I knew.
Both (ceremonies) demonstrate dignity and holiness to people in our community.
Global partner, David Lual, has been dreaming of the day when he would meet his future wife and one day start a family of his own. He shares with us how he met Aluel and the next steps for his future:
“Aluel and I met through a friend, Michael. Michael knew her and her family and thought we would be a good match. After I agreed to meet her, Michael arranged for the introduction. He made the arrangements and we met about a week later.
I proposed to her the first day I met her! I knew.
Aluel has an entrepreneurial spirit. She works for an international NGO as a field assistant during the week. She also owns a retail shop and a hair salon, which is where you can find her on weekends.
Though I knew we would be together, we started dating each other. We would go out to dinner and get to know each other more. After a month, she introduced me to her family. Meeting the family is significant. I first met her mom. I made my intentions known. Her mom welcomed me and gave me her blessing.
Next, we included both families in the marriage process. We arranged for two relatives from each family to meet. They discussed the union and the families coming together.
My engagement is a great joy to my mom. I am the oldest of my three brothers and 20 step-siblings. It is customary for the eldest son to marry first before the younger in my culture. So my younger brothers have been eager for me to marry. My followers at last now have a chance to also get married.
When both families of the wedding party meet, they welcome each other. The bride’s family determines how many cows for a dowry are to be exchanged. This is tradition, much like your engagement rings. It demonstrates that the husband can provide for the wife.
I was asked to collect 40 cows and 7 bulls for the dowry price. I had been saving cows in preparation for my future since 2018 so I had many of these already but I was still short about 10. With help from friends, family relatives, and ministry partners, I was able to finally collect the cows. It was a struggle.
I was eager to give the cows while they were still strong and healthy before we entered the dry season and they became lean. The giving of the dowry to the family kicks off the traditional ceremony. So we needed to plan the celebration first.
Our ceremony was colorful. We wanted lots of color. We borrowed a traditional headdress made from ostrich feathers from the town council for me to wear. Just before the ceremony, I delivered the cows which is the first part of the tradition.
Aluel and I also want to get married in the church. We want a church ceremony as well. Both ceremonies are important to us. The traditional ceremony honors our heritage. The church ceremony reflects our involvement in the church community. Both demonstrate dignity and holiness to people in our community.
We will be both active in the church. I will continue to pastor. Aluel will likely help lead the women’s ministry. The next step now is for us to be blessed by the church and then come together in our new home. We are nearly finished with our home compound. There are a few more items to finish like the pit latrine."
More photos from the ceremony:
