Historic day

A year ago, when 15 Shepherd of the Valley members visited Mpalapande for a partnership meeting, we were joined by several friends from Iringa, including Bega Kwa Bega Director, Rev. Peter Harrits, Iringa Diocese General Secretary Nayman Chavalla, and Bega Kwa Bega/Iringa Diocese Coordinator Rev. Lusungu Msigwa.

At some point during or after the meeting, General Secretary Chavalla made some comments, including a statement that one of our travelers, Jenny Buckley, was the "intended" of BKB Director Peter Harrits.  Mind you, at the time, there was no formal engagement.  But General Secretary declared that the wedding should take place here in Mpalapande.

Fast forward a year, Peter and Jenny were married at the end of June, and included in their wedding plans a celebration here in Mpalapande.  You can read about the elaborate preparations here.

It was a beautiful day.  As preparations continued, and as our drivers brought choirs from various villages, there was time for good conversations.

A couple vehicles brought people from Iringa -- Americans from the BKB office, Tanzanians from the diocese head office.

Children gathered around Charlotte for conversation and games. We had a lot of time to wait and anticipate.  When Peter and Jenny arrived, they were taken to Pastor Paulo's home to prepare.

Late in the morning, we started to gather for singing and dancing.

When the Mahove choir arrived, Evangelists Azuberi Mhema and Yohanna Ole Tunyoon helped us all make a joyful noise.

Finally Peter and Jenny appeared, dressed in Maasai clothing!  Jenny's dress was painstakingly sewn by Leah Massinga.  Pastor Paulo told us that for days, every time he came home, she was sewing.  The dress has tiny beads and jingles sewn to it.

Finally, the procession begins.  We walk and sing from the house to the chapel.

Jenny and Peter are led to the chapel by Maasai friends, and then are seated at the front of the worship space.

Dean Blastone Gavile, assistant to the bishop of the Iringa Diocese, led the worship service.  He told us he would deliver the sermon three times -- first in English, then Swahili, and then Pastor Paulo was asked to summarize in Maasai.

At least seven choirs offered anthems -- even the SOTV travelers sang.  One of the highlights was a song by the Tungamalenga choir, which gave suggestions for how a loving wife can greet her husband at the end of a long day.

Toward the end of the worship service, many of us were invited to speak words of congratulations.

Then all the guests lined up to give hugs and handshakes of congratulations.

With worship concluded, the party began.  Another procession led the couple back outside for a Maasai dancing/jumping competition.

Back inside again, gifts were presented.

Throughout the festivities, Dean Gavile kept referring to this as a "historic day."  Why?

From the first day I ever spent in Iringa, we Minnesota travelers have been welcomed into the lives of our partners as family.  Way back in 2002, our first evening in Iringa, we were invited to attend the wedding celebration that was taking place on the campus where we were staying. We've been to baptisms, weddings and funerals many times since then.

Even when we invite Tanzanian guests to Minnesota, we often arrange special occasions for them to attend.  Barnabas and Alice were in Minnesota to celebrate the confirmation of one of my daughters, and more recently a friend from another congregation invited a Tanzanian pastor here for his own ordination.  Bishop Mdegella is frequently a guest at our synod assemblies.

So maybe it's not really new or historic that we share these important occasions with one another. But what is historic about this celebration is that it was held in both places, with both families.  Peter and Jenny's Minnesota wedding with their Minnesota and Wisconsin families and friends was a beautiful day.  And their Tanzanian celebration with their Tungamalenga, Makifu, and Iringa Diocese family and friends was another beautiful celebration.

Dean Gavile wrote to Peter and Jenny after the historic day:

I would like to express our gratitude to you and Jenny; for you love and concern, for deciding part of your wedding ceremony to be held among the Africans in DIRA. In fact, this shows how you have put us in your hearts and minds. The ceremony was fabulous and the nomadic community was very excited and felt to be part of them. May our Lord God bless you and bless your marriage.

Hongera sana, Peter and Jenny.  Congratulations.  Thank you, people of Mpalapande, for giving us all this historic day.