Going to the chapel...

It is not that the process to get married in Mozambique is impossibly long and expensive.  It is just if you are not already a full documented citizen, then it becomes incredibly cumbersome to first obtain a birth certificate and then turn it into the valid documentation required to tie the knot legally.  It is for this reason, among others. that legal marriage is rarely considered by a couple beginning a life together.  But despite these obstacles, we celebrated a wedding yesterday.  Manuel and Teresa, a young couple, who are incredibly poor, succeeded in making it to the alter (a figurative alter at least).
Manuel is a taxista or bicycle taxi driver.  His wife Teresa, a beautiful lass, is but 17.  They have been living together for five years (yes, the math is astounding).  She cannot read nor write and her husband helped her sign her name on the wedding certificate.  But still, it was a simple but joyous affair.  And they went through this prodigious effort so that they can be baptized and fully embrace the gospel.

It was so hot in the chapel that my suit coat and shirt were wringing wet by time the service concluded.  Weddings and general authority visits have been the only uses for my suit coat.

The wedding dress of Teresa is from our small inventory here.  The cake and drinks were a gift from Elder and Sister Osborn.  It was a  simple but profoundly sweet occasion. 



Outside the federal records office or "registro" was this guy transporting chickens.  Among the things which I have learned in this highly educational place is the fact that chickens, held upside down, are perfectly docile and carry easily in bunches like carrots.

This is Debra, who is growing nicely and beautifully.  We tended for an extensive period this week as we made a final push for documents for mom and pop.  They succeeded after many fits and starts, and a bit too much impatience on my part. Their marriage will be next week.  Debbie was uncontrollable and went out today and bought matching (or at least complementing) outfits for the three children.