I hadn’t made any big plans for Thanksgiving (in spite of its being all over Facebook) because, you know, Thanksgiving is an American holiday and we’re not in America any more. Not to mention, a turkey is totally unheard of here.
However, last night Marc finally figured out that today, everyone in America would be celebrating–giving thanks to God AND enjoying a feast as well. He determined that we needed to keep some vestige of American tradition and announced that he would go into town this morning (Thanksgiving day) to gather supplies for an evening meal. Chicken and mashed potatoes seemed the next best thing to turkey, but the boys weren’t too excited about the prospect of slaughtering our celebratory dinner. And all the kids piped in with their opinion: if we were going to splurge on a meal, it might as well be pizza. Nothing beats pizza! Marc suggested seeing if our neighbors had a duck they wanted to sell, but that was quickly shot down and a second vote taken for pizza.
The two adults conferred and agreed that bacon cheeseburgers were a reasonable alternative to turkey, but the children unanimously overrode our suggestion once again with pizza. So it was decided that today, we shall give thanks and celebrate, with bacon cheeseburgers and french fries for the adults and pizza for the children. (Though the adults will probably have to at least *try* the pizza. It’s a rare treat!)
So today, Marc and Deborah are off on the motorbike to town. I hope the market has cheese! (Sometimes they don’t.) We are thankful for how God has been working in our lives and in our community. We’re thankful to be feeling more at home here. And certainly we are thankful that we will be eating cheeseburgers and pizza, while many of our neighbors only enjoy meat once a year and sometimes don’t have their daily ugali. Count your blessings, and pray for those who aren’t feeling so thankful today. See how you can reach out and touch someone else’s life. Be blessed today!
Pizza? Had it once since I was here. Awesome. Had a cheese burger today. When in Dar try to protein up. Goat soon! Yummy!
I’ll bring the root beer 🙂 Love each of you very much 🙂
Missed your comment when you posted it, Bill…we’ve unfortunately had way too much spam on the blog recently. Anyway, would LOVE to sip some suds with you again. Miss you dearly. 🙂
I just stopped in to check how you all were doing… but had already read your latest (loved all the pictures in your latest post–especially of that fast-growing pretty little babe!). I loved your way of celebrating thanksgiving, and I surely hope you were able to get cheese! I wish I could ship you five large steaming hot Pizza Hut pizzas and have them arrive still warm! My husband and I have toyed with the idea of leaving America for a more primitive and remove place to live (something God has put in our heart for years, but He has not completed any plans or calling yet), and I was thinking about what a blessing it might be to be freed from the constraints of American tradition regarding holidays and in their place, instead, just worship and celebrate from the heart (not for tradition’s sake as much as for your intent’s sake). Christmas and upcoming Easter are so tainted with pagan traditions–to be away from the pressures of family and neighbors and community who mindlessly engage in some of these traditions (like Santa and the Easter bunny, just to scratch the surface), and instead, use the holiday as a reminder to worship and celebrate with what is in our hearts. I think it is perfect that you eschewed the traditional “turkey” and opted for something that really made you feel like you were celebrating! I’m sure that pleased God, who often gave just such instructions in His Word–to Celebrate Him!
Cindy, I’m thankful for the beacon of light you are shining there with your willingness to be where God wants you to be. I am thankful God gave me the chance to meet your husband at his convention booth and learn about your family’s ministry before you disappeared to Africa. You are often in my thoughts and prayers, and you are always an encouragement and exhortation to me… just by how you live.
God bless you abundantly.
-Camilla Anderson
growing-in-truth.blogspot.com
LOL, I’m sure the kids would LOVE it if Pizza Hut pizzas could make the journey here. 🙂 We did have cheese for the Thanksgiving holiday and at Christmas my family sent us a completely boxed-and-packaged Christmas dinner (ham, Velveeta mac & cheese (yum!), Bush’s baked beans, butter and garlic mashed potatoes, and cherry pie crust and filling). ‘Twas amazing and we were so blessed!! Don’t know why so much is still about food, but God is ever so patient with our weak flesh. 🙂
Pray for you often as well…thanks so much for that.
Cindy