Our first African friends!

This is Alice (67) and her grandson Ishmael (14).  The Saunders, whom we replaced, introduced us to this sweet family and we were invited to dinner.  We are standing in front of their house.  Most people do not have a car or bike, so they either take a cab or walk the 10+ kilometers to church.    

The house is 2 rooms, each about 10X12.  This year was good so they were blessed with a concrete floor in this room (living/dining/bedroom).  They roll out a woven mat and sleep on it at night.  The other room has a dirt floor and is for the goats and chickens to sleep.  A curtain is used for the door, there is no glass but they are lucky to have a screen covering the single window opening.

Great preparation went into this feast of Rice Balls (2 cups ea.) and Ground Nut (peanut) Soup with Fowl (chicken).  The tables and chairs were borrowed, the 2 stools are her only furniture.  The table setting was in true eclectic style.  You wash your hands in the blue bowls before you eat - with your fingers.  We brought the Minerals (carbonated drinks) and dessert (banana bread)  

Ishmael is pounding Fufu (Cassava and Plantain) in his kitchen.  They are very proud of this dish and it is a labor of love which takes about 20 minutes.  It would give any Obruni (white person) blisters galore.  Fufu is rolled into small balls (1 T) and indented to make a spoon.  To eat it, you scoop the accompanied soup and swallow without chewing.  Elder Asay tried it - I was afraid it would get stuck and then I'd throw up.  Alice graded our performance in eating African food.  Elder Asay got a "10", I only got a "3".

This is the oven where they bake their bread.  It is always white bread and never sliced.

This is Alice's kitchen.  Three mounds of clay leave an open end where they feed the fire.  All cooking is done outside in this manner.  

This is the bathroom.  Duties for guys and gals are performed while standing over a small hole.  Note to self:  Always use the bathroom before you leave home, always carry a handkerchief and hand sanitizer!  A bucket bath is performed while standing on the rocks.