This Thanksgiving was like no other Thanksgiving I have ever had. Not because something spectacular or memorable happened. Not because I had just pulled off a perfectly roasted turkey or presented a fancy shmancy pumpkin dessert. Not because I was surrounded by my loving family or close friends. In fact, it was a very ordinary day on The World Race.
When I say that it was an ordinary day on The World Race I mean that it was a day spent at a school in the slums of Kenya surrounded by the most precious children in their ragged uniforms and giant smiles. My team had the joy of spending the whole week with these children, and on Thanksgiving day we got to watch them graduate and move on to the next grade.
At the end of a joyful and exhausting day with the children we went back to our "home" for the month. A family has graciously welcomed us into their home and have gone above and beyond to make us feel like part of the family. They even went as far as spending an entire day searching for a turkey to buy and slaughter so that we could have a true Thanksgiving meal. Turkeys are apparently hard to come by in Kenya, so we instead enjoyed chicken with potatoes mashed with corn, peas, and another green vegetable, cabbage, fried pumpkin, rice and fresh fruit.
What made this Thanksgiving like none other is the fact that I was overwhelmed with how much I have to be thankful for. I mean, I REALLY have a lot to be thankful for.
I have the most loving and supportive and fun parents in the world.
I am blessed with a brother whom I can call a best friend and I can take joy in the fact that he will soon be marrying an amazing woman!
The friends that God has given me are truly incredible. I have some pretty hilarious and special memories with each and every one of them. My friends are family to me – and I have gained even more of them over the past 4 1/2 months!
I can rejoice in the fact that God has taken hold of my life and is leading me into the most amazing life.
I get to spend every day consumed in love – pouring out God's love on people around the world.
I am in the middle of an adventure that is taking me all around the world. And I have so many people cheering me on and encouraging me along the way.
I could keep going on and on and on with all that I am thankful for, but I really wanted to keep this short and sweet. So I will end with one final thing that fills my heart with thanksgiving…
It is mango season here in Kenya and so I get to enjoy the freshest, most delicious mango (along with an abundance of other fruit) every single day!!!
