Some Great News!!!

 

This past Sunday (18th Nov 07) Zwakele and I were officially engaged at Timbutini Wesleyan Church (Pastor Walter’s Church)! Woo-Hoo!!! In Swaziland a couple gets engaged in front the girls church during or after the Sunday morning worship service. We tried keep it the engagement a secret, in order to surprise the congregation. This is how it went down:

 

 

Half way through the service,a visiting AIM team was called up front to sing a special song. My friend Matt and I jumped in with the choir. When the song was over Matt and I stayed up front to give testimonies. Pastor Walter first asked for a new translator to come forward, and he picked Zwakele. Matt gave his testimony on the Lord’s perfect timing in our lives, with much laughter coming from those who knew what was about to happen. Then I began, and I read 1st Timothy 1:12-14. In that moment I was just in awe of God’s abundant grace that has been poured over my life these past 10 years. I was once so very far from God.  But Jesus brought me to Him and He has given me real life. And now, in His mercy, He has allowed me find a wonderful woman like Zwakele. I really do not deserve her. I was starting to break down a little as I testified, then Walter came up and asked me a few questions about Zwakele. He wanted the church to hear why I picked Zwakele; what was it about her.  He then asked Zwakele the same about me.  I then put the ring on her finger, and and she then put a nice new watch on my left wrist.  A couple pastor friends of mine then came forward and they and the congregation all prayed at once for us and our future marriage.  After the service, the family I live with and I threw a small celebration at our homestead. So many people came (even many that were not invited:) ) but God took care of everything; and there was just enough food so that everyone was satisfied. It was a beautiful day for sure!

 

Getting married here can be a complicated process… there are Swazi cultural traditions, Swazi Church traditions, her family’s desires, and then our desires of what we want our wedding to be. The whole thing has beeninteresting to say the least.

//<![CDATA[
u003c/span> u003c/div>
u003cdiv> u003c/div>
u003cdiv>u003cfont sizeu003d”4″>Our marriage process is as follows:u003c/font>u003c/div>
u003cdiv> u003c/div>
u003cdiv>1.  I go to her family and ask them if i can marry her daughter – I pay 1 cow ($300.00 USA) to "open their mouth" to get them to discuss this issue.  ("check" did that)    u003c/div>
u003cdiv> u003c/div>
u003cdiv>2.  Her family calls me to come and tell me the final bride price (called: lobola) – There is a whole grading system on what a girls bride price should be.  It is based on birth order, family status, age of the single girl, and purity (eg, if she already has a child the bride price is much lower).  Zwakele is the last born, which is esteemed and considered more valuable.  Her bride price could be 17 cows…but the family has decided that her bride price is 13 cows, because i have helped her and her family.  ("Check" done)  
u003c/div>
u003cdiv> u003c/div>
u003cdiv>3.  We get "officially engaged" during the Sunday morning service at her home church.  I get called up to the front and then they ask me why i am standing there.  I whip out the ring and she is called up forward, i put the ring on her and she gives me a nice watch.  We are then considered engaged within the community of believer's. 
u003cspan>u003c/span>("Check!!")u003cbr clearu003d”all”>u003c/div>
u003cdiv> u003c/div>
u003cdiv>4.  There is a weekend ceremony/party of paying the bride price.  I arrive at her family homestead on a designated Friday afternoon with 2 live cows at least, and any other cows that I will pay or their monetary equivalent.  I do not have to pay for all 13 at once.  It is acceptable to pay about half, and then i will pay the remaining balance off bit by bit over a few years time.  The family then slaughters 2 cows and we have a weekend long beef eating party that the entire community is allowed to attend.  This is happening the weekend of December 8th!  Please pray that I acquire the actual cows for a good price! 
u003c/div>
u003cdiv> u003c/div>
u003cdiv>5. The actual wedding takes place…We are hoping that this will happen on Saturday February 9th, 2008!  Just waiting to hear back from the owner of the venue.   “,1]
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1. I go to her family and ask them if i can marry her daughter – I pay 1 cow ($300.00 USA) to “open their mouth” to get them to discuss this issue. (“check” did that)

 

2. Her family calls me to come and tell me the final bride price (called: lobola)- There is a whole grading system on what a girls bride price should be. It is based on birth order, family status, age of the single girl, and purity (eg, if she already has a child the bride price is much lower).  Zwakele is the last born, which is esteemed and considered more valuable. Her bride price could be 17 cows, but the family has decided that her bride price is13 cows, because i have helped her and the family.(“Check” done)

 

3. We get “officially engaged” during the Sunday morning service at her home church.  I put the ring on her finger and she gives me a nice watch.  We are then considered engaged within the community of believer’s. (“Check, and done.  Hallelujah!”)

 

4. There is a weekend ceremony/party of paying the bride price. I arrive at her family homestead on a designated Friday afternoon with 2 live cows at least, and any other cows that I will pay or their monetary equivalent. I do not have to pay for all 13 at once. It is acceptable to pay about half, and then i will pay the remaining balance off bit by bit, over a few years time. The family then slaughters 2 cows and we have a weekend long beef eating party that the entire community is allowed to attend. This is happening the weekend of December 8th! Please pray that I acquire the actual cows for a good price!

 

5. The actual wedding takes place…We are hoping that this will happen on Saturday February 9th, 2008! Just waiting to hear back from the owner of the venue.

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u003cdiv>         u003c/div>
u003cdiv>SO, my friends I just wanted to fill you in as soon as possible about this wonderful weekend.  Please keep Zwakele and myself in your prayers as we approach our wedding and this new chapter in our lives together.  We are so very happy to have this next step achieved and we are rejoicing in the Lord for His wonderful Grace and Love in our lives.  Without Him none of this would be possible!  Again, I just want to thank you for your love and support to (i was about to type "me" but i guess that's changing) – I want to thank you for your love and support you shower on US as we serve the Lord here in Swaziland.  May God bless you in abundance!
u003c/div>
u003cdiv> u003c/div>
u003cdiv>love, Dennis      u003cbr clearu003d”all”>u003cbr> u003c/div>u003cbr clearu003d”all”>u003cbr>– u003cbr>Living a life I have never dreamed possible…u003cbr>u003cbr>Dennis A. Brocku003cbr>AIM – Swaziland u003cbr>u003ca hrefu003d”http://www.dennisbrock.myadventures.org” targetu003d”_blank” onclicku003d”return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)”>
www.dennisbrock.myadventuresu003cWBR>.orgu003c/a>u003cbr>Swazi Cell Phone: u003cbr>From USA dial 011-268-623-4707
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SO, my friendsI just wanted to fill you in as soon as possible about this wonderful weekend. Please keep Zwakele and myself in your prayers as we approach our wedding and this new chapter in our lives together. We are so very happy to have this next step achieved and we are rejoicing in the Lord for His wonderful Grace and Love in our lives. Without Him none of this would be possible! Again, I just want to thank you for your love and support to (i was about to type “me” but i guess that’s changing)-I want to thank you for your love and support you shower on US as we serve the Lord here in Swaziland. May God bless you in abundance!

 

Living a life I have never dreamed possible…

 

Love, Dennis