Thanksgiving a Week Late

Well, Thanksgiving has come and past. Even though we are far from family and friends who we would love to share the holidays with we had the opportunity to share our favorite holiday with people who have never experienced it before. On Monday of Thanksgiving week I prepared a full Thanksgiving meal (turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, croissants, and apple crisp) and during my normal RA staff meeting we enjoyed the meal and fellowship together.

It was great getting to share why we celebrate thanksgiving, they foods that we traditionally eat, and just to share why we are thankful. All of the RAs got into it and shared from the heart things they are thankful for. It was a great night and it felt like home (only there was no football to watch...I did get to play floor hockey the next night...driveway hockey at thanksgiving is a Hanson tradition).

I also participated in the LCC North Americans' Thanksgiving tradition of going to McDonald's on the Thanksgiving day, because it is a work day here we eat at the only American restaurant in town. Then on Saturday, the faculty and staff had a big Thankgsiving feast and after we cleaned up we decorated campus for Christmas. All in all it was a great week.

Some things that I am thankful for this year:

• My amazing wife who has chosen to take on this adventure with me
• A call to minister through higher education and to get the opportunity to serve some great students
• An answer to prayer for community and friendship by God's provision of the Erik and Becky Johnson to live across the hall from us this year.
• Family that love us and support us...we miss you all
• Friends who think of us often and write us notes and say prayers
• The generosity of many...much thanks!

One other way we have been able to celebrate in the giving of thanks is through "celebration breakfasts". Each Friday morning for the past month or so we gather at the Johnson's apartment with other staff and faculty (at the early hour of 7:30am) and share breakfast and give thanks/celebrate what Gods has done in the week leading up to the breakfast. It has been a great way to share and to celebrate in community.

Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving meal with the RAs




The RAs coloring Thanksgiving pictures just like we used to color the pilgram pictures for the placecards at Hanson thanksgiving.


Laura making gravy.


Olena and Katia (both from Ukraine) enjoying their first Thanksgiving.


Vasile and Ruxanda (both from Moldova) enjoying their first Thanksgiving...and inquiring about green bean casserole.


Neumann West Thanksgiving 2009 (Artsiom could not be there as he was back in Minsk for the weekend).


Vasile getting ready to feast.