saturday prep work by Dean's wife for Dean's farewell service

two charcoal burners goes at full steam, cooking chicken and tomato stew (for the rice) enough for 50, the out of town visitors for tomorrow's service, 5 women sitting out in the yard, in the dark as the electricity is yet again 'good bye Charlie' for ??? how long:  so flashlites and phones light up the space, singing, a young child with squeeking shoes climbs from lap to lap, oil bubbles over the coals with chicken being cooked, removed and a new batch added, stew simmers on the second burner with a 18inch wooden spoon keeping it from sticking, so I learn that the service is a 9am .... 
such a decent time instead of 7. I am such a suck about mornings