Page 78 - Unseen Hands by Nona Freeman

Unseen Hands
"Since youhaveled the opposition against us, you should go to your parents, tell them your vision, and persuade them to give their permission."
"And," Erkenesh added, "we would like to have the wedding reception at your house."
"I will gladly go to our parents, and I believe they will agree. It would be appropriate to have the feast at my house, but unfortunately, I have no money for it."
"Don't worry about the money. The Lord will pro vide, and we will pay for everything," the young folks answered together. With the weddingten days away, they had twenty-nine birrbetween them. The word providehad barely been spoken when a man came and handed Tekle fifty birr, the beginning of God's provision.
Within three days, a couple gave Erkenesh her wed ding dress, and a man bought Tekle a wedding suit and shoes. Gifts totaling 800 birr came to them in various ways, and in another three days everything had been bought and made ready.
With the presence and approval of both their families and a host of friends, the wedding took place in the
NorwegianLutheran mission hall, and an abundant feast at the home of Tamru followed the ceremony. The Full Gospel Believers in Addis Ababa wanted the wedding ceremony repeated in their church and sent cars to bring them the 280 kilometers.
These believers had a custom that the bridal pair should make their covenant before God, but before the conclusion of the ceremony, the question must be asked if anyone present had any objections to the union. One dissenting voice would nullify the marriage contract. Unknown to Tekle and Erkenesh, opponents waited for
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