How we spent Thanksgiving on the mission field

I got letters from some of you saying that the last few posts that I have written were sent out all jumbled. I had clicked the option of a "newer, improved" Blogger, but apparently, it is best for me to just stick with the old, tried-and-true. Hopefully, this post will be readable in your inboxes this time.

DAVID SLOAN FAMILY - THANKSGIVING '09

For Thanksgiving, we were invited to Missionary Pastor Bob Van Sant's home. As you know, we work in the church the Van Sant's started 13 years ago. The Hess family who remained in Ukraine (half are in America for a funeral) were invited as well. There were 10 of us in all.

Celebrating Thanksgiving in a country other than America is always quite the fun challenge. (Last year we spent Thanksgiving in Mexico!) For one, you can not just walk into your local grocery store and find all of the Thanksgiving food items conveniently grouped together near the front doors. In fact, many of the foods we think of as traditional Thanksgiving foods can not even be found here, such as stuffing, cornbread, cranberry sauce, canned pumpkin, corn syrup (for pecan pie), etc... Praise the Lord that the Van Sants were able to find some of these things on a recent trip to visit their son in Germany. And as for the turkey, well... those little guys are made to order here (or should I have said killed when you order here?!) All of the decorations you see in these pictures were carried in the Van Sant's suitcases and saved especially for this day.

A big, special, public thanks to the Van Sants and all of their hard work to make Thanksgiving special for our family this year! We had such a great time!

ME WITH TWO OF MY PILGRIMS

THE ADULT TABLE

THE KIDS' TABLE

MRS. JUDY'S DELICIOUS TURKEY DINNER BUFFET

DESSERT BUFFET

VERY DARLING TURKEY CUPCAKES MRS. JUDY MADE THAT WE ALL "GOBBLED UP"! MY PRETTY PILGRIM GIRL

This week I reached 100 active subscribers! This number may be small to you, but to me it is HUGE because if each subscriber is praying for us, then I know that God is hearing our names at least 100 times a day! Thank you, thank you, thank you!