Chapaticados
We lived on a road called Monkey Fountain on the western outskirts of Ndola and it was a wonderful place. There were fruit trees of many kinds, and we were surrounded by wild bush, where our boys could climb trees, catch snakes, traverse the dambos (mini swamps) chase monitor lizards, and build forts. But one of the most amazing benefits of this property was the monstrous avocado tree in our backyard,
just outside our kitchen window.
This tree had to be nearly 60 feet tall, and it was so full. The trunk was massive and every year it would bear incredible fruit. In 2020 there were days when we would get 90 avocados -- in a day! It was unbelievable! We had our fill, and we got to share these amazing fruits with neighbors, friends, everyone we knew, and even perfect strangers. I remember literally handing avocados out the Land Cruiser window as I drove through town. And Zambian avocados – these avocados, were massive. They were at least the size of 3 to 4 of the avocados that we get at grocery stores here in the States. Sometimes when one would fall from the highest branches of the tree and land with a thud in the backyard, you could hear branches cracking on the way down. We would rush out from our home to race the dogs so that they wouldn’t get there first, because they loved them too!
Being from the border region of the US Southwest, Mexican food is a staple. More often than we have sandwiches we eat burritos. So, tortillas are a part of everyday life. However, in Zambia, there are no tortillas, and Mexican food is far from a daily reality. But they do have amazing Indian food. India and Zambia were both British colonies and there were many Indian families who came to Zambia to establish businesses and have stayed for generations. Thank God! Indian food became one of the Kohn family’s favorites. And they prepare what’s called a chapati. It’s similar in some ways to a tortilla so it gave us the feeling of home. During avocado season, I would make what came to be known as Chapaticados. Just simply an avocado sliced up inside a warmed chapati with salt and tajin. To this day that simple food is one of my favorites. Partly because it reminds me of a period of time that was special,
but also because it was delicious and wonderful in its simplicity.
Micah 6:8 reads, “…the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
God doesn’t require perfection or complexity. You don’t have to look a certain way or have your ducks in a row, just so. He doesn’t demand lavish ornate offerings and overcomplicated ceremony. If you simply do what’s right, love mercy, and walk humbly, you’ll be set apart.
A chapaticado doesn’t look like much. Neither does simple humility. You don’t need a gym membership to get fit…just get moving, eat clean. You don’t need a Harvard degree to prove you’re a good hire.
Read a book, take notes!
Simple goes a long way.
Lions know that simplicity, like a chapaticado, is the tastiest!