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#200

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So last Sunday Nontobeko and I did the biggest thing we have EVER done... Ok, it might not seem that big BUT we gave our daughter to child care while attending a service at Grace Community Church here in Montrose, Colorado. Really this was our first time letting strangers take care of her. Our thoughts wandered, what if she has one of her fussy moments, how much is her number going to pop up on the screen, is she going to be scared and continuously cry? We were hesitant but knew the space would be good for us. And it was! In all this there was one thing that made a highlight to the day. At the end of the service Non shuffled her way to pick Amahle up. You know this church thing where every one leaves quickly, well Amahle was already the last child in the child care. Nontobeko picked her up and the volunteer shared that Amahle did great with the other children but suddenly when everyone left she began crying! Today, October 2, she turns 7 months! We are so amazed in this l
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I hear the wedding bells!!

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An update to catch you all up on! Last time I shared in the previous blog I asked for prayers in the part two of negotiations on July 16 about figuring out a wedding date and where. Well, all went well! Amazing actually. A couple days before the 16th Nontobeko and I met up with my Pastor, the one leading the Harrington crew, and his wife to talk about what this next part of negotiations could look like. And to be honest it was quite scary. Sthembiso shared personal experience and tradition that typically the brides family has the full authority to choose where and when the wedding will be. Like stories of a wedding taking place right on the family property, with a tent. No disrespect but that did not fill me with excitement. Nontobeko and I began to share our desires for our wedding to our Pastor so that by the 16th he could present this option to the Mokoena family. Pulling up to the house wasn't as nearly daunting as the first part of negotiations but everyone still holding
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Oh Happy Day

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Sorry for the update being so long but it has two stories combined the negotiations and the engagement sharing Nontobeko and Is experience through two different traditions. Hope you laugh and enjoy it! LOBOLA DAY On May 21 st I woke up with an excitement knowing Nontobeko will become my wife (traditionally) in just a couple hours! It didn't feel real though because of my cultural upbringing I wasn't prepared for this besides the advice, and jokes, I had received from fellow South African friends about lobola. Early that morning the A-Team arrived to my house, the representatives that would be present in the negotiations on my behalf. Typically having the people negotiate for you are your uncles and other family members but in my position my family couldn't be there. So my local pastor from Mbonisweni, Lennon and a few others from the church became part of the team. The coolest thing that I learned that morning was when a family cant attend the negotiations the p
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