Karen Storytelling Night

J is very active in the Karen community and is on the board of Karen of Minnesota.  Tonight we were invited to a performance at one of the main Karen churches in town.  The performance was called "The Karen Fountain of Life" and included stories about the Karen people's escape from Burma, life in refugee camps and journey to Minnesota.

J's Karen patients often give him gifts of gratitude.  We wore traditional clothes to the performance that were given to him for our family by people in the community.  In the narthex of the church, Karen people sold clothes and food.  They always undercharge J and bring us more and more after we've paid. 

The story part of the performance was not new to us, but the music was.  During the service, a group of Karen women and their daughters, called "The Sprinkles," sang a variety of songs to accompany their story.  The songs varied from Karen tradtitional songs, to religious hymns, to modern Christian rock songs - one of which brought me to tears.  The mothers sang alone, the daughters sang alone, the mothers & daughters sang together and then - my favorite - each pair did a mother/daughter song.  Before the mother/daughter song, a video, narrated by the daughter, introduced them, their family and their families' history.  It was a beautiful tribute and we were so glad we attended.