Wednesday

I-Temba stretching and exercise before dancing

I sat at a dinner table with a group of seven team members as the laughter resounded throughout the hall. They were talking about relationships with girls and guys. Dating in their culture is different than in America. One guy said, how will you know if you find the right one? The unanimous answer around the table was two things. Do they know Jesus and how do they kiss.

I shared about Cathy and I meeting and getting married six months later. They were wide eyed when I told them she was already engaged when we met. Then I said, we got married two weeks after I asked her. One girl hit the table and said, that is the way to do it. No waiting! I believe in that! The mood changed when I told them why we decided to wed so quickly. Her mother had cancer and there was some fear that she might not live until a later date. The reality of life hit them quickly.

One girl shared about her family back in the Free State. She ran away from home because she didn’t want to abide by the society rule for marriage. Girls are abducted by an uncle with a sack over their head. They are taken to a room and kept for three days and finally introduced to the husband chosen for them. I just did not want to go through what my mother went through. I became wide eyed as they told me stories of marriage in their cultures. Wow, we have no idea what some Christians face in other countries.

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Tarryn, lead dancer for I-Temba Team

Yvonne, born in africa and headed to Germany with I-Temba