What is in your hand?

In our previous life, we got to hear a lot of inspiring missionary testimonies.  We hosted a missions fellowship every Sunday night at Asbury and over the course of an academic year we hosted nearly 3 dozen missionary speakers.  One of our colleagues in Uganda said something I never forgot.  He said many people operate under the misconception that to answer a call to foreign missionary service requires one to sacrifice dreams and opportunities. 

I wrote in my previous post that we were startled to learn around 6PM Wednesday that a friend of ours would be marrying the next morning.  Wanting to photograph her family for the Portrait Project before she moved to Kosovo, we went up to her home.  Her mother was still at work with her livestock (even as it was growing dark) so we asked if we could come back in the morning.  She told us we were more than welcome, the party would be starting around 10AM!

When we arrived, it was evident that anyone in the village was welcome to attend.  I snapped a few photos, wanting to remain discreet.

It then became evident there was no one else with a camera.  So when I offered to take some photos of her with her family members, as well as her by herself, I was excited when she nodded enthusiastically.

Below with her very sweet, hardworking parents.

She looked stunning, and I couldn't imagine her not having some photos to remember this last day at home with her family.  I don't know for certain, but I think I have heard the custom is the groom usually pays for the bride's hair, make up and gown rental.

About an hour later, the groom's entourage arrived, cars carrying the Albanian and Kosovan flags.
The men visited outside, while the women of the bride's family visited indoors.

Eventually the time came for her to leave.  There's nothing more 'final' about the event than young men carrying all of your earthly possessions out in a few bags and suitcases.  The women of the groom's family (all, tall, blond Amazonian-women) started singing about their joy to add a new member to their family.  Meanwhile, the bride and her family and struggling to hold in their emotions.

 Gifts from the groom's family: a gold coin, euro bills, chocolates and a K*ran.

 Out of respect for the family, I didn't photograph their goodbyes.  It was too heart-rending.  Her mother didn't even come outside.

While I really came to get this photo, I came home with a lot, lot more. So glad to share yesterday, with what was in my hand.