Dinners with Dad

One of my favorite traditions at JBFC is “dinner with Dad.” Every week, Chris invites a group of four to five girls up to his house for dinner. There’s a rotation posted in the dining hall, but no one looks at it because they all have it memorized. Dinner with Dad is a BIG deal.

When it was Salome’s turn, she was ready at 2 pm. We tried to explain the groceries for the evening’s meal hadn’t even arrived from town yet…but she was undeterred. “Ok, I will go wash my body,” was her response. Sure enough, thirty minutes later a freshly-showered Salome returned, ready to help cook dinner. So, she just hung out with us until the ingredients for pizza arrived.

We try to expose the girls to different types of cuisine when they “eat up” at Dad’s house. There’s been pizza…chicken and mashed potatoes…fajitas…and falafel night with hummus and pita chips. I was most excited about this last meal, but it was clear by the silence and “I’m trying not to gag” faces around the table that the girls were not as pleased by the evening’s menu. We’ll try again another time…

One of the recent meals was for our “little girls” in the group: Dotto, Bhoke, Rachel, and Yonga (left to right). And yes, I think that IS lipstick Bhoke is wearing.

As you can see, the girls were dressed in their favorite outfits and ready for a big night. It was one of the most fun evenings I’ve spent in Kitongo…there were tickle fights, hide-and-seek, and our favorite activity of all…dancing to Shakira! If only she knew how many loyal fans she has in rural East Africa…

Now that I’ve moved into the “Rock House” and have my own kitchen, there has been some campaigning for “Dinner with Julia” as well. I’m not sure I can compete with falafel night, but I’m thinking I can carve out my own niche with “DESSERTS with Julia.”

Stay tuned...