Civil marriage and a new pooch.

So this might sound strange but I am legally married right now.

Even though Agnes and I are getting wedded in a church in a few weeks time, last week we went to do our civil service in the government house in Jinja.

This civil service basically means we are internationally recognized as legally married. 

This will make things a lot easier for Agnes and I seeing as we are both from different countries. That might mean being able to get her to come and visit oz, or getting a visa or even duel citizenship for me here in Uganda (I have to wait three years before I can apply)

It was a bit of a process, we had lots of paper work to fill out, including a certificate of no impediment to marriage from Australia to say that I could legally marry. After lodging our forms, a public notice was then stuck on the town hall in Jinja with our names on it, and if no one raised an issue, after 21 days we could legally get married.

So after the 21 days, and no one raising an issue, we gathered our witnesses for the civil service (I got Robert K, and Agnes brought her uncle along) and then we went to the lawyers office to be married.
It was really an interesting affair because the government official/lawyer who was to marry us was an interesting man, to say the least.
We had already found some issues with this guy, because he kept threatening me with jail if I was not genuine and if I was doing an illegal marriage.
I didn't know if he just didn't trust me, or didn't like me, but he was really trying to play a power game over me when we had approached him to organize a time to do the service.
Basically he was a big fat government man, and like most big fat government men, they are on a bit of a power trip, and like to try and intimidate you.

I remember I had arched up a bit, because he struck a nerve by trying to suggest our relationship wasn't genuine. Luckily Agnes kept me humble, otherwise I really need to learn to chill with these big government officials ... perhaps its just the defensive man inside me rising up haha.
Luckily Agnes foster uncle (who was her witness) had talked to him for a bit before the civil service started. Her uncle Steven is the mayor of a local town here, and most likely in a higher position politically then this man, so it worked in our favor.
Still the government lawyer started the service by threatening me with jail if I was not being legitimate, and that he didn't like my documents I had provided (never mind I had done everything by the book and handed in everything they asked for)
After listening to him go on like this for 10 minutes, and being very ready to start talking back and defending myself, he all of a sudden said "Lets do the ceremony then".

I think these guys just like to make you sweat.

Agnes and I then did our exchanging of rings, repeated the necessary words, and signed our new internationally recognized marriage certificate.
The government man all of sudden become so cheery and happy, and congratulated us. He then proceeded to give us some marriage advice (which was the worst advice Agnes and I have ever heard) basically telling us that if we ever have any problems in our marriage, we should leave it in the bedroom, don't tell anyone about it, and walk around in public with a smile pretending that nothing is wrong.
We just nodded our heads and said yes sir haha.
So we are now legally married! Which feels really strange, because it certainly doesn't feel like we are married.

Agnes and I will not be living as man and wife until we get married in the church. We really value a ceremony done before a community of family and believers, making our oaths before God.
That is when we believe our marriage begins and we become one! We both see a lot of beauty and benefit in holding onto traditional values. We really believe in aiming to follow the biblical views of marriage and relationships! I know a lot of people think this is a really crazy view, and it is very unpopular and counter culture these days to wait until you are married before you live together. 

But we don't feel we can pick and chose what we like, and don't like, from the bible. We want to submit wholly to God, believing and trusting that His way is actually the best way. So we don't want to live as married people right now, and we will wait for all the 'benefits' of marriage till after our wedding in the church haha. This is in no way judgement on people who do/or have done differently, but just myself expressing my views and values, and the way Agnes and I are going about things.

In other news I got myself a new best friend.
My very own pooch! She is still young, about 8 months old. I picked her up from a friend of mine here who wanted to get rid of her.
I have always wanted to have a dog of my own, who will follow me everywhere and be my mate. I have called her 'Rafiki', because she looks like the baboon from the lion king, and it means 'friend' in Swahili.
It is a bit hard getting her used to our house and property, as we don't have fences here. So instead she will be on a chain for about a week or two, as we feed her and she gets used to us as her new masters.
She is just a local breed, which is basically a mongrel dingo looking dog. But I have aimed to maker her the best, well trained, cleanest local dog around.
I have already taught her to sit and to shake, she is a smart dog and I think she will catch on quickly.

She is having problems with the chain though, she has been a free dog, hunting her food, for the last 5 or so months, so being chained is stressing her a bit.
The first night I had attached her chain onto a long rope so she had a bit of freedom, but she ended up chewing through the rope and running back to where she came from.
So in the morning my friend brought her back on the chain for me.
I have decided to let her sleep on my upstairs balcony at night. This has worked well the last two nights, she quite happily sleeps on my outside couch all night without making a sound.
And in the morning when I check on her, the balcony is clean. She doesn't go to the toilet untill I take her out onto the grass in the morning.
So she is already impressing us!
The aim is to get her so used to us, that like most dogs around here, she will be able to roam free off the chain. And hopefully because she is so used to this place being her home, she will want to hang around here and sleep here at night as well.
It's fun having a new dog to train. I have always grown up with well trained dogs, so I have got a good idea on how it works!
Most Africans find it funny how I treat Rafiki. Most people take two approaches with dogs. Rather they let them do whatever they want, roam free, with no discipline at all. The other way is to give absolutely no love, chain the dog up, beat it when it does something wrong, and watch it grow crazy and wild over time.
So when people see me giving rafiki lots and lots of love, but being pretty tough and disciplined as well, they think I am crazy.

But no doubt they will be surprised when I have the greatest, most well trained dog in Wairaka following me around.

Otherwise the tailoring class girls are their last month. We have got the class some really nice material so they can make themselves some nice dresses to finish on. They also made me a gift, a brand new African styled shirt.

My sickness has really improved as well. Even though I still had my diseases when I went for my check up last week, and I am on another two weeks of medication, I really feel the difference the last few days. I don't wake up feeling sick, and I can actually go out and do stuff all day without getting tired.
So thanks for all your prayers people.

My family come here in less then a month, and Agnes and I are still preparing for our wedding, but we really look forward to being here with my family as we lead up to our big day.