Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving in another country is sometimes difficult to celebrate.  If you're not with your family you know what you're missing back home, homesickness reaches a new high, and no one else seems to understand how important of a day it is.  Yesterday I saw kids walking to school, people going to work, and just going about their everyday life.  At first I was confused.  But then, I'm not in the States.  I have to remember that.  

Celebrating Thanksgiving in 90 degree plus weather is certainly something hard to wrap ones mind around. There are no decorations, no Christmas music (whether you think it's too early or not), and no turkey, cranberry sauce, or sweet potatoes to be found ANYWHERE!  

We've now celebrated three Thanksgivings in Malawi (last year we were home on furlough).  And each year we were so very blessed to be with amazing friends that we now consider family!  The McDonalds were our gracious hosts the first year! I'll never forget the amazing guidance, love, and support that my sweet sister LeAnne provided me that year.  God sent her here for me that year! I know it!  The second year we hosted some of our FAVORITE singles whom we still love and minister with!  We went all out that year with my Malawi china and everything!  And this year we became the seasoned veterans getting together with two amazing new families who have just arrived in Malawi!  The Joneses are our family now!  We love them so much and are heartbroken to leave them so soon.  But we know the Lord has amazing plans for them, and for us.  We can't wait to watch how fast they surpass our Chichewa knowledge!  

So here are a few phone photos of our Thanksgiving.  The girls and I made Gidgi's cornbread dressing and sweet potato casserole (our favorites)!  Although we didn't have turkey we're thankful that my amazing friend Tania brought us 6 cans of sweet potatoes this past summer just for our Thanksgiving meal!  Little did we know at the time that this would be such a bittersweet Thanksgiving.  

This is the beginning of the end of our life in Malawi for now. God has chosen to move us and we honestly aren't sure the direction He is leading yet.  WE just know that we need healing and prayer.  Please remember our family in prayer as we leave for the States on Monday morning.  We're all feeling a little numb and still in shock as to the events that have occurred over the past few months.  But as always we trust the Lord and His guidance and we're excited to see what's next for our family! 

Happy Thanksgiving from the Kyser Family!  

And HAILSTATE! (because really, what's Thanksgiving without the Egg Bowl?)