Lessons in Potatoes

Happy Thanksgiving! We were blessed today to be able to celebrate this American Holiday with our team here in Soroti! Honestly, the day didn't start out so well. The plan was to meet for dinner at noon, at the Tiesenga home. Our family was in charge of the mashed potatoes. Leading up to thanksgiving, I had several people let me know how much they look forward to the mashed potatoes on thanksgiving....no pressure.

My friend Ester and I went to the market to get 9 kilos of Irish Potatoes yesterday. This morning they were all peeled and ready to start cooking around 10:30am. The cooking began, and they were still VERY hard by 11am. I began wondering if I bought the wrong potatoes. It was now 11:30 and they had not changed much. I took some out, added butter and milk and seasonings and tried to mash them in the mixer. They were Chunky and slimy all at the same time. Into the Vitamix blender was my next attempt to lesson the chunks. I boiled the rest of the potatoes a little more, hoping the next batch will be better...Um...didn't help so much. Its now noon, so I send Chris ahead with the kids, so at least they aren't late and Becky stayed back to help me or rather be my emotional support as my tears started running down my face. Am I really crying over potatoes? Becky reassured me that our team would still love me if I bring slimy potatoes to the feast. I think the tears were from more than just potatoes. The potatoes  are an example of the struggle it has been to figure out cooking here and the fact that everything takes much longer. Missing family and friends that we would usually see on this day is something else behind the tears.

The day ended up being a blessing. We ate an amazing feast of turkey (right from the Tiesengas back yard, corn, sweet potatoes, carrots, stuffing, gravy....etc. etc... The kids did a craft that I put together, and then we somehow managed to eat desert!

We then headed across the street to a school to play kickball with everyone. We had about 30 Ugandan children watching us and laughing. A few kids playing with their tires ran across the field. A little boy who looked to be about 8 sat and watched all alone. He looked as if he had been burned badly on his face. He wore a beat up winter coat and winter hat with some raggedy shorts. But smile he did! Especially when he joined in the game at the end. It was a beautiful evening! It was cooler with a nice breeze and a beautiful sunset. As we were finishing the game, our friend Josephine approached me. We talked for a while and then she asked if I could give her 500 shillings ( which is 20 cents in US currency) She had not eaten all day and had just taken her ARVs (HIV meds). They will give you an upset stomach if eaten without food.

After a campfire, lots of leftovers, plus some ordeurves, we headed home. We went to our school house  in the back to say goodnight to the 19 year old girl Esther who has stayed there the last couple nights and she asked to pray before we left. She started by singing a song: Jesus, we are here..we are here...waiting for you. Father, we are here..we are here...waiting for you. Spirit, we are here..we are here..waiting for you. Then she prayed one of the most beautiful prayers. It was like a song to our Lord.  Ester has a friend who let here stay with her during the school year, but now they are on school break until February and her friend has left for Kampala. She has no where to stay. Tomorrow we are going to look at some of the housing options that she found yesterday and today. Ester is an orphan. She has no mother or father, only a grandmother who is in her 80's and very weak. Ester has one more year of schooling left and then would love to go to University (college) to be an accountant or for business. She does very well in school. Please pray for us as we desire wisdom for helping this child of God.

Perspective. That is what living here in Uganda will give you. A greater perspective of what is important and what really isn't. What is really necessary and what we can live without. As we left our Thanksgiving celebration with piles of leftover food, I realized how abundantly we are blessed. As we drove down the street, back to our home, I remembered the verse from Luke 12:48...when someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.  While we can not meet everyones needs here, we can trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us to who He would have us love in this way....but even greater, that we can share the greatest gift we can give someone- Jesus.

Chloe, Miriam Sliedrecht, and Ashley Tiesenga on Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

With Love and Thankfulness,
Chris, Michelle, Christian, Chloe, Trayton, and Kidist