Untraditional, yes. Sad, no. I really enjoyed this Thanksgiving. Even though I missed out on the giant meal and weeks worth of leftovers. The family time. The parade. The family yelling about a football game I don’t care about. The beginning of decorating for Christmas. Even though it’s my favorite holiday and didn’t get to follow the normal traditions I highly enjoyed it. And let me tell you why.
We started the day with worship. What better way to start a holiday based on thankfulness than to praise God for who He is? Why isn’t that a normal tradition? I think I will use that one.. even if I have to do it by myself.. (our alumni leader said she tried to instill that with her family last year and they didn’t join in..)
Second, we individually asked God what he wanted us to do for the next couple of hours. Usually we get a clear idea of what to do, but me and my partner had two different directions in mind and decided to make a loop. So we started our little journey and as we were walking someone called out to us and asked if we needed help. (Strange because I thought we were pretty confidently walking). Although we said no, we were just going for a walk, he asked us to sit and talk with him. Perfect.
This was the reason we couldn’t get a clear idea. It was dependent on this man asking us to join him. While speaking to him we discovered he was a Hindu and believed in Palm reading so he was awkwardly okay with touch. (Malaysian is real particular about touch) While talking to him, my friend Britt (AKA Burt) Kept slyly bringing up how God had done this or that in her life. Suddenly this man (Lalit) had asked if we could pray for him. He said, “your prayers are powerful and mine are not.” We held hands and prayed over him and his family (His daughter- Nital, Son-in-law – Amit, and grandaughter- Hubi). We prayed in the name of Jesus. As we were about to head out he stopped us.
Lalit: “Can you stay for 5 more minutes? Because I feel very good and peaceful vibes from you”.
Me: “You know those “vibes” are the Holy Spirit.”
God spoke through me in that moment and helped me to share about what that meant and I was able to present the Gospel. To which he responded with proclaiming Jesus as Lord of his life. So when I asked once again his religion, he replied that he was Christian. A win for the kingdom? Only God knows the heart and what is true. We are unsure, but plan to meet again to follow up with Lalit. We are thankful to meet Lalit.
The rest of the day consisted of, A waffle and Ice cream for lunch at a café that supports an orphanage in Thailand.
And then all three teams met up in a youth center attic to play games. And I got to play a lot of vintage video games including, but not limited to Mario Bros, Mario Kart, and Street Fighter. It was so much fun. Made me miss my Nintendo 64 back home, but mostly just brought me happiness.
And to end the night, my team and I enjoyed our fabulous thanksgiving dinner consisting of Chicken tacos from a taco truck.
How could one not be thankful for a day like this?
What a groovy God we serve.
Pray for:
- Lalit’s true confession and growth in the Lord. As well as the follow-up
- Nital and Amit to be introduced to Christ and through that to be brought closer in their marriage
- Alan’s Eye surgery or total healing before the surgery
- Me to remember to pray for the above people
- This week we are going to a youth camp to be counselors!
- To finish our final week in Malaysia Strong (Crying for the fact that we are leaving way too soon)
Fundraising Prayer/Anouncement
- Final funds to come in! I am so close with only $1395 left to raise! PRAISE GOD But I also ask that if you send any more funds that if possible you mail them to my address at P.O. Box 1667 Crystal Beach, TX 77650 because if I somehow get extra funds I would like to help out my friends who are still fundraising. Just let me know if you do so I can let leadership know. (:
