Canadian Thanksgiving in Haiti

This is the one time every year we get to bring out our Canadian flag.  And it hung in our doorway today as we welcomed 35 people to our home to celebrate Thanksgiving – and they were all Canadians!  We had our meal here at Kaliko on Saturday so everyone could attend without work conflicts.  Folks came from as far north as Gonaives (2.5 hours away) and as far south as Port-au-Prince (1.5 hours).  They are all missionaries in one form or another who make their home here in Haiti.

Most showed up around 9AM and we went down to the pool to have some time in the sun.  We had the place all to ourselves.  The kids splashed, the parents talked and we enjoyed the cool waters on a pretty hot day.  Everyone agreed that even now in the middle of October is continues hot.

Around 1PM we came back to our house to eat turkey and all the trimmings.  Everyone brought something including the mashed potatoes and the cranberry sauce.  We finished it all off with pumpkin pie and lemon squares.  We were all full and enjoyed some time on the back deck under the shade of our trees.  The fellowship was good and it is fun to introduce people to each other.  Networking is a big part of living in Haiti.  You need other people and so you need to meet them.

Again this year we have much to be thankful for.  In particular we give thanks that God spared our friend Laurens and the other 5 people in the truck with him from major harm.  They were in a car accident on Thursday, hit head on by a Mack water truck in their Toyota pickup.  Some broken limbs and cuts and bruises, but everyone will make a full recovery, Lord willing.  We praise God for his protection.  Keep us all in prayer as we drive the dangerous roads. 

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:8-9)  We are here to give thanks and so once again we take this opportunity to give thanks to the giver of all good gifts.