Our Assistant, Susan, is "Introduced" to her husband-to-be.

Through 2008, Ms. Susan Mbabazi has worked as the Administrative Assistant for both Financial Aid and Planning - in other words, for both JoEllyn and Doug.  On Saturday December  20, she was introduced to her fiance.

That sounds odd to our Western ears.  In traditional culture a man 'comes to pay a visit with his family to the family of a woman in whom he is interested.'  There is a ceremony full of beautiful rituals as they woman's family sorts out 'which' woman he is interested in and finally discusses terms by which they could lose her to his family.  

"Terms" - this is another strange concept to our Western ears.  Referred to locally as Bride Price, this is a way of respecting the family that produced the young woman because she will become part of the other family.  It is a token of respect rather than a 'price paid.'  In many families and contexts, valuable gifts are even returned to the bride and groom near the time of the wedding.

Once negotiated, the woman is presented and the man's family agrees to 'take her in' to their family.    This ceremony is beautiful and, as much as anything, is an agreement between the families - not just the individuals.  

For many, this constitutes a 'traditional marriage' and of the couple.  For Christians, they move the extra step of preparing for a church wedding and reception.  Susan's will be in 2009, and we look forward to celebrating that with Susan.