As I walk down the streets of Nalerigu; I am constantly being invited to sit down under a mango tree and enjoy a meal. When I first arrived on the field, I would refuse to eat; offering up a lame excuse about not being hungry. I have since learned the benefits of enjoying a meal vastly outweigh the potential risks. Below is a ten step guide to enjoying a meal in Nalerigu.
10) After being invited to eat look to see what they're eating. If it's porridge turn and run in the other direction, (life's too short to eat bad food), but if it is anything else feel free to eat.
9) Before sitting down make sure to greet everyone sitting at the bowl. Make sure you say Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening; ask about their wives; ask about their children' ask how they slept last night and how their work is going. It's rude to only greet one or all of them at the same time, so make sure you go through all of the questions with each person.
8) Wash your hands before sitting. There will be a plastic pot near the group which contains water. Make sure you pour the water over your hands. There wont be any soap so don't bother looking.
7) When you sit down to eat, understand, that you have already brought your eating utensils with you; your right hand. Make sure you reach into the bowl with your right hand, DON'T USE YOUR LEFT. Your left hand is resevered for other unmentionable activities.
6) In your mind visualize a small triangle in the bowl which begins from where you are sitting to the middle of the bowl. This is your section. Do NOT eat someone else section because that would be rude.
5) Take the rice, fufu, or buku (trust me you don't want me to explain what it is) and roll it into a ball in your palm, take the ball and dip it into the soup, finally, bring the food to your mouth and push it in with your thumb. Make sure you make a smacking noise while you eat; it lets them know you're enjoying it.
4) While eating remember to pray, Dear Lord if I put it down, you keep it down.
3) There will usually be one piece of meat; no matter how much they try to offer it to you; don't eat it! Remember, you're the rich man who is able to have meat with every meal and this one piece of meat might be there only protein for the week, therefore, let them have it.
2) Enjoy the company of everyone around the bowl. Get to know them, ask questions, laugh. Eating is more about the relationships than the food.
1) Jesus ate with others. We worship a God who left the glories of Heaven to come down and share a meal with us. Eating with others opens the door for friendships and provides an opportunity to share Christ.
Happy Eating!
10) After being invited to eat look to see what they're eating. If it's porridge turn and run in the other direction, (life's too short to eat bad food), but if it is anything else feel free to eat.
9) Before sitting down make sure to greet everyone sitting at the bowl. Make sure you say Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening; ask about their wives; ask about their children' ask how they slept last night and how their work is going. It's rude to only greet one or all of them at the same time, so make sure you go through all of the questions with each person.
8) Wash your hands before sitting. There will be a plastic pot near the group which contains water. Make sure you pour the water over your hands. There wont be any soap so don't bother looking.
7) When you sit down to eat, understand, that you have already brought your eating utensils with you; your right hand. Make sure you reach into the bowl with your right hand, DON'T USE YOUR LEFT. Your left hand is resevered for other unmentionable activities.
6) In your mind visualize a small triangle in the bowl which begins from where you are sitting to the middle of the bowl. This is your section. Do NOT eat someone else section because that would be rude.
5) Take the rice, fufu, or buku (trust me you don't want me to explain what it is) and roll it into a ball in your palm, take the ball and dip it into the soup, finally, bring the food to your mouth and push it in with your thumb. Make sure you make a smacking noise while you eat; it lets them know you're enjoying it.
4) While eating remember to pray, Dear Lord if I put it down, you keep it down.
3) There will usually be one piece of meat; no matter how much they try to offer it to you; don't eat it! Remember, you're the rich man who is able to have meat with every meal and this one piece of meat might be there only protein for the week, therefore, let them have it.
2) Enjoy the company of everyone around the bowl. Get to know them, ask questions, laugh. Eating is more about the relationships than the food.
1) Jesus ate with others. We worship a God who left the glories of Heaven to come down and share a meal with us. Eating with others opens the door for friendships and provides an opportunity to share Christ.
Happy Eating!
No comments:
Post a Comment