Happy Thanksgiving!

This Thursday is Thanksgiving in the United States... a much beloved holiday that is solely an American tradition. I think for this reason, it is one of the holidays that can be hardest to be away from home for; this year in Bolivia will be no different.

However, although I will be away from my family, I have been extremely blessed with another family here in Bolivia: my fellow Salesian Lay Missioners. Two weekends ago, fourteen of the fifteen volunteers in Bolivia traveled to a nearby town called Yapacani (three from Cochabamba had to take an overnight bus). It was so wonderful to make our own Thanksgiving together, and to celebrate this family holiday with friends who I am so blessed to have. We were able to share stories from our respective sites, laugh together at mishaps, sufferings, or funny things our children did, and we were blessed with time to talk about our specific missions, and where God was challenging us and asking us to change ourselves.

Each site pair brought their own dish: the three girls from Cochabamba cooked the main dish, a chicken pasta deliciousness. And a married couple who work here in Montero at the daycare and technical institute did a fantastic job at recreating traditional food with things they found here in the market - homemade stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and even Bolivian-style sweet potatoes. My site partner and I took on two desserts. We made a pumpkin dessert roll with cream cheese frosting, and a layered pudding/banana/cookie creation. Our meal was also completed with amazing apple pie, apple crisp, and little cookies that looked like turkeys! We even got to go around and say what we were thankful for, almost the best part of the day (I would be lying if I didn't admit I loved trying so many desserts)! It was a really special "Thanksgiving" - eating under mango trees, and breaking bread with people who lift me up, make me laugh, people who share so many of my values, and understand my heart.

And for the actual Turkey Day, the couple who live here in Montero, and my site partner and I are going to create a traditional American Thanksgiving meal for the nuns we work with here in Montero. We had to drive an hour away to Santa Cruz to get a turkey, but I think it will all be delicious (the couple are fabulous cooks). It will be really fun to share one of our traditions here in Bolivia.

Provecho!