Umemulo Umemulo is a traditional Zulu coming of age ceremony for women. The rituals involve slaughtering a cow and the traditional Zulu dance Ukusina involving a spear. A woman's Umemulo ceremony signifies that the she is now ready for marriage. Umemulo meaning Umemulo is one of the many beautiful Zulu words whose English translation is “coming of age.” While the word is synonymously Zulu, the ceremony it represents can be found in other cultures all over the world such as the Hispanic Quinceaneras. It marks the transition of a girl into womanhood signifying she is an adult and therefore ready for marriage. Umemulo ceremony preparation Umemulo is not just a birthday party; it is a process that involves years of planning from the moment a girl hits puberty at around 13 or 14 years of age. Immediately she starts her menstrual cycle, the countdown to her Umemulo begins and ends with the actual ceremony once she turns 21. Traditionally, the girl is supposed to undergo various classes where she is taught of everything that is expected of her and the disappointments she may face once she crosses into womanhood. Chastity is highly valued at this stage with the crowning jewel being the Umemulo ceremony that is solely for virgins. In keeping with this requirement, Zulu girls may be required to attend monthly virginity classes from their first period to the moment they undergo their Umemulo ceremony. In as much as these classes are to test virginity, they are also used to educate the girls on all matters self-worth, respect, and womanhood. Once a girl reaches 21 and having fulfilled her Zulu tradition obligation she can now prepare for her Umemulo. Umemulo Ceremony The ceremony begins a week before the set date which is more often a Saturday. During the week, the girl undergoing her Umemulo ceremony (bride) is not allowed outside the house. Everything she needs is provided by her bridesmaids (izimpelesi) for the whole week, and she gets the bride treatment all week. On the eve of her ceremony, the girl is allowed to go out for a few minutes, covered with a blanket to welcome the cow the family gifts her as a present. Once she does this, she retreats to the hut once again amid singing. The cow is very significant, and each part plays a significant role in the Umemulo ceremony the following day. In the middle of the night, all the girls leave the house completely naked to go and sleep by a river singing and dancing all night. In the morning, the ukuhlolwa (final virginity test) is carried out by a ngobese and once positive a lot of ululations to alert the family is made. All the girls bathe and get ready in their Zulu traditional wear to begin the celebration. The fat from the cow that was slaughtered is put around her head once she and her izimpelesi co ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkhvkwPi0BM

52 - The Book Of I Thessalonians - Audio King James Version 1 THESSALONIANS The apostle Paul encourages and instructs believers as they await the personal return of Jesus Christ. The Ecclesia at Thessalonica The apostle Paul established an ecclesia of believers at Thessalonica during his Second Missionary Journey (Acts 17). The ecclesia thrived, and Paul (writing also on behalf of Silvanus and Timotheus—Silas and Timothy) says: “We give thanks to God always for you … remembering your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1:2,3). Timothy had brought news of how they fared (3:6), and Paul now writes to encourage them. Using the imagery of soldiers on watch, he counsels: “Let us not sleep, but … be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation” (5:6-8). The Lord will Descend Every chapter in this book, written under Divine inspiration, forecasts the return of Christ from heaven to earth (see 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:15,16; 5:2,23). Supposing we die first? Some believers at Thessalonica had already died, while the rest were hoping that Jesus would return at any moment. The question was being asked, “What about those who have died? Will they participate in the great events associated with his return?” Paul explains (4:13-18) that believers are not like those who die without hope. They will be awakened from their unconscious “sleep”, at the return of Christ, and will join the believers who are still living at that time. They will be caught up to meet the Lord—to be with him as he returns to the earth (not to be taken off to heaven, as believers in the ‘rapture’ claim). Those who are then judged by Christ to have been faithful will become his immortal helpers, to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlc9-pPpwnE