A Feast of Victory

My fellow missionary, friend, and neighbor Lilian was literally jumping up and down when she shared shortly after New Year's that her son Martín had proposed to fellow MK Hannah. We're still basking in the glow of wedding weekend!

The families invited a) the entire congregation at my church, where Martín's dad serves as one of the pastors; and b) the entire DR missionary team. 

I'm still not sure how - maybe because I housed a couple of out-of-town wedding guests? - but I scored an invite to a celebratory Friday evening banquet. Lilian: "Eres familia" (You're family). 

Back: Katie Ziegler, Angie Sharp, mother-of-the-bride Christine, and I. Front: Roberto (& Johanna) Weber and Tirzah Krey. 

Fellow missionary Danelle - and a cadre of minions who helped execute her vision - outdid herself on the decor. I found myself somewhat seriously wondering what it would take to get some of those party lights in my backyard...!

I had a mission on Saturday morning (you'll have to wait for the next post) but no plans for the remainder of the day when my missionary friend - and bridesmaid - Ashley, visiting from PR, asked if I wanted to take a ride on Santiago's new-ish cable car and get froyo. Um, yes? 

Several of us NOT in the wedding held an impromptu anti-bachelorette party get-together Saturday evening. 

And finally...it was wedding day. The ceremony took place during the first ~15 minutes of a regular Sunday Divine Service. 

Me, Ashley, and Tirzah. 

Missionary ladies with the new Mrs. Fritzler. 

Hannah's wore her mom's dress...appropriate when your wedding day is US Mother's Day AND your parents' 23rd wedding anniversary. 

It was a joyous day on so many levels, and a momentous one: the first LAC missionary kid wedding. I've known both bride and groom since they were young teens. Most everybody remembers observing their interactions two regional conferences ago (you know you're a missionary when you measure time in conferences) and wondering if there was ~something~ going on. We were all in favor and most obviously not wrong.

And now, as one of the readings Martín & Hannah chose says, "What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." Singing the Spanish version of "This is the Feast," it struck me that a wedding is indeed a feast of victory for our God. Yes, we literally feasted on a picadera and four homemade mini-desserts during a reception in the parking lot, but first, we witnessed something Satan must hate: the one-flesh union of two steadfast believers whose relationship will have Christ as its 3rd strand and who have pledged to be faithful in worship and to raise up their children in the faith, should God bless them in that way. Pray for the start of their young lives together, that their love for one another might ever mirror our Bridegroom's sacrificial love for His bride, the Church. 

Until next time, blessings in Christ!