Good Friday and Easter in South Africa

Good Friday was blessed!

I began the day with a Good Friday Worship Service at Capricorn Community Church. Our congregation was all together, going through the scriptures and thinking about what Christ did for us on the cross. One of our missionary-pastors, Bruce, gave a great reflection on the symbols of the crucifixion.

. Spitting upon Christ during the beatings and crucifixion - Matt 27:26-31 - representing Jesus bearing the dark side of our sin

. The nails - Luke 23:26-34 - forgiveness

. The sign above Jesus - John 19:19-22 - God can use anyone and anything to declare His Truth

. The sponge - John 19:28-30 - Jesus understands all our pain

. Two thieves - Luke 23: 39-43 - Christ lets us choose - life with or without Him

. The darkness - Luke 23:44-49 - tragedy to triumph

It was a great way to remind ourselves that Christ really did think of us and our need for a sacrifice to pay for our sin.

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Easter was spent with my adoptive South African family - the Daniels!

After our Sunday Easter Worship Service, Meagan and I joined her family (immediate family, aunts, uncles, grandmother, cousin...) for a family-meal! Normally I'm asked to bring cupcakes. Like I've said before, people don't really bake in their homes, so when people found out I can semi-bake (thanks to American gifts of cake-mix), I'm now the cupcake woman. But this occasion, I asked if I could bring something different. I wanted a little bit of American-Easter this year. So, I made Deviled Eggs and Carrot Souffle (a family Easter favorite). Needless to say, the tastes were a little unusual for my South African family - mixed feelings about the dishes. I didn't really care because I got to have a little taste of America on my favorite holiday!

All-in-all, Easter was great ... full of friends, sweet South African family, food and celebration of our Savior's triumph!

Meagan and Mel at the Daniels home

Deviled Eggs and Carrot Souffle

Auntie Grace dishing our Easter feast!

Carrot Souffle

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/cafeteria-carrot-souffle/Detail.aspx

Ingredients

• 2 pounds carrots, chopped
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add carrots and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash. To the carrots add melted butter, white sugar, flour, baking powder, vanilla extract and eggs. Mix well and transfer to a 2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.

Deviled Eggs

Ingredients

• Boiled Eggs
• Spicy brown mustard
• Mayo
• Sweet pickles chopped fine
• Paprika

Cut eggs in half.

Take yolk and mix with mayo, mustard and sweet pickles to taste.

Spoon yolk mixture into boiled egg-whites.

Sprinkle tops with paprika