Well - not really THE beginning, but OUR beginning as a new family.
Believe me - it was in the middle of Africa. Then, in 1959, the Belgian Congo. Now - the Democratic Republic of Congo. The date was Dec. 10th. The day before we been to the Goverment Office at Malemba Nkulu for our 'Civil' wedding, according to Belgien rules. Now, at Kabondo Dianda Mission Station we have our 'Church' wedding. We were to have been married in the church, however, that morning there was a very heavy rain storm. Missionary friends had gathered from a wide area and a few of them decided that due to the sheeting rain it would be impossible to get to the church. So, the living room in the senior missionary's house was quickly prepared. 'Uncle' Teddy Hodgson, later to become a 'Congo Martyr' during the post Independance uprising, conducted the service. It was a great day. After the service we were driven around a while in the smartest car available while the living room was kitted out for the Reception. In the afternoon we were driven to Luena, about 100 miles away where we stayed in a small hotel then next day by train to Elisabethville (now Lubumbashi) for our Honeymoon. In those days, Lubumbashi was a beautiful city. Impressive buildings and the streets lined with Jaccoranda trees.
