Marriage Negotiations Break Down
After marriage talks broke down between Sepaiye’s uncles and the “owners” of his desired bride-to-be, it looked hopeless. Sepaiye, one of the Moi Bible teacher, came by the missionaries’ house with the bad news. You’re probably wondering: What does that mean?
Too High a Price
A short lesson in Moi culture will help. There is no wedding, no ceremony, no celebration. Marriages are arranged.
“The whole process of getting a bride is viewed as a business transaction between two parties,” wrote Rich and Karen Brown, missionaries to the Moi people in the Asia-Pacific region. “Once both parties agree on a price and the transaction is complete, the man and woman are officially married.” — The potential bride and groom often have little to say in the matter.
Sepaiye’s desired bride-to-be is a strong believer from another clan, but the bride price being demanded is too high and Sepaiye’s uncles are unwilling to pay that price.
So What Happens?
“Some are advising him
That sounds simple enough, but Sepaiye’s choices are limited. His uncles are seriously considering getting him a wife from a neighboring village — but this woman is not a believer. As you can see, it gets complicated quite quickly for Sepaiye, who wants to only marry a believer.
This is where your prayers come in. The stakes are high. Sepaiye’s future is strongly influenced by choices not totally within his control. Pray that the “owners” of the woman Sepaiye wants to marry would be uncharacteristically reasonable. Pray for Sepaiye and his uncles (who are also believers) to trust God’s timing for a Christian wife. Your prayers can make a difference.
