My English Thanksgiving

Last Thursday marked my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. It also marked the first holiday that I have ever spent away from home and my family. To be completely honest I was dreading Thanksgiving. It is tough enough being away from family for the holidays, but it is even tougher to be in a country where the people don’t even celebrate the holiday. I was working as the receptionist at the church on Thursday and I took to wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving just to spread the American holiday cheer. I do not know if that was the greatest idea, because I ended up having to explain numerous times what Thanksgiving is all about. I also had to explain that Thanksgiving isn’t feasting because the pilgrims killed the Native Americans, My favorite conversation that I had was the following:

Anonymous English Person: “Don’t you Americans celebrate Thanksgiving because you killed all of the Native Americans?”

Me: “No, it’s because the Native Americans befriended the Pilgrims and helped them plant their harvest, so when the first harvest came they had a huge feast to Thank God for their harvest and their new friends.”

AEP: “Didn’t you guys kill the Native Americans?”

Me: “Can I just remind you guys that the Pilgrims were not American but English. They came from Plymouth, England.”

AEP: "Ok."

I had that exact conversation so many times.

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I decided to make the most of my English Thanksgiving. I made my English family a (delicious) Thanksgiving meal. It turned out really well, and the meal was well received. I am so thankful for my English family. They are amazing, and they did so much to make sure my English Thanksgiving was amazing. I think my English Thanksgiving was one of the best Thanksgivings I have ever had. I loved being able to share my favorite holiday with them.

I am so thankful for so many things. I am thankful for an amazing God who loves me. I am very thankful for my family and friends back home. I am also incredibly thankful for my new friends here in England, and the amazing opportunity that I have to be here in England. Not many people have the chance to live in a different country at 19. I feel so very blessed, and I am so grateful.

With all the love in the world,

Natalie Xx

Crimea

Words cannot describe the time that I had in Crimea. While I was there I met some of the most amazing and gentle people. God did some amazing things in my life. I was stretched, challenged, and taken further out of my comfort zone then I would have liked, but that is how God works.

I wish words could adequately describe my experience in the Ukraine. But they cannot. I have tried, to no gain to write something that would give you at least a little bit of a summary of my week in the Ukraine but to no avail. All I can do is share with you a collage that I created of some of the highlights of my time in Crimea. It still does not do it justice, but where words cannot describe pictures must show.



Collage of some of the highlights while in Crimea



With all the Love in the World,

Natalie Xx