Thanksgiving is for Coming Together.

The Guyanese did not give the passing of the 4th Thursday in November much though. The American missionaries, Peace Corps volunteers, World Teach teachers and student missionary however, did. We gathered yesterday at the home of the Wickwires (who, incidentally, are Canadian and so had a second Thanksgiving) for our Thanksgiving celebration. The house was crackling with excitement and good cheer as people and food began to arrive. Everyone has been planning what to bring, how to get here, and looking forward to the day for weeks now. Travis and Harmony (Peace Corps) came in for the day from their school and health hut at Kumwata (an morning’s travel away), Emily (Peace Corps) came from White Water, three teachers arrived from Wauna. From Mabaruma came Lizzy and Suzanne (World Teach), Nate and Ilona (Peace Corps at the hospital), LaBores, Van Fossens, and I. All together there were almost 30 white people assembled under one roof in the midst of Mabaruma to eat, talk, and be thankful. Despite the homogeneity of completion, our group was quite diverse. Health workers, Bible workers, teachers, students, English, Canadian, Scottish, Puerto Rican, America. All and more were represented. We don’t really all know each other either. Everyone is busy working in their own place and even though I’ve been here 2 months now this was the first time I had met Nate, who lives in Mabaruma, to say nothing of the rest who came in. We piled the table full of food-everyone doing their best to make the Guyanese ingredients taste like the American holiday. We had two turkeys, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, a plethora of pumpkin pies, plus other dishes. And we ate and ate and ate. And then talked and ate some more. When we shared what we were thankful for patterns emerged. We were thankful to be there, safe though another year. We were thankful for the support of our families and friends at home, we were thankful for the kindness of our friends here. The room was filled with stories and laughter from all corners for hours. It was really beautiful to sit at that long table and see everyone, so mixed in background, political view, religion, occupation, and age come together in joyful thankfulness.

Earlier yesterday I read the Thanksgiving story to my kids as they lay crowded in the “Mayflower” hammock. It is been a while since I have read that story. I am sure I studied it in school and we probably even touched on it in US History with Monty Buell last year. But the Thanksgiving holiday for me has never been much more than a break from school, a harbinger to my birthday, a time to travel, eat, and then go home again. The food has always been good, I have taken the opportunity to stuff myself before, but it is so much different to gaze upon a table filled with home like food when I have been away from home. It has always been a time to come together with family, but it is so much different to come together with people I have never met before, may never see again, and yet find their hopes, aches, and joys mimic my own. It was beautiful to come together at Thanksgiving and find that in thanksgiving we were closer together then we ever realized before. I don’t think that the Wickwire’s house in Guyana is the only place that can happen. I hope that Thanksgiving day isn’t the only time it can happen either. There may not be a time when I enjoy stuffing more, but but I hope that there are many more times that I am truly thankful and find others thankful with me. 

Make the Most of the Moments.

I woke up yesterday feeling tired, a little grumpy, and generally not wanting to get up. It has been a busy week.

Monday, I started my third consecutive week of school with the kids. They are during really well learning the schedule and we can usually finish everything we need to by noon. At one, Laura stopped by and asked if I could stay with Dani and Micah that night. Her husband Bill was away on some Wings For Humanity business.  She had just been called to medivac two badly dehydrated babies and would need to stay in Georgetown that night. No problem, I packed up my stuff and headed over to LaBore’s for the rest of the afternoon and evening. I got the kids fed and into bed then drifted off to sleep myself. 

Tuesday morning we did school and Laura returned so I handed off her kids back into her care. Shundel and I visited Sister Iris to read and chat with her. She is 88, totally blind, and lives in a small house all alone during the day. I have found that she has an incredible memory-having not read the Bible for so long she still remembers details of the stories that I have forgotten. She also just enjoys having someone to talk to and Shundel and I try to visit her each week. Generally I go to the Van Fossen’s house each day to tutor Ronny and Alex while Chrystal Van Fossen works with Elden. Tuesday was no exception and we worked with the boys in reading and "maths". The boys are making slow, sometimes imperceptible progress. 

Wednesday I walked down in the bright sun to help out with peds/baby clinic at the hospital. Healthcare is free in Guyana, if you can make it to a hospital or clinic. Mabaruma Hospital is THE hospital for all of Region 1. Each mother has a “small card” for each child. It is a small booklet which contains the child’s immunization record, growth charts, and notes from each clinic visit. At the hospital there is a “big card” for each child that contains the same information, just in a larger booklet. My job this Wednesday was to locate the big card for each small card turned in. After that was finished I helped Hannah measure and weigh children. I taught Dani and Micah school that afternoon and fell into bed exhausted.

Thursday morning I woke up feeling tired, a little grumpy, and generally not wanting to get up. I rolled over and picked up a letter I had received. It talked about living each day as if it was the last. Cherishing the moments. I’ve been reading “Tuesdays with Morrie”, a book about a professor dying of ALS who models living fully to the last labored breath. I looked around my room and saw pictures of my friends and family. In each picture a moment was captured. I replayed the memories in my mind, a glint of which was locked up in the smiling faces. “Make the most of the moments” echoed through my brain. I sat up, untucked my mosquito net and stumbled out into the kitchen. Shundel and I made up pumpkin pie that morning before school. I taught, went to Kumaka, skyped with my mother, tutored, slept like a rock. Beautiful, full moments.

Today, I received a note from my good friend Kelsey Zuppan. Veteran of two years abroad she encouraged me to make the most of each day I have here. To value the experiences and learn as much as I can. In short, make the most of the moments. Today I taught school and did the Friday cleaning, mopping the floor with my kitten Razz keeping me company. It’s almost Sabbath now and beyond stretch a string of moments yet to be filled. But right now I am making the most of this moment. The evening is cool, it isn’t dark yet. Razz sits purring on my lap. The neighbor has started playing a Reggae version of “We Wish you a Merry Christmas”. 

Happy Sabbath to you, I hope your moments are full of good things where ever you are.