A Different Kind of Week

 Last week was unlike any other we've encountered here in Goma.  Let me explain.

The lead man for the Impremerie Siloan, Damien, got married last week on Friday.  After we went to the shop on Monday, we learned that the rest of the week, prior to Friday's wedding, would be consumed with various wedding celebrations so the shop would be closed.  So, we stayed home together for the remainder of the week.  We were able to get some work done while staying home, as well as more of editing on the commentaries.  It was pretty rough sitting at the table looking out over the lake in our "home office."

Pretty "tough view" at the office, Huh!

The wedding itself was scheduled to take place at 10 am, and we were told that the driver would arrive to pick us up at 9:30 am to attend the wedding.  Apparently someone didn't get the message, because it was 11:30 am before they came to pick us up for the wedding.  Once we arrived (and the wedding was underway), we were marched up to the very front of the church and seated on the main platform.  (The bride and groom were seated in front of the pulpit.)  What was really a very pretty wedding ceremony continued on for another 2.5 hrs.  After the ceremony, the crowd from the packed church made their way to a beautiful lakeside garden spot for wedding pictures.   This same picturesque spot is the place where we're "living" while we're here - there are several wedding photo groups here almost every day.

The wedding reception was next on the agenda (everything listed with a start time was running at least 1 hour late).  We were driven to a venue in the downtown Goma area.  Fortunately we were met at the car when we arrived and ushered to the front of the buffet line.  It took quite some time for all of the guests to make it into the line outside the facility (we have learned this trip that most Africans here are notoriously BAD at waiting in line), past the security at the gate, through the buffet line, and finally into the banquet room.  The place was HUGE.  I'm sure there were probably 500+ wedding guests.  The wedding program finally started with some dancing girls, only for the power to go out at the facility.  About this time we were approached and asked if we were ready to be brought home (Yes, please!)  Anyway, it was a totally exhausting day.  I'm sure the wedding couple must have been wiped out after a full week of celebrating.

Finally this week we're back to work at the print shop (albeit short one groom).  Last week the guys were able to use a new piece of bindery equipment, the tall electric stapling machine.  They were able to use it quite a lot today putting together 25 copies of a book, The Way to Study the Bible.  Today they learned a different piece of equipment, a plastic spiral binding machine.  They quickly learned how important it is to slow down and take their time to punch clean holes in the pages and covers, holes that will eventually line up so spiral coils can be added.  It took a few times of trial and error to make sure all the copies were clean cut and ready to bind.