New Friends Chapter 4 - Uninvited

This was no ordinary dinner. This was a Kenyan dinner with all of their Kenyan friends that were following God to Colorado Springs. I was planning on the easy drop off. You know, like dropping of a child, waving them goodbye for school. This was very far from that. Because if we dropped them off and left without greeting one which was receiving the guests it was considered rude. We rang the doorbell and waited. Now, I knew the family we were leaving them with – a very Godly couple – Barrack and Ruth. In typical Kenyan time, they were not home yet. So we sat outside and had an intriguing conversation about ants in Kenya. Did you know when they bite you they leave their head in your skin? Ouch! When Barrack and Ruth got home we went inside and had another conversation between two scupltures on the mantle of the fireplace. How one woman was from a different tribe than the other. Since I am gleening every bit of information on Africa that I can, I didn’t get that he was kidding until someone bluntly started cracking up. Joke’s on this white American! Little did I know that after we “dropped them off” at Barrack’s house that we would have to take them over to Emily’s which is where all the fun was supposed to be. Loaded up and to Emily’s we went. Again, once we arrived, there was no “dropping off”. So we went inside, greeted Emily and John and sat down on an oversized chair in the family room. We just waited until we had been there a bit and our presence wore off. I knew that we had not been officially invited to dinner. We were the ride. But, OH how I wanted to stay. I could smell the eclectic food being prepared and the laughter and conversation drifting through the house was more than welcoming. Meg and I got up and prepared to leave, but ALAS! Emily was surprised that we were leaving. “Oh no you don’t. You don’t have to eat all the food, but you must try it!” I sheepishy explained that we would love to stay for dinner, but didn’t want to impose. Did they have enough food? Enough room? Again, in true African style, she just laughed at me. “Go sit and enjoy yourself until the food is ready.” I happily retreated into the family room back on my comfy chair. It was then when Ben came out of the garage with the all too familiar camcorder on his eye, filming every precious minute of his experience. It was at that moment I felt completely and utterly at home. I had only been there about 30 minutes.
The food was great. I cannot remember what anything was called. Some grits-like mound of white stuff, great beef marinated in cilantro and peppers… rice with meat, greens, and steak with wonderful salsa sauce. I ate and even went back for seconds to Ben’s delight. After dinner we sat outside and hat hot tea with cream and sugar. I could feel the bug bites, but I didn’t care. Just listening to them talk was wonderful. I longed to be in Africa and know about the places they talked about and see the culture. The night had to come to an end and Ben was dying to see Batman. However, it was sold out, so we decided on bowling. The night ended in singing worship in Swahili and English and with a wonderful prayer. In a group of friends that I barely knew, it was here I felt cemented in family. That I could spill my deepest regrets, my darkest fears and be accepted. It was a feeling I have to say I have not felt often before.
Bowling was great. Of course, it took a blow to Ben’s ego when I won the 3rd game and we decided to quit and retreat home. It was late, Meg and I were both tired. But going to bed was out of the question. Ben wanted to watch a movie. Not any light, short movie, but TROY. Are you serious!? Not only that, but he is one of those movie friends that cannot watch something alone. He was so afraid that I was going to fall asleep that he came loaded with a decorative pillow as ammo. Oh, and I was not alone. Meg was also bombarded… at one point he came over and sat behind her on the couch to ensure awakeness. Now, this is what cracks me up. Meg and I are both awake and HE gets tired. Just as simple and easy…”I am sleepy. It is time for bed.” Upstairs he went and that was it. Meg left and I went to bed, completely exhausted.