I’m in utter awe that this is my life right now. Yesterday, I got to ride a motto through the streets of Siagon with friends we made this week through Starbucks. I got to sit on the street of the foreigners area and people watch; people watch Vietnamese night life that is! I got to eat in the Chinatown market and eat authentic pho. And I week from today I’ll be sitting in Uganda Africa. Is this real life? Someone pinch me.
I’m in awe that this is just a taste of what life is filled with these days. God wakes me up each morning full of adventure and joy. Each day on the race has specific purpose and gifts. Some say that we are crazy, that it must be so hard to live out of a backpack for a year, to abandon the States and to live with people who were once strangers. But really it’s those type of things I’m thankful for. Now, I’m not saying Race life is easy or things don’t become difficult or missing things back in the states doesn’t happen. Believe me, it was hard to not be in the states this week as my niece was born. But, in the scheme of things I’m in awe that I got to Skype her for the first time while just having returned from a Bible Study in Vietnam. The way things pan out ‘grateful’ is just a beginning word to describe the ‘everyday’ moments of race life.
To mention a few:
1. I’m thankful for smiles that greet our foreign faces on each street.
2. I’m thankful for being able to witness the global church and how God is growing his kingdom way more than I have ever imagined
3. I’m thankful for the opportunity to meet and witness the kingdom builders who live humble, encouraging and faithful lives
4. I’m thankful for humbling moments when you are given a special gift from someone who has little to nothing
5. I’m thankful for living a simple life to remind me that spending time picking out what shirt to wear really is not important in the scheme of things
6. I’m thankful for all the cultural learning that allows me to be keep being a student to everyone we come into contact with.
7. I’m thankful for modern technology for being able to connect with friends and family. (And ‘meet’ Kensley)
8. I’m thankful for children’s laughter that doesn’t need to be translated to see the joy they have inherited.
9. I’m thankful for God revealing himself in real tangible and new ways.
10. I’m thankful for a community that decides to bring up the hard stuff.
11. I’m thankful for getting to have an agenda that prepares me to take notice of Gods work and beauty.
So really, the backpack being limiting of clothing, or the sometimes bleak shower situation or eating food you don’t know how to pronounce, aren’t really negative factors. In reality they add to my day to day life and enhance my ability to see God’s gifts. This year I have much to be thankful for. I’m grateful that the everyday moments of Race life are so deeply rich. I hope that each of you have a great Thanksgiving! And I hope and each of us can sneak some moments to reflect on the ‘everyday’ gifts to be thankful for.
Thank you for reading and for letting my share some of the joys of this journey! Happy Thanksgiving!
Ps. One more thing to be thankful for: being able to get a thanksgiving meal in Vietnam!!
