Wedding

On Sat. I was at an African wedding.  It was an experience I will not forget.  I was there to help Joanie take pictures.  We started off at the bride’s house and took some pictures while she got ready.  She stayed in her room so that no one could see her.   There were 22 in the wedding party so there were lots of people to get ready.  The wedding was to start at 10:00.  They were still getting ready at 10:00.  Then all of a sudden there was cars coming to the house with their horns honking and women singing.  That was the sign that everything was about to get started.  Everyone but the wedding party left the house.  There is a gate into the house grounds.  On the other side of the gate the ladies were singing that they wanted to get the bride to go.  On the house side the ladies were saying it is not time yet.  This went on back and forth for about 20 – 30 mins.  Finally the outside ladies were let into the grounds.  Then they continued to sing at the door of the house that they wanted to see the bride.  Finally the bride came to the door.  They had a prayer with her and then walked to the vehicle that was going to take her to the church.  Because the ground is dirt they placed a blanket on the ground so that her dress would not get dirty.  A tradition as they travel to the church is to have a pickup truck drive in front of the bride’s vehicle and take pictures along the way.  Well this job was mine.  I stood in the back of the truck and took pictures of the vehicle all the way to town were the church was.  It was about at 10 – 15 ride.  It was a very interesting drive.  Not only were people watching the event on the way there was a white person taking the pictures.  We arrived at the church and the wedding got started at noon.  That is two hours after it should have.  The service went until about 1:45.  After the service we spent time taking pictures of the couple with everyone with any connection to them.  So that took some time.  Then we headed over to the place they were going to have the reception which was only a few minutes away.  Once we got there we waiting for the wedding party to get there to take more pictures.  Once that was done around 3:30 they started the dinner.  Most of the people that had come and were waiting for the couple to get there had already eaten.  The reception was outside with tents for shelter.  The wedding party danced themselves around before sitting at their table to eat.  They did not have much time to eat before they had to get up to receive gifts that people had brought.  Those that had gifts brought them to the front and were each given to the couple.  Once that was done they cut the cake.  They fed each other a piece.  Then they shared some with each other’s side of their family’s and then some for Joanie and me.  Once that was done we took a few more pictures and then it was pretty much done.  We left around 5:30 happy to have been a part of the celebration but ready to rest.  Joanie and I went for something to eat when we left and I have attached a picture of me holding another baby.  There just seems to always be one around.

On the Sunday we had an opportunity to go to Nairobi for two days to attend a church conference of one of the local pastors.  It was defiantly a different experience then I have ever been a part of.  The worship style was very charismatic.  It defiantly opened my eyes to see God work in many different ways including in my own life.  It was exciting to see and feel God move is such a new way.  It was defiantly a highlight on my time here.

I also had the opportunity to attend two pastors’ prayer meetings.  It was good to be a part of.  Once you go over getting up at and out the door by 6:15am it was a wonderful way to start the day.  There is nothing like praising God first thing in the morning with other people.

Well the rain has really come which is such a joy here.  I usually try and get this blog up by Sat. but due to the heavy rain we had most of the day and between the hydro being out and the internet down it has been delayed.  We have been very fortunate to have not experienced too much delay due to hydro being down.  It has been kind of nice but I am told that is not the norm.

You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.  Psalm 118:28-29