The Christmas season is upon us. This year I’ll receive the fewest physical gifts in my life. This year will be the first Christmas not spent with my parents and siblings and other relatives. However, this Christmas I am more grateful for the gifts which I have already received, and the most prized of which are not tangible at all. This will be the first year I spend Christmas with my new family—the one God has grafted me into. For everyone who believes in God is my brother and sister and mother.
It is now that I’m struck with how blessed I am and grateful to God for all He has given me. Around the world children don’t understand the concept of Christmas because they don’t receive presents, have a big meal or enjoy time with family together. They are left alone, hungry, dirty and without anyone to love them or take care of them. This is their reality.
So, this year for Christmas, in light of all that I have received over my life, I will spend my days giving gifts to others. I will be able to give small physical gifts such as toys and candy, but more than that I will give smiles, hugs, love, hope, joy, peace and pour everything I have out to those in Cambodia. I will tell of the free gift of salvation that is available. Not only for Christmas, but for the entire 11 months of the race. And not only for the race, but for the entirety of my life.
To whom much is given, much is required and I have been given a lot. If you’re reading this, I assume you’ve been given a lot as well. Because if you’re reading this it means you have more blessings than most of the people around the world and you don’t even realize it. You have access to the internet. You have electricity. You have a computer. You have the ability to read. If that is all you have, you can thank God for those blessings alone!
But you also have other blessings, countless ones! Some of those blessings God has opened my eyes to include:
-Education (In Cambodia out of 1000 kids who start school only 52 will graduate 12th grade. Out of those only a handful will attend college. Most children must stay home from school to work or take care of younger siblings so their parents can work 12 hours at the factory for $4 a day. I often see 7-14 year old girls staying home from school to take care of their infant siblings.) I complain about my student loans, but never praise God that I’ve been blessed to receive an MBA! When was the last time you thanked God for your opportunity to learn?
-Shoes (Most of the people I’ve worked with over the past 4 months don’t have shoes at all, and if do they are either too big or too small or worn beyond recognition. Most of the children and adults have calloused and torn up feet with cuts that are often infected.) I brought 4 pairs of shoes on the race, and have at least a dozen more at home. How many pairs of shoes do you have?
-Clean drinking water (In 3 of the 4 countries I’ve visited so far, you cannot drink the tap water for fear of illnesses including Typhoid. Most of the people are so poor that they cannot buy clean drinking water. Given the choice between clean drinking water or food they will choose food.) In the states I could always drink the tap water anywhere I went. I would sometimes complain if it tasted like chlorine or wasn’t cold enough, but I never feared getting deathly sick from it. When was the last time you couldn’t find clean water?
-American (As Americans, we have more rights, freedoms and blessings than most others around the globe. I didn’t realize this until I was almost arrested in Vietnam after being harassed for several hours for openly sharing the gospel one night.) I’ve complained about taxes, laws and government numerous times, but the truth is we are blessed indeed. This world is not perfect, but we have it better than anyone else. When was the last time you feared your government for your very life or the lives of your family?
My other most prized gifts are community, love, peace, joy, hope, salvation, righteousness, and being surrounded by people who will speak truth in love with grace even when it hurts a little because they want to see me grow to be more like Christ.
So, I challenge you: If you’ve been stirred by this in any way, make a list of your blessings. And for each one thank God! When you are down or life isn’t going your way, pull that list out and remember all you have. Even on your worst day, you have more to be thankful for than others have on their best day!
Be generous and spread those blessings around. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Give in accordance with how much God has blessed you. If God is leading you to give this Christmas to the least of these, please prayerfully consider giving to keep me on the race fighting the good fight and bringing the message of salvation and love to the nations! To stay on the race and bring the heart of Christmas to 8 more nations I need to raise $4,173 by March 1. If you can give anything at all, even $5 is appreciated. All gifts are tax deductible and God blessed!
If just 170 people gave $25 I'd be fully funded!
If just 84 people gave $50 I'd be fully funded!
If just 42 people gave $100 I'd be fully funded!
You can give online at LauraAngst.TheWorldRace.org by clicking “Support Me” on the left navigation, or by mailing a check with “Laura Angst” in the memo to
Adventures in Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353
Merry Christmas and may God Bless You!!
