A Word for Potluck

We need to come up with an island word for ‘potluck’. It isn’t an island thing, but this was our third or fourth time doing one with our island brothers and sisters. It was actually an islander who first recommended it. She had lived on the big island and the international body there had done potlucks on big holidays and when she suggested doing it here on Clove Island, the foreigners were all very supportive. Islanders weren’t sure about it. 

Christmas at home

Workers on Clove Island come from different countries, but all had potlucks as part of holiday gatherings in their home countries. The actual name ‘potluck’ doesn’t actually translate, but the idea is the same . In French, their word is ‘shared-meal’. Our UK colleagues call it a ‘bring-and-share’ or a ‘Jacob’s join’, but in each case it still means everyone brings something and everyone feasts on the shared contributions. (Really, ‘bring-and-share’ is a pretty good name for it.) 

Having a word shows that it is part of the culture, part of the normal ways to do things. But there is no island word for potluck. 

Still, we have had successful potlucks a few times now, so this weekend’s came about pretty easily. There were lots of main dishes and some desserts. There was an abundance of dishes with poultry-based hot dogs this year (they have been on sale on the islands lately), but not enough to be overwhelming. In the end, everyone seemed full and happy. 

I was chatting with foreign colleagues beforehand and we talked about our experiences with potlucks— how people often always bring the same dishes to every potluck (I am still working on perfecting what my go-to island potluck contribution should be), how there are often dishes you never make yourself that you always look forward to eating at a potluck, how many people want to try as many of the dishes as possible- you might get introduced to a new food at a potluck that becomes a new favorite. 

Part of our contribution

Generally, we aren’t trying to add lots of foreign customs to island culture, but some additions are a blessing and we are happy that potlucks have been introduced and have so far caught on among the Clove Island body with their local foods and flavors. 

We noticed some islanders kept to only the more traditional dishes— like rice, beans, pilau, mataba— things that were familiar. Others were making a point of trying everything— even asking, after they got too full, for samples of the remaining dishes to be wrapped in napkins so they could try them at home.

As part of the service before the meal, Tom talked about how potlucks are a beautiful picture of us being one body. We all bring different things to the table and we all benefit from what everyone brings. A diversity of offerings coming together in unity and mutual service. 

But there’s still no word for it. In the local language, there is a way of making a verb into a noun. So one local word for a meeting is a ‘seeing each other’, so maybe we could call a potluck a ‘sharing’, a ‘bringing for each other’,  or a ‘feeding each other’.  We’ll have to ask our island friends what would sound best.

Towards the end of the potluck

PRAYERS ANSWERED
The potluck went well. We had a good week both as a family and in community. Megan was able to read the Christmas story with Hashiri and Tom was able to study with Muki and Mtsa. Muki came to the service and potluck. Megan attended three wedding events in the community and had the energy for them plus the holiday gatherings. The lychees and mangoes continue to be in abundance (the payoff for enduring the heat). We were able to hike to the river and cool off in the cold refreshing water one afternoon. We had the wonderful gift of waking up on the 25th to the news that we have a new island sister— she has been on the big island but she is from our island and will be returning soon. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
We will have our annual holiday party with our English Club this week (we couldn’t fit it in earlier). Pray for a fun evening and that we’d continue to have chances to share the hope and joy of the season. Pray for the incorporation of this new island sister on her return to Clove Island— pray that she’d make a natural connection with the other island sister in her town. There were some faces missing at the potluck— pray that those that have been walking away would rejoin the group and that they would all keep growing together.  There are several health concerns among the brothers and sisters— pray for healing and for the ill to not become discouraged! Pray for our older two kids as they head back to boarding school at the end of the week— pray that they can both get all the vacation work for their AP courses done and that our daughter can finish her college applications without too much stress. Pray for their safe travels (they will be traveling alone this time) and for a smooth transition back to school. Continue to pray for our daughter’s health— that she wouldn’t catch any illnesses and that she would find healing from her rheumatoid arthritis. It has continued to be brutally hot with almost no rain— pray for some rainy days to break up the heat and humidity (but not to disrupt travel plans).