Comments on: Dreams of Africa

By: Sunday Collection 13 | Anchors and Masts

Sunday Collection 13 | Anchors and Masts — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 09:34:12 +0000

[...] writes movingly about Africa and includes a wonderful recipe. I am determined to make this dish although I will probably [...]

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 25 May 2007 19:34:07 +0000

Thanks Tess, I like your Sunday Collection and am honored to be included again.

Jo, I’d like to see South Africa as well, I have heard it is quite beautiful! I cried several times while listening to the Soweto Gospel Choir. Yes, do try the soup, it really is simple but filled with flavor. I love the ginger and peanut together.

Milton, how fascinating to hear about your childhood. I am also glad to know that the soup recipe is somewhat authentic. What we’ve done breaks my heart too.

Blessings, Christine

By: don't eat alone

don't eat alone — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:33:49 +0000

Christine,

I grew up in Zambia and Kenya and I grew up eating your soup. We’ve also been watching and reading the same things, though I’ve not yet finished the book — it’s a hard read. Africa is a wonderful gift from God that has been largely squandered and abused by the West. It breaks my heart.

Peace
Milton

By: Jo Young

Jo Young — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:07:35 +0000

I went to see the Soweto Gospel choir when they came to Leeds about 2 years ago. It was the most amazing concert, very emotional. The singing and dancing were uplifting. The most moving part was when the choir sang the South African national anthem and all around me, native south Africans now resident here in the UK stood and sung their hearts out. Electrifying. I have never been to Africa but if I had the choice, I would love to go to South Africa. My brother went as part of his medical elective in Ghana and South Africa and the photos he brought home showed what stupendous scenery and ethnic diversity there is in the tip of the continent.

Thank you for the soup recipe too – I’ve never heard of peanut soup and it sounds very exotic, I shall have to give it a go!

By: Tess

Tess — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:59:37 +0000

You must be reading my mind. I’m planning my regular “Sunday Collection” post and this week am focusing on nourishment. Your post and recipe just got added to my list!

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 25 May 2007 03:37:26 +0000

Bette, I just noticed I forgot the tomatoes in the recipe, they’re in there now. It’s one of those really easy but very satisfying recipes that I first tried when I was at my dream group and our facilitator served the soup and I was in love with it right then and there.

By: Bette

Bette — Fri, 25 May 2007 03:08:34 +0000

how cool that your Priory has connections with the Sisters in Africa. i do hope you can go soon. i can tell that this soup recipe is totally awesome – thank you! some old friends of mine who have since passed were missionaries in Africa and i remember them sharing many many wonderful stories with our congregation throughout my teen years. i especially love the colorful, woven works they create.

thank you PAM for sharing a bit of your African experiences and for Kabir’s poem!

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 25 May 2007 02:20:36 +0000

Pam, how wonderful that you have been there twice and had such moving experiences while there! I absolutely love the quote you share from the Ugandan sister and the Kabir poem is priceless, it may even inspire a whole blog post of its own. Many thanks for the wonderful words! This is what I love about blogging. Blessings to you, Christine

By: Pam

Pam — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:16:22 +0000

Christine,

I have been to Africa twice, once when I was 25 and last when I was almost 50. Both times had profound impacts on me. The last time I went with my oldest son to Tanzania to stay at the convent of the sisters that you spoke about at St. Placid. About a year ago, I wrote a bit about it which I will include here:

Having worked in a very active parish for ten years while shepherding five children through five schools, I know a bit about what it means to have a busy life!

I did not really recognize its effect on me until I visited Tanzania for a month with my oldest son in June of 2004. I was invited by some Tanzanian sisters who live at St. Placid Priory and study at St. Martins University to visit their home community when two of them returned in the summer. It was such a joy to experience their way of life which involves a lot of walking, talking and waiting. Although people work very hard, no one is in a hurry. They take the time to stop and visit with people wherever they go. It is quite a contrast to our lives of dashing by each other in our cars.

When I returned from Africa, a friend related something he was told by a Ugandan sister about her experiences in America. She said, “You have watches, but no time. We have no watches, but plenty of time.” Sometimes, we must carve out the time for each other, for ourselves, and for God. To really, stop, look and listen. One needn’t go to a foreign country to recognize the need to slow our pace. Over my desk at work, I keep the following poem by Kabir:

A Great Pilgrimage

I felt in need of a great pilgrimage
so I sat still for three
days

and God came
to me.