When I was serving in Bisho township outside of King Williams Town there was Xhosa family that we were working with. It is rather embarrassing right now that I cannot recall their name. It will come to me at some point. Anyhow the momma was a wonderful lady and she used to make us some fantastic grub. I can't spell it properly but can attempt to write it phonetically mmmnewshow. It is a samp and bean dish that we quite liked. It may have been because we didn't rarely had dinner appointments in that mission so when you got one it really didn't matter what was being served - it was delicious. Well, there is one exception to that. The first meal I was ever given was from and elderly couple in the Bellville Ward down in Capetown. It was a fish paste sandwich with what looked to be an entire cube of butter on the bread. I don't know which was worse the butter or the fish paste. Sometimes all you can do is grin while you bite and swallow, bite and swallow, drink something - anything, bite and swallow...
So I was given my Xhosa name by this family: Vuyani. It means happy to be with you. I was given it because that was how they felt. My companion was Elder Orr from Idaho. His name was QoQombile. It means light. He requested a name with clicks. The Q's are clicks and come from the tongue popping off the roof of the mouth. Happy to be with you. I have always liked that and was honored to receive it.
As I ponder the name there are people that I feel that way about. The kiddos for sure and the family as well. Then there are certain friends that I feel that way about. I saw one today. She came in for a sandwich though I like to think that maybe she came in to see me and just happened to enjoy a most excellent sandwich (Philly Cheese Steak) as well. There are some people that just have a light about them and she happens to be one of those people for me. Her countenance just shines and I love that.
"Have I cheered up the sad or made someone feel glad?" is a great question asked in the hymn Have I Done Any Good in the World Today. Am I able to accomplish that when I meet with people? Am I living up to my Xhosa name? There are those that I am happy to be with. I would hope that in my associations people feel that way about me.
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