Day 0 — the Wedding (November 18)
Scenario: The wedding is set to begin at 1:00 PM at Miango, an hour away. We have some 16 or 17 people to transport there. A great blessing is that several people including the McCains, Fretheims, and Johnsons have lent a car (or two) or are sending a car and driver to help out. Oh, and we haven’t had a rehearsal …
6:15 AM — the neighborhood women (about 12) come to do the last bit of cooking- Chaos
- 10:30 — The bridal party gets ready to leave in the first two cars. While they’re getting in, David, the groom, calls to say he doesn’t have a ride … fine, switch around a couple of the women so he’s not sitting with the bride, and that’s settled.
- 10:40 — We completely run out of water — not only is the pump broken (burned out due to miswiring) but the reservoir is empty. Seems the neighbors’ gardener has shut off the valve connecting us to the city water. OK, time to use the precious hand sanitizer instead of water!
- 11:00 — A different neighbor’s gardener comes, beautifully dressed, to get a ride for him and his wife. Sannu! (sorry) … no space. Well, he’ll settle for a thousand naira ($7.50) to take public transport. About the same time, friend and Sara’s age-mate Henrietta comes with the same request. Well, maybe we can squeeze in one … check back soon. Next David’s family comes around to see if we have rides for them. Uh oh, sorry, we’re all full
- 11:15 — Kawabunga — how did it get to be this late?! I think I forgot to factor in the one-hour drive. Sure, they can’t start without us, but still … The last remnant piles into the van filling every seat. Before reaching the hospital gate we stop at the canteen to pick up 10 crates of soda (’minerals’).
- 11:25 — The oil light on this borrowed van is on. Is that ok? The mobile phone saves the day as I check with Peter, who says it’s ok. Later I realize it’s not the oil light (red), it’s probably just one that comes on to mean “think about changing your oil and getting the mechanic to reset this light.”
12:20 — Arrive at Miango, things look pretty good; a lot of people have been working hard to get everything set up. The sound system Alex found for us is first rate. Quick unload the soda crates, check in with the bridal party at the cottage, change clothes in the kitchen closet, grab a meat pie … it’s already 1:05 PM and some people are rushing us. But we know that most of the Nigerians will miss the wedding if it starts on time, so now that we’re actually there and nearly ready, I’m not concerned.- 1:15 — All set. I’m standing outside with Saralynn and the three bridesmaids. Then we get word to wait, everything is on hold as some important guests haven’t arrived yet.
- 1:55 — We get the go ahead and move to just outside the chapel. “How do we know when to go in?” “When Mary starts playing the Star Trek theme,” says Saralynn. Right …
The wedding itself went fine, the bride and groom and everyone were beautiful. Saralynn, Lisa and Jonathan sang crystal clear. The few rough points (e.g., when one of the roving photographers, in tee-shirt and jeans, stepped on Saralynn’s dress, or when Sara was coerced into changing out of her wedding dress and into Tiv garb) will be forgotten and we’ll remember the fun and beautiful and funny bits.
During the service, Dr. Danny McCain told the story of the seven-cow bride. Many of you have probably heard it in one version or another; something close is the version at the end of the sermon here. I won’t put it in a nutshell because it’s worth reading the story.
- 3:00 to 5:00 — photos, reception, cleanup, send-off to the honeymoon site at Vom, just 20 miles down the road.
- 6:00 — home with the rest of the family; potato soup; exhaustion; Luke is sick; there is still no water.
- 9:00 — got a text message from the groom: “Hi, we are ok. am thinkin of givin u ten cows! Tank u.”
Thanks to everyone who helped make this a wonderful and special day!