Sometimes sharing is messy but good…

Wow, the food here is so good!  I am so blessed to have such yummy meals every day!  I am also learning that to have proper behavior at meal time you must change your thinking.  You have to disregard rules about germs and always think of the people you are eating with.  You eat well to please the cook who made the food and the father who bought the food.  You share the same bowl with people to show love and respect.  You even watch their portion and place the yummy stuff that they like in their space.  This shows that you are thinking of them.  You sometimes eat with your hands, too.  Which means that your hands must be washed before the meal in the presence of others.  It is not always easy to share things.  You have to not think of yourself.."I don’t want to get sick, or I don’t like this food that much, or I would like more of that yummy meat." But instead think, "perhaps my sister would like this piece of meat, perhaps my mother will be pleased if I enjoy this food, perhaps my father will be pleased if I serve him, and perhaps they all will see that we are the same and I love them if I eat out of the same bowl." You can learn a lot about Senegalese culture just from eating a meal together.  You see here, sharing is imperative in every sense.  Nothing belongs to only you.  You have to share and you need to share in a certain way.  If not you are giving the wrong impression.  Pray that I can share appropriately and always show the love of God for others here.  Pray that God will give me wisdom in how to act and change me according to His will.