Weekend with Students, Part 2, January 26, 2014

Since the students have been staying at Kundayo for the past two nights, John and I could have joined them in the big breakfast of fruit, toast, fruit juice (actually more like smoothies), and eggs, we have chosen to stay in our apartment and eat our usual bowls of WeetaBix.  I slice a banana on top of my cereal, but John eats it plain.  In the past, I have sneered at Weetabix as being a soggy substitute for shredded wheat, but now I have come to accept it as an okay-enough quick breakfast.

After breakfast, everyone headed for church.  Ray came to pick me up, but John, Megan and the students walked to the Kimandolu Lutheran Church, which is less than a kilometer away from Kundayo. Of course we had to sit up near the front, and then later in the service we were not only acknowleged but also asked to walk up front for words of welcome.  Fortunately, Megan speaks Swahili well enough that she could respond and express our pleasure at being with the congregation for the morning.  Once again the service involved a lot of sung call and response liturgy, which is enjoyable to listen to even if one cannot understand the words.  We had warned our students about the multiple offerings, but after the first one, Ray said we should just stay seated for offerings 2 and 3.  It was communion Sunday, so we all joined the throngs as they approached and knelt at the alter railing.
No matter what one's beliefs might be, I think everyone felt a special inner awe at being included as part of a very different group of people.

For those of you who are wondering about how the sacrament was served, let me say there was no common cup as is often the case in Africa.  The pastor glided by and served the wafers, and close behind him came the liturgist with the wine in little individual plastic cups, which were then collected by another lady following right behind him.  It was incredibly efficient and approximately 500 people were quickly served. And it was real wine, which was an extra spiritual jolt for some of the students.

After the service, there was the usual auction of fresh eggs and vegetables that had been given as offerings.  I was glad that the students got to see this, as it is so different from what they would ever see at home.  I'm hoping that in March, when we go to the Masai area, someone will bring a sheep or goat to church as they did in 2012.  There is nothing like livestock in church to get the students in an ecstatic spiritual state.

On the return trip from church, Ray announced that not only were John and I invited to his mother's house at 2:00 p.m. but so were all the students.  Unfortunately, the students did not appreciate the importance and honor of such an invitation, and only two agreed to go.  They others said it wasn't on their schedule, and they needed to study.  Had I been the one in charge, I would have ordered them to go because I knew that a whole lot of time and expense would have been put into preparing such a an event for wazungu.  We Americans are too culturally stuck to time and schedule to accept an invitation when it comes T what we call "the last minute." So, in the end, only John and I, and two students went to a huge family gathering and lavish feast prepared for all 16 of us.  I was very embarrassed, but did what I could to show great appreciation and make the best of things by taking numerous photos which I will have printed for the family.

Front: Priscilla, Goodluck, & Anita    Back: Grandmother, Ray's Wife, Ray, & Me

Mtui Cousins

Ray Enjoying Dinner

Ray's Mother (Bibi)

Showing John the Garden

Cousins

Women Cooking -- Of Course

Student with Children

The two students who had accompanied us to Ray's house needed to return to Kundayo about 4:00 p.m. so their host families could pick them up for the night, but John and I stayed for several more hours, having a great time visiting and enjoying all the children running about the compound.  On the ride to the mother's house, I had lost all sense of direction and location as we drove to the house, as we made numerous turns into very bumpy dirt streets and passed all sorts of walled compounds and courtyards.  It's difficult to envision how closed and similar residential streets can look when there are walls creating a type of cinder block tunnel through which vehicles must maneuver.  I still have no idea where we were, but in spite of what seemed to be a totally chaotic, dusty web of narrow streets leading to nowhere, we eventually reached the correct gate and entered a very tidy courtyard and a pleasant house with the usual overstuffed furniture covered with fancy cushions and decorative needlework. This extended family of seven sons and three daughters have done well for themselves and their mama.

Bibi and her Children

By the time John and I returned to Kundayo, all the students had gone back to their host families, and peace reigned once again.  Except, two of the girls who were not feeling well stayed on for the night.
We hope that the student with an upset stomach and the one with a sore throat will recover soon.