Thursday, December 12, 2013

The Litchfield Food Group

Perhaps people are like food groups.....some are starchy, some are fruity :-), some are high in protein (edifying), some are calcifying :-), and some are....well....at best....nutritive....

And that may be us.  Nutritive at best.  I said 'may'.  I'm not making any solid claims - I'm just surmising.

I'll say it.  The Litchfields may be vegetables. I say that because fellowshipping with the Litchfields can be like eating your vegetables.  You have a feeling it's good for you....that eggplant is such a beautiful purple, and the squash such a vibrant orange,  and you're all pumped up to get the benefit and then you take a bite and ..... well, they are just vegetables!   I mean a few of us may be the more palatable ones like green beans, tomatoes, carrots, but then it moves into the the middle range of cauliflower, broccoli, onions, and there may be some that are unavoidably.....a brussel sprout.  I cringe to say it. Full of antioxidants and Vitamin A.  It just takes a certain palate to appreciate it.  But God made it nonetheless.  Just the way it is...and pronounces it good.
Yes, we can put sugar in my carrot souffle, cream of mushroom soup in the green beans, cheese on the broccoli....or even the brussel sprouts, but still no one can change our vegetable family into a Hostess cupcake or Grandma Elder's sugar cookies.   Sooner or later, it will be discovered.
Vegetables mean business and they don't put on too many airs to make sure people like them.  They are practical and they have the best of intentions.  They are rather taken back when others don't quite understand when we squeeze onto their plate.  Don't they know that the FDA now recommends that at least HALF of your plate is now to be vegetables???
So, that is my surmising for today.  I am aware that there are those in my family may claim that I am not judging their food group correctly and I will get a good dose of antioxidants to try to 'fix' me, but, hey, it's worth considering.  I hope they at least can find it entertaining.  I would think vegetables are in heaven.  And, one last word - Papa Schultze, don't laugh too hard - at least half of this came from YOU.  :-)

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Visit with Americans

On Saturday, we had an American Thanksgiving with some American friends.  These colleagues live about 15 minutes away from the Streets.  There are two families and a single lady.  They don't live in the same apartment - but they live within walking distance of each other and work for the same 'company'.  We traveled by auto rickshaw this time.  I felt much more comfortable and safer in this vehicle than the standard bicycle rickshaws!
Beth, below, and her husband have a teaching English business.

Most of the seating in this home was Indian style....on mats on a marble floor.  There were a few straight back dining room chairs....and I took advantage of them!  We had a time of singing together!
These two reach out to Indians through music workshops

Lori reaches out through women and children's ministries.  She is known in the area as the 'tall, white woman'.  :-)
Morgan is very thankful for these contacts who understand what it is like to live in a different culture.