In the midst of the chaos of “breaking-off day” (last day of the year) Thursday began with conversations with CSB staff friends. Oh how I will miss the listening ears of Eunice, Kusiima, Desmond, Were, Loy, and others. They encourage me to continue on the journey of faith, they teach me without condemnation, they notice my faults and rather than pretending they’re not there they pray for me. They protect me sometimes even from myself.

Thanksgiving for us was about celebrating the last two years of our ministry time at CSB. Or three years, As Master Johnson pointed out in a speech, the same length of time that Jesus active ministry on earth lasted. It poured rain for the first few hours of the day, stopping the MAF flight carrying Myhre children home from Kenya and delaying the CSB day’s events. There had already been three days of spiritual retreat or “crusades” as we like to call them in Uganda. It had been an intense week of learning, praying, worshipping and growing for students. But on Thursday our first ministry team of the morning, World Vision representatives, did not show up. By 11 rain was tapering and we decided to take a chance in the lull and pass out our gifts of three hundred t-shirts to our students. A bright green, the color of new life and hope, the T-shirts say simply ” revive us God!” amidst the CSB logos. Isaiah 61:1,2 is also prominently displayed in the hopes that these children will themselves become freed from bondage and in turn become oppression enders. God you know this is our prayer, have mercy on Bundibugyo.

Later as we assembled, David and I both gave brief speeches to students and there were some praise songs. Saying goodbye to students was quite bittersweet. We were so eager to be relieved of the constant vigilance of their care yet sad that we were done with this phase of life. For a long while we simply stood at the gate as they carried bags and boxes and trunks to waiting motorcycle taxis and hugged and waved to students as they passed.

The evening brought still more festivities as about 100 people gathered in our yard for a modified American Thanksgiving feast (yes I did make pumpkin casserole and cabbage salad for 100 by myself though the team contributed other dishes and our school kitchen made the rest.) We called the feast a “Blessing-Way” and decided to make it about offering blessings to our staff rather than speeches for us. And bless we did!! From gatekeepers and cleaning lady to professional accountant and administrators we offered up thanks and blessings to every person in our school. We honored them publicly and as a group we affirmed ” the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face shine on you and give you peace.”

There were more speeches, there was cake, there was a devotional on the meaning of blessings and some goodbye moments for other staff members. But most importantly there was dancing!! Good old gospel dancing to real African gospel music. A DJ joined us for the evening with the requisite huge speakers and crackling microphone. And the whole staff DANCED. Standing in the midst, watching their bodies move, their hearts open up, their voices cry out in the traditional “ay-ay-ay – - – AAYY!” I myself was deeply, deeply blessed. We’ve surely done something right when these folks can let go, let all their guards down right in our front yard. And when we can join them and dance too it’s a whole nother kind of victory.

The Blessing-Way day was a total success.