Cucumber Eating Champion

I am the Kobayashi of cucumbers.

And here is my story.

It all starts with our International Management teacher pushing our test up one two days. Since our class is longer on Wednesdays than Fridays, he decided to give the test Wednesday. That means studying would have to be done Tuesday night.

I decided that I did not want to study, and I wanted to go to Home Church with my brother.

After we arrived, the hosts brought out cups filled with sugar, one for everyone there. I wondered, what on earth is going on? Then came plates filled with cucumbers, carrots, onions, tomatoes, and big red spicy peppers. I thought “Uh-Oh”.

We had a race to finish the sugar and since I felt sort of sick, I decided to pretend to be eating it also.

The leader then says we are having an eating contest, and every team needs a representative for each vegetable. I quickly volunteered for the only veggie I thought I liked, the carrot.

The girl next to me claimed the carrot, so I quickly volunteered for the thing that would not make me super sick, the cucumber.

When it came to my turn, I was a little apprehensive but determined to eat that thing as quickly as humanly possible. I first bit into the cucumber and it was good. Then I shoved about a third of it in my mouth and crunched it.

The other people noticed the good head start I had and started chanting, “KEVIN! KEVIN!”.

It was the most glorious moment of my life.

Just kidding. But I did win (it helps that I have about 5 years on everybody there), and the cucumber was quite delicious also.

Larry the cucumber would be proud.

Also I think our team won every vegetable. It may have helped that our team of five had 2 guys with beards and myself.

When it came time for the pepper (called aji in Ecuador), people were ready to be sick. The one kid who always wears the same sweater actually threw up after downing that pepper. Another guy’s eyes turned really red and ate crackers like crazy after he was done.

Then after that fun game, we got down to business. The hosts brought out chips and sausages to dip in ketchup.

So what did all of this mean?

The 2 minute message was about Philippians 1:21, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” The sick vegetables were symbolizing trials we face in our Christian lives, and the chips/ketchup/sausage-links were representing heaven.

That verse makes you really wonder why people live for anything other than Christ, because Paul would know have written it unless Christ was unbelievable better than anything else.

Personally I would like to use the Bible more in the Home Church, although having fun and growing relationships by eating veggies is good too. I guess since Paul wanted to be all things to all people (1 Corinthians 9:19-23), this is good. I think that since the age group is younger than I, this was a good idea.

Although the next time there is a food eating contest, can I get some pie or hotdogs or pizza or Magnums?

So did skipping studying hurt me? A little, but my boss didn’t come in the next afternoon so I studied then.

Recently, my favourite Psalm has been Psalm 1. Here it is:

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.