RENEWAL OF VOWS- AFRICAN STYLE

For those of you that know Eddie and me, the fact that we do something out of the ordinary wouldn't surprise you.    We were married 19 years ago, and since that time our life together has been up and down, over and under, and after reaching a point in our life that we finally feel we have reached steadiness, we decided to renew our vows.   When we were making our plans for the trip to Africa, we decided that we would experience this African style!   

Janice & Matron of Honor, Julia



Eddie & best man, Gordian two stepping



Moses, his family, and the church family were so excited when we shared this possibility with them.  Never in the history of Mwanza, have the people seen a white couple married in an African church.  This was certainly going to be an interesting event.  Before we arrived, the planning had already begun!  The first thing that we were told was that we would have to learn the "dance"!  The dance?  In Africa, you don't walk into the church, you do this little two step going in and coming out.   We practiced every night for one solid week!  After stepping on toes, being laughed at, and many agonizing hours of hearing "one - two - one - two!", we finally just said whatever happens, happens, we'll just suck it up and go for it.   There are several dancers that enter the church once the wedding music begins.  Then the groom and his Best Man, Gordian, enter.  Once they get to the front of the church, the dancers go back to dance in for the bride and Matron of Honor, Julia.  I stop just after entering the church, Julia steps behind me.  The Pastor directs Eddie to "go retrieve his bride".  Here he and Gordian come, two stepping until he reaches me.  Gordian then steps beside Julia, and Eddie and I begin two stepping together to stand in front of the Pastor. 

By the time we repeated our vows, sweat was pouring down my face.  Eddie thought I was really nervous because my hands were so sweaty, but it wasn't nerves - IT WAS HOT!!!  After the vows were said, we exchanged rings to "seal" the vows.  This is a big thing with the Africans.  You don't just hold the hands and slide the ring on the finger, you have to hold it high as you put the rings on.  It took a couple of  "raise the hands higher", before Moses would continue. 

After the rings, two girls walked up with pillows.  I was thinking "what an interesting wedding gift".  This wasn't a gift, they put them down in front of us because Moses was going to bless us with a prayer.  At this moment, I felt a strong sense of panic.  I might be able to get down there, but getting up could prove to be very embarrassing.  I whispered to Eddie "help me! how in the world am I going to get up!"  And I said a quick "Lord, Jesus, You must help me here!" 

In the background of the picture you can see another white girl!  The receptionist at Ryan's Bay Hotel, Fiona, and her boyfriend, Rob, accepted our invitation, and to our surprise found their way to the church!  Not by my directions though, because I wouldn't be able to find my way anywhere, much less give directions to somebody else.  Fiona is from Ireland and has lived in Mwanza for the past two years.  They were excited about coming because neither of them had been to an African wedding.  They were greeted and escorted to the front of the church as soon as they arrived.  

We finally were introduced to the church as Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Singlelatary (that's the way they pronounce it, it's not misspelled).    Throughout the church you heard the loud, high pitched yells the women do with their tongues.  You will have to take my word for this and imagine it if you can.  We were then escorted to the "front table" that had been set for the Bride, Groom, Matron of Honor and Best Man.  Music began and as we looked to the entrance of the church, in came girls dancing carrying our cake!  This was an OMG! moment.  This was the cake we had paid 80,000 schillings for and it's about to be smashed in the dirt.  To our surprise, they danced this cake all the way to our table!  There is no end to the talents of these people!  But why should I be surprised at this?  If they can carry a 5 gallon bucket of water on their heads, surely two of them could dance holding a platter with a three tier cake on it.



After we cut the cake, we were honored with gifts from the people.  Music was played as they brought gifts for us.  Then the entire church came single file and lifted their hot bottles of soda to our glasses in a toast.  It is very common for sodas and water to be served without being cold.  This is not something that I am fond of, but we have learned to just go with the flow.  As the wedding ended, Eddie and I danced our way out the door, with the entire church following in celebration!   This was worth every drop of sweat that was dripping down my entire body!

Even though my dress was one of the most unusual "wedding dresses" you'll ever see, and Eddie's shirt was not quite the tux that you would expect, I felt like a princess and Eddie was my knight in shining armor!  This was truly one of the most special days of my life........



SEALED WITH A KISS