Wedding Day
Well, we only need to describe this one day and you will all know and understand Africa!
First, we had an invitation that said 12:30. Father Barnabas, officiating the service, told us the service was at 12:30. We ordered a cab for 11:15. It was on time, we were on time. We got to mama Elitha's at 11:25. Dana went in to get them while John and I waited in the cab. Only Dana returned ~ mama was in the shower (bucket shower) Reh was ironing her clothes!! So we waited, and waited. Finally at 12:05 they sauntered out. The cab driver took off and said he knew where to go ~ but we had been to this church two days before so we thought he was going the wrong way. Thankfully he asked some locals ~ we turned around and found our way. We finally arrived at 12:37. We were embarrassed to walk into the church late ~ I mean everyone knew who WE were.
As we pulled up in the van (cab) dozens of children ran around us. We questioned whether they thought we were the bride and groom ~ nope ~ the white people had arrived!
The groom's brother motioned us into the church ~ we hurried along hoping they weren't holding things up for us. As we entered the church, we looked around ~ NO ONE was there! Just us and the choir. TIA! (This is Africa)
Mama Elitha said she had never been so early ~ we weren't early ~ we were seven minutes late!
Empty church ~ just us and the choir ~
Father Barnabus and some other priests were coming along so we went out to greet him and ask ~ what's up??
He said, TIA This is Africa! And there was another wedding where the priest couldn't make it so they were moving that wedding to this church too ~ there would be two brides. Things would start at 1:00. Ok we took our seats ~ we sat behind the choir because we wanted to watch ~ 1:00 came and went and we waited.
We saw Father's mother arrive so we went out to greet her.
FINALLY around 1:30 it looked like things might begin, however, we were still the only people in the church and then the choir even got up and left ~ the procession was about to begin. First the priests ~ there were several ~ that's Father B on the right ~
Then one bride and groom followed by their best man and maid of honor ~
then the second bride and groom followed by their witnesses ~ no smiling ~ this is a serious, solemn occasion. (Sorry this one is blurry but this is Sebastian and Elizabeth) ~
The first bride's color was orange ~
And the second red ~
which equals lots of orange and red shiny satin in the pews ~
The choir didn't disappoint. With tambourines, drums and lively voices they provided a rockin' environment accompanied by cheers, shouts and African chants.
The older people's choir ~
younger people's choir ~
The ceremony ~
The newly married couple ~
After the ceremony, the bride and groom were accompanied by a five piece band for a parade around the grounds ~
Each couple had their own band ~ battle of the bands outside ~
Falstini's aunt ~ his mother's sister ~
Watching the parade ~ mama Elitha, Reh, Dana, John ~
pictures ~
and then the band got in a truck while the bride and groom followed in a car to drive around the area.
While they were gone, one of the sister -in-laws ushered us to a classroom building (in the school next to the church) where we were handed a bowl of peanuts dished out of a large bucket. We wondered why were going there because we were told the reception was across the street ~ hakuna matata!
The room had about twenty people all sitting around on benches and chairs eating their peanuts without a word.
We had just gotten settled when Father Barnabas came looking for us. He said the other priest wanted to give us the blessing of the church ~ so much for the peanuts.
We thought we were going to the church but Father took us around, up the hill to something like a rectory ~ and handed us a Kilimanjaro. The other priest did come in to say hello ~ he is actually working in Ohio at the moment ~ small world.
The associate pastor ~
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