we were invited to lunch at auntie sally's.
sally is from sierra leone and works for Word Made Flesh.
she was an inspirational woman to me…loved hearing her story.
she prepared a traditional meal of groundnut stew over rice.
it was made with chicken and barracuda.
i had never even thought about eating barracuda…we just don't have many in kansas.
oh and also i don't really like seafood.
but it was good….tasted like chicken. :)
she was a super helper…washing and carrying and cleaning.
i think this was sally's niece…or grand niece.
a sweetheart.
that is part of the path that the boys carried the sewing machine up…..wow.
teresa and kari ready to eat. 
we were taking pictures with our phones while the big camera was being passed around.
(**AND we were able to text the whole trip.
it was so good to be able to be in contact with craig all week.
he even threw in some Magruber quotes.
i love him.)
we asked sally if these children could have our food we had left that we couldn't finish.
she put all our leftovers into a bigger bowl and they were eating it with their hands.
they were so happy!
it was…..hard to watch….humbling.
again.
have you noticed a theme of humility on this trip?
it was obviously a lesson i needed to learn.
thankful to God for teaching me.
but i know i have so much farther to go….
we were each given more than we could possibly eat.
she cooked for a long time in the hot sun for a group of women she had just met.
she was so generous.
thank you sally.
Kristy - thank. you. so. much. for letting us go on the magnificent, amazing journey with you.
once again i have tears. i just want to scoop those kids up and love them.
Lauren - Hi Meg,
I have been a follower (unofficial, not google-ish) for quite some time now and absolutely love visiting. I was excited to hear about your trip to Sierra Leone and have been curious as the week has gone past, but today, this post brought tears to my eyes. Perhaps because of the beauty you’ve captured with your photos or maybe the way you openly admit how humbling this experience was. Whatever it is, I love it and am thrilled to read this blog. Thank you!
Natalie - what an amazing experience!! i love checking in to see what photos you are going to share from your trip! and you can totally pull off the orange vest.. you were rockin it. 😉
bambooska - Those children’s smiles made my day. 🙂
Sally Mangham - Wow! I can only imagine what a life changing experience this was for you. Thank you for the continued sharing. Hugs, Sally
Julie - I’m really enjoying seeing your pictures. I’m so moved by Africa and the African people. They are so beautiful. Humbling, yes. I can only imagine. My husband went to Somalia ~ it changes a person.
Staci - Oh my goodness ! How precious is that little girl in that picture with those boys??? Man oh man…I’m only experiencing this through your lens…but humbling is definitely the word 🙁 Ugggh 🙁 We take soooo much for granted 🙁
linda lou - without reading the comments i was thinking as the others has said about aunt sally cooking in the heat for you girls we are so use to cental air or air conditioning homes, we would think we were suffering unconditional for our family): sad hu! and those children you can see jesus in them (: and i have to say that little girl is beautiful!!! you have truly been blessed by your experience in going. blessings, linda lou
Diana - yes, like was said by another commenter, humbling for us visiting, too.
such beautiful children… every child’s smile is a piece of heaven.
barracuda in kansas… hmmm, wonder if jerry has ever seen any while out fishing. naw, probably not.
thank you, auntie sally, for feeding our friends while they were there. 🙂
♥
Rachael - Meg, I was looking at these pictures and I noticed how beautiful your friends are! Some of my closest christian friends are also some of the most beautiful people I know. God has truly blessed you.
kristine - i just adore all those children. they are beautiful. i just want to snuggle them up and bring them home with me. i’m thankful for all you’re learning too. i love it.
julia - wonderful pictures…..was it difficult to eat though? or, knowing how important it was to appreciate the hospitality was it easier? I really don’t know how I’d handle a situation like that.
Melanie - your pictures are amazing!
Kelly - wow, this is all so amazing. kelly
adrianne - Such beautiful children!
s.t. - living here in america for so long, i got pampered with dishwasher, microwave, oven, clean water that i can easily access 24 hrs/7 days a week, washer & dryer to clean the dirty clothes, antibacterial stuff and so on…when i went to visit my home country, i had to stop myself many times from saying “is that clean? hope i don’t get food poisoned or sick” from how they sell/prepare/cook food from the market. it’s easy to get so parnoid about sanitation & stuff.
merlin - “she cooked for a long time, in the hot sun”
How do you like to entertain? I’d rather see the dentist for a root canal than cook for others in my home, for me the conditions have to be perfect, so honestly we don’t have people over.
Now, in light of your story of Aunt Sally….I have to re-think my attitude, really rotten attitude.
Thanks for sharing you experiences with perfect strangers like me, who are blessed and changed through your sharing.
kbonikowsky - It is such a treat to look at your pictures. It makes me homesick for the “real” world.
sara@augustfields - meg…the pictures, the story, the lives. all so much to take in….and i didn’t even go there. i am so thankful that you are sharing your experience. thank you.
Amanda - Have you heard about this? http://iamrogue.com/macgruber/
Nicole Q. - I haven’t commented yet on all your pictures of your trip . . .I’m just taking it all in. AMAZING! I know God changed and touched you but that’s only half of this experience. God touched and changed the people you came in contact with too! I love how God works!
Gina - Those kids just break my heart! But they are as happy as can be, aren’t they? I wish that there was more that I was able to do for the people of Africa. I’m really proud of you for going there! Have you ever seen the Sara Groves video for “I Saw What I Saw?” It kills me every time I watch it. I would love to adopt from Africa, but it’s just so very expensive…..maybe someday. I love seeing your pics, keep em’ coming!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSdP6PqsbJY
Molly Pearce - Those children are so beautiful!! I could take them all home with me!! Auntie Sally sounds like a very sweet woman, would love to hear her story.
~Molly P
Holly - The little girl reminds me so much of your Annie with the way her little smile just creeps into all her facial features. I love how she is nearly naked but her hair is done so fancy- I guess that is part of the “Annie” of her.
Karen Gerstenberger - Dear Meg,
I’m sure you are busy getting settled back in with your family, but I wanted to tell you that I sent you an email about fabric donations. Just wanted to tell you here, so you don’t think it’s spam, or that I am a stalker. I’m a blogger – and a beginning seamstress, who started a blanket-making guild at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Our guild’s blog is http://www.katiescomfortersguild.blogspot.com, and my blog is http://www.karengberger.blogspot.com . I have an idea for supplies for your next trip to Africa.
Thank you for sharing your travels (and what you are learning) with us!
sarah - I get tears in my eyes every time I look at these pictures of yours,
I just don’t even have words…
Christy - Awesome pictures!!
Courtney Walsh - humbling for me to even look at it, I can’t imagine you being there. That little girl smiling in the background of those kid pictures is just adorable. I love her! 🙂
I hope you’re readjusting to life… I am sure you’ll never be the same!