Through the Seasons

Wedding Update

So this whole wedding thing with our new friend here has been interesting.  We asked when the wedding was going to be held and he said hopefully this month and that he was still negotiating the price with the girl’s father.  Oh.  Price.  The father asked for 320,000 shillings (equivalent to a little less than $320).  That’s a huge sum for him but he already had 100,000 shillings and he said if he had the goat now he could add that to the money and have enough to go ahead and get married.  That doesn’t mean the goat costs (or is worth) 220,000 shillings.  The culture here is that the groom-to-be struggles to get the dowry amount but never gets the whole thing.  Usually if he pays around half of it he’ll be allowed to go ahead and get married to the man’s daughter and will just “owe” the remaining.  The way it was told to us, he will pay it when Jesus returns.  It is a sign of disrespect if he pays the whole thing up front.  He’s basically saying he could pay more and what you’re asking for your daughter is nothing.  They like to see the man struggle to pay because it signifies that he is serious about their daughter.  (Maybe we should have this dowry thing in the States?  …smile…)  So, we went ahead and bought him a goat.  Therefore, they were free to set the wedding date.  We think it’s this Saturday but haven’t heard that confirmed yet.  We don’t know what we’re supposed to wear either.  Or where to go.  Or how to get there.  But.  All those details will come…  We’re really excited.  He is a very nice guy and we’re so honored to have been invited to his wedding and to be able to help him get enough to buy his bride.  We hope to be able to take pictures and share them.