Nothing was going to keep Jeff Mugongo’s grandfather from seeing his grandson get married — not even a journey that took nearly two days.
At Jeff’s November wedding in Phoenix, Arizona, his 93-year-old grandfather, Gatera, made a surprise appearance after traveling from Rwanda — a trip of more than 9,000 miles.
Jeff shared the moment in an Instagram video that has drawn more than 1.3 million views. In the clip, the groom becomes visibly emotional as he spots his grandfather on the porch, pulls him into a hug, laughs through the tears, and embraces him again. Afterward, Gatera speaks to Jeff in his native language.
“Grandpa flew 40 hours all the way from Rwanda to Phoenix to surprise me,” Jeff wrote over the video. In the caption, he explained that his family and friends were in on the plan — but he had no idea until the moment it happened. “They definitely got me with this amazing gift and surprise!” he added.
Jeff told Fox 10 Phoenix that he didn’t have “strong relationships with the male figures” in his family, and said his grandfather “was the one who always made an effort to just communicate with us and get to know him.”
Even so, Jeff didn’t expect Gatera to attend. His grandfather had been recovering from a stroke, and Jeff said Gatera offered several reasons why he wouldn’t be able to make it — including that his visa was “taking too long” to get approved.
But with encouragement from the family, Gatera managed to arrive in time, despite the obstacles along the way — including “layovers, missing flights [and] staying at hotels,” according to Fox 10. Jeff also noted on Instagram that his grandfather made the trip without knowing a single word of English.
“I couldn’t control the tears that [were] coming out of my eyes. And he was like, ‘Don’t cry,’ ” Jeff recalled to Fox 10. “It’s just incredible to witness that, through all the odds, that he would show up for my special day.”
Reflecting on the surprise, Jeff wrote on Instagram: “Moments that only happen once are gifts and grace we never deserve.” He added, “I thank God for this moment and my family and friends who prayed for this moment to happen.”
In a second Instagram post, Jeff and Gatera took to the dance floor and showed off their moves to “Proud Mary.” Jeff wrote that they “danced the night away” at the wedding.
“The layovers, tiredness and long-hour flights didn’t stop grandpa’s dance moves!” he wrote. “HE STOLE the whole show!!”
He also shared a message his grandfather gave him during the ceremony: “Jeff, me and you need to be grateful and joyful!”
Jeff told Fox 10 that his grandfather’s determination left him with a lesson he won’t forget: “He showed me that no matter what, you have to show up for your family,” he said. “It made people appreciate grandparents and their love and the strength they have.”
