Busy week

This past week we stayed in Rouen the whole week.  It was a busy week for us.   On Monday we signed the final papers that we needed for the bank loan.  Now the ball is in their camp.  When we get back to Reims this week (Wednesday) the loan papers from the bank should be waiting for us.  We have to wait eleven days before we accept the offer and sign the papers.   This is a French thing:  anytime you sign a contract you have a week or in this case eleven days to back out of the contract.  We send the papers back to the bank.  The bank then contacts the  notaire (a lawyer who writes up the house contract) who then sets a date for the final signature on the house.

Since we were in town for the week we took the time to visit the house again.  There were a few measurements that we needed to verify for the work that we want to do in the house (wallpaper, flooring, curtains, paint, etc).  One added blessing this time was that we saw the house in the sunshine for the first time.  Each of the other times that we had gone it was raining or very cloudy (we have had a very wet summer).  So it was very nice to see it in the sun.

Saturday was the BIG day and the main reason why we stayed here all week.  We had our first wedding in OUR new church.  Mike had done pre-marital counselling with this young couple and they asked him to do the wedding.

Here in France things are a little different because you don't get married in the church.  The actual wedding ceremony takes place at the mayor's office in city hall.  In this case Rodrigue and Raïssa were married by the mayor at 2:50 in the afternoon.  That's when they said "I do".

In front of the mayor

signing the papers after the ceremony

final instructions from the mayor

two good looking couples

Then you go to the church and have the religious celebration of the marriage if you want to.  The ladies in the church did such a nice job of decorating the room.  It was perfect!!  The church ceremony started at 4:30.  One of the men in the church was master of ceremonies and Mike preached and did the vows and exchanging of the rings.  I played the piano.  Everything went like clockwork.  It was so nice.  Most of the family members are not christians.  But they heard a clear message of the Gospel at the wedding.

Alexis reading  1 Corinthiens 13: 4-8 

the vows

the rings

We were invited to the dinner afterwards.  It started at 8:00 pm.  We were seated with several families from the church.  We had a real nice time and the food was delicious.  We also got to taste some traditional Gabonese food since the couple is orginally from Gabon.  Delicious!!!!

the menu

Tuesday night we had to say goodbye to one of the students.  She had been in Rouen for a year but returned to South Korea on Wednesday.  It is so hard to say goodbye.  She played the violin during the singing at church.  It was a big help to me.  I told her that, the Bible says "'Love covers a multitude of mistakes'" But Ju covers a multitude of MY mistakes!!"  I miss her already.

 As always weddings remind me of our wedding 36 years ago.  I'm so thankful for the husband that God gave me.

Have a great week!!