The Diary Game Activities || Young men's Event week & Funeral Activities of Granny

Hello Diary!!!

It's been a while since I shared my diary activities with us and I think I have to break this jinx today. My week has been characterized by busy schedules that require I should share with us here. I will be serving us a mix of my engagements relative to the funeral activities of my grandmother as well as young men's activities and Thanksgiving events.

Monday Activities

My week started on Monday precisely on the 22nd of April which was themed as the Eucharist day to mark the beginning of young men's work week. On this day we have to take the holy communion to start up or rather usher in the activities that characterized this event. This was done between the hours of 4 to 6 pm.

The topic for the shared sermon was anchored. on the story of Saul. It was titled, "Young Man of Relevance". The story tells us about Saul, the son of Kish, who was sent to go and look for the missing donkey with any of the servants. One may wonder, why not send out as many servants as may be needed? this task and not the heir apparent. But Saul was humble enough to carry out this task diligently and this was where he met his kingship and was anointed. We all know the storyline.

Immediately after we got done with the communion, we started rehearsals of some of the varieties that needed to be perfect to enable us to compete in the young men's event competition. Did I tell you there is an organized competition for this event? Oh yes! There are slated varities mapped out for this year's young men competition which happened in years past.

Some of the varieties slated to be competed included marching competition, Egg race, Quiz competition, and Choir/Singing competition. There were the activities all scheduled for us to participate in with other circuits. So we started rehearsals immediately after the eucharist and communion. Though we've started some form of skeletal practices before this day.

	March practice

We left the church premises when it was exactly 7 pm and it was already dark for us to continue further. We had to retire to our homes to be rejuvenated for the following day.

Tuesday Activities

On the tuesday the 23rd day of April came continued practices among everyone. We converged around 4 pm and started some rehearsals again. We started with a choir/singing competition in which with the help of the choirmaster, we learned and perfected our songs. One was done in the English language whereas the second was practiced in the local dialect, Igbo.

	Choir Rehearsals

We did this choir practice for one hour before switching grounds to continue with the marching. Though there was a low turnout among members, it still didn't deter us. practicing with the few available persons. Give and take, this didn't cost us more than 45 mins and we were done with it to enable us to attend to other things on our list which was the race.

Since. quiz wasn't meant to consume our time, we asked who was to represent us to read at home to get prepared. After the day's rehearsal, we all retired to our homes, having achieved triple varieties, vigorously and practiced.

Wednesday Activities

Unlike Monday when brought every young man to the church for the Eucharist service, Wednesday also saw us conduct and coordinate a mid-week service in the church. In conducting the mid-week service, we had to select those who would represent the following; Singing, moderation, and as well as preaching.

Those were the anchor activities that must be manned and just as expected, we delivered on those parameters effectively and put in place a well-articulated mid-week service. This was done within the hours of 8 am to 11 am. And we were done, the usual rehearsals were fixed for the evening.

It was a marathon rehearsal for us during this period given the date of the competition. We had to come back to the church premises for it during the evening to master those varieties. Let's remember the three outdoor varieties aside the bible quiz were marching, egg race, and choir and they were practiced daily for efficiency.

Thursday Activities

Unfortunately for me today being the 25th of April, I had to make an all-important travel with my family to the village. I could not join my group members in the church for today's rehearsals as needed. Today is the service of songs of my grandmother who will be laid to rest tomorrow Friday 26th of April 2024.

We had to travel in the company of my kid brother and mom who I picked en route to the village. It was kind of a mixed feeling for everyone. It was a funeral activity which entails that death was involved but at the same time celebration of life given the long life she enjoyed while on earth. She lived 106 years on earth which is worth celebrating.

	Poster indicating age

As soon as we got to the village, we greeted everyone we could, as much as we could since there were people who already came back the previous day. It was nice to see my aunties, step aunties uncles, step uncles, and cousins, both first and second cousins. It was indeed a large gathering to behold. The deceased is a great-grandmother, so we should expect many people from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A situation where we have 27 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren for now.

When it was 6 pm, we went to the service. of songs at Christ MCN church, Amaba Isuikwuato, Abia state. After service dismissed 1 hour later, we all went back to the family house in a convoy. It was a little stressful for me as we got home because of the array of work to be done. Just as expected, I had to sit down with my uncle to make all final plans for food and drink disbursement. We got done around 11 pm before I drove down straight to where I slept.

Friday Activities

This is the real day and most importantly a time of reflection and celebration of life. All was set for the day's funeral ceremony. All canopies were well-tagged for visitors to know where to be seated for effective service delivery. The Thursday list preparation helped in making a smarter tagging of all coolers and drinks to be distributed to the canopies.

I was able to handle this and quickly rushed to get set immediately after lying in the state of the deceased. At this point, it was obvious to everyone that Mother had truly departed Mother Earth. We all left for her last service mass at Christ MCN Amaba.

A befitting mass was done in her honor and the priest in charge dished an all refreshing and on the cross gospel for everyone to emulate. An offering was made in her honor for the congregation to tap from this long life lived by our dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandchildren.

Something funny happened on our way home from the church. My kid brother was driving my car in the company of other cars and it suddenly went off. The car did not start and all attempts to jump-start the car were abortive. We had to pedal lock the car and leave with another car to the family house and venue of the ceremony.

However, we had to come back later in the day when the pressure of the ceremony had subsided. Unfortunately, the car still didn't work which necessitated it being towed to the family. This caused me some more inconveniences that I never envisaged. Not only was the logistical movement impacted by this immobility but also fortune was plowed to recover the vehicle to the tune of 41,000 NGN (126 steem). This was the side that was not only unexpected but felt the pain of unforeseen expenses.

Saturday Activities

Because of the young men's event that had its competition to be done today, I had to come back to cheer up my group members since my absence couldn't allow me to rehearse fully with them. It was a worthing comeback that day.

There were four events to be participated which we had a fair share of the contest among other participating church circuits. Among events competed for include marching, egg race, bible quiz, and choir competitions.

	Choir Presentation

It was a successful outing for the youngmen members of the Umungasi circuit as we were selected as the top best for marching, then 3rd best in the bible quiz and egg race. Three cups were handed over to us in the same regard.

Sunday Activities

This was another important day in the week. Today is the young men's Thanksgiving service as well as that of the bereaved family. I was not available in the villa for theirs but was fully present with my church members to celebrate this year's young men's service.

These are some of the highlights. the day represented in pictorials.

	Gift Appreciation on two dedicated members

	Filing out of youngmen members

	Decoration of New Members

	Presentation of Award

	Presentation of Award (Best Couple of the Year)

Youngmen 2024 was a success and well spent. It was a year of trophies for us as this was a repetition of what happened 3 years ago when we won the same number of trophies. For my granny, we can only wish you a peaceful rest with the Lord.

Thank you, friends...