As I think about what my family is doing back in Zionsville right now, I realize that this is the first Thanksgiving that I will spend away from home. And then I think wow, this is the first holiday season I will spend away from home. No Thanksgiving, no Christmas with the fam. I start to get sad, but then I remember all of the things I am thankful for on this Thanksgiving and I know that the fact that I am in Thailand doesn’t change the amount of things I am grateful for. If anything, it amplifies them.
I am so thankful for the many people who have donated and supported me… you have allowed me to come on this incredible journey. You are the reason I am here.
I am thankful that I have a God who constantly allows me to grow and learn new things about myself, the world, and His kingdom.
I am thankful for my 5 wonderful teammates who have taught me to be patient, to be selfless, and to be thankful even in the toughest times.
I am thankful for “Mom” and “Dad”, our ministry hosts here in Thailand who have served us so well in the last 12 days and who love us as their own children. I am thankful for the words “eat eat eat eat fat fat fat fat” that come from “Mom’s” mouth every day because I know how important it is to her that we are fed well.
I am thankful for rice fields and cassava(potato) fields and the opportunity to serve our ministry hosts well as we help with the harvesting.
And I am thankful that even though I am 8500 miles away from my family, I can feel their love and support all the way from here.
I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to celebrate thanksgiving in Thailand this year. I have so many things to be grateful for … I may be sad that I don’t get to enjoy my grandmas peanut butter pie or sit around the table with my entire family during the holidays, but I am also overwhelmed with the realization of how blessed I am, even just having these things to miss. I am able to appreciate these cherished moments and memories even more from Thailand because I know how fortunate I am to have so many great things from home to miss.
And I also know that when I get home, these blessings will be waiting for me. And I am so excited to come back from this journey with even more thanks to give for all of the amazing people and incredible stories that I will experience in these next 7 months.
