Thanksgiving Weekend
11/26/2010
Today, we are going to our annual Thanksgiving get-together with the Free Methodist missionaries here in Taiwan. A few cannot make it because of various reasons. But most of the team members will be there to share in the fun and good food; turkey of course! Every year, I always miss the revelry that we do in the USA. Watching football! (The tradition of watching the Detroit Lions loss on Thanksgiving Day.) Eating pumpkin pie and pink salad at the Mowery Reunion in Cuba, Illinois. Turkey Day is also the time when we pose for the camera and document how the cousins are getting older, or how the four Mowery siblings are growing older. So much for American Mid-west memories. Right now, we are getting ready to face the turkey. "Is anyone bringing corn bread?" I am asking Sarah, but she could not hear me from downstairs. I love corn bread. I hope someone is bringing some today.
Last Thursday evening, during my class in Theological English, we decided to have a shortened class session and to spend the rest of the three-hour period in a "Thanksgiving" party. I read to the class the story of the First Thanksgiving Day, the story of the Pilgrims and the friendly Native Americans. For most of these Taiwanese students, it was their first time to hear this American story of God's guidance and provision for the early settlers. At some parts of the story, I started to choke up. I remembered my experience as a foreign student in Kentucky, and my life as an immigrant in central Illinois, and how much I received love and "guidance" from the Mowery clan, my in-laws, the families of the Prochinas and the Yardys, and many more friends. I would have not made it if not for these "native Americans" who helped me with my USA experience. God was with me the whole time.
These Chinese students prepared roasted chicken, a dried spiced up Peking Duck that I cannot remember its Chinese name, and many other delicacies. For a small group of party goers, they did a lot. We played some Charade game. It was entertaining to see them move between English and Chinese words or phrases. I wished they had brought a Chinese version of these game. (Is there a Chinese version of this Charade game?) It was a good way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. I came home at around 10:00 P.M and the children were already sleeping. Sarah was still awake but she was struggling with colds and head ache. So, I thought I will have to tell her the story tomorrow. It was unlike the Thanksgiving party at the Mowery fellowship at Cuba, Illinois, but this Kaohsiung revelry was similar because God was there and we celebrated Christian friendship together. Happy Thanksgiving!
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.