Fourth Father-Daughter Banquet

Why are we paying so much more than last year for peanuts, cabbage, vinegar, and tomato sauce?  Why should we purchase green beans, olive oil, and bay leaves when we didn’t use them last year and the menu hasn’t changed?  And do we really need to buy $1.80 chocolates for the fathers to give to their daughters, since 50-cent artificial roses worked just fine last year?

As I hand over to our dads’ committee the responsibility for our series of father-daughter activities, I have retained the prerogative of budget approval since I’m the project’s donor.  After diligent research by the man responsible for logistics, Elídio, I stayed up late one night to compare his shopping list with the report of last year’s expenses before committing to provide the $800 necessary to produce our fourth annual father-daughter banquet.  The list of questions I sent him included the three above.

Elídio checked into the points I raised and stopped by my office the following week to discuss the budget adjustments.  I remained skeptical about the chocolates, but agreed to increase the amount available for commemorative gifts that the dads could give their girls, if Elídio could please at least seek less expensive candies.  The day before the event, after reduction in quantities due to the fact that only 60 people registered instead of our capacity of 100, I gave Elídio the money, then met him at stores in town to haul his purchases in my pickup truck out to the banquet site.

Saturday’s event was every bit as charming as our first, second, and third father-daughter banquets!  Eleno and his team of waiters decorated tables and chairs in shady spots scattered throughout the lovely grounds of Boniface’s Christian school.  Pastor Eusébio brought a van packed full of fathers and daughters singing hymns, while others came on foot or in their own vehicles.  Nine men brought one daughter each; four brought two; three brought three; and two brought four.  The girls ranged in age from one to probably twenty-something.

Many fathers first strolled about the area with their daughters, then sat with them at a table when they were ready to eat.  I brought menus and lists of interesting questions to spark conversations.  Next, our waiters arrived to take orders.  Taking their notepads to the kitchen, the waiters instructed the cooks as to what to serve onto each plate, then delivered the delicacies (prepared by our professional chef) to the diners.  I circulated among the tables, taking photos and receiving rave reviews of the food while continuing to seat latecomers.

The leisurely afternoon continued with second helpings and dessert.  Some family groups lingered at their tables in conversation long after their meal had finished, while others returned to strolling about.  At 4:30 pm, I called everyone together for final comments from Boniface and me, encouraging the fathers to continue developing their relationships with their daughters and to participate in more of our events.  Then the men met regarding plans for the father-daughter beach trip scheduled for November, while I discussed with the girls several case studies involving family relationship challenges.

As darkness fell, the men returned from their trip-planning meeting with smiles on their faces and hands behind their backs, concealing the chocolates I’d balked about buying.  They sought out their daughters and presented them with the surprise gifts.  A collective gasp of joy rose as delighted girls gratefully embraced their beaming dads.  All my resistance at the expense melted away as I witnessed, in disbelief, a whole roomful of African fathers actually hugging their daughters.  This effect of the chocolates confirmed that banquet had been a resounding success!

Please continue to pray that God will knit African families’ hearts together through our activities designed to strengthen the bonds that are typically the weakest:  those of a father with his daughters.  Pray that our dads’ committee will continue working diligently to produce the events, needing minimal involvement from me except for financial oversight and provision.  Pray that many more families will join our program, and that it will expand to other areas as well.  May God be glorified through African fathers who Biblically love and lead their daughters.