March Burger-Goulet-Easter Madness

There was one thing that was getting us through convention: the hope of the final game of March Madness. This might sound weird (especially since I do like basketball but hardly ever follow it close enough) but it was more than just watching the game, it was the idea that by that time on Monday, convention would be over and our lives would slow down, if only for a brief moment.

These plans all started when we were with Joe and Anna in Mthatha. Joe, who is a big Kansas fan, told us that they were planning on coming to Maritzburg during the weekend of March Madness (which also happened to be Easter weekend, though we didn't realize it at the time). We left with "big plans" to meet up with them and the Sudermans, brackets in hand, to watch the final games.

Our hopes were somewhat dashed when we got home and realized that BCI's convention was the same weekend. But thanks to the beauty of South African time, the final game actually was aired on Tuesday. But I am getting ahead of myself here.

The Monday after convention was our official day off and so we met up with the Sawatzky's at Essence Café. (This is the burger part of the celebration). While we were in Mthatha, we told Joe and Anna about our favorite PMB place – Essence Café, which, according to the boys has the best hamburgers maybe in the world. (We'll have to take their word for it now since I am trying to avoid red meat, so I had something else instead). It was great. Celebration 1.

Celebration 2: the Goulet award. So the Sawatzky's and the Suderman's have this ridiculous porcelain dog figurine that has somehow become known as the "Goulet Award" based off the Will Farrel SNL skit that we have been competing for ever since its beginnings. We have had it in our house since retreat (although we didn't win it per se since there was no official winner, so we just took it). But it was up for grabs again with the bracket pools. Andrew – the only one who picked Duke to win, is now the proud owner of the Goulet award.

Celebration part 3: On Tuesday after word, we all headed to the Suderman's house to watch the final game – Butler vs. Duke. We ate popcorn and yelled at the tv and had a lot of banter going on between all of us and Andrew, Karen and four year old Moses – the only Duke fans in the room. It was awesome.

Celebration part 4: After the game was over, we packed up all the food that had been cooking during the game and went up to Hilton where the Sawatzky's were staying and had Easter dinner together at like 9 at night. Yum.

Overall, all I can say is how grateful I was for this time to get away, to celebration convention being over, and to generally just chill in front of a good basketball game. I am so blessed to be a part of this community and it's times like this when I realize that. Since I can't be with my own family during the holidays being with the Sawatzkys and the Sudermans and the rest of our Mennonite connections here is definitely the next best thing.

Goulet.