Thanksgiving

El Monte has a tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving by putting on a big dinner for the staff, staff families, and a few extra friends.  Thursday about 50 people enjoyed a traditional meal prepared mostly by us Americans.  The biggest problem was to find big turkeys, but a Costco about an hour away had them.  Just like home, some of us started preparing food a couple days ahead of time.  Thanksgiving morning we had a short Thanksgiving lesson with our English class and then our students had an American cooking lesson--we cooked! We discussed Thanksgiving traditions as we rolled pie crust, prepared bread cubes, and chopped onions for stuffing in Katrina's apartment.

Then we moved to the big kitchen at Koinonia, our dining hall/meeting building.  Notice the area behind the stove; it is a screened window with an iron grate.  The ventilation design is very intentional to help control the heat in the kitchen.  Mexicans are always managing/protecting themselves from the sun and heat just as we Northerners protect ourselves from the cold by insulating and heating our homes.

The bigger oven was useful for making the stuffing and baking the buns.  Mexican staff also prepared mashed potatoes, corn, and extra desserts.  We had an abundance!  

The students beautifully decorated the tables.  Waiting for everything to come together was the perfect time to catch up with friends.

Before and during the meal, football fans kept an eye on the Packer game.  Some were cheering for the Packers and some not. :)

We had quite a buffet line!

We needed a separate table for all the desserts including the traditional pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and apple crisp.   More arrived after this pic.

I never thought I would be washing dishes outside on Thanksgiving in 85-degree weather.  

What a special afternoon!

This morning's view from outside my apartment door

On December 11 someone will go with me all the way to Mexico City's airport.  Getting through the airport should not be too difficult from what I remember, and going through immigration in Minneapolis should not be hard either.  Then I will take the shuttle to Eau Claire.  I expect to get home after midnight.  It will be a very long day.

Pray with me please.

Praises

• I am grateful to have had Thanksgiving with my El Monte family and many Mexican friends.  I felt blessed to be part of a celebration that recognized God's many gifts.
• I am savoring the daily sunshine and warm weather.  This is the best time of year to be here.
• I am thankful for God's continuous help and answers to prayers all semester.
• I am thankful someone will go with me all the way to the Mexican airport.

Requests

• Please pray for an English teacher for next semester.
• Please pray for someone I met this week named Tina.  It is important that you pray for God's clear leading as to where her future ministry should be. Thank you.
• Please pray for our last week of class!  Pray for a strong finish and that the students would do well on their final test and on a presentation they are making in English.
• Please pray that I can navigate the Mexican airport smoothly and for someone to drive me home from Eau Claire.

I am grateful for all my prayer partners, for God's promise to always be with me, and His goodness in answering prayers so sweetly.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid or discouraged.                                                    Deuteronomy 31:8