One of my favorite family traditions often doesn’t actually occur on Thanksgiving.  Since I was little, a day or two after Thanksgiving, my dad would always ask “What is today?”  “Thanksgiving” was always the proper response.  After catching onto this, Dad would throw out the question any day through the year, reminding us that Thanksgiving should be constant, “in all circumstances,” to echo Paul.  Though this year’s Thanksgiving was quite out of the ordinary, it’s a joyful reminder that Thanksgiving can and should be celebrated everywhere and at all times.

As the Thanksgiving holiday isn’t celebrated here in Ghana, we had to go about our normal daily activities – for me that was class in the morning and my first final in the afternoon.  I spent nine hours on the University of Ghana campus before returning home for an unbelievable Thanksgiving celebration put on by my program.  Long tables were set up with several huge turkeys, all the way from the US.  We were also treated to stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, and some Ghanaian dishes – vegetable stew, kelewele, and jollof rice.  The only thing missing was my family!  We all enjoyed one another’s company, all of us craving home just a bit, but satisfied (both with food, and knowing that home is just 2 weeks away!)

Saturday we took a 4 hour bus ride to Wli Falls, located in the Volta Region and speculated as the tallest waterfall in West Africa.  We hiked 45 minutes to the actual waterfall and almost immediately waded into the surrounding pool, making our way to the base of the falls.  Standing directly beneath a waterfall was one of the most unbelievable experiences I’ve ever had.  I don’t think I had ever subjected myself to such power.  It was intensely thrilling, a real experience of the Lord’s greatness.


I’ve realized here that back at home, changes in weather have so much to do with the winding down of a semester.  Here in Ghana it is perpetually hot, and signs of the impending holidays are minimal.  A turkey vulture flew by my head as I was studying for my exam outside at Legon…I guess maybe that counted for something leading up to Thanksgiving.  Because of this, finals have sort of crept up on me…and they’ll continue down to the bitter end of my stay here.  These next two weeks will be packed with work and slipping in my last Ghana to-dos.

Much love to everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving today and every day.

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