HERE IS HOW THE LORD'S TABLE IS PICTURED
BY AN ARTIST IN EL SALVADOR:
Helga and I were assigned by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod department of World Mission to Kazakhstan. We worked as missionaries between the March 1993 and February 1999. One of the memories we will always carry with us of our time in Kazakhstan, were the times that we were "At Table".
"A distinctive national characteristic of the Kazakhs does not have some refreshements offered him or at least a cup of traditional tea. At one time, the nomadic Kazakhs used to live in yurts. Putting many questions to the visitor is considered bad manners. He must have a rest after his journey and is treated to a drink of kumiss, which is both refreshing and invigorating. Only after these preliminaries the guest may, if he wishes, tell the host who he is, where he comes from and where he is heading. Then the guest will be invited to dostarkhan. People learn much about one another at dostarkhan." (Quoted from Welcome to Kazakhstan Homepage)
In a sense, the entire life of the Christian might be seen as a constant and repeated "At Table" with the Lord as the Christian travels though his or her earthly life.
The Kazakh people, way back when, were nomads. They migrated by season with their sheep and goats, cattle, horses and camels to good grazing areas. Family groups were isolated from each other, and when a visitor came, it was an occasion and a time for dostarkhan!
The custom reminded us of the story of Abraham and the Three Visitors in Genesis 18:1-8.
Here are only a few of the tables, where we enjoyed the fellowship and friendship of the people who live in Kazakhstan.
The main dish at a Kazakh dostarkhan would be sheep or mutton. Often a special sheep prepared for these special occasions.
We were reminded of all the references to a Lamb in the Scriptures; to Jesus as the special Lamb of God, and how He was sacrificed for the sins of the world.
The times at table in Kazakhstan also reminded us of the joy we will have when we see all of God's people gathered at the Feast of the Lamb. From Peru, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, and Ghana and Uganda, to name only a few places. You will have your own list.
The most remarkable, and photographed, part of the dostarkhan is when the host brings out the sheep's head. You don't have to go there, this is graphic close up picture of a cooked sheep's head, so be forewarned.
But, as we said, this is the highlight of the event. A great honor! The oldest person, the most highly esteemed guest, is served the Sheep's Head.
With great ceremony an ear is then cut off and presented to the youngest child at the table, with the warning that he/she should be a good listener. Then the eye, the tonque, etc, etc. with the appropriate admonition befitting that particular part of the head.
Yes, it took a while to get used to this aspect of the dostarkhan! It's a meaningful custom to the people in Kazakhstan. And, think about it. What do we of the USA have to compare with this custom? No, we don't have to cook and serve sheep's heads to our honored guests to get the same effect and try to get the kids to listen, etc, in the same way. But, what might we do?
Well, we could ramble on and on. . . There are so many images that come to mind, cultural illustrations of Scriptural truths, “hooks“, as it were, upon which to hang the Gospel for people to see.
Many missionaries will tell you, the best part of living and working in another part of the world, is the give and take of telling about your customs and faith and learning about theirs. Too often our work as missionaries has been only "one way." Actually, in many ways, we get more than we give.
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© 2007 - Theo Kuster.
