Thanksgiving in Thailand is celebrated way differently than anywhere I have been before. Instead of feasting on a Thanksgiving meal, the people gather on the street at night for the Lantern Festival. The symbolism in lighting off a lantern is found in the letting go of all the bad things that happened that year.
I’ve been having a rough time the past few days of processing different emotions. I know I want to grow on the World Race, but we often forget that growth comes with having to deal with emotions, being vulnerable with those around you and making room for the Holy Spirit to work in you. As my good friend Paige said it, “there’s so much beauty in letting go of things that don’t do us any good, so we can make room for God to work in our lives and rebuild those areas of our hearts.” This sums up how I feel about working through tough emotions – worth it coming out the other side a stronger and better person!
The day after Thanksgiving, when I would normally be sleeping off all the food, I ate the day before or our trying to grab the best Black Friday deals. But this year, Friday was when we got to celebrate American Thanksgiving. We walked to an American style restaurant where we got a 3-course meal complete with delicious bread and pumpkin soup, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans and we ended the night with a slice of pumpkin pie! It was an unexpected treat and excellent way to end our time in Chiang Mai.
Here are five things I’m thankful for this year:
- People on my squad who love me well. I’m thankful for their intentionality in my life, their passion to make sure I am growing as a person and their joy.
- My Squad Mentor Amy. She got to visit us for two weeks in Thailand for debrief, and I really enjoyed processing the last two months with her while also learning from her.
- All the people who helped get me on the World Race through prayer, encouragement and financial support.
- Access to health care internationally. I noticed the day before Thanksgivings I had a cracked tooth, but within 48 hours I had it filled and back to normal!
- Technology and being able to talk to family and friends back home during the Holidays!
Praise report – We have made it to our home in Malaysia for the next month. We have air conditioning while we sleep again 🙂 The Lord is so good.
Prayer requests – I came down with what seems to be a sinus infection on our 30-hour travel day to Malaysia. Please pray for healing and the Lord’s provision for any medical costs.
Thank you all for reading! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Scripture of the Day:
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Colossians 3:14-17
Song of the day: Here Again
