Maruti Gladys Mudereri in TsabongIn Setswana, the most widely spoken dialect in Botswana, “moruti” (moe-rue-tee) means preacher or teacher. The female version of this is “maruti” and typically refers to a priest’s wife. Late one afternoon, after the last of the reports have been presented at the annual conference of the Mothers’ Union, about a dozen MU members and I pile into the trusty white passenger van and head to the home of a recently deceased maruti, Mma Toto. Mma Toto, whose husband predeceased her by about a year, had been a devoted long-time member of the MU. Since the Mothers’ Union is in Tsabong, her home village, it’s only proper to personally pay respect to her memory. It seems we are expected. In the sandy yard, rows of molded plastic chairs are lined up on either side of a cloth covered table. On the table are beverage glasses, pitchers filled with water, and two candles. As we alight from the vehicle, family members of all ages emerge from the house to greet us, and then they motion for us to sit. Instead of some quiet chit-chat and the sharing of memories about the Rev. and Mrs. Toto, which is what I was expecting, we have what amounts to a church service less the sacraments. Leading the worship are three MU clergy wives and the MU president, Colleen. There’s singing, praying, scripture reading, even a homily based on a passage from Thessalonians about eternal life by my friend Gladys Mudereri, a maruti.Mother’s Union Van The sun sets, the desert temperature sinks and the smell of wood smoke begins to fill the air. In the distance dogs bark. Mma Toto’s children and grandchildren wipe tears from their eyes; she has been honored well. The moon grows brighter. Young women appear with trays filled with an assortment of juices and sodas. Drinks are consumed. The youngest grandchild is given a gift of a small amount of pula (change). After a final round of condolences are murmured we make our way through the sand to the van. As we drive away I look over my shoulder and see the men and boys stacking and moving the chairs. We’d been there for less than an hour.