Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving…

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving with loved ones and good food. I definitely missed being in Neosho, Missouri with all my family but I had such an amazing day filled with thanksgiving and joy. Jacinda and Matt, on Team Pnuma, organized our budget for the “Thanksgiving feast” and we all went shopping for chickens, seasonings, vegetables and coffee (every event has to include coffee). Both Team Lovebound and Team Pnuma came together and we all took turns as the cooks in the kitchen, while Jacinda and Matt led us all in culinary excellence. I peeled more potatoes than I’ve ever peeled in my life and I still cannot believe we had fifteen chickens at the feast. Every worker at the orphanage brought their families to the feast and friends from all over the area came for fellowship and food. There ended up being close to 80 people there! It was an intercultural, inter generational meal I will never forget. Mac gave a speech explaining Thanksgiving to all the locals and we were all so excited to be apart of the CICRIN children’s very first Thanksgiving experience.

After Thanksgiving at the orphanage, we all joined together to throw Mac a surprise 29th Birthday Fiesta! We blew up balloons, bought him funny toys for presents, made two cakes (Betty Crocker box cake, just like from home) and drew him a banner/sign. Mac came back from town after Skyping with his family and we told him we had to do feedback so he was completely surprised when he walked in to a room full of screaming racers throwing balloons and singing the birthday song. Even though fourteen World Racers in one stuffy room with no fans and no ventilation is extremely hot (especially if you have overactive sweat glands like me) it really was the perfect way to end such a happy day. I have so many things to be thankful for this year.

I am thankful for my amazing team who have been so good to me for the past two months. They have been there for me through the thick and thin, pretty and ugly, happy and sad and they have loved me without ceasing and unconditionally.

I am thankful for the ability to work with others on our S Squad, and the fact that we are “S Squad the BEST Squad”…I’m so thankful to have 60 brothers and sisters in Christ who I have so much to learn from and have fellowship with.

I am thankful for the past two months of ministry opportunities. I learned so much from “Mi Reto” and from “CICRIN” and God has used both ministries to transform me into the woman I am today. I am so thankful I met everyone at these ministries and am thankful for all the life lessons each person has taught me.

I am thankful for my family and friends back home, who have been nothing but loving, encouraging and edifying throughout this entire experience. I am so blessed to have a family who believes in me, prays for me and supports me during this season in my life.
I am thankful for my wonderful SUPPORTERS! Without all of you, I would not be here…in Nicaragua…writing about what I’m thankful for. I am so thankful for your stewardship to the Kingdom of God and for funding my mission year.

I am more thankful for the fact that no matter where I go in the world, Christ is ALWAYS present. There is no place on Earth that I can travel to where His work is not evident and His miracles are not powerful.

I am so thankful for the God of the universe not only loving me, but liking me as a friend and a daughter…He likes me just the way I am. I love that God has an amazing sense of humor (I mean, He made me, so I know He loves to be silly and ridiculous sometimes).

I am thankful for joy, in all situations. Having joy on days where everything seems hopeless, and times when all you want to do is give up is something that only Christ can give and a true miracle. Joy has been radiating out of me this month, despite all the obstacles I have been faced with.

I am thankful for a new beginning next month, whatever that may be. We could be doing: surf ministry, village evangelism, assisting a pastor, working at a teen rehab center, or taking a canoe down a river to work with an indigenous tribe in the jungle.

I am thankful that walking with the Lord is always exciting and is always an adventure. I am so thankful that being a disciple of Christ is never boring and is always filled with surprises at every corner.