Weddings

It is hot out here - like 38 degrees under a tree with chirping birds. Replace the tree with inner-city cement and unrelenting sunshine and it is certainly 40-something. Of course, this can mean only one thing - it is wedding season. We've just been to two weddings in three weeks, with wedding number three landing on my birthday a bit later this month.

Raksmeay and his wife (on the right) are the delightful folk that we buy rice from 50kg at a time for the Healing Home. We were delighted to be invited to their son's lovely wedding last Saturday.

Weddings can be an extremely complex affair here. Families play a central role, with the young people often having minimal - if any - say in things. Social standing is a very big deal. It is usual for the man to pay a dowry - and to then have the joy of moving in with his inlaws for some years. After that he can get his own home so that the inlaws can live with him.

Choosing the wedding present could not be easier. You say it with money - every time. Your envelope (the one you received the invitation in) is noted in a ledger with the amount you give. Intensive wedding seasons like the present can be pretty demanding on people as you are fully expected to say it with money whether you attend or not. If you have an invitation envelope, you give. My mate Phanna says that he budgets one wedding per month (maybe $15 - on his $120 monthly salary). This month he has three wedding invites. He says the other two invites must come out of his food budget.

My bride looking stunning in her Khmer silk dress. The silk material was hand woven by the wife of Srourn (a former HH patient) and then given to a dressmaker at the Russian Market here to make up.

We are having very interesting discussions with our staff - and Susie with her girls smallgroup - over love and marriage. Companionship and agreement are foundational to our thinking, but like another language to many here. Parental pressure is often very great on Christian young people. It is another area that we trust that we can be a blessing in to those we are privileged to rub shoulders with here.