Christmas Family Dinner for J & J's workers.

For the past several years beginning when Jeff and Joyellen were dorm parents at Duma (Cheetah) Dorm, they have invited their house and yard workers and their families for a Christmas Family dinner as a means of thanking them for all the work they had done over the year and as an opportunity to give them Christmas gifts.  The early years only involved Esther, their household worker and her family of twin boys, Benson and Joseph and daughter, Eunice.  Since those early dinners, the work force has increased to include Esther's cousin, Virginia and a yard worker, Stephen.  We have had the honor and pleasure of meeting and getting to know these wonderful Kenyans over the course of our many visits to RVA.  Esther early on has had us to her home at least 3 times for dinner.  She is a wonderful cook and prepares an excellent meal considering she prepares the food in a separate building which is her kitchen and uses an open fire.  She also draws all the water she uses from a hand dug 100 foot well.  Just imagine for a moment the contrasts in her life every work day.  At RVA she uses a gas stove for cooking;  electric mixers to prepare food;  draws hot and cold water from separate faucets;  heats water in either a kettle on the stove or in an electric hot pot.  When she returns home she toils over an open wood fire;  gets her water from a well; and prepares food using mostly hand utensils.

Today was the scheduled appreciation/Christmas dinner for J & J's three workers and their family members.  Jeff and I put the canvas back on the framework which was used for the family Thanksgiving dinner.  The same tables and chairs were placed in preparation for the guests.  We drove down into Kijabe to MaMa Chicu's, a small restaurant.  Joyce, the owner, was hired to prepare the food for our meal.  Unfortunately, yesterday Joyce's car broke down, so Jeff and I along with Megan had to drive to the restaurant to pick up the meal.  When we returned home and looked at the amount of food prepared, we determined we really didn't have enough of certain menu items to allow a family style of serving.  Joyellen and Louise decided to serve the stew, potatoes, and rice and allow people to help themselves to the chipatis, ugali (a pretty tasteless, yet filling paste made from ugali flour), and cabbage salad.   Everyone had plenty to eat with those wanting a second helping able to do so.  For dessert Joyellen had baked and frosted a delicious chocolate cake.  Jeff made chai:  a combination of tea, milk and sugar.  Everyone enjoyed a very satisfying meal.

As pictures are said to be worth a thousand words, I'll conclude this posting with a series of pictures and captions illustrating this afternoon's fun time.

Family members divided up to play the cornhole game.

Esther's twin sons,  Benson & Joseph with Ian.

Everyone getting ready do hear Jeff pray for the meal.

Joyellen and Louise serve a portion of the menu to the guests.

Louise getting 30 pieces of cake ready to serve.

Ian and Lyndsey waiting for the chai to be poured as part of dessert.

Shosho, Kikuyu for Grandmother, Esther's mother.

Brenda, Virginia's cousin.

Little Benson, Esther's nephew.

Maureen, Virginia's youngest daughter.

Stephen with his suitcase full of Christmas gifts.

Virginia with her sweatshirt and slippers.

Esther expresses thanks for her gifts.

21 guests begin boarding a Matatu designed to carry 15 passengers.  TIA!

Jeff bids farewell to 21 guests, 1 driver, and 3 suitcases.

The Matatu drives down the Hazard's driveway.  The end to a successful day.

Tomorrow, Monday, the 9th of December we begin packing for our trip to the coast of Kenya.  We leave Tuesday.  Upon our return I shall continue with posts on this blog because indeed ... there is more to come.