Food is an intrinsic part of every culture. People bond over food. Food defines regions and families. The table is a universal meeting place. Holidays and religious events almost always center around food. Jesus valued the table so much that He used it to break norms by eating with tax collectors and known sinners, allowing a prostitute to meet Him at the table, and washing the feet of His disciples during the Last Supper.
We have been blessed to receive three meals a day made by the wonderful people we live with. We also get to help them in the kitchen and gain appreciation for the stress of making food for fifty people (hint: it’s v stressful)
At our table, we get to learn more about the huge variety of cultures we interact with here on the base, connect with our teammates, and practice a lot of Spanish. Since food is so important, I thought I’d give you a peek into the meals we are eating in Panama through photo and video. Let me introduce you to: arroz con pollo.
A few things I learned while watching Mireya and her sous chefs make this beautiful meal:
- Plantain leaves are used to cover food because there aren’t lids to cover your food in the jungle. Plus, the leaves add more flavor.
- Knives are kept in the lentils to heat up and add surface area to cook the lentils faster.
- Lighting gas stoves with flimsy matches is absolutely terrifying.
I hope you guys enjoyed learning more about what we get to eat here in Panama – I’d love to hear about what kind of meals you eat to bond with people or what your go-to family dinners are!
grace + peace
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