The Day After Christmas 2011 - extended

We didn't leave Major Saleem's home until after 10 pm when we had heard that people were starting to arrive for the Wedding event.  As it was, we first went back to our flat before going back out.  We then sat in the shamiana for a while before the groom showed up.

The shamiana was set up behind Central Hall, not the normal place for these things.  It was back around where the domestic staff housing is.

This was really the first event of what would take three days.  This is the grooms party with his family and friends, known as the Mendhi.  The bride would be having one much like this one with her family and friends at a different place.  The next day would be the actual Wedding and the following day would be the Walima where the families of both sides come together as one.

You know things are starting to get going when the drummers make their way in, banging away on their drums.

Lynn was asked to help greet and bless the entrance of the girls to the event.  She was given a plate of rose petals and her job was to toss them onto the passing entourage.

Once everyone seemed to be in place the boys start dancing around, almost into a frenzie.  It's apparent that they really get into the excitement of it all.

We had a chance to go up and sit with the groom.  Lynn rubbed some stuff into his hand, onto his face, and then dabbed some oil onto his head.  After she annointed him she fed him something sweet.

They started serving the meal around 11:30 pm and by the time we left it was well after midnight and there was still a lot of partying going on.  On our way out we got stopped for just a few more photos.

The Day After Christmas 2011

Even though Christmas was over it was stilll Christmas night back home.  We are so thankful that we have had Skype capabilities with our family as this has helped tremendously.  Jen, Mike and Jon are all together out in Colorado, visiting with Derek & Lori and family and we had a chance to skype in with them a few times which was really great.  We also had a nice visit with Lynn's brother Ken along with Dawn, Matt, Hillary and Heather.  Hillary's husband Elliott also got into the picture when he finally got dressed. ;)

We had two invitations for the day after Christmas.  One was to have tea with Majors Saleem and Irshad at their home and the other was to attend the Wedding event for the brother of Saleem (our driver).

As we were on our way to the Major's home we ran into Afzal, one of the THQ maintenance men.  We had lost our lights in the washrooms of our flat just a short time before so we thought he might know how to get them working again.  We expected it was something simple and turned out to be a two hour project.

We were due at Major Saleem's at 6:00 pm and at the Wedding event at 8:00 pm.  By the time we reached the Majors it was just past 8:00 but we saw that no one was in the shamiana when we went by so we knew we had time.

A visit at the Major's home usually involves a brief guitar lesson for Aneel.  He is so eager to learn and he is doing very well.

They had tasty treats for us that we enjoyed so much. Pizza, samosa, nimko, nuts finished off with a nice cup of tea.

They gave a beautiful shawl to Lynn as a gift which she really likes.

Raheel was learning a few new games such as "Rock, Paper, Scissors" and the infamous quick hand slap.  He showed me his version of the same game.  Major Saleem shared a trick using matches which was quite clever.

Even though we showed up two hours late, we stall managed to have a two hour visit.  As usual, we finished our visit with a prayer for their family.

Christmas Dinner with the Wards

The Ward's invited Majors Colin and Rosemary Cowdery and us up to their flat for Christmas dinner. The plan was to use the turkey that Major Michael Gabriel (DC-Jhang) had given us for Thanksgiving, but we couldn't use it then due to our schedules.

It was the most Americanized holiday meal we've enjoyed since coming to Pakistan. The only odd part of it was that the sweet potatoes were white, but they were definitely a different texture than mashed potatoes.

The dinner with the Wards and Cowderys was very nice, except that they wanted me to put on the silly crown that came in the popper thingie that was at everyones place setting. Also inside of it was a tiny little toy. Mine was a miniature yo yo.

Lynn had made the turkey in our oven and carved it in our kitchen.  She had also made a delicious pecan pie for dessert.  With dinner finished we came back down to our flat where the dining table was full.

There was still some work for us to do as Lynn had prepared a mixture of baked goods to share with all the families on the compound. We have some pictures of her handiwork as it was getting wrapped up and ready for delivery.

We made the rounds with my guitar and when they came to the door we started singing "We wish you a Merry Christmas." Most everyone wanted us to come in for a cup of tea but we politely declined with the explanation of having many more stops to make before we were through.

Our final picture is of our nativity scene that has been set up in our flat for the past several weeks. Soon it will be time to pack it away until next year.

Christmas Day - 2011

Majors Victoria and Samuel Tari were assigned the Christmas Day Worship Service.  Fortunately they changed the starting time from the normal 9:00 am to 10:00 am for which we were grateful.

The first picture shows Major Tari with his wife sitting behind him next to Major Riffat.

The opening prayer was offered by Major Colin, the Training College Principal.

Colonel Marguerite would light the "Christ Candle" in the Advent Wreath after sharing a bit of what she had prepared on the subject.  Captain Diana provided translation for her.  Marguerite also shared a lovely vocal solo with her husband on the keyboard providing musical support.

The Youth Choir had a musical selection to share and Captain MacDonald also sang a solo as he played the harmonium.

After Major Tari's sermon he had the full cast of the Christmas Drama come up onto the platform in their costumes. 

Christmas Eve - 2011

At long last it was Christmas Eve.  We had heard of threats against Christian churches in Pakistan for their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services.  It didn't stop us from continuing with our plans for our Christmas Eve Service scheduled for 10:30 PM.

A few hours before the meeting the band showed up over by our flats at THQ to do some Christmas caroling.  It was the last caroling of the season and it was enjoyed by the Wards, the Chief Secretary and his family and by us as well.

The Christmas lights had been put onto Central Hall a few days earlier and in the evenings it would shine brightly with a colorful display.

The Youth Choir and the Band both performed in the beginning of the service.  Lt. Colonels Yousaf and Rebecca were in charge of the meeting and we presume they planned it as well.

Major Saleem had been asked to be in charge of the Christmas Drama that would be performed on the Eve of Christmas. We didn't get interpretation, but it was basically the Christmas story, only this time they were using mostly grown ups for the parts.

Captain Amjad was one of the three "wisemen" even though two women completed the trio.

After a rather lengthy sermon by the Chief he was to lead the final song.  Before he finished though, he called the members of the Cabinet to come forward so that the Christmas cake could be cut and shared with everyone.  By this time it was well past midnight and we were now officially into Christmas Day.