Light in the Darkness

My dad and grandpa cooking ribs together when he came up for my graduation last year

Back in November I wrote about the celebration of Fety ‘ny Maty (Party of the Dead), so I hope it won’t seem morbid that I’m writing about death again.  I just found out on Wednesday that my Grandpa Griewisch passed away.  He suffered a stroke last year and had been declining in health ever since, so his death wasn’t completely unexpected to my family and I.  It was still hard to hear that he is gone because this is the first grandparent that I have lost and I am so far away from my dad at a time when I just want to give him a big hug.  It’s also hard because, like many of you, he was so supportive of what I’m doing here in Madagascar, and even continued to ask about me when my dad made trips down to Florida during his most difficult times.

 

When I found out about my Grandfather’s death, I immediately shared it with Jeannette, my Malagasy mama.  Ever since, she has prayed for him at every meal and said a special prayer for him one night before I went to bed, asking God to be with my family and me since I’m so far away from them right now.  It means a lot to me to have her prayers and I know she understands because her sister just died in January from cancer. 

 

Her sister’s name was Jeanne Kaoline.  She was only 44 years old with three kids when she died at a hospital in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar.  Jeannette left Tulear three times to make the 12 hour trip to Antananarivo to be with her sister during her treatments.  After her sister died, the body was brought to Tulear for the funeral and burial, which I attended.  Before the funeral though, there were many preparations that are part of the traditions here.  Jeannette spent two nights in the room where here sister’s body was being kept and received visitors during the day.  The visitors brought flowers or money to make a contribution to the family.  Many of the people who came also prayed, sang, or just sat for a while in the room where Jeannette’s sister had been laid on a bed with a net covering it and flowers placed at the end.  This was a hard time for Jeannette and she got very sick afterward.  At the burial, the casket was lowered into the tomb and each person tossed a handful of sand on top of the casket.  Jeannette explained to me that this is done so that the friends and family can make a contribution to her burial and that it means “veloma” (goodbye).

Traditional flowers and net covering the bed where the dead is placed until the burial

Jeannette and I greeting other visitors in the room where the body is kept

 

During the past couple days I’ve thought about what I will miss about my Grandpa.  I asked Jeannette what she misses most about her sister and she told me her sister was generous, quiet, a problem solver, and a friend.  She will be missed by Jeannette, the students that she taught biology to, and those she helped as a treasurer for a group at the high school for teachers in Tulear.  Even though it can be very sad to lose someone you love and there is a solemn feeling during this time of Lent as we anticipate Jesus’ death, I know we can look forward to the resurrection that comes on Easter.  I know that those we’ve lost are also raised as it says in Romans 6:5, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”  They don’t celebrate Lent in Madagascar, but I still find myself encouraged by this season of hope and the promises that it holds.

Luke, a fellow YAGM volunteer, and I in traditional funeral “lambas” or cloths