Monday, September 3

Shalaleh and Ash's Wedding
This has been a multicultural weekend. After Blake and Christine's wedding, on Sunday I showed our Israel pictures and our Chinese choir sang. (Both were well received). On Monday, I was invited to partner with a Persian Notary Public in the marrying of our Iranian neighbor's daugher, Shalaleh. They held two ceremonies back to back. The first one Muslim, Turkish, Persian in tradition, and the 2nd one Christian. Although the couple are not Christians, because of our strong relationship, they asked for my participation. They consider Susan and me to be family. I was quite fascinated by the eastern tradition. The bride, groom, and attendants dressed in our North American gowns and suits, but sat through the first ceremony. The Notary Public also sat as he spoke.There was a large display of produce in front of the couple; honey for sweetness (which they fed to each other, saying they each would give sweetness to the other), wheat flowers, vegetables and fruit representing God's blessing; money for prosperity, candles for God's light, and eggs for reproduction. During the ceremony close family members rubbed sugar over the heads of the couple promising more sweetness. After the Notary Public was finished and I'd done my Christian wedding ceremony, every family member presented gifts of gold, jewls or money. They came one by one, showed their gift to everyone (a little bit of peer pressure!) and then kissed the bride and groom. Every one at the ceremony were close family members (and me). Later, Susan joined me and we had a wonderful evening of sumptuous Western and Eastern cuisine. We loved watching the celebration of music and dance. Turkish and Persian music are loud, fast and very jubilant. It was a delightful evening. May God bless our many Iranian neighbors.