We have finished teaching the “Christian Life” course and
the students have turned in their studies for checking. Tomorrow we start the “Family Life”
course. That sounds simple enough, but
it’s not. A legal marriage here in
Uganda requires that the groom purchase the bride from her family. This is called a dowry. If you do not pay the dowry, the wife’s
family can come and take her away from you at any time. This makes for unstable family
situations. If a couple falls in love
they can make a commitment to each other, move in together, and after three
weeks they become a common law marriage, but the wife’s family can still come
and take her away at any time even if there are children involved. It makes for a difficult situation for the
poor who would like to get married but can’t afford to do it legally. By the way, as long as you call it a committed
relationship and not a marriage the law will not prosecute you, but if you call
your relationship a marriage and have not paid the dowry you can be put in
jail.
Please pray we will have the wisdom of God as we teach the “Family
Life” course under these unusual circumstances.
Students turning in their completed Christian Life studies
Henry at entrance to the BASIC school
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