Believers' marriage sets new standards
A Pai Tavy Tera wedding held recently in Paraguay was a significant step for the Pai church for several reasons.
First, the groom was from a location about 200 kilometers from where the bride lived. To marry someone from that far away is almost unheard of in the Paĩ culture, but the bride and groom are believers who met as their churches interacted.
"Another reason this marriage was different is because the bride and groom waited almost a year before getting married," wrote missionary Wayne Goddard. "In typical Paĩ culture, marriages happen quickly before there is a chance to get to know one another. Because they are believers and their parents are believers they realized the importance of knowing each other better before marriage."
Finally, the marriage was significant because it took place publicly among the believers in the local church.
"This was the first time for this to take place in this location," Wayne wrote. "As missionaries among the Paĩ people we were happy to see this event take place as it is important for the believers to establish ways to celebrate these events within their culture."
A Paraguayan pastor was asked to conduct the wedding.
"We explained to the pastor the goal of setting an example for the Paĩ believers that they could follow, that was not too Western and was culturally appropriate," Wayne wrote. "The father of the bride spoke up as well and talked about the importance of young people being ready for marriage, demonstrating to everyone the pre-marriage booklet that was written for Paĩ young people and their parents."
A few Western traditions were incorporated into the ceremony and reception, such as the borrowed wedding dress and the cakes that some of the ladies made.
Pray for the newly married couple -- Daniel and Maura -- as they begin life together. Pray too for the Pai believers as they mature and seek to honor God in all the things they do.
First, the groom was from a location about 200 kilometers from where the bride lived. To marry someone from that far away is almost unheard of in the Paĩ culture, but the bride and groom are believers who met as their churches interacted.
"Another reason this marriage was different is because the bride and groom waited almost a year before getting married," wrote missionary Wayne Goddard. "In typical Paĩ culture, marriages happen quickly before there is a chance to get to know one another. Because they are believers and their parents are believers they realized the importance of knowing each other better before marriage."
Finally, the marriage was significant because it took place publicly among the believers in the local church.
"This was the first time for this to take place in this location," Wayne wrote. "As missionaries among the Paĩ people we were happy to see this event take place as it is important for the believers to establish ways to celebrate these events within their culture."
A Paraguayan pastor was asked to conduct the wedding.
"We explained to the pastor the goal of setting an example for the Paĩ believers that they could follow, that was not too Western and was culturally appropriate," Wayne wrote. "The father of the bride spoke up as well and talked about the importance of young people being ready for marriage, demonstrating to everyone the pre-marriage booklet that was written for Paĩ young people and their parents."
A few Western traditions were incorporated into the ceremony and reception, such as the borrowed wedding dress and the cakes that some of the ladies made.
Pray for the newly married couple -- Daniel and Maura -- as they begin life together. Pray too for the Pai believers as they mature and seek to honor God in all the things they do.