Happy Thanksgiving! (A day late and a buck short…my bad…)
Wow, Thanksgiving is a lot different in Thailand…it doesn’t ‘feel’ like Thanksgiving feels back home. First off, my family that I’ve spent 24 Thanksgivings with is across the world. The air is really warm – if I drink hot apple cider, I might melt. The only stuffing that exists here is me stuffing my face with Pad Thai. Instead of oohing and ahhing at the floats in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I get to experience the famous floating lantern festival in Chiang Mai tonight. Same-same, but a little different.
THAT BEING SAID, I wouldn’t trade where I am today for anything! I’m pouring out gratitude today because I am living right smack in the middle of God’s will for me – what more could a girl ask for? My response is thankfulness. I want to open my heart to you guys and let you in on what the Lord is doing here in Thailand through the structure of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:
Rejoice always (things I’ve found joy in here in Thailand):
- There’s so much joy in our ministry partners at COC Thailand. They’re an organization dedicated to expanding the Kingdom here in Thailand. We are partnering with them and helping build an international Christian school for kids in Chiang Mai.
- Despite complete and utter brokenness, I found joy at a bar on a street known for women and men selling their bodies to make money. The first night my teammate and I went out to do ‘bar ministry,’ we met a woman named Penelope (changed to protect her identity). Penelope is an amazing woman – she has a childlike joy in her spirit and we spent a couple hours chatting and dancing around the bar she works at. This woman brought me so much joy.
- I found joy in a really sweet conversation with Olivia, Penelope’s coworker. Like many other people in the industry, Olivia was born a man but underwent several procedures to become a woman. This isn’t rare in Thailand, as women who sell their bodies make a lot more money than men who sell their bodies. Olivia and I sat for a few hours talking, joking and dreaming together. Ever just asked someone about their dreams and passions? That’s joyful.
- I’m joyful that my entire squad of 41 people is staying together in Chiang Mai. It’s been sweet and refreshing getting to do life with all these beautiful people who are chasing after the Lord. I’ve gained an incredible amount of wisdom and joy from them.
Pray without ceasing (what you can join me in praying for):
- This is a verse I’ve been chewing on all month. I’ve found so much joy in combining the physical work of construction with spiritual work of intercessory prayer. ‘Construction ministry’ involves a lot of shoveling bricks and dumping wheelbarrows of dirt. While at first I used manual labor as an excuse to ‘check out,’ He’s taught me to use this time as an opportunity to ‘tune in’ and ask Him who I can be praying for both here and back home.
- I pray for the little ones who will walk through the school we’re building.
- I pray for Penelope and Olivia, and other men and women who exploit their bodies to make money.
- I pray that the cycle of poverty will end in Thailand.
- Gosh. I pray without ceasing for the men who come to Thailand and take advantage of beautiful women like Penelope and Olivia. Everything about my flesh wants to hate these men, but everything about Christ teaches me to love them. My response? Prayer.
Give thanks in all circumstances (pretty self explanatory):
- I am thankful that I have so much to be thankful for. Seriously.
- I’m thankful for the loving family that I’ve been blessed to spend the past 24 Thanksgivings with.
- I’m thankful that I get to spend this Thanksgiving with 41 new family members (my squad-mates).
- I’m thankful that my mission trip is fully funded! I owe a huge THANK YOU to my supporters and to everyone who’s loving me and encouraging me through prayer. Your support goes farther than you can possibly imagine.
- Every time I walk past a Buddhist temple or spirit house, I overflow with thanks that God has opened my eyes and softened my heart to receive truth in Christ. I am so grateful that the God I love and serve is personal, and that He desires a relationship with me.
- Going off that, I’m thankful that I hear His voice. I hear Him especially clearly through scripture…but that’s prolly an entire blog for another time.
- I’m thankful for fun adventure days – playing with elephant babes, weekend camping trips in the mountains, magical hikes through the Thai jungle, night markets, lantern festivals, etc.
As always, thank you for reading and thank you for joining me on this journey. I am incredibly grateful.
God bless,
Abby
