You might be wondering why Freddie and Allo have 4 children but aren't married? It's a good question and one that I will try to explain. There are many layers to the culture, though, and I don't have a complete understanding of these, so I'll do my best. The way it goes here is that a boy and girl meet, the girl gets pregnant and then you are 'married'. The fact that you have a baby together means that you will be together. The more moral people stay together for the rest of their lives, while some others simply stay together for a time until they've had enough or there is no desire anymore to be with that person. Fairly similar to what we would often seen in Australia, I would say.
The pastors here have been actively preaching on the sanctity of marriage and what God's plan for marriage truly is. Pastor Ian has been working with Freddie and Allo (since they are right here with us) and teaching them about God's way and how this differs from man's way. Freddie and Allo decided that they wanted to begin again and start their married life God's way. They expressed their desire to the church to be married before God and His people and a date was set, 13th March 2016.
The actual wedding is done differently here. We would have a wedding on a Friday or Saturday at the church, with great celebrations afterwards! Months of preparation go into this and there is so much to organise. Here, weddings happen at church, on a Sunday. Afterwards there is a bungkai, where all the church members bring food to share, speeches are given and there is time for fellowship. The bridal couple do buy new (often more fancy) clothing, prepare some extra special food (in this case, some chicken - it's a lot more expensive here) and invite special family and friends along, who wouldn't normally come to church on a regular Sunday. The church members decorated the church with beautiful flowers and it was clear that this day was different to the others. It was a great celebration of Freddie and Allo's desire to serve the Lord and the joy that could be seen that day was no less than any other wedding I have been to!
We had a regular church service - where the sermon focused on how to live in the Lord as a married couple, staying strong in Him - which was followed by the wedding vows. Afterwards, Freddie and Allo's youngest daughter, Nicole, was baptised. It was a very special day.
The photos are slightly out of order sorry....
Putting bilas (decorations) all over the wedding car. Everyone at the compound pitched in on Saturday afternoon to make the car looks are festive as possible! It was fun doing it all together
The bridal couple arriving at church
The vehicle from the front - note, the flowers :)
Getting ready to walk into the church. They walked in together, with the congregation standing. The orchids in Allo's hair look beautiful, don't they!
Louisa, Allosiena and Francine, all wearing special (and new) clothes for the wedding
Photos are a bit out of order..... Nicole getting baptised
Cutting the wedding cake - capably made by Nicole Steenhof
Regina, Asaph, the bridal couple and me (in my PNG dress....!)
Back to the wedding - time for the vows
Would you please join hands? I love that they both look so happy!
Declaring her promises, before God and the congregation
It was such a wonderful day. I wish Freddie and Allo God's greatest blessings for the rest of their lives together. May you stay close to God and walk in step with Him.
How beautiful! And so special you were there to see it x
ReplyDelete