Happy Wedding Day!

Our neighbor and dear friend Zehera got married today!  The ladies were going to start cooking at 6am, so at 7 Hunter and I jumped out of bed and rushed over. 

 We had chai with the bride, in all her blushing beauty.  We are THRILLED that she married a sweet young man, little brother of good friend, and someone who appears to adore her.

 Here's the ladies stirring one of the three enormous vats of rice, later to be spiced the island way and topped with vegetable sauce.

Now that is a big spoon!

One of the many Miriams...but maybe the most precious.

About 8, after Hunter's turn at the giant spoon, we headed home to shower and re-dress and get the rest of the gang.  When we returned, we found the bride all beautified...island style.



Love, love, love this picture!

Then we all sat and ate (men) or waited (women).  About noon, after the Pilau (spiced rice) and Mchuzi (sauce), we headed home to rest for a few hours.  The drums started up about 5pm and called us back to find Zehra re-beautified.


Zehera seemed to swing between happy and scared and worn out by the end of this LONG day.

But soon Yusuf showed up, all smiles, eyes bright as he lifted the veil to see his bride for the first time.

Some awkward moments followed as everyone tried to get a picture on their phones, tell the happy couple how to sit and where to put their hands.  But finally, they were off.  Pray with me tonight for this precious girl as she faces the unknown.  Pray they find true love and gentleness and one day, Him!

Is that a spitting viper?

Why yes, yes it is.  Un-funnily enough the men thought it was just a cobra of some sort and were thus brave enough to pick it up and study it at stick's length.  Can anyone else praise the Lord with us that this thing did NOT spit?  It could have hit all of us...even up on the porch thinking we were safe.

 Speaking of hidden dangers, or not, small sea urchins CAN be picked up and carried without being speared.  Thank goodness for my girls to figure these things out for me.

 Another beautiful sunset over the good old Indian Ocean.

 After a month of dryness, the rains have returned in gentleness, often arriving after a "warning" of these beautiful rainbows across the fields from us.

 Medical work continues in my porch/clinic.  Burns and skin infections and diarrhea and colds.  It's a dirty world.  But I thank God that I can help in any small way.

Thanks for your continued love and support!  Thanks for being a part of our lives and our work here.