Haitian Thanksgiving!

We had a great first Thanksgiving in Haiti.  Work at the mission was still in full-swing, since Thanksgiving is not quite a Haitian holiday.  However, the missionaries took the afternoon hours off in order to have a Thanksgiving meal.  We enjoyed all the staple items, turkey, dressing, green bean casserole, etc.  It all tasted sooo good!  We had several desserts, I made a pumpkin roll and it actually worked!  We definitely had a good day, but missed our family and friends from the states as well.  Here we are after lunch with vant plen (full stomachs) for a Thanksgiving picture:

I was asked by a good friend back in the states to share some thoughts about what it was like to spend Thanksgiving in a country like Haiti that lives in so much poverty.  I have thought about this quite a bit over the past few weeks.  As we spend more and more time here I am beginning to realize what I am truly thankful for.


Do not get me wrong, there are times I miss many "things."  I find I miss the guarantee of a warm shower.  I miss wearing blue jeans.  I miss the anticipation of having a "White Christmas." I miss the idea of having a night out to the movies.  However, if I never experienced any of these things again it would be no real loss.


As I see the poverty here in Haiti and seek to understand my brothers and sisters here, I am vividly reminded of the things that truly matter in life.  The typical Haitian family struggles to provide a meal for their family each day.  The majority do not have running water in their homes.  There are a variety of physical struggles they constantly experience.  In the midst of these circumstances an incredibly high value is placed on both faith and family.  The close family ties and devotion to Christ seen in the Christian families here in Haiti is truly a blessing.


I am thankful for the beautiful reminder to place high importance on my family and more importantly my relationship with Christ.  I am so blessed by the family the Lord has given me.  I conclude this time of public thanksgiving by sharing a picture I took outside after our Thanksgiving meal.  I am so thankful that the Lord's glory shines here in Haiti and He is truly in the business of making Himself known among the nations!