Easter (by Thom)

Christ est ressuscité! Il est vraiment ressuscité!
That's French for the traditional Easter greeting, "He is risen! He is risen indeed!" Easter here in Mali is much different than in the US. We don't have the cultural reminders (stores selling Easter candy) or the seasonal reminders (the idea of "Spring" doesn't exist here). And unlike Christmas, Easter is strictly a Christian holiday here.
I talked about Easter with some friends here before. They are not Christians so I was trying to understand their view on things. One friend explained to me that he believes that while Jesus was in prison the day before he was crucified he tricked the guard into coming into his cell and then escaped, leaving the guard locked in the cell. Because the guard looked so much like Jesus the other guards crucified him instead. There's more about this theory here.
Much like Christmas, the Church in Mali extends the Easter celebration beyond just Easter morning. Friday night and Saturday night our church had evening services that lasted well into the night. Unfortunately, I was sick all weekend but Amanda got to go to the Saturday evening service and reported to me that it was a wonderful time of fellowship and celebration that we know a risen Savior. This year, even though I wasn't able to go to church for Easter I celebrate a Savior , perfect in life and death, who loved each of us enough to give up His own life that we now have hope of a future together. He is risen! He is risen indeed!