Happy Holidays: Thanksgivmas and an American Thanksgiving (or two) in Tuscany

As you all know, we left the States a week before Thanksgiving. Since this year is the first time Adelena will be joining in the holiday season festivities, we wanted to be sure and celebrate with our family before leaving the states. 

While we were in Florida, my (Aleece's) family decided we would celebrate "Thanksgivmas." So, the Saturday before we left, we gathered with all of my family who was in town to count our blessings, eat our favorite holiday foods, and exchange gifts. We also celebrated my dear cousin Whitney's birthday, which happened to fall on our appointed Thanksgivmas day. 

Once we arrived in Italy, we quickly learned that we would be celebrating American Thanksgiving twice. On Thanksgiving Day, we were invited to the Harding University in Florence (HUF) campus to join their faculty, staff and students as well as students and faculty from Lipscomb University, Harding University in England, several members of the Florence church and several other dear friends of the HUF directors. The food spread was incredible: turkey, ham, and every vegetable casserole imaginable. The desserts ranged from pies, to cakes, cookies, puddings, even rice crispy treats (a special treat indeed, since marshmallows can be hard to come by in Italy!) There was a unique bond we shared that day around those tables, a bittersweet enjoyment of this celebration. We all agreed it was delicious food and joyful company, but there was a twinge of sadness when we thought of our loved ones so far away. I, for one, gained a new understanding and depth of thankfulness this year. 

Our final Thanksgiving celebration brought a buzz of excitement and a good dose of craziness to the Bible School for a few days. After a great Fall semester of English lessons, our workers invited all of their students and their friends and family to come celebrate with us. Since we had only been here about a week, we had no idea what to expect.

In the days leading up to our big Turkey dinner, we shopped, we baked and cooked and prepped. Two massive 30 pound turkeys showed up and made their way into our (clean!) laundry room sink to brine. Friday night, I walked into the kitchen to see sweet Hannah with her arm up to her elbow inside one of the turkeys, removing its innards. Bless her. 

Saturday morning, my sweet Mom left to go back to the states. She had graciously made her first trip across the Atlantic to help with our transition. I'm positive we could not have made it through that first week and half without her. Thanks Mom! (Come back soon!)

Saturday evening at eight o'clock, the tables we normally gather around to eat at were groaning under the weight of dozens of Thanksgiving delicacies. As we surveyed the main courses and two walls lined with desserts, we all laughed at ourselves for being concerned about not having enough food. 

To be completely honest, the next few hours were a blur of introductions, failed attempts at understanding Italian, and lots of food. I did manage to learn to say that Adelena was "sette mesi" when anyone (aka everyone, ha!) asked how many months she was. I was blown away by how much Italians LOVE babies and dogs. It seemed as though our little family was instantly absorbed into the greater family that is the Bible School. It was simultaneously comforting and humbling. 

We must have looked a funny bunch that night: A small group of Americans serving a huge group of Italians all this American food packed with absurd amounts of sugar and butter. Everyone attempting to understand and speak a foreign language - some with more success than others! At the end of the night though, I think everyone would have agreed upon being thankful for the fellowship and community that was found in our packed classroom and living room. 

As we collapsed into bed that night, just before the carbohydrate-induced coma set in, a sea of new faces filled my head and my heart. It was so exciting to finally meet all of the sweet souls our workers have been studying English and the Bible with. One thing I couldn't help but marvel at was that the students not only showed up, but that they brought their friends and families as well. To me, this indicates the workers here have created such an atmosphere of hospitality that each student is fully confident of their and their loved ones belonging and acceptance here.  What a brilliant way to show people the church in action.

I hope and pray the Lord will help us to use this ministry to continue to build this community and His church. We were and are so grateful for this opportunity to step into this new-to-us corner of the Lord's Kingdom and we cannot wait to see what He is going to do here in the days to come.