It was not a surprise to me that all this week I was nervous about the upcoming holiday. For years, Thanksgiving has been my favorite day of the year, with the most comfort and joy. I love spending the day watching the Macy’s thanksgiving parade, eating good food, and relaxing with my family and friends. But, this particular year I don’t have the luxury of doing such things.
The past month and 24 days have been spent being completely happy with where I am in Ecuador. There have been a few hard days, but overall I have not been homesick in the slightest. Therefore, becoming homesick for the first time was quite the struggle. All last night, I was in a funk of missing the comfort of my good ole Canal Winchester on Thanksgiving day (thank God for amazing teammates who can uplift me at all times).
One of the only things keeping my spirits up was knowing that my team had been planning a thanksgiving day for our school. There were crafts, food, games, and Chloe prepared a talk all about Jesus. We’ve spent weeks getting ready for this day, knowing that God had the power to do all He wanted through it. Prayers had been prayed, days were spent fasting, and our hearts were prepared to see lives changed today. I spent this morning’s shower praying to Jesus about wanting to be completely here today, full of joy of what today would hold though my heart felt empty about not being at home. I was fully confident that He would show up in big ways today, but my mind wasn’t ready for all He had in store.
All throughout the day, I could feel God smiling on me and saying, “See, I told you that today would be good. Let me just give you blessing after blessing to continue to show you my goodness.” And that He did. At all times of the day, I felt so much love with my students and Jesus.
All day was spent with each grade, doing activities and spending time with them. But, my anticipation and excitement was focused on the high school – knowing they would be the ones to hear Chloe’s talk about Jesus. This is what the past month has been waiting on. I knew I was here for such a time as this.
I sat behind many grades and listened to my teammate and friend, Chloe speak life and truth into countless lives. I couldn’t help but get teary eyed, knowing that seeds were being planted in each heart. She spoke about how each of us have a seat at Jesus’s table, her testimony of death to life, and all that Jesus went through because of His unending love for each of them. At the end, when she asked if anyone wanted to give their life to Christ, 50 hands were raised. GOD IS SO SO SO GOOD, MY FRIENDS. It was easily one of the most beautiful moments of my life. Prayers had been answered and it was just another reminder that God knows my heart and has a plan for each of us.
Getting to see the students that my heart has absolutely fallen in love with the past 2 months become children of the living King was the joy of a lifetime. What a God I get to serve, where he turns my pain into TRUE JOY! I still can’t get over it….
Also, the rest of my day was spent talking to family and friends back in Ohio (thank God for technology!), watching School of Rock, eating a beautiful thanksgiving dinner with my 17 sisters and host parents, and dancing in the hallway to Justin Bieber.
In all honesty, God continues to surprise me. I’m overwhelmed with thanks not only today, but everyday because I have the opportunity to be in Ecuador, boldly spreading the love of Jesus with the best people I know. It’s a true honor. God is doing big things here and it’s a joy to be a part of it.
I hope that you felt the love of Jesus and spent quality time with family and friends that fill you up today. God is good, don’t forget to thank Him for all you have today!
All my love and Happy Thanksgiving!
Hannah
