THE WEDDING OF JACK AND NORA LINDA

It was a beautiful day, then again the days are always beautiful in Kenya. We had a wedding at the Kajulu church, a first experince for these people. No seemed to know how to do and what to expect. Neither did we....there was no time for a rehearsal. Somehow in this culture things will work out. What does it matter, we do have all day.

Jack and Nora both grew up as orphans and hardly know each other. He is from the Kajulu church and she is from Aroba. He is around 30 years old,and is not sure whether he was born in 1978 or 1982. She is an innocent, though mature, young lady of 16. (I tried to picture our daughter in her shoes/sandals.) Jack and Nora are both strong, dedicated Christians and that makes the difference. Pastor Glen Helmuth and Pastor Joseph Hostetler made sure the bride stayed in the compound the night before to ensure her whereabouts. She was at the wedding in good time. The groom, however, was 20 minutes late. When he did arrive, he was smiling and looking quite 'smart'!


There was a blend of cultures in this wedding. The bride was escorted in by her bridesmaids and the church chior as they sang. Following came the groom, the best man and groomsman. It was a typical service for our people; Aroba's native Pastor Eric delivered the message, followed by Merle Beachy performing the cermony. While the candle was being lit and the marriage license signed, our family sang two songs, "Jesus Hold My Hand" and "The Camel Train". Then came the lengthy testimonies of various family members. They are interesting....just lengthy. After that came the receiving line.


The chior once again escorted the wedding party out to the bridal table behind the church house. Jack and Nora are in front with Sam and Reuben Yoder looking on. (Reuben and Mary Ann are on their way home from a 6 month stay in Jerusalem and stopped in to see their daughter Lavonna married to Jonathan Martin. During their 3 week stay here the attended both a funeral and wedding.)

The wedding table was very simple with a 'leso' as the centerpiece decor and a candle. The wedding cake was banana bread. The cooks were very efficent in cooking a large amount of rice and beans but had no plan in serving so many people. So.....Rosanna Helmuth and I wrapped our lesos around our waists and dished out food and chai to 250 people. And yes, a cook's nightmare came true...we ran out of food! Some of the white people just didn't get any. . we didn't care...how could we with so many other people/children much hungrier than we were.

The wedding guests sat on the ground eating the meal. In respect to another cultral practice, the wedding party, family members and pastors left directly after the reception and drove an hour to Jack's dala (home) for another meal. Sara Esh and some of the church ladies cooked more of the same along with soft drinks and delicious mandazis and chapatis.

The wedding couple spent their first night in his house. It was just built and newly mudded, just not very big, only 8' X 10'. The door way had no door and there was no window. Their bed was only a reed mat, but they were happy. Hmmm, how very different in America.

The Glen Helmuth family left today for their home in America. Sam and I feel a bit bereft and overwhelmed in carrying on the work of the church. Please pray for us. We are thankful we can only take one day at a time and that we can have a night of sleep in between.

For this post, it was very difficult chosing pictures, there are so many. This program only lets me chose four. If you are interested in seeing the entire folder, let us know. We'll send the link to you. It shows so much more.

The rumor has it that for the compound, electricity will be rationed every Monday and Thursday. Try that for a day and see how much you can do.:)

Mattie Kauffman