Lillian's Easter Lunch

Lillian is the cleaner who cleans my office.  Since the day I arrived, she has come in with a bright smile and made it her goal to help me practice my Swahili.  A great teacher she is, each day she would present me with a different topic of discussion, to help me practice different types of vocabulary.  "What are you cooking tonight?" "What kinds of vegetables did you buy in the market?" "How many children do you want to have?".  I think she has become one of my closest friends here... we have shared many laughs and heartaches as we have gotten to know each other.  On Easter Sunday she invited us over to her house for lunch with her husband Andrew and baby girl Rufi.  Her house is a small concrete block with two tiny rooms.  She had cooked for us over the fire a pot of plantain and beef stew, as well as pilau- both foods that are reserved for a very special occasion.  She and her husband had saved up all month for this meal, which they shared with us and any neighbour who walked by, and then put in containers for us to take home!  I was humbled.  If a family whose combined monthly income is less than I make in a day could lavish such generosity on me, why are we rich folk holding on to our money and possessions for dear life?  Lilian's Easter lunch seems like some parable Jesus would tell about the kingdom of God.  I have been humbled to be the recipient of it, and to have been given such a friend.

Lillian washing all of our hands before the meal- a Tanzanian tradition.

Brent enjoying the feast.

Me, Lillian, Rufi, and Andrew.

The door on the left is their house....