By Simone Monique Barnes
Food often brings us to community. Several weeks ago, Rev. Eileen asked me to consider hosting a small meet and greet reception for our youth with our 10:15 am guest preacher, Bishop Alinafe Kalemba of Southern Malawi.
Why a special youth ministry reception? There’s a saying “you can’t be what you can’t see.” It’s a lot easier to see yourself as a part of a global community, to see yourself in ministry, to see yourself as part of the church and community of Christians, and to see yourself amongst peers, if the seeing isn’t always within the confines of your own mind. A visit with a bishop, a chance to connect with other youth, and a taste of your own or another’s soul food is an important part of our foundation.
But what to serve? Cupcakes? Sandwiches? Pizza? BBQ? During coffee hour one Sunday I mentioned the upcoming Bishop’s visit to parents of youth. Inonge Khabele shared a thought, “It’d be nice if we had some Malawian food for his visit.” Aha. Yes, she was right. It would be nice. I’m half Jamaican and Antiguan, and if we had a visiting clergy member from one of those islands, I would want a taste of home.
I made a few calls to African friends in Austin asking if there were any caterers, food trucks, or restaurants in Central Texas that serve Malawian food, so that I could order a dish or dessert for “a guest visiting Austin.” I know Tanzanians, Kenyans, Ghanains, Zimbabweans, Nigerians, South Africans, Ugandans, Ethiopians, but alas there are no Malawians on my friend list. (There are 54 African countries, afterall!) Then, I received a simple message: “Call Lawrence at 512….” I trusted the person who gave me the number, but from my hotel room in Atlanta, I took a deep breath, prayed, and exhaled, then dialed the phone number and explained that a friend had given me his number, and that I had a guest visiting from Malawi but I didn’t know where to find food in Austin.
“You are looking for Malawian food? I am from Malawi. My family, we are from Malawi. May I ask, who is your guest?”
I took another breath, and exhaled “I work for a church, St James’ Episcopal. Bishop Alinafe Kalemba from Southern Malawi is visiting one Sunday to preach. We’d like to have a Malawian dish or a dessert to serve our youth group, but I don’t know where to find any in Austin.”
The next day, I received a message from Lawrence’s wife Abiba. “We will cook. The Malawian community would be happy to welcome Bishop Alinafe.” And cook they did.
Zikomo (thank you in Chichewa) to Abiba Matengula, Linda Lingao, Dilly Magombo, and Wase Banda–the women who prepared our feast of nsima, beans, collard greens, chicken stew, beef stew, greens with groundnut flour, fried Tilapia fish, samosas, fruit, and mandazi.
And zikomo to our St James’ hospitality team, UBE, and youth ministries for rolling out the red carpet for our church and our guests, making them feel welcome at this table.
And lastly, zikomo to Lawrence and Abiba Matengula for responding to a stranger’s call with grace and radical hospitality, bringing food and family to St James’, growing our extended church’ family with Malawian and Malawian American friends, neighbors, youth, adults, and grandparents alike.
And as a thank you to St James’, Bishop Alinafe gifted us with a beautiful textile from Malawi, which we will soon hang on the walls in the Orange Building as a reminder of our connection and time spent together.
