Cultures and traditions change from family to family, city to city, tribe to tribe, people group to people group and country to country. May 10th I experienced a part of Swazi culture that was simply “not okay with me”. It was pitch black with only a magnificent host of stars to light the sky. The grave had been dug and there were tall candles in each corner of the grave to light it for the grave digger to dig. It was an eerie sight at best. Near the end of the burial ceremony my heart started to race when I saw the twin brother of Gcinile being pulled from Sarah who was sitting on the ground beside the coffin. I had heard a rumor of something that happened when a twin died, but Jabulani assured me that it was not true. When the child started to scream my fears were confirmed. When a twin dies in Swazi culture the living twin is handed down in to the open grave and made to lay on a mat, signifying that they will be there as the “other half” one day. Imagine being 5 years old, you know your twin has gone somewhere, everyone is sad, it’s dark there is a big hole with candles and suddenly you are being wrenched from your mom’s arms and handed down to a person you know and forced to lie on a grass mat.
Gcina, the twin boy, FREAKED OUT (no kidding!). Several of us immediately started praying for the child and that he would not remember this at all and would have peace. I think he was only in there for a few seconds, but it seem like hours. Finally he was rescued and given back to his mother.
Later, as the grave was being filled I had the joy of holding that little boy in my arms. He clung tightly and watch the men put shovel after shovel of dirt on the very spot he had been put in and pulled from. Quietly he kept asking “Where is Masisis? Where is Masisi (Where is my sister?)”. I continued to pray over his life.
Traditionally each grave is covered with stones once it has been filled with dirt, but not this one. This one remains with just soil and pieces of wood (see photo) until the other twin dies. Then he/she is buried there too and stones are put on top. The grave is not finished. We bought a stone cross on the side of the road to adorn this grave and remind people that Jesus is alive, his grave is finished and all glory goes to Him. It was the only grave in the entire family plot that had a cross because there was no money for the family to buy them for the others. We walked back to the house for a meal with the family and at one point we all looked up and saw more stars in the sky than any of us had ever seen. It was spectacular. Psalm 19:1 says, The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” We all saw it first hand that night. Amen.
(Gcinile’s grave)
What the heck…….. Id’a freaked too.
That poor kid.
in fact i’m freaking right now. If i had been there I may have jumped in there and Grabed that kid out of there.
But thats just me… I guess it’s a good thing i wasn’t there…. protocal and all.
man, i gotta pray about that one. Janine, your a stronger man than I.
anyway, i gotta go take a walk and try to stop shaking.
I was telling Ian that if I hadn’t heard Shirley asking Jabulani about it earlier (even though he mistakingly said that didn’t happen) I would not have been prepared for what I saw and I KNOW that I would have jumped in to save him thinking that they were going to bury him too. But 3 of us stood right at the grave and prayed peace and protection and healing of memories out loud over him, and it was over. You will meet them all in July. Cool eh?
I have a feeling God has allot for me to see,hear, feel, smell, and learn.
Kinda makes me nervous.