Time to Celebrate

Yesterday, I woke up thinking I was in store for a 'normal' Sunday, with a baptism after our regular church services. My family forgot to mention that 4 of our family were going to be baptized. 54 people in all were baptized. Baptisms don’t happen that often, usually once or twice a year. Baptisms are taken pretty seriously in our denomination, you don’t take communion until you are baptized and there is a baptism course you participate in beforehand. So the ages of people baptized are pretty spread out, but there aren’t very many children baptized. There was no one under the age of about 15 yesterday.

The ceremony was boisterous, with a lot of hollaring and dancing. After the ceremony at the church, we had a fête at home. People came in and out of our courtyard for the rest of the day. Here are some pictures from the day:

The Pastors (standing in the baptismal) getting everyone ready

The 54 about to be baptized are sitting in the foreground; in the background everyone else trying to catch a glimpse

The balafons played nearly non-stop

My brother Pièrre, right after being baptized, being swarmed with people congratulating him and attempting to dry him off.

My sisters Sephora, Fidèle, and Marie ready to shower love and towels on the next baptized family member.

The 4 baptized: Pièrre, Madeline, Daniel, and Mattieu

Jean, Mattieu, and Timothee, with the half built Koko church in the background.

Most of the group...ivorian style photo: relatively somber and subdued.

Dancing in celebration with the family

Proud maman and papa Yéo

Fête at the Yéo courtyard

Pièrre and baby Esther at the house during the fête