HELP LIBERIA FOUNDATION

HLF’s Board Member Gets Married

Posted by Help Liberia Foundation on June 28, 2006

One of the members of the Board of Directors of Help Liberia Foundation, Ms. Joanna Kogut, got married to Mr. Bogic Dubak a few weeks ago.

The wedding brought together hundreds of family members, friends, and well-wishers. Mrs. Anna Dobrowolska, President of the Board of Directors, represented the Foundation during the church ceremony.

The couple are standing before the Altar in the Church

The saying, love knows no boundaries, is epitomized in the relationship between Joanna and Bogic. Joanna is from Poland, and Bogic is from Serbia. The wedding took place in at the Stanislaw Kostka Church in Poland. Mr. Dubak’s family came to Poland for the wedding.

The couple are coming out of the Church after the ceremony

Immediately after the ceremony at the Church, the married couple and all the attendees proceeded to Restauracja Kupiecka, a local restaurant where the refreshment was to be held.

Mr. Paul Yeenie Harry, the Executive Director of HLF, who could not attend the ceremony at the Church ceremony because of other engagements, was present at Restauracja Kupiecka. The Board President was also present.

HLF’s executives sitting with the couple at the right of the table; from front-back: the married couple, HLF’s Board President, and HLF’s Executive Director

The activities at the restaurant were characterized by eating, playing of Polish traditional music, dancing, jokes, and so on. Besides the serve-yourself dishes all over the place, very special dishes were served continually.

Not only did the Executive Director enjoy himself with the delicious Polish dishes, but he also dance to his satisfaction and to the delight of the other attendees. It didn’t matter to him whether or not he was dancing the Polish songs the African way.

the Executive Director posting with the couple

One of the funniest and most interesting aspects of the activities at the restaurant happened at mid-night, when a special Polish tradition, aimed at determining/identifying the girl who will be next in-line to get married, was practiced.

The tradition is such that the interested girls have to dance in a circle around the bride and the groom. After some time, the bride throws up her garter for the “luckiest one” to grasp it. The one who catches it, according to tradition, will be the next to get married.

So, the girls started dancing. Seeing the girls dance, the Executive Director, who did not understanding what was going on, thought it was an ordinary dance and the men around were shy to join in. So, wanting to be “the brave guy,” he joined the circle of girls, dancing like the girls.

Everyone began to laugh, but the Executive Director thought those laughing were actually enjoying the way he was dancing, so the more he danced. Only to learn after a few minutes that that part was not meant for men. He jumped from the crowd and ran away.

At this juncture, the Foundation congratulates Joanna and Bogic on their union through a holy matrimony. The members of the Board and the management team wish them all the best. May God grant them the understanding and wisdom that will help them to have a successfully sustainable marriage.

the couple and others are standing for a toast; the lady standing on the left with the little bunch of flowers is the bride’s mother

Hmm! It’s time to dance.

Hmm! Who’s dancing so?