Saturday - Nana Gets Married

Nardeen was supposed to up today at 7 AM. When we went to bed last night I wished her luck. They were out of the house by about 7:30 but I did not hear them leave. Bonnie and I got up some where around 9 AM. Breakfast was “light” this morning. Kaja and Ezzat put it together but no one was really excited about eating. There was a strong suggestion that we be out of the house by noon. I thought it was a pipe dream but we made it by 12:30.

12:30 it was off to the church for the 2 PM wedding. There were at least 4 pastors maybe 5 “officiating”. Ehab’s family was in the narthex of the church greeting people as they entered. Bonnie and I were kind of just hanging out there and many people thought we were greeting too. Father Philemon came in made a specific effort to introduce himself to Bonnie and I. He was from the Orthodox Church in Port Said and surely talked with Nana’s pastors before coming to Cairo. He was very kind and wished us well. It was amazing that we were in the midst of strangers and yet felt welcome and part of the family.

Nardeen insisted that during the processional we should follow her parents into the church. We again were very honored. Melanie and Megan followed her brother and sister-in-law into the sanctuary. Nardeen is a very beautiful young lady and today she was radiant. I was very proud. There were six people from Ehab’s church that sang many numbers during the ceremony. During the second pastoral presentation one of the singers slipped in the pew next to Melanie and asked if we understood what was happening and offered to translate for us. Her name is Holla and she was really amazing and friendly. We could not thank here enough to her kindness. Nana’s pastor from the last time we were here talked about how special she is because she has two fathers, two mothers, and special sisters and a brother. She is a very special lady.

There is an interesting side note here. Nana is from Port Said and the wedding is in Cairo. Ehab lives in Cairo and that’s why the wedding was held here. In order to accommodate the church members and the family from Port Said that wanted to attend the wedding Ezzat charted two buses to bring the people to the wedding. Parking in Cairo is terrible and all of those cars would have made it so much worse around the church. It was also very much safer for all the people that attend the wedding. The buses also transported them to the reception and back home again on the same day. I will have to keep something in mind like this for future events.

The reception while still in Cairo seemed like forever away from the church. Cairo is a huge city geographically as well as in population. The venue was well of the main road, quiet, and lovely. It was quiet until we arrived. They loudspeakers seemed to make everything from the music to the people speaking deafening. But that is the way things are in Egypt. We were able to renew many acquaintances from our last trip during the reception. Talking again with Andrew Adel was very enjoyable. The pastor’s wife from Port Said spent a lot of time talking with Bonnie and I. She was in Montreal when we were in Egypt 7 years ago. Once again we felt very welcomed by everyone at the reception. It was a wonderful party.

When the buses were getting everyone together to go back to Port Said the party pretty much broke up. All were ready to return to their homes as many had a long drive ahead of them. The party was really delightful. I got to dance with the mothers of the bride, the bride, and especially with my wife.  A good time was had by all and now it is time to say good night.