Today we attended the wedding of Tabitha and Japheth. Last year she graduated from the Disciples of Jesus School. She now marries a man from the village next to hers, right on the lake. So we went for the day and celebrated with them. Here are some photos we took so you can catch a glimpse.
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| After much anticipation the bride finally arrives. Can you spot her? |
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| With much excitement, the groom comes out to meet her. |
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| They enter the church together, the groom leading the way. |
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| The bride and groom, and their attendants behind them; always at the ready. |
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| Japheth checks to see that it's really her. He doesn't want to be deceived the way Jacob was! |
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| The couple held hands for almost the whole ceremony, something uncommon here. |
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| Everyone is the designated photographer! Yay for smartphones. |
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| All go down to the lake to see the couple get their photos taken. |
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| It's quite chaotic and noisy with most of the village kids just hanging out. |
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| Even Esther sneaks in a photo with Tabitha! |
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| And now off to the wedding reception at the groom's house. |
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| The crowds are seated on tarps and under shady mango trees. All will be fed a meal. |
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| Passersby also stop to to get a glimpse of the choir that is singing. |
So there you have it! Some moments were not captured on camera.
To be there you'd see the attendants always fussing over the bride and groom: spraying cologne on them, wiping their brows, brushing the groom's suit and fixing the bride's dress.
A bit of banter goes between the fathers, saying that they must fulfill their duty and keep their promise, i.e. the bride's father no longer calling her daughter, and the groom's father promising to accept her.
The music is deafening. It's not hard to find the current party in town! In fact, there were 3 weddings on this Saturday, and in this very same village. So, as Japhet and Tabitha were finishing with their photo shoot at the lakeside, another wedding party arrived from the Catholic church, ready for their turn at photos by the lake!
The preacher's message was really good. He emphasized how the groom should not have eyes for anyone else. All the other young ladies in the village will get their chance some day, but for him there would be no one else but Tabitha. At this, the ladies in the church erupted into cheers and applause. You see, it is quite common to see women struggling to support their young children, their husbands gone to look for "work" years ago.
