Christmas Eve looked a little bit different this year.
Today we woke up and took a drive through the countryside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The sights were astounding, the sounds were still, and the smells were, well, smelly. That was part of the gift though.
We arrived at Hug Elephant Sanctuary just in time to feed the elephants their breakfast. Sugar cane..
On the way there we also shared our ride with a family visiting from Hong Kong. We met her and her son, Kian.
Oh, what joy he had seeing those elephants. I imagine my smile the same of Kian’s when I think of Jesus.
After feeding the elephants their breakfast we walked over to one of the water holes to give them a mud bath. When I first approached the elephants I thought, “Oh, no big deal. It’s going to be just fine.” Wrong, I was a little taken back more than I thought I would. How is it that something so giant could be so gentle. As the elephants “sniffed” us and welcomed us we soon became friends. And there was complete peace.
At the end of November and heading into our month in Thailand I wasn’t doing well. It has been one of the hardest times on the race so far. I began to really miss home, feeling some strong spiritual warfare, and found myself, well, not myself. Then I hear a soft whisper from the Lord, “It’s going to be okay.” How gentle, but so powerful.
During our debrief in Bangkok I took the whole week to completely rest in Him. I spent time reflecting on where the Lord and I have been, where the Lord and I am, and where Lord and I are going. The Lord continues to reveal truth to me even when it’s hard to hear. There have been challenges along the way, but it pushes me to keep giving myself completely to Him. When I had a chance to speak with my mentor she made sure to share with me that the Lord has entrusted me to move mountains. In Genesis 22:14 it says that, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
It is on the mount that I will find provision for what He has asked me to sacrifice. So I will keep hiking those mountains. On this beautiful Christmas even I am reminded that I am all He says I am and He is all He says He is. The holidays are looking much different this year, but grateful as each one draws me closer to Him.
All may not seem calm or bright some nights, but all is His. May Christ continue to give me mountains and giants to face. That all my expectations and understanding will come with His presence. That we will all hear and receive the same good news given to Mary: Hope is born within us.
Merry Christmas, dear one!
