Currently we are in Kitale, Kenya…this Thanksgiving is one I will never forget. As I was feeling homesick for my family and our traditional Thanksgiving, I was reminded that I was right where I was supposed to be…cooking for 25 Africans, a Mazungu (white) Thanksgiving meal. It was great; we made the most of the supplies and food that we could find in town. Probably the funniest part of the whole thing was the Haribro marshmallows we used for the sweet potatos. I got to make homemade cornbread and spice cake =)
After the meal we all sat down for our nightly prayer and devotion time and went around to say what we were most thankful for right now. One of the women we have gotten to know pretty well said, "I am most thankful for my health." I didn't think much of it at the time but a few days later we were asked to bake some cakes for her widows group she started that meets each week at the church. We find out she is a single mom… who lost 3 children and a husband, and is HIV positive. She is THANKFUL for her health. I couldn't help but think how. As I watched her and talked with her I couldn't help but notice the JOY and the HOPE in her eyes. Alive. She knows Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior. She has been born again. She knows for sure that when she dies she will get to spend eternity with our Father forever. She knows that she can spread the hope and peace that he has freely given her to others. She lives in the moment and radiates Jesus to everyone. Praise Him! "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21
Even through the hard times of following Christ, joy will come. It can't help but come because God loves us so much that there is always an abunduance when we look to him for all things and in all things. Hes not going to let us go dry. The circumstances of our daily lives seem less and he seems MORE. "He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30. Thank you Jesus again and again and again for the cross. Thank you that we are able to live life to the fullest even when things don't make sense. Thank you for making a way when we try all the other ways.
This Thanksgiving I said I was most thankful for my family back at home and for the new brothers and sisters in Christ that I have been blessed to come along side and serve in their mininstry. More to come on what we are doing in this ministry …
I MISS YOU FAM! See ya in 6 months or so! I pray for each of you everyday. LOVE YOU!
