I (Joyce) recently returned from taking Justine (13), Alexis (16) & our friend, David (16) to Senegal.

Senegal is a third world country - so this was less of a vacation & more of a "field trip of a lifetime" that afforded us an up close and personal understanding of what real life is like in Senegal ... a culture & climate as far away as it is far different from what we're used to in America.

We stayed w/ my brother (Uncle Jimmy), who teaches elementary students in Dakar, & his wife, Aunt Ramona. We visited The Door of No Return (former slave house) on Goree Island, capital city of Dakar, the school where my brother teaches, outdoor marketplaces, the beach, a wild game park... and Justine finally met her pen-pal!

In the days leading up to our departure I posted here what I knew & was learning about where we were headed. Once we arrived in Senegal, I had the kids post some things as well. Justine was our main photographer.

We're back now & still trying to record our experience as it was hard to keep up while we were there.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Religion Part II

Tabaski/The Feast of Sacrifice is the largest Muslim holiday in Senegal. During this time, many Muslims will make their pilgrimage to Mecca. According to the Qur'an, Allah asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Ishmael ( not Isaac - as the Bible teaches). Abraham agreed to perform the sacrifice as a sign of his obedience. But just before Abraham began the sacrifice, Allah told him to offer a sheep instead.

To remember Abraham's offering, every Muslim family is to sacrifice a sheep on Tabaski morning. My brother, (whom I learned about Tabaski from) shared that last year, according to the newspaper, over 660,000 sheep were sacrificed in Dakar. Families feast on roast sheep, share some w/ friends & give thanks to Allah.

At this time, rams sell for inflated prices of aprx $200 USD - more than many Senegalese earn in a month. In addition they purchase other foods to serve, everyone wears new clothes & parents give their children presents & money.

Tabaski "highlights" one point where the contrasts between Christianity & Islam are distinct. Muslims believe they must "sacrifice, do & give"all their lives in hope that they've sacrificed, done & given enough to get into heaven. Christians believe:


16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
John 3:16 - 17


14because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16"This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds. 17Then he adds:
"Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more." 18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Hebrews 10:14


Posted by Joyce
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)