Baby Party

One of our neighbors had a baby, and last night was the last night of the "baby party." After a women has a baby she "sits" for between 25-40 days. She has a special place in the house and women come everyday to see her. Some days are more important then others and there will be music or dancing and lots of people come; some days just a few people come and have tea. The interesting thing about this to me is that no really notices the baby. It is really a party for the mom, which is good in some ways, I just find it strange that no one holds or looks at or talks about the baby. Anyway, last night was a big night since it was the final day. She will all dressed up and had her arms hennaed and lots of make-up on. All the women there had on their best dresses. Some sparkly some long, some short. Almost as fancy as going to a wedding but not quite. I had been to see another neighbor before, a relative of this girl and so we went together and before we left she decided that I need to be dressed more appropriately so she lent me one of her dresses. (picture below) Of course she said i should just put it over what I had on, so as you can see I had on jeans and a long sleeve shirt and on top of that I now was wearing a blue fancy short-sleeved dress. Any other place in the world I would have been embarrassed, but not here. I actually felt like I fit in, somewhat!
Okay the party itself. We were in a big room, but it was filled with women, they were smoking "shesha" and chewing; and all of them were wearing lots of perfume, and on top of that there is always incense burning. Me and Abram sat down and I started talking to the lady next to me, she was very sweet but insisted that Abram eat the candy that had been given to him when we walked in the room. Each person was given a bag with a soda and a packaged little cake thing. Then they handed Abram his own piece of candy. I said no and tried to explain that he is only 8 months and doesn't eat that. As I'm saying no she opens it and before I can dig it out he is enjoying some chocolate. Lucky I got it all before he could get the carmel off the candy bar. Of course, by now Abram and I are both sweating and he is getting fussy, and of course it is time for him to eat. Feeding a baby in a group is completely normal, of course feeding him while wearing all of those clothes was a little tricky. Luckily we survived and he was pretty good for the next couple of hours and we sad and visited.
One thing they do here and in this religion in memorize and recite the names of God, there are 99. They have a string of 33 beads and they are suppose to use those to help them and they say the names over and over. The lady next to me was wearing what I though was a ring watch. But when I went to look at it I saw that it was a counter. instead of beads the new high-tech way is to have a counter and then when you say a name of God you can push the button. I was surprised and then very saddened. Trying to get up with the "good deeds" so you can make sure they out weigh the bad. After seeing that and then listening as they sang religious songs, by heart broke for these women. I sat there and prayed for these ladies that do not have any hope of a future. Trying so desperately to earn favor with a just God. Wanting His peace and grace but not understanding the one and only way that He provided that.
well that was the baby party, I did sneak a peak at the precious baby boy, who slept through it all! Asking that he grows up hearing Truth be taught.

everything including scarf and balto had to be watched and I had to have a shower after the amount of perfume that was sprayed on me. (do i really stink???)