Principal's Message
As we enter this season of gratitude, I’d like to share a personal story from a Thanksgiving I’ll never forget.
It was a Thursday afternoon during my time as a student missionary in Magdalena, Bolivia. My supervisor Allen and I were elbow-deep in grease, performing the 75-hour service on the Bolivian Adventist Cessna 182 mission plane pictured above. My thoughts began to wander as I worked, and a wave of homesickness washed over me. I started imagining what my family might be doing back home.
Suddenly, a realization struck. I blurted out, “Allen! I think today is Thanksgiving!”
“No, it’s not,” he replied skeptically.
“But it’s the fourth Thursday of November. It has to be Thanksgiving!” I insisted.
Allen dropped his tools, wiped his greasy hands, and said, “Let’s check the old encyclopedia I’ve got in the house.”
Sure enough, the encyclopedia confirmed it—Thanksgiving had snuck up on us. Allen turned to me and said, “We need to celebrate. Let’s tell my wife, finish up our work, and do something special.”
Later that evening, we gathered around a humble Thanksgiving table. Instead of the traditional vegetarian loaf, mashed potatoes, or cranberry sauce, we had homemade pizza and yogurt. As unconventional as it was, that simple meal held profound meaning for me.
Reflecting on that day, I realize how easy it is to let the busyness of life distract us from moments of gratitude. In the middle of a foreign land, far from family and familiar traditions, I learned that Thanksgiving isn’t about the menu or the setting. It’s about taking time to recognize the blessings in our lives and celebrating them with those around us.
At Tri-City Adventist School, we are blessed with a wonderful community of students, families, and staff who reflect God’s love daily. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, let’s remember that gratitude doesn’t depend on perfect circumstances or elaborate plans. It comes from recognizing the gifts God has given us—whether big or small, expected or surprising.
This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to pause, even amidst the busyness of life, to count your blessings whether it’s a feast with loved ones or a simple meal shared with a friend, God’s goodness surrounds us.
On behalf of the TCAS family, I wish you a Thanksgiving filled with gratitude, joy, and meaningful moments with those you cherish. May we always remember the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:18:
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Happy Thanksgiving!
Mr. Norton
Mr. Norton and Ai wrote the above article.
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