Thanksgiving in Korea

Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday for several years.  The food, family, shopping….I love it all so much. I remember when I studied abroad that Thanksgiving was when I felt the most homesick, so I was expecting it to be the same way here.  While we definitely both missed being at home for this holiday, we were so blessed by our Thanksgiving here. 

Ready for our Thanksgiving Dinner #2 on Saturday

On Thursday we had an awesome Thanksgiving lunch at school. They got four turkeys and the PTO made a bunch of side dishes, including mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and desserts.  It was such a good way to start off the long weekend.  

BFS Thanksgiving Turkey

We were very thankful to have the day off on Friday, and we spent it going to shopping in Nampo’s market. It was about an hour subway ride from here, but so worth it! We found some great Christmas gifts for family and had a great time exploring a different part of the city.

I was not actually touching this giant crab, nor was I that excited to be so close to it. Don't ask me why I was. I have no idea.

Christmas store in Nampo! We were SO EXCITED when we found this place!

On Saturday we had a big Thanksgiving feast with a group of dear friends from church. We even purchased a turkey from Costco (a $55.00 turkey – which apparently is nearly half of what they cost last year!!) and had great success cooking it.  There was a group of 11 of us from church who got together at our friend Marie’s very spacious apartment for dinner and games. I’m not sure if I have ever felt as thankful as I did that night.  To be surrounded by such a solid group of people only three months into our time in Busan is a HUGE blessing.  Not only did we have fun, but we really got to deepen our relationships with them. When we think about how all of us got to Busan and found ICC and became friends, it is so encouraging and reassuring that we made the right choice to come here. God has blessed us beyond what we ever imagined.

Thanksgiving #2 Turkey. The first turkey I have ever cooked and it turned out pretty darn good!!

Some of the side dishes

On Sunday we packed up our side dishes yet again and headed for Thanksgiving at church.  I know we often mention how thankful we are for our church, but I really don’t think our words can do justice to how amazing it is. We can’t wait for people to visit so that they can experience this wonderful family that we have here.  A group of 5 of us girls were serving food to people as they came through the lunch line and at one point I just turned around and looked at everyone and was overwhelmed by the people I was serving food to and serving food with.

Nikki serving lunch

Serving food at church

Katelyn and Elise serving food at lunch

Our lunch table. I love these people!! 

One of our favorite little girls at church. I have no idea what her name is, but she is adorable. The girl on the right is Caroline - she is a senior at our school.

We often use the phrase “brothers and sisters in Christ,” but this weekend was one of the most sincere pictures of that I have ever witnessed. With my college roommates I would say that was true, but what a beautiful picture this experience and our church have created for me of what that phrase really looks like. I pray that you may all be able to experience what I am talking about some day, or that you can really view fellow believers around you in the same way.

Psalm 107:1  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.