Madi's Mission

Día de Acción de Gracias

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I skipped school today, and Kym and I cooked a Thanksgiving meal. Since we had to make do with the ingredients we were able to find here and we have a funny oven, we knew there was a definite possibility we would be eating cereal for Thanksgiving dinner.

But, everything turned out perfectly! My favorite part was the dressing, or the stuffing. My mom mailed us cornbread mix, and we used Kym’s mom’s recipe. It was great! We also had turkey, green bean casserole, sweet potato soufflé, macaroni and cheese, and pie! With way more food than two people are capable of eating, we will be having leftovers until next year.

These are some picture I snapped buying sweet potatoes at the little Saturday street market near our house.

And….drum roll…the finished product…

I have to share the pictures cause we are pretty proud of ourselves.

We even had iced-tea.

So, maybe I’m slightly biased, but I think Thanksgiving ought to be a worldwide holiday. It’s one of my favorite holidays because it isn’t about getting stuff! It’s a day when you sit down for a dinner with friends and family, and focus on all the blessings of life.

My list seems to be extra long this year and I want to share a few. This year I am thankful for:

1. Supportive family and friends:

I can’t even begin to express how grateful

I am for the prayers, uplifting words, donations,

and unending love and encouragement.

2. A terrific new sister-in-law.

This picture was from their rehearsal dinner

and pretty much sums us up.

3. Internet. It

allows me to keep in touch while I am so far away.

4. A cousin who is in remission after battling breast cancer!! Praise the Lord!

Picture of Christen (sister) and Rebecca (cousin) at Race for the Cure

5. My English-Spanish dictionary and my translator app.

6. Peruvian coffee.

7. A new mentor, friend, and

roommate - Kym.

To the left is a picture of her

getting ready to start a Bible

lesson with the kids at the orphanage.

8. And last but certainly not least…..The opportunity to live in Peru and work with sweet, endearing, and rambunctious kids at the school and in the orphanage everyday.

My sister had a Thanksgiving/Christmas party for me before I left back in September since I wouldn’t be able to celebrate the holidays with family, and I am cherishing those memories today. I have to admit, I was a little nervous about how I was going to feel today. I didn’t know if it would be hard spending my first Thanksgiving apart from family…..