The Festivities
What would you do if you arrived at your child's graduation ceremony at the scheduled time, and an hour and a half later, with no announcement or explanation from the school staff, it still hadn't started? Oh, and what if, thirty minutes later, you had to be at your pastor's son's wedding?
You would probably stay as long as necessary to see your child's graduation. And maybe one of you would sneak out of the graduation as soon as your child received her diploma, so as not to miss the wedding. In that case, if you lived in Mozambique, you would probably be fine, because even thirty minutes after its scheduled starting time, the wedding would have just been getting started, and you'd still have another two and a half hours to enjoy.
This was our reality last weekend. Judah and Asher had a school program at 11 a.m. in which Judah would "graduate," and our pastor's son's wedding was at 1 p.m. We arrived at the school at 11 to a beautifully decorated courtyard, ready for the big party.
We sat down at a table and waited ... and waited ... and waited. I think the ceremony finally got started around 12:30, but the first thirty minutes were songs and dancing by the children, and the presentation of diplomas didn't start until around 1 p.m., just as the wedding was starting.
Finally Judah's name was called to come up to the podium, introduce herself, and receive her diploma. As soon as she finished, Harvey and I rushed to the car so he could take me over to the wedding, which thankfully was only about ten minutes away. The kids stayed, and Harvey returned, because lunch was being served at the party, and if they didn't eat lunch there, they wouldn't eat.
(Judah and Asher did great at their program. In spite of being older and a head taller than all the other students, Judah did all she was asked to do, and in a second language. We were so proud of her for the way she went to school every day over the past three months with a good attitude and an openness to learn. Bem feito (well done), Judah!)
I was excited to attend the wedding, not only because it was our pastor's son but because I was eager for the cultural education. I entered the church through the back door, uncertain whether there was a bride's side and a groom's side. I did notice that men and women were sitting together on both sides, which is different from a typical church service, where the men and women sit separately. So I took a seat toward the back and settled in.
Soon our pastor, the father of the groom, came up to preach. He preached for around forty-five minutes on Biblical marriage. Our pastor is also our Portuguese teacher, and he had asked me the week before to create a craft for him to present to the couple as a keepsake: a key (made of card stock) with "love" written on one side and "respect" written on the other ("amor" and "respeito" in Portuguese) and the Scripture reference Ephesians 5:33. So I was pleased to be able to contribute to the wedding in that way, and I enjoyed seeing him present the key to the couple during his message.
The wedding had an emcee, which added to the entertainment value. Our pastor had told us that it was important to have an emcee who was very animated, and this one was. There were times when it seemed like he was stalling between sections of the wedding; at the mic, he would call out the bride and groom's full names, the date of the wedding, the parents' names, etc., in a charismatic voice, sometimes multiple times, filling the dead space.
The sermon was followed by the vows and exchange of rings, officiated by our colleague Brian. This was very similar to this portion of American weddings, even up to the kiss.
What wasn't similar was what followed: choral music, lots of choral music, with dancing. A group of women sang, and a group of youth sang. And whenever the songs hit their climax, random wedding-goers danced their way up to the front and joined the choir. It was a scene. I was thinking about how in weddings in the states, this might not go over well with the bride and groom—sitting through hours of musical presentations after having been pronounced man and wife!
Then came the presentation of the gifts. This was actually part of the ceremony. You don't just leave your gift on a table at the church or reception. You walk up to the front of the church and present it to the couple as you greet and congratulate them. Giving seems to be a very public act here. We do the same thing with our offerings at church.
At this point Harvey and the kids had still not arrived. Apparently back at the graduation there was a lunch and then games and activities for the kids, followed by the serving of cake. Harvey said he attempted to leave a couple of times, but each time the school staff insisted that he stay just a little longer for the next thing.
Finally, Harvey and the kids came strolling in around 3:45, just in time for the final song and exit of the wedding party. I hated that they missed the rest, but I'm sure the kids were happier having lunch and playing at the graduation festivities.
Those were not the only two celebrations of the past week. Friday night we attended a Christmas party at the lodge down the street from our house; the owners are friends of ours. The lodge patio was decked out with Christmas lights and garland, Christmas music filled the air, and the hors d'oeuvres were tasty. The only thing missing was chilly weather.
