Invitation to Dinner

I forgot to mention that at church, I made friends with a woman named Miriam. She was so kind and said she lives not far from the church. She invited us to come to her home afterward. I accepted the invitation, and we walked with her

(not that short of a walk after all--it felt like a mile in my uncomfortable shoes, but probably less) to her home. She said, "My home, very small, but 'caribu, caribu' you are welcome any day, any time." Her entire home is smaller than our kitchen. Her "front room" was BARELY big enough for an old love seat, armchair and small coffee table. Like imagine you're packing those items in a walk-in closet and have only enough room to walk in between. They had sleeping rooms in the back. I didn't realize it, but we had passed through the "kitchen" on our way into the living room. It was just a tiny space where she cooks over her fire stove on the floor, and she had a few shelves of pots and dishes.

Anyway, I was SO PROUD of the boys. We had had a conversation with them before we ever left the comfort of our Lehi home, and I told them, "Kids, one day we're going to be invited to eat with a person from Kenya, and they're going to be very poor and it will be a big sacrifice for them to give us their food, and I want you to be brave and eat the food, even if you don't like it." I didn't expect that we'd be doing just that only a few days after arriving, but she prepared this lovely dish of ugali, which is made from corn meal, and it's like a loaf or cake--think of the outside of a tamale. And she also made this other dish--I can't remember the name, but it's basically like a savory cooked kale dish.

Anyway, it was very flavorful and good, and my sweet boys--after I discreetly reminded them of our earlier conversation--ate until they were full. Miriam and her husband, Fred, were so kind and soft spoken. There was a strong, good spirit in their home.

It was an amazing experience. I'd like to have them over in return. I feel a little sheepish having such a huge home in comparison, but oh well.