Peace has finally come to Bung Ples!
Two weeks ago after a protracted conflict which lasted several months involving the destruction of many homes and gardens everyone has shaken hands and has drunk Coca Cola to end the enmity between the warring clans
Our brother in Christ, Michael Kongo, was on hand to witness the ceremony. I loaned him my camera, and he took these photos. Hence, I was not present, so you are getting a Melanesian's-eye-view of the events.
When the former combatants had assembled, a pastor opened the ceremony with prayer and a sermon from 1 Kings 12, which describes the tragic breakup of Israel into two competing kingdoms. Several speeches followed.
Then the leaders gathered in a circle, held hands and prayed.
Upon concluding the prayer, they all embraced, and wept over the destruction caused by the fighting.
One of the pastors then took the breast of pig and brought it to the assembled leaders. He gave it to each one who took a bite of it in turn.
Following this the young men, who had done the fighting, assembled to drink a can of Coca Cola.
In unison they upended their cans and drank the contents.
When I asked Michael how old this ceremony is, he said his ancestors had done the same for generations. However, instead of Coke, they drank sugarcane juice.
I offer these photos to you with a question. Of what does this whole ceremony remind you?
Think about it, and we will post our thoughts later.
No comments:
Post a Comment