On June 22nd, Banda and I decided to make it official! Even though neither of us really needed the government’s piece of paper to make it real for us, we knew it would be necessary in order to deal with all of his immigration stuff. The week before, I had figured it’d be smart to go check out the situation beforehand so that we could be adequately prepared. Didn’t really want any surprise waiting periods or paperwork or blood tests. I should have known better lol. Despite a 30 minute wait and conversation with the Director of the District Council office, I walked out just as uninformed as when I went in because the paperwork was at the other office and he didn’t know any of the information :) Luckily I got a phone number so Banda could call and communicate more effectively. So he ended up calling and going to visit the guys the day before the wedding. Of course they were out of the office and drunk by 3:30 in the afternoon (Shocking! Not.). Nothing needed to be done beforehand (also shocking!). But the officials did make sure to tell Banda that he’d need to bring the equivalent of $200 to pay them as a “thank you” for doing the paperwork. HA.HA.HA.

So we headed down to the DC office one Wednesday morning to make it happen. Brother Beams graciously agreed to be my witness, despite being super busy with his impending move. I don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t been able to make it! Loved having him be a part of that. Banda’s witness was Mr. Gumbo, a former teacher of his from Embangweni (his home village). The whole witness thing here is funny to me. As an American, I would pick someone who I love and want to be there for the event. Here in Malawi, it just needs to be someone from your home area who can verify that you don’t have another spouse in the village. So basically Banda has close friends here at Chaminade and yet he had to pick some guy who he never talks to! So strange to me! But Gumbo turned out to be this adorable, cheerful man so that was fun to meet him.

We showed up at 2:30…. As requested by the DC Director. Keep in mind that he knew about the wedding since the week before AND Banda had been there the day before to finalize everything. One would think they would have taken 10 minutes that morning to get everything together. Nope! We get there and the guy tells us that the necessary papers are still at the other office. So Beams had to drive him over there, where he could only find some of the forms. So they came back and there was another search in that office. By then I was pretty convinced that it just wasn’t going to happen that day. But in true Malawian fashion, somehow it all got worked out.

The “ceremony” happened in the conference hall (had to first kick out a guy who was using the internet there). I put “ceremony” in quotes because it really wasn’t a ceremony… it was just us filling out the official certificate. Beams asked them if they were going to ask us any questions about our desire to wed or have us say any vows… The officials’ response? “We couldn’t find those papers.” Hahaha. People were answering phone calls. Wandering off to look for more papers. Etc. It’s a good thing that I didn’t have high expectations. Or any at all really. To me it was just making it legally official. We’ll have a real ceremony/reception once we get back to Texas. So anyways, we had a fun time taking pictures and chatting while the guys did the writing. Then I signed. Banda signed. And that was it! The only ceremonial part was when the officials made us stand in front of their desk and handed us the certificate. Then I was supposed to hand it to Banda. And then he said “Kiss the bride.” I think he’s watched too many American movies. Malawians do not kiss in public. They don’t hug in public. Hell, couples don’t even hold hands in public! So Banda and I both froze. Banda – the one who had been going on for weeks about how he was gonna lay a big inappropriate kiss on me at our wedding. Yeah right, sir! I recovered from my freeze first and decided “what the hell, you only get married once” and gave him a quick peck. Made everyone’s day I think lol.

Paid the $3 government fee. Then drove across town to the other office and paid an $8 fee. Then was forced to return BACK to the first office where the guy asked for his service charge. Um no. I’m not paying you $200 for actually doing your job instead of getting drunk. So I very firmly said, “We already paid.” He caved immediately thank goodness. Didn’t want to have to emotionally cripple anyone on my wedding day :)

Went home and basically had a normal evening! I wanted to make cookies so we’d have something special but the power went out. Haha. When it finally came back on we made a potato skillet with some of the Hot & Spicy spam and Velveeta that Mrs. Stilz sent in a package. :) Great reception! And I say that without any sarcasm.

The best part? We now have not only 2 anniversaries, but 3. April 2nd which is the one that we really use – when I first moved in and when we and the community accepted us as married. June 22nd when we did the legal paperwork. And June 17th….. which is what the guy wrote on the marriage certificate, despite my telling him that that was not the right date. Haha I’ll have to remember that date now whenever I’m filling out official paperwork!