We enjoyed a great meal prepared by Eliane from a communal bowl. Each of us ate from the section of the bowl directly in front of us.
We enjoyed a great meal prepared by Eliane from a communal bowl. Each of us ate from the section of the bowl directly in front of us.
Jonathan and Jenny says
@ Dan, we ate cheb something. Cheb is rice in Wolof a local language and then you can have that with meat, fish or veggies. It has been a bit, so I can’t remember for sure. It was yummy though. It is definitely a new experience. We ate with our spoons, but I suppose we will need to sort out eating with our hands soon. We just had a lesson on eating etiquette on thursday night.
Dan Trampe says
That’s awesome. When in New Zealand we had a foreign theme meal once a week and one of the nights we all ate from the same dish and just like you said, you eat from the section right in front of you. Pretty cool huh? What did you eat?
Fran and Jan says
When entering a culture like this, it’s necessary to teach good hygiene, but we cannot force the people to change their habits/culture. As we worked with a jungle people who also ate from a communal pot, we found that as we taught them personal and communal hygiene, they began to realize the necessity to change some things about the way they shared their food, etc. However, they never did get out of the “habit” of passing around the communal gourd of drink. Though we did all we could in teaching hygiene, we ultimately just trusted God to undertake to keep us healthy. Understanding their culture and becoming “one of them,” not afraid to eat and drink with them, hunt with them, and other things that are not contrary to the Word of God, goes a long way on the road to finally teaching them (within their cultural grid) about Who God is, and why we were really there in the first place. It was never easy, but was very rewarding as we gained their trust and became “family” to them.
Danny Sweet says
Is this a custom (tradition) of the people? If so, how will this affect your ministry to them in the event a disease is being spread through such custom? The question comes after reading how the native American Indians are actively trying to return to the customs of their ancestors. I was wondering if remaining faithful to good hygiene would be a hinderance to ministry. Just wondering.
Love you guys, and so thankful for your ministry. Will be praying for you and family.
In His Service,
Danny