.... and so did all of our neighbours! Sadly, the sheep on our little island did not share the same fate as the soft, fleecy lamb of Mary's happy tune!
This weekend has marked the biggest celebration for our friends and neighbours. It is a time to remember Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in submission to God and God's offer to provide a ram in his stead. Each family buys and slaughters a sheep in remembrance of this event. We have had many reminders of the up and coming holiday as sheep have seemed to take over the island. An instant sheep market was erected and make-shift stalls and hay took over one of the main roundabout's in our little city. I had to wrestle my bike through the crowd on the sidewalk, as men poked sheep and bartered for just the perfect one.
Each morning this past week, we have woken up to the chorus of bleating sheep coming from all corners of the street. I have had many moments when I have literally laughed out loud as I have sat outside under the pomegranate trees, listening to the call and answer from the various sheep tied up in each neighbour's yard. It was almost as if they knew what awaited them!
And then Friday morning arrived. Our boys were up bright and early, eager to witness their first slaughtering of an animal. I was a little hesitant to let them observe the death of an animal, as we are used to finding our meat in the meat department of the local Superstore... but this is a normal part of life here, and something all the local children are apart of. So, each Epp kid found a perch on the fence and awaited the big event! We met some new neighbours (I guess it helps when your kids are literally hanging over the stone fence into their yard!) and were invited to come be apart of the festivities first-hand. Darnell learned some new techniques for effectively separating the animal fat from the skin using a bike air compressor. Yes, its that simple! We enjoyed the generosity of other neighbours as they shared some spicy, greasy sheep's meat with us. And we got a good laugh at Darnell's sheep friend that he made over the fence. Another set of neighours had hung up the head and legs over our fence, making it appear as though the sheep was making its last attempt to escape...into our yard! Gave Darnell a jump when he looked up to see it 'eyeing' him below! Overall, it has been a very interesting weekend for this family from the Prairies of Southern Manitoba! We have met many new people and have been blessed by the hospitality and warmth we have been shown by those around us!
Each morning this past week, we have woken up to the chorus of bleating sheep coming from all corners of the street. I have had many moments when I have literally laughed out loud as I have sat outside under the pomegranate trees, listening to the call and answer from the various sheep tied up in each neighbour's yard. It was almost as if they knew what awaited them!
And then Friday morning arrived. Our boys were up bright and early, eager to witness their first slaughtering of an animal. I was a little hesitant to let them observe the death of an animal, as we are used to finding our meat in the meat department of the local Superstore... but this is a normal part of life here, and something all the local children are apart of. So, each Epp kid found a perch on the fence and awaited the big event! We met some new neighbours (I guess it helps when your kids are literally hanging over the stone fence into their yard!) and were invited to come be apart of the festivities first-hand. Darnell learned some new techniques for effectively separating the animal fat from the skin using a bike air compressor. Yes, its that simple! We enjoyed the generosity of other neighbours as they shared some spicy, greasy sheep's meat with us. And we got a good laugh at Darnell's sheep friend that he made over the fence. Another set of neighours had hung up the head and legs over our fence, making it appear as though the sheep was making its last attempt to escape...into our yard! Gave Darnell a jump when he looked up to see it 'eyeing' him below! Overall, it has been a very interesting weekend for this family from the Prairies of Southern Manitoba! We have met many new people and have been blessed by the hospitality and warmth we have been shown by those around us!
