Won't you marry me Bill? (5th Dimension)



After months of effort, Quelimane finally had its first ever marriage in the church on Thursday. The happy couple was Lurdes and Amizade. Their ceremony and celebration were simple and cheap (both issues were important to them), but they got married specifically so that they would be able to join the church. This was a very important milestone in the establishment and growth of the LDS church here. Someone had to be the first and prove that it could be done. We fought the bureaucracy until the final day--finally succeeding in getting the necessary document allowing me to perform a legal marriage. He had invited family from afar to participate but refused to hold up the ceremony--and they arrived an hour late. He asked that I put on my suit for the occasion. Debbie played Pachabel Canon and a few other favorites. The bride wore a skirt that Debbie had made and a top that we had shipped from the states to deal effectively with natures gifts to Lurdes. The couple was quite excited-and a bit proud to be the first.

These are very good people. We have gotten close to them as they have learned the gospel and as we have learned together the twisty path of Mozambican marriage documentation. It was not an easy thing for them. I love Lurdes hair. Many months ago we bought a carved ebony wood statue of an African woman with hair exactly the same. Lurdes is wearing old tennis shoes--the only shoes she possesses other than flip flops.

If only we had basketball hoops, this would look like any lds wedding reception anywhere. We bought a cake (it will rapidly become an established tradition here that the casal Osborn will provide the cake--two other pending couples have asked us about it)

After the wedding, The couple invited guests over to their home for lunch--which you can see cooking in their "back yard". Charcoal or wood is the heat source for 95% of the people.