What Thanksgiving looks like on the World Race?
Separated by oceans and many miles, every year, World Racers come together to celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving. Now you may be wondering, what does that even look like? How can you celebrate Thanksgiving in a country that doesn't celebrate it? Or, even better, how do you celebrate Thanksgiving in a country that probably doesn't even sell turkey in a store, or if there is a store that sells it, it's probably a hundred miles away?
Well, wonder no more!
For our two teams that were in Malaybalay, Philippines, Thanksgiving was a joyous celebration that intertwined the wonderful American holiday, sprinkled with Filipino flavour. Thanks to two missionaries from the states that came to visit us for a day in the beginning of November, we had a 21 pound turkey, cans of pumpkin pie filling, fried onions for green been casserole, and other goodies for a great Thanksgiving spread.
We planned a joyous celebration for the fourteen of us, plus twelve more Filipino friends, making a grand total of twenty six people. Let's talk for a minute about cooking for twenty six people in a kitchen with a tiny stove: it's a trick for sure. First of all, you have to kind of guess the temperature of the stove because it doesn't have exact degrees on the knob, only levels, like a burner. But, it doesn't really work all that well anyways, and is really, really tiny. So it's all just a big mystery in general.
Okay, back to the spread. We hunted down as many normal ingredients for an American Thanksgiving meal as possible, and our dinner included: turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, corn casserole, rolls, gravy, mashed potatoes, pumpkin and apple pie, and cookies.
We filled up a ridiculous amount of casserole dishes, and had to get creative with a few things to hold all of the food, but we made it work!
Thanksgiving morning dawned upon us, and I got to work on cooking our 20 pound bird. I almost didn't find the bag of giblets (what a surprise that would have been), but the turkey got all dressed and ready, and into an oven bag it went, ready to battle with the temperamental oven.
Now, directions say this turkey bird should take only three and a half hours to cook, max. Well, these chefs have never cooked a turkey in a Filipino oven. This turkey took five and half hours to cook. It almost ended in a disaster with one side cooked more than the other, but I avoided this conundrum, and thankfully checked the back of the turkey and rotated it around so it cooked “evenly.”
Oh, did I mention that we had no meat thermometer, either? And no little easy red button already stuffed into the turkey to tell me when the meat was done? Yeah, that's a fun guessing game.
While our turkey was on it's way to being cooked, I started toasting about three loaves of bread to make stuffing for twenty six people. Now, all of this toasted bread wouldn't fit into one bowl, I had to find a ginormous bowl to break up this stuffing and mix it, and it looked like I was trying to feed about one hundred people. It was rather a humorous sight, actually.
The stuffing soon made it's way to being done, and we continued to await the completion of our main course, the turkey. And wait. And wait.
Quick intermission while I pause for effect to emphasize just how long it took to cook this silly bird.
Alright folks, we're back. I am happy to announce that this turkey, five and a half hours later, came out perfectly! Yes, that's right. Cooked just right, even with a Filipino oven, even with no meat thermometer. And boy was it delicious. Nice crispy skin; tender, juicy insides.
Our feast soon was underway, the tiny kitchen and dining room was crammed with tables and chairs to try and fit everyone at one long table. We filled our plates, and God made the food stretch around for twenty six people, and we still had leftovers. We laughed and ate and ate, and enjoyed each others company. We went around the room and each shared what we were thankful for, and it was beautiful.
And, we had a laugh while watching our Filipino guests try pumpkin pie for the first time. Let's just say they weren't so sure what to think of it. But we ate it all anyways, and it was all absolutely delicions!
So while we were away from our real families for this Thanksgiving, they were in our hearts, and we still had a wonderful time thanking God for all that He has done, and sharing a feast of blessings as well.
Now be sure to stay tuned for the Christmas on the World Race edition. This promises to include stories of decorating sugar cookies, two person reenactments of “The Christmas Carol,” sprinkled with captivating renditions of “Dominic the Donkey,” and “Baby it's Cold Outside,” and to cap the night off, a reading of “The Night Before Christmas”…Cajun style. Yes my friends, it's an exciting time on the World Race with Y Squad. Hark! Holiday season is upon us.
We wish you and yours a Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Happy New Year from across the miles. Until next time, folks!
Stay tuned for….A Happy Christmas Story, on the World Race.
