We were at the second and final food drop for the group of elderly women and handful of men who meet every Friday at Kaaga Methodist Church. The majority of the group speaks Kimeru, the local tribal language, so I was extra lost today. I learned how to say "thank you" and "you're welcome", both 'ibwega' in Kimeru, to respond to the women as I distributed the food. Unfortunately I didn't know how to respond to the woman who instead of saying "ibwega" spit on the back of my hand before flipping it over and spitting on my palm. I felt like an eight-year-old boy making a pact with his best friend.
Since it was our last day with the group, I wanted to get a picture with them. Kitabu asked in Kimeru if they would mind and one of the older, sassier women shouted something back. Kitabu burst out laughing.
"What did she say?"
"Something about teeth?" said Dorcas.
"She has asked why you would want a picture of a bunch of people without teeth" replied Kitabu.
They were just as energetic as ever today and closed the food drop with a dance. At the end, one of the women thanked us and told us we were welcome back any Friday.
"Oh I don't wanna leave! I like them. Can you ask if I can come back next Friday to dance with them?" I asked Kitabu.
The women really liked that and said to meet them there this Friday at 3 pm. I have every intention of taking them up on that offer!