The first of April is Dhruv's (in red checked shirt) birthday - he is just 10 days older than Caleb. Caleb and Bethanie were invited to their first Indian birthday party and it was done in style - LOTS of homemade goodies plus a big party with friends and family.
So now you can meet our lovely downstairs neighbours. From L, Hahsh (10), Dhruv (8), Purnima & Parkash, Anand (2).
The following weekend (Easter Saturday) it was Terry & Peter's wedding. Terry is SIM Sudan's accountant and it was a privilege to share this special day with her. Here is the marquee where the service would be held.
Caleb and Bethanie wait patiently with their friends Thomas and Jonathan Crowder. It would be an hour after the advertised time that the service actually started but there was some fun beforehand. Apparently the bride's uncles traditionally take this opportunity for some final negotiations with the groom on the dowry price! This half-jest/half-serious discussion takes place on the way to the church and is accompanied by some serious drumming and dancing.
One of the groom's relatives - what an expressive face. Notice the earlobes that a generation of British youth are also likely to have!
It's a much bigger undertaking to agree to be a bridesmaid here - you have to DANCE down the aisle, before the bride...
My very good friend Christiane
The Personnel team (Susan Ndugu and myself) all glammed up
Debbie and Leah share a laugh :) - Leah took Debbie and I to a tailor's where we all got our wedding outfits made - he was amazing, just working from some measurements and us pointing at some pictures we liked!
A great time was had by all. Thank you Terry and Peter!
The following day was Easter Sunday (sorry, no photos) and we did enjoy full-on praise and celebration at Good Shepherd Church - the new guys in town didn't quite know what had hit them! A church lunch together afterwards (prolonged by a HUGE downpour outside that no-one wanted to venture out into) was a happy end to a very sociable weekend.
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