Then Tuesday Harvey and I celebrated our nineteenth wedding anniversary.
(Funnily enough, as I was looking through old photos, I realized we spent our fifth anniversary right here in Nacala as well! Look at these kids, fourteen years ago!)
We had a quiet dinner out at Taska, a new restaurant in town. We were surprised to see such a chic, modern-looking restaurant in Nacala—it looked like it could have been in DC! I had lobster, dessert, and coffee, and it was delicious. We found out it was opened by a guy we had met before whose kids are friends with our kids. So it was a fun, romantic evening. (And the kids survived at home by themselves—this may bring on a new era of freedom in our marriage!)
As I write about these recent festivities, I can't help thinking of some things I read in Scripture recently about celebration. In 2 Chronicles 30, King Hezekiah has brought reform, and God's people celebrate the passover with renewed fervor and joy—so much that after seven days, they agree to continue their feast for another seven days. Then in Nehemiah 8, after God's people return to Jerusalem from exile and Ezra reads the Law to them, and the Levites help the people understand it, the people begin to cry, but Nehemiah commands them, "Do not mourn or weep. ... Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:9-10). And in Nehemiah 12, when God's people dedicate the newly rebuilt wall of Jerusalem, they celebrate: "And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing" (Nehemiah 12:27).
God loves for us to celebrate His goodness in our lives:
His goodness in the incarnation of His Son born to a virgin in Bethlehem, as the prophets foretold.
His goodness in providing education and the opportunity for academic accomplishment for our children.
His goodness in a wedding ceremony, which reflects the sacred covenant between Christ and His church.
His goodness in years of faithful marriage in His service.
For us, there were festivities in honor of all of those things within the last week, and all in the context of a new culture. So in spite of a bit of a rough start on Saturday morning, we ate, sang, and danced, along with our friends from Mozambique, rejoicing in God for His goodness in our lives. Let the festivities continue (just not too many of them in one day next time, please)!
You would probably stay as long as necessary to see your child's graduation. And maybe one of you would sneak out of the graduation as soon as your child received her diploma, so as not to miss the wedding. In that case, if you lived in Mozambique, you would probably be fine, because even thirty minutes after its scheduled starting time, the wedding would have just been getting started, and you'd still have another two and a half hours to enjoy.
This was our reality last weekend. Judah and Asher had a school program at 11 a.m. in which Judah would "graduate," and our pastor's son's wedding was at 1 p.m. We arrived at the school at 11 to a beautifully decorated courtyard, ready for the big party.
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| Graduation party setup at Centro Infantil de Nosso Paraiso |
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| An impressive spread! |
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| All dressed up for the day's festivities |
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| Judah performing with her fellow students |
Finally Judah's name was called to come up to the podium, introduce herself, and receive her diploma. As soon as she finished, Harvey and I rushed to the car so he could take me over to the wedding, which thankfully was only about ten minutes away. The kids stayed, and Harvey returned, because lunch was being served at the party, and if they didn't eat lunch there, they wouldn't eat.
(Judah and Asher did great at their program. In spite of being older and a head taller than all the other students, Judah did all she was asked to do, and in a second language. We were so proud of her for the way she went to school every day over the past three months with a good attitude and an openness to learn. Bem feito (well done), Judah!)
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| The morning of the big day |
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| My tiny graduate! |
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| So proud of my baby girl! |
I was excited to attend the wedding, not only because it was our pastor's son but because I was eager for the cultural education. I entered the church through the back door, uncertain whether there was a bride's side and a groom's side. I did notice that men and women were sitting together on both sides, which is different from a typical church service, where the men and women sit separately. So I took a seat toward the back and settled in.
Soon our pastor, the father of the groom, came up to preach. He preached for around forty-five minutes on Biblical marriage. Our pastor is also our Portuguese teacher, and he had asked me the week before to create a craft for him to present to the couple as a keepsake: a key (made of card stock) with "love" written on one side and "respect" written on the other ("amor" and "respeito" in Portuguese) and the Scripture reference Ephesians 5:33. So I was pleased to be able to contribute to the wedding in that way, and I enjoyed seeing him present the key to the couple during his message.
 |
| Pastor AC presenting the keepsake key (the cameramen made no attempts to be inconspicuous) |
The wedding had an emcee, which added to the entertainment value. Our pastor had told us that it was important to have an emcee who was very animated, and this one was. There were times when it seemed like he was stalling between sections of the wedding; at the mic, he would call out the bride and groom's full names, the date of the wedding, the parents' names, etc., in a charismatic voice, sometimes multiple times, filling the dead space.
