Yesterday I spent HOURS scouring Kiev for a turkey. We found parts, but not a whole bird. Turkey breast fillets and two large drumsticks were more than sufficient to feed my missions class their own Thanksgiving dinner tonight. The students who drove us around on our excursion and helped with translation told other students and faculty today that they were amazed at how much food we bought and they thought that we could host a large wedding feast with what we purchased.
We found what was essential to prepare cheesecakes, turkey, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls and a few other treats. I discovered today why there is a market for large personal ovens in the states -- Thanksgiving. We filled up every inch of available oven space in the cafeteria at Kiev Christian University. Today we ran around and baked/cooked all afternoon and were ready at 6:30 on the nose when my students were waiting patiently to taste what they had smelled in the afternoon.
There are moments in life that are memorable with crystal clear clarity for years. Tonight was one of those moments for me. Immediately following our meal they asked me to sing, so I sang 'You Said' by Shane and Shane -- a powerful song about asking God for the nations. We sang together and then one of the students sang Amazing Grace in Russian. After dinner and several words of gratitude for my time in the kitchen today, the students shared one by one what they were thankful for. I continue to be amazed at their depth of insight and willingness to serve and reach the lost for Christ. They repeatedly go on weekend excursions to evangelize a different area of Ukraine as well as mission trips throughout the former soviet union over their summer break. We laughed and ate together, then we shared part of our hearts with each other tonight.
At the end of the evening they presented me with a thank you card they had made as well as a picture with a stop sign that says stop and pray in Russian. I will treasure the memory of tonight and that picture as long as I live. My heart is full of gratitude and excitement.
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