African Adventure: Christmas at the orphan center

Christmas in the Central African Republic comes with just as much excitement, joy, and frenzy as anywhere else in the world. For me, the past few days have been full of Christmas programs and parties. Friday was the big day when we got to give the orphans their Christmas gifts. I have been looking forward to that day for a long time and it was no disappointment!

The schoolyard all set up for the program.

Christmas dinner

Central Africans enjoy having extravagant celebrations that are a big deal and last a long time. When Caitlin and I dropped by the center Thursday (the day before the big event) things were already crazy with people putting up tents and kids practicing for the program.

We were a little surprised to find a bull tied up on the playground. With smiling faces, the kids explained to us that this bull was going to be slaughtered and we were going to get to eat it the next day at the celebration dinner. It was a big treat. I’ve never seen kids so excited to watch a bull get its head cut off but that was the big event of the day. There was a little mob of kids around the bull and Madam Alexandrine put me in charge of getting photos. I managed to avoid watching the bull actually get killed but it was still traumatic. I’ll spare you the pictures.

kids waiting for their skit

Anyways… back to the event. The PHC Christmas program lasted all morning and consisted of the kids singing, dancing, reciting passages of scripture, and doing skits. It was all really cute! They were so proud. The program was followed by a huge meal. They served meat, rice, sauce, bread, fried bananas and all sorts of tasty African food and I had to eat it, recently slaughtered bull and all, with my fingers African style.

After the meal came the best part of the day: giving the kids their Christmas gifts! They were so happy!!! I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.