A Mass Wedding...

Sorry all, and my Mom, who have been waiting for another blog post. Starting a blog is the easy part, keeping up with it is a whole other story. Fortunately I haven’t updated because I am just really enjoying life here, and loving learning more and more about development, love and just the day to day working in a developing country. 

The last update I spoke of a mass wedding. The couples began preparing the Wednesday before, separating from their spouses to enjoy a pre wedding retreat, to get prepared spiritually, physically and mentally. All of us at the Remnant compound were so excited because one of our ladies, Anna, was one of the 15 couples scheduled to get married  that Saturday. The ladies were such good sports getting their work done and doing what ever they could to support our girl. We even held an offering to collect money to help Anna with the wedding and reception expenses. Stef and I even got matching outfits made. Needless to say, we were all excited for this wedding. The morning of the wedding we called Mama Joy ( one of the pastors wife and the host of the bridal retreat) to see if we could stop by and pray with Anna before the wedding. Devastation hit us as we found out that Anna’s husband, who is in the Ugandan Army stationed in Kampala, didn’t get the time off for the wedding. Anna found out the night before and was in so much pain. We didn’t even want to go to the wedding anymore, what was the point when our main reason for going ( besides our awesome outfits that were made in ONE day) was to celebrate and support Anna? Stef had been asked to film and take photos of the wedding so we got dressed in our green and yellow tweedle dee and tweedle dum dresses and headed to where all the brides were getting ready. it was sad seeing all the brides dressed in their white gowns knowing that that was supposed to be Anna. Let me tell you, that was a sight to see. Nine women dressed in wedding gowns and glittered faces filled the small living room while the hot pink dressed bridesmaids ran around and got the adorable flower girls ready.  The enemy was against the wedding as several other couples had to miss it because one reason or another as well as one of the vans that was to be used to transport all the brides was involved in an accident. After several trips all the brides arrived at the church that was filled with people. Fabric was laid out as all the brides came out of the car and headed for the church. Inside, the church was packed, there were so so so many people and the precession into the building had to have taken at least 40 mins. As you may have already figured the wedding was long; in groups of three the couples went up to perform the ceremony. After all nine couples went up there was a full message from a pastor and then all nine couples went back up to sign their certificates, after many pictures there was yet another 20 plus min march out of the church for more pictures. The day was long, hot and did I mention long? Stef and I began our day at 11 and left after the cake was cut around 4ish, we knew that the reception would go on for another couple hours and we were ready to go. The day was beautiful and such an amazing experience, I would love to go to a full Ugandan wedding one day, but maybe one were there is only one couple. 

                                       

You are probably wondering what happened to Anna, well, Anna is a rock star. If Anna didn’t show up to the wedding no one would have blamed her, can you imagine watching nine other couples getting married when you were supposed to be doing the same? Anna was there. Not only was Anna there but as we entered the church we spotted her huge smile from the stage as she sang in part of the choir. Can you believe that? There she was heart broken and confused but still praising God and supporting her sisters that were getting married that day. Looking at Anna on that stage I saw her heart, the amazing person she is and the work God is doing in her life. What a testimony; earlier that week, Anna said that God had given her a vision off a cross and a clock, speaking to her that it wasn’t her time yet. When she got the news from her husband the vision finally made sense. God is such an amazing God,the fact that he knew his daughter would be in pain but still loves her enough to personally let her know that he is still there for her, that he has a plan for her and he has a timing for her. I kept thinking of how other brides would have reacted, and just continually thanked God for the heart he gave Anna. Anna taught me a  huge lesson that day, and showed me how important Gods timing is, how much He loves us and wants the best for us, and how sometimes you have to go through pain and continue to be patient to see His will play out in our lives. He gives us hope, He gives us peace, He allows us to live lives that demand an explanation. Even though Anna didn’t get married that day, she gave me a reason to celebrate, and I look forward to see what God has in store for her.