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| Branch Gawai party |
No time to share much this week. Sorry!
But my week was GREAAAAAAT! Elder Bodhaine literally has 2 days left in Malaysia. He is a really great missionary. He's taught me so much about leadership and missionary work in the past six weeks. I'm very grateful to have been able to serve with him. I'm getting a new companion - Elder Stewart from Dubai!!!! He's way fun and way hard working and Elder Bodhaine's former companion, too. This is going to be so fun. We're going to work our heads off and do WORK! So stoked.
This week we had a branch Gawai party. (See below for a description of what that is.) They had a traditional dance called "ngajat" and there was a girl competition, and so I was like "Hey, let's do a guy one!" So they did it, and I won!! hahahahaha I just tried to follow what they did and imitate it. The whole Gawai party just DIED of laughter!! hahaha
More next week!
Malaysia Boleh!
Elder Coleman
From http://goseasia.about.com/od/eventsfestiva2/a/gawai_dayak_festival_malaysia.htm
"Celebrated with enthusiasm across Sarawak both in cities and rural villages, Gawai Dayak is a multi-day festival to honor the indigenous people. Gawai Dayak translates to "Dayak Day"; the Dayak people include the Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit and Murut tribes which once roamed Sarawak and relieved unsuspecting traders of their heads.
Although steeped in headhunting traditions of the past, the only head removed these days during Gawai Dayak belongs to a chicken sacrificed to honor a successful rice harvest.
Gawai Dayak is celebrated with genuine joy and enthusiasm. Weddings take place, singing and toasts fill the air, and families are reunited with one another after being separated all year."