Wedding

I am finally getting around to updating my blog. Thanks for your patience.

I had a neat opportunity last month. I got to attend a wedding of one of our Church members. It was about 45 kilometers from where I stay-way out in the bush. Selinda and I jumped into the back of the Lorrie truck with about 75 other people. We were scrunched together very tightly. It took us about two hours to get to the marriage house because of the road and also no brakes on the truck.
This wedding was not held in a church because the church building that was there was too small for all the people. It was held at the bride’s house. After arriving, I was ushered to sit with the bapati (the very important people). These were the pastors that were part of the service. We sat, chatted, and drank cibontu, waiting for the ceremony to start. The ceremony was to start about 9 hours, but in usual African fashion did not start until 13 hours. Before the service started, the place was a bustle of activity. The guests were constantly streaming in; some of the ladies were cooking nsima, chicken, vegetables, and goat for the wedding reception. The participants in the wedding were dressing and getting ready to dance. The wedding itself took place under a tent in the middle of the yard. The bapati and I sat in front while under the tent was left empty for dancing. The guests/spectators were seated all around the edge of the tent. The music was extremely loud and there was lots of dancing.
Everyone was so excited and happy to be part of this monumental occasion. The whole ceremony and dancing took four hours.
Going to this event, I learned the power of presence. The family was just so happy that we came. I did not do anything, but just being there meant so much to them. I was very blessed to be part of this-spending time with the people and being part of this special time in their lives.