes and chairs to support this part which included something like two or three hundred people at the peak.

It was a great time and I was able to catch up with and talk to a number of folks I haven't seen for some time and so we really enjoyed it. It is also always a joy to see how much influence one person can have, for good or for bad and it always causes one pause when reflecting on their own life. It also shows a model of how the Gospel can spread - from one Godly couple to another and all those that they touch, similar to the model we use in our Evangelism program. We all have a roll to play.

Next year the party will be at another of the original God-parent's couples that are accountable to them. Juka's turn should come back around for a decade or so, but by then, his circles will have grown quite a bit.

May Christ's light brighten all our circles as we hold others accountable in love, as we witnessed in this grand celebration.

"No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light." Luke 11:33