Doubly Thankful

This year, I was doubly blessed to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving twice this year.
Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. The tradition was begun by President George Washington in setting aside a day to thank God for His goodness to us. As far as I know, no other nation on earth has been founded on godly principles like the US. And, as far as I know, no other nation, which includes Mexico, celebrates Thanksgiving.
However, Mexico celebrates the beginning of their revolution on November 20th. So, quite a few Americans celebrate Thanksgiving that day, because it's a day that everyone has off.

I was blessed to spend that day celebrating God's goodness with fellow friends and missionaries, L-R: Peggy Warren, Kevin & Sandra Gutwein and Shelbi, Raul & Melanie Salavarria, Harold & Sue Middleton, and two other girls, Erika VanKirk, and Emily Drake. We had two dueling guitars for a little while. Then we enjoyed a time of singing praise and worship songs to the Lord. There were a few other fun songs mixed in!

THANKSGIVING DAY

Then, on Thursday, after the kids got out of school, and after Spanish class, most of us involved in the Spanish Department and our Mexican friends got together in a large borrowed place to celebrate Thanksgiving again.

The decorations portray the goodness of God.

Thank you Lord for the godly heritage that America has. Thank you that we are able to publically say THANKS for all you have done for us.

Thank you Lord for bountiful harvests that provide us with sustinance. You provide everything we need!

Mmm... Yummy pies! Gary & Starla Kloth have a lot to be thankful for! If i remember right, they found out the week of Thanksgiving that they have "graduated" from the Spanish Course. They have reached a level of Spanish to be able to move into their regular ministry. After spending a year brushing up on Spanish, their ready to move on. However, they'll finish up the semester, keeping on study, and change ministries in January.

Carving Turkeys! Steve Marti and Joe Wisniewski. They're both in Spanish study and progressing nicely.

Look at all those pies!

Thank you Lord for taste buds and for all the variety of delicious tastes. You did not create a bland world. You are so creative!

Tasha Davis and her husband, Ron, are finished with Spanish also. Tasha finished up in the late Spring, and Ron was cleared to leave about 6 weeks ago. However, he is finishing the semester out also, working a little more on Spanish. Ron & Tasha are trusting the Lord to be able to move into a town in Durango to work with the Mexicanero people. They are descendents of the original Aztecs, and have still not heard the Gospel in their language!

Cindy Whylings, together with her husband, John, is currently in charge of the Spanish Department. I work with her!

Look at all that yummy food!

I'm getting hungry again, just looking at it!

This is just one of the tables - there were 3 or 4! L-R: Gary & Starla Kloth, together with Gaby Orrostieta, their langauge helper. Then, Shelbi, Sandra, and Kevin Gutwein, myself, and Tony Orrostieta, Gaby's brother. Then, a friend of Arehmi's, Arehmi Barrera, who is helping out at the Spanish Department teaching Spanish.

Thank you Lord, for the godly leadership that you have set up in the mission here. Thank you that they earnestly seek You, that they genuinely care for those around and under them, and that they look out for our best interests. Thank you for the wisdom You have given them to be able to aptly lead. The kids had great fun!
Yoshi Castillo has finished 2 years of Bible School and is trusting the Lord to go on to the other 2 years of mission training next year. This year she is working with some of the new missionaries, helping to teach them Spanish.

Shelbi Gutwein graduated from highschool last year, and stayed with her family here in Mexico to be able to go to the Bible School here in Spanish.

Thank you Lord for friends!

We are quite a bunch, kids and language helpers etc.

Thank you Lord that even though we're not in the US, we still have the freedom to celebrate You!