I love the kitchen. Even back home in the states the kitchen has always been one of my favorite places. Now, as I sit at a table in the open living room/ dining area I think about how grateful I truly and to have little slices of home.
It’s so true, wherever I go I get little pieces of home. In Cambodia, the pool and dance parties. The pool reminding me of where I used to work. The different requirements we had to do in and around the pool like scrubbing the scum line, testing chemicals, and skimming the pool. The random dance parties and sing offs. There were literally days where we would blast music and just dance around the guesthouse when nobody was around. Or there were days where we were singing at the top of our lungs in “perfect harmony” along to our favorite songs just cause we could. It all reminded me of home.
With being here in Africa there are little things all over the place that remind me of home. The African daisies that are here are the same ones I planted in my garden over the summer. The butterflies here are constantly fluttering around, reminding me of home. Finally the biggest thing that reminds me of home is the kitchen.
It could be that I spent a lot of time back home in the kitchen cleaning. It could be that I spent dozens of hours baking, cooking, and decoration food in my kitchen. It could be I spent countless hours at my kitchen table working on school. Or maybe even the fact that I got to sit at a table almost every night and eat dinner with my family. That’s defiantly something I took for granted being home and that’s something I do miss a whole lot. The cool thing is though, I have forty seven family members right here in my midst that I get to spend every meal with.
Whatever it may be I Love the kitchen here. Most afternoons if I’m nowhere else to be seen I’ll be in the kitchen. Even if there is nothing to do, I absolutely adore hanging out and loving on our cooks. Zannete and Hildana, they are so sweet. They always make sure everyone gets enough food. They are constantly making sure you are ok. They are always freely giving hugs and kisses. Their joy is evident and both of them have smiles on twenty four seven. Even though we don’t always understand one another they truly love the way Jesus loves.
The Lord has really put both of them on my heart and I could spend all day just listening to them talk to one another. I understand nothing of what they say but as they talk, I pray. I have had some of the coolest conversations with Jesus while I sit and spend time with them. I pray over their families. I pray over their relationship with the Lord. I pray over their health. I pray over whatever the Lord lays on my heart for them on that day. I love it. I can sometimes ask questions about what they are learning or reading about in scripture. Sometimes I can get a answer.
For a while I questioned whether or not God was actually using me to further His kingdom. Then through talking with Elena, praying more into it, and watching Hacksaw Ridge I realized. It only takes one person, one person who is real, authentic, and loving to change another persons life. “Just let me get one more”. It can be in the little things, a hug, asking questions, a small gift, or just spending time with them. You can further God’s kingdom through loving just one person at a time. God doesn’t always ask us to pour into, serve and lead hundreds of people at a time. Sometimes it only takes one. It might just start when you’re on kitchen duty.
