Good Eating

Last Sunday I spoke at the church of a friend. After the service we were invited to the Pastor’s house for a meal. I knew that after leaving his house we would be going to Pastor Mbasha’s house for a visit. In my mind I kept thinking that I didn’t want to eat too much food because I knew we would be having food at Pastor Mbasha’s too.
At the pastor’s house they served us African tea…I love African tea. After they served the tea they opened up the dishes that were sitting on the table. There was chicken and chapati. I took one piece of chicken and one chapati. I thought, “This is great. I will have plenty of room for eating at Pastor Mbasha’s house later on.” Right after I finished drinking my tea someone got up and filled my cup up again. When I was just about finished with my chicken and chapati a woman came in with some stew…she gave Jodie and me bowls to serve ourselves. We looked at each other and smiled, Then Jodie served small amounts of stew in each of our bowls. One woman noticed the amount she was serving and insisted that we help ourselves to more. To help us out she got up and opened the chapati container and put another chapati on my plate. As we sat there eating our stew and chipati a man walked in with a tray of sodas. I was asked which soda I wanted and I pointed to the second cup tea I was still drinking. Since I didn’t give the answer of which soda I wanted I was asked again. I whispered to Jodie, “I’m already full.” Then I smiled and said, “I’ll take a Fanta Pineapple.”
Before we left I was handed a bottle of water to drink…because apparently after two cups of tea and a Fanta Pineapple, I must have looked thirsty.

Please don’t think I was not thankful for the wonderful meal. It was great and everyone was so sweet and thoughtful. I am always so appreciative for the kindness shown to us when we are invited to someone’s house for a meal. After we ate the Pastor thanked us for coming. Then I was given an opportunity to say something. I thanked everyone for their kindness and hospitality. They treated us with such respect and honor. I am always so humbled by the honor shown to us.

As we drove to Pastor Mbasha’s house we chatted about the thoughtfulness everyone showed to us. We pulled up and Pastor Mbasha was waiting for us…he is always so excited to see us. He had placed his sitting furniture outside in the yard…he knows I love sitting outside in the yard. We sat down and immediately we were served African tea. Within a few minutes after our tea his son brought us some corn on the cob. A few weeks earlier we had briefly stopped by his house and they had some corn on the cob left-over from lunch. We were so excited because we hadn’t eaten corn on the cob since we’d been in Africa. Today they had roasted some for us and it was right off the fire when he brought it to us. I looked at Jodie and we smiled as we began to eat. As I was finishing my corn Pastor Mbasha got up and returned with another plate filled with corn on the cob…he said he knew we liked it so much so he wanted us to have lots to eat. As we were continuing with our corn, Janet, Pastor Mbasha’s wife brought out some mango. Jodie was trying to finish the corn but Janet wanted her to have some mango too. I laughed and grabbed a piece of mango before anyone said anything to me.
Pastor Mbasha got up and walked away while we were eating…I was finishing up my second corn when he returned with sodas…this time I had a Coke. I decided to sip my Coke slowly so I could enjoy my one soda during the whole visit. Halfway through my soda Janet brought out a bowl full of meat…in some homes we’ve visited everyone shares food from the same bowl. The meat was cooked well with tasty spices. At this point to say that I was full would be an understatement…huge understatement. Jodie stopped eating and Janet asked her why she wasn’t eating any meat. She said she was very full (nimesheba sana). Janet suggested that Jodie stand up and jump up and down so she would be able to enjoy more meat...and Jodie did…we laughed so hard. Jodie sat down and began to enjoy the meat.
I am so thankful to be living in Africa. I haven’t lost a whole lot of weight though…hmm…I wonder why.