Our Native Feast!

// September 17th, 2009 // Loux Family News

Renee’s brother Terry Sasser, his wife Amy, and three off their adopted children (Tanya, Jikko, & Jaukon) live in the Marshall Islands. They visited us for a week in August.  Jikko and Jaukon are our adopted twin’s (Teyolla and Keyolla) biological brothers. They had never been to the United States before this trip.  Our twins and their brothers were all so happy to see each other again and to be able to spend time together.  We all had a blast going to the zoo, Power Play, hanging out, talking, laughing, and playing games together.  The visit culminated with a feast of food from the Marshall Islands.  The twin’s biological mother “Rose,” who we are still very much in contact with, sent a cooler of native food for us to celebrate together.

There was lots reef fish, coconut, white rice (the islander’s staple food) and breadfruit.  Tanya and Amy cooked up a storm and provided traditional dishes like IQ (a hot coconut soup), Lukuor (a cold coconut drink), Bwiro (fermented breadfruit that is sweet and formed into gelatin type squares), Mae’ ( breadfruit), fish, BbQ chicken, and Bobo (white rice cooked in sugar and rolled in coconut).  Our Ukrainian boys dug into the feast like true island natives! We laid out the spread in the back yard and had an outdoor feast, “Island Style!”. Our twins, Telma and Leeann’s favorite part of the whole feast was the raw fish… YUM! They tore the fish apart with their bare hands! Soph and KK looked on saying, “EEEWWWWW!!!” They were very grossed out at their sister’s wild cravings!

After eating, we started a camp fire and sat around with a guitar singing fun and silly “campfire” songs while we ate s’mores.  Sana had her first s’more and was an instant convert!  We had such a great time together and the various smells and tastes brought back many good memories to all of us.

Thanks Terry and Amy for all you do to minister to the Marshallese people and for coming to visit us!  It was awesome to see you all and to make more memories that will last a lifetime!

Yokwe Yuk! (Love to you).