Thanksgiving in Solomon Islands

We’re used to autumn weather, or maybe even winter weather by this time of the year. Living in perpetual summer here, it’s often hard to remember holidays and to imagine the changing seasons back home in the U.S.

Here are a few special things from our Thanksgiving Day in the Solomon Islands.

First, a lot of sweating. Wait, that’s not special, it’s normal! Most days in November it has been 90-100F, both outside and inside our house. It’s 98 as I write this. I recently measured the water coming out of our rain tank at 90.6F – not a refreshing shower when we’re trying to cool off!

Maybe I shouldn’t have put this outside for a few minutes to see how hot it was in the sun.
Thankfully it still worked after it cooled down.

On Thanksgiving morning, I had a productive meeting with several Translation Committee members, working out details for a dictionary workshop in December. After the meeting, a few others joined in watching a video about the dedication of the Solomon Islands Pijin Bible (the trade language). People were quite interested to see how big of a deal it was to dedicate and launch that Bible in 2008. We’re thankful that the Pijin Bible helps people have access to God’s Word!

Watching the Pijin Bible dedication video

In the late afternoon, we took a family canoe ride. The two older boys paddled with Lori and me, while Baby G stayed with our neighbors on shore. We went around the bay by our village and outside the bay a little ways to look at the coral reefs. It was a fun family paddle with calm seas and a beautiful sunset.

The boys get the canoe ready

Paddling back toward the Kolombangara peaks

Sunset looking out over Iriri bay

For supper Lori made a special Thanksgiving Feast: macaroni and cheese, with a side of canned U.S. vegetables. The M&M brownies she made were an extra special treat that we really enjoyed.

Enjoying Thanksgiving in our detached (outdoor) kitchen-dining room

Special thanks to the Choate Family for a Thanksgiving care package with these plates!

-John