Dear Madi,
I write this as you sit in the middle of the cabin in Crested Butte. Your favorite place. Toby, Noelle, Felicity, Elijah, Caleb, Zeri, and Cami are all watching movies and playing games. Which makes this almost impossible to write because of all the noise, but you stay in here anyways because you know you will miss all of their voices next year. This has been a good trip, maybe the best. Tori came with you and she probably regrets it because she is not one for the cold, but she is a really good skiier. Sitting around the table at night while dad cracks corny dad jokes with his brothers is one of the best times of the day. You love seeing how much your family enjoys being around eachother. It is really hard to picture the fact that you will not be with your family this time next year.
Christmas time has always been your absolute favorite time of the year, because of how much you love being with family and friends. So, yes. It is a little sad that you won’t be here next year. However, do you know what’s not sad? Next year you will be celebrating Christmas with a group of the most kind-hearted people you have ever met. You will be serving others in Ethiopia!!! Ethiopia on Christmas!!! How amazing is that? How many other times in your life will you get to celebrate Christmas in Ethiopia? Probably not that many. It is going to be a beautiful time in your life. Your meaning of giving will change forever. It will not just be about giving gifts but more about giving the love of Christ to others. You will never experience another Christmas like this. You will get to celebrate the New Year as you prepare to go to Thailand. Where you will find a ton of people longing for love and the Holy Spirit. And you get to share it with them.
I hope you aren’t dwelling too much on the fact that you are not home right now. You will be home next year. But for now the Lord is calling you to serve others. You are there for a reason. Don’t feel guilty for wishing you were home during this winter season. It is okay to miss Mom and Dad today. But do not lose sight of what your purpose is. Live in the moment and love people always!!!
P.S.
But don’t forget to call Mom, Dad, Cami and Alex… they miss you just like you miss them.
Love,
Madi
