Celebrating Three Years with Popcorn

Last year’s popcorn party, marking the second anniversary of my arrival in Africa, was such a hit that I decided to repeat it this year. I invited our whole church, and over forty people came, the majority of them children. Two girls kindly spent the morning making two basins full of popcorn, one salty and the other sugary, so we spent the first hour of the party happily munching away in my front yard. Each adult then summarized how he was blessed and challenged in 2020 and what he hopes to accomplish in 2021, After singing three hymns, we lined up by height to divide into four teams for a relay race! Despite my doubts, the team captains successfully coached all their members into following the rules, and the race proceeded without a hitch. A brief downpour delayed the guests’ departure, but when they were able to climb back into the truck that had brought them out, they did so with thanks and cheers for the happy afternoon!