It was one of the bible school students who told me, “Luganda is a very simple language. One word can mean many words in English.”
“Neyanziza” is a Ugandan word jam-packed with meaning- it means gratitude, thanksgiving and goes beyond “I appreciate you so very much.” Learning the Ugandan language, Luganda, has been a total joy for me, as it comes naturally to me with its beautiful sounds and intonations.
Today, as we rounded up an intensive two-week course teaching a most inquisitive and sharp class of Ugandan and Kenyan pastors, who have sacrificed much in life to be in this school, we were deeply touched by their telling us “Neyanziza”. When most of the class is older than you (with one gentleman more than twice my age with 14 children!) and yet still so appreciative of your being there as a couple, it fills one’s heart with immense warmth.
For me, showing appreciation and love to others often finds itself showing up in food, be it preparing a meal for my husband, or baking up some treats for friends, colleagues and loved ones.
As much as baking a tray of home-made marble cake and buying a bag of eggs (Cliff’s idea, upon seeing how they eat only beans and starch called Posho every day for 2 meals a day) for them expressed our appreciation for their encouragement and enthusiasm, I wasn’t quite sure if they would receive it that way. But how wrong was I when we saw how thrilled they were.
There just isn’t enough to thank them with for the inspiration they have been to us in spirit. Perhaps it is us who should have the privilege of saying “Neyanziza”.