The sermon was followed by the vows and exchange of rings, officiated by our colleague Brian. This was very similar to this portion of American weddings, even up to the kiss.
 |
| Brian leading the vows |
 |
| I haven't been to a wedding in America in a while, but I don't think people are this bold with their wedding photography—it was like the paparazzi! |
What wasn't similar was what followed: choral music, lots of choral music, with dancing. A group of women sang, and a group of youth sang. And whenever the songs hit their climax, random wedding-goers danced their way up to the front and joined the choir. It was a scene. I was thinking about how in weddings in the states, this might not go over well with the bride and groom—sitting through hours of musical presentations after having been pronounced man and wife!
 |
| The church choir in their uniforms |
Then came the presentation of the gifts. This was actually part of the ceremony. You don't just leave your gift on a table at the church or reception. You walk up to the front of the church and present it to the couple as you greet and congratulate them. Giving seems to be a very public act here. We do the same thing with our offerings at church.
 |
| Presenting my gift and congratulating the bride and groom |
At this point Harvey and the kids had still not arrived. Apparently back at the graduation there was a lunch and then games and activities for the kids, followed by the serving of cake. Harvey said he attempted to leave a couple of times, but each time the school staff insisted that he stay just a little longer for the next thing.
Finally, Harvey and the kids came strolling in around 3:45, just in time for the final song and exit of the wedding party. I hated that they missed the rest, but I'm sure the kids were happier having lunch and playing at the graduation festivities.
 |
| The exit of the wedding party (see Harvey on the left) |
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| Not a bad ride for the bride and groom! |
Those were not the only two celebrations of the past week. Friday night we attended a Christmas party at the lodge down the street from our house; the owners are friends of ours. The lodge patio was decked out with Christmas lights and garland, Christmas music filled the air, and the hors d'oeuvres were tasty. The only thing missing was chilly weather.
 |
| Donning my red shoes for Christmas |
Then Tuesday Harvey and I celebrated our nineteenth wedding anniversary.
 |
| Ready for our anniversary date! |
 |
| Nineteen years and counting |
(Funnily enough, as I was looking through old photos, I realized we spent our fifth anniversary right here in Nacala as well! Look at these kids, fourteen years ago!)
We had a quiet dinner out at Taska, a new restaurant in town. We were surprised to see such a chic, modern-looking restaurant in Nacala—it looked like it could have been in DC! I had lobster, dessert, and coffee, and it was delicious. We found out it was opened by a guy we had met before whose kids are friends with our kids. So it was a fun, romantic evening. (And the kids survived at home by themselves—this may bring on a new era of freedom in our marriage!)
 |
| We were impressed with the interior decor at Taska. |
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| The exterior of Taska at night |
As I write about these recent festivities, I can't help thinking of some things I read in Scripture recently about celebration. In 2 Chronicles 30, King Hezekiah has brought reform, and God's people celebrate the passover with renewed fervor and joy—so much that after seven days, they agree to continue their feast for another seven days. Then in Nehemiah 8, after God's people return to Jerusalem from exile and Ezra reads the Law to them, and the Levites help the people understand it, the people begin to cry, but Nehemiah commands them, "Do not mourn or weep. ... Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:9-10). And in Nehemiah 12, when God's people dedicate the newly rebuilt wall of Jerusalem, they celebrate: "And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing" (Nehemiah 12:27).
God loves for us to celebrate His goodness in our lives:
His goodness in the incarnation of His Son born to a virgin in Bethlehem, as the prophets foretold.
His goodness in providing education and the opportunity for academic accomplishment for our children.
His goodness in a wedding ceremony, which reflects the sacred covenant between Christ and His church.
His goodness in years of faithful marriage in His service.
For us, there were festivities in honor of all of those things within the last week, and all in the context of a new culture. So in spite of a bit of a rough start on Saturday morning, we ate, sang, and danced, along with our friends from Mozambique, rejoicing in God for His goodness in our lives. Let the festivities continue (just not too many of them in one day next time, please)!
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