Yesterday, we saw 2 friends get married.
Both of them have been involved in ministry in Tanzania for over 20 yrs.
Erwin, an American, came to Tanzania as a 25yr old. He met his first wife here and they had 3 boys who grew up here. Erwin has been involved in empowering the poor first through the Heifer project and now through Global Services Corp.
5 years ago, his much loved wife, Esther died.
When we first met Erwin, he spoke of his wife, his saddness at her death and their life together, often and with tears never far away.
We ached for his loss and prayed for God to heal his heart and bring him joy again.
Angelika, is from Germany and at the age of 8 announced to the world that she would be a missionary in Africa. No one took her seriously. She was constantly compared to Tarzan, because of her ability to climb trees and her fearless approach to life. This has served her well in Africa. She has been involved in ministry to the masai for more than 20 years.
Many times she has escaped from very dangerous situations with amazing faith and fortitude. She knows what sounds to make when confronted by a lion and which ones to make when confronted by a buffalo. She has been single and for many years, on waking, she thanked God that she was not married because she would not be able to do the things she did for God if she was. Angelika also knew Erwin, his wife Esther and baby sat for their boys.
A little over a year ago Erwin hinted to David that perhaps God was bringing someone into his life. Try as we might we could not guess who.
At the same time, God was prompting Angelika that there was a new season about to start in her life.
Because they are both so well known in Arusha, getting to know each other and discovering if there was something more than friendship was difficult. Once they even took a bus ride to Nairobi so that they could sit on the bus next to each other and discuss their feelings. They even boarded the bus at different stops to divert any suspicion.
Their love began to grow. His boys gave their blessing and then her family in Germany were to find out as well as her beloved Masai. Her family were incredulous and her 90 yr old father was overjoyed that he got to see his daughter married. The masai, in their usual blunt manner questioned if she had back-slidden; if she gave into temptation; and were very incredulous also. Erwin, had visited with a team alongside Angelika earlier and all reports were that he was dearly loved.
On discovery that it was Erwin, Angelika was going to marry, the masai responded. "he is a good man, mama. He will not beat you."
On Saturday, their wedding was an exhibition of the people's love. The masai choirs that came plus the girls from the orphanage who came to sing showed how loved and honoured this couple is. The maped choir gave 3 goats as gifts, representing the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
Other goats were dropped in the days before the wedding. They were to be killed, roasted and eaten. About 800 people attended the wedding and the bride wore a masai bridal gown and the groom and matching blue shirt and both wore the masai bridal jewelery: neck band, arm bands for Angelika.
Their wedding was joyful and poignant, especially when Angelika sang a song she wrote to Erwin about how she will see his sadness dissappear and together they will be refreshed and find new joy.
Truly an amazing experience to celebrate with a special couple.
Both of them have been involved in ministry in Tanzania for over 20 yrs.
Erwin, an American, came to Tanzania as a 25yr old. He met his first wife here and they had 3 boys who grew up here. Erwin has been involved in empowering the poor first through the Heifer project and now through Global Services Corp.
5 years ago, his much loved wife, Esther died.
When we first met Erwin, he spoke of his wife, his saddness at her death and their life together, often and with tears never far away.
We ached for his loss and prayed for God to heal his heart and bring him joy again.
Angelika, is from Germany and at the age of 8 announced to the world that she would be a missionary in Africa. No one took her seriously. She was constantly compared to Tarzan, because of her ability to climb trees and her fearless approach to life. This has served her well in Africa. She has been involved in ministry to the masai for more than 20 years.
Many times she has escaped from very dangerous situations with amazing faith and fortitude. She knows what sounds to make when confronted by a lion and which ones to make when confronted by a buffalo. She has been single and for many years, on waking, she thanked God that she was not married because she would not be able to do the things she did for God if she was. Angelika also knew Erwin, his wife Esther and baby sat for their boys.
A little over a year ago Erwin hinted to David that perhaps God was bringing someone into his life. Try as we might we could not guess who.
At the same time, God was prompting Angelika that there was a new season about to start in her life.
Because they are both so well known in Arusha, getting to know each other and discovering if there was something more than friendship was difficult. Once they even took a bus ride to Nairobi so that they could sit on the bus next to each other and discuss their feelings. They even boarded the bus at different stops to divert any suspicion.
Their love began to grow. His boys gave their blessing and then her family in Germany were to find out as well as her beloved Masai. Her family were incredulous and her 90 yr old father was overjoyed that he got to see his daughter married. The masai, in their usual blunt manner questioned if she had back-slidden; if she gave into temptation; and were very incredulous also. Erwin, had visited with a team alongside Angelika earlier and all reports were that he was dearly loved.
On discovery that it was Erwin, Angelika was going to marry, the masai responded. "he is a good man, mama. He will not beat you."
On Saturday, their wedding was an exhibition of the people's love. The masai choirs that came plus the girls from the orphanage who came to sing showed how loved and honoured this couple is. The maped choir gave 3 goats as gifts, representing the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
Other goats were dropped in the days before the wedding. They were to be killed, roasted and eaten. About 800 people attended the wedding and the bride wore a masai bridal gown and the groom and matching blue shirt and both wore the masai bridal jewelery: neck band, arm bands for Angelika.
Their wedding was joyful and poignant, especially when Angelika sang a song she wrote to Erwin about how she will see his sadness dissappear and together they will be refreshed and find new joy.
Truly an amazing experience to celebrate with a special couple.
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Yours in Christ love
Ombeni Mollel