Africa's Wedding

Well, the trip to Congo was postponed. We found out the MAF flight had tickets for us into Bunia but not out. Minor detail. We thank you so much for your prayers and we trust Jesus' protection and guidance in the days ahead.
So we found ourselves home... available to attend an African wedding. It actual was for a missionary bride from UK and a Ugandan groom from Arua. We went with several other missionary friends and truly it was a cultural experience. Much of the actual wedding ceremony was similar in some degree to those at home. Slight differences like the order of the ceremony with homily coming after vows and rings or an offering being taken up for the church at the end of the service.
What was exciting was the reception, particularly the gift giving. The reception was held at a local restaurant which was elaborately decorated in bows and ribbons. The bride and groom were seated on a stage whereby they could view all the different groups of guests, including "clergy," "bride relatives (which included any missionary)," "Arua town guests," and finally the "groom's village." Speeches were made and food was served; cokes were available for all which is always exciting. Finally they got around to bringing a table out into the middle of the floor whereby the Mothers Union members oversaw the bringing in of presents.

First, the missionaries went forward with their relatively calm and relatively small packages or envelopes. Afterwards came a wave of slightly bigger parcels, some even in fancy wrapping paper. But then a whole line of friends came, singing and dancing, as they led their gift - a goat clad in bows, ribbons, and various celebratory paraphernalia. Not to be outdone though, when the groom's village came (and they also came

singing and dancing), they brought four more goats! What is a young newly married couple going to serve their goat on though? So other relatives brought in a coffee table and numerous small end tables. Perfect for serving roasted goat. But what is a new young newly married couple going to sit on to eat their goat off these wonderful tables? How about a massive couch with two massive arm chairs. And sure enough these came in being hoisted by a whole new bunch of relatives/ friends, dancing and calling out as they paraded their gifts before the bride and groom.

How you parade in a couch and chairs, we don't know but it happened and we laughed and danced along with the delighted crowd. Somehow so many things are the same. Yet somehow they are so radically different. For us this weekend, the differences were a source of joy. At the next wedding you attend, maybe you ought to consider dancing in your gift.

Celebrating the joys of Africa...