This past Thursday families gathered to celebrate one of the best days of the year, Thanksgiving. We cook food, spend hours baking our favorite treat, and even watch a little football. I love this holiday and all that it entails. This year Nathan and I spent our first Thanksgiving as a married couple thousands of miles away from our family and friends. We missed all the traditions that we were used to and spending time with those who mean so much to us. While it was hard, it was nice getting to know people here in South Africa. Thanksgiving had a different feel this year, but it was a good one. Before I talk about that, I want to share something else that we get the opportunity to do every Wednesday.
"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take eat; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them saying, 'Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:26-28
Every Wednesday morning Nathan, Lumka, Kennedy, Phyllis, Nadine, and myself all gather in the office in Red Hill to take communion and pray for the community of Red Hill. The first couple of weeks that we did it I loved it, but it wasn't until this past week that I realized how special this time was. As we sat there and prayed for our kids, teens, and the community as a whole, I couldn't help but think how very blessed we all are. Yes, of course we all have needs, but when hearing the needs of Red Hill compared to ours, they seemed so small. Sometimes we make the biggest deal out of something that isn't that big, and I'm definitely guilty of this myself. Sitting there this past Wednesday and hearing the prayers sent up to our Father brought peace to my heart. Knowing that we have someone there everyday of every week listening to our requests and blessing them as we continue to follow him in our daily lives. Prayer is so powerful and sometimes that is so easily forgotten. Life speeds up and it seems to busy to sit and have that time with the Lord. I am challenged every week during that time because I see the impact of prayer everyday in Red Hill and how the Lord is continuing to move in that beautiful community. I love the mental picture I get when I think about talking to my Father. When I close my eyes to pray I picture grabbing my favorite green and brown blanket, reaching out my arms, and our great God picking me up and sitting me on his lap in a big comfy chair. I picture sitting there with him and just sharing my heart. The good things that are going on and the not so good things. He listens to every word that comes out of my mouth and with his gentle spirit lets me know the things he wants me to hear. I pray that one day when I get to heaven, my Father and I can share this moment together. I am so thankful this season that I work with a group of people who know the importance of prayer and who want to share in the blessing of communion in the middle of our crazy hectic weeks. It is truly a blessing to remember the blessing of Christ giving his body and blood for us, so that we may be forgiven of all the times we fall short.
Thursday morning we woke up and it didn't feel like Thanksgiving outside because it was 75 degrees, but we were excited to celebrate later that evening. We were invited to a get together of a bunch of the wonderful Americans that we have gotten the privilege to know in the past month of being here. Joey and Courtney Lankford had around 40 people over to their lovely home where we fellowshipped and ate a meal that left me full for at least the next 24 hours! Nathan and I were able to meet a lot of new people and get to know those better that we had met in the past month. Something that we have struggled with the most since we have been here is finding community. Thursday night was very good for us. When we left we talked about how for the first time since we have been here, it was finally starting to feel like home. What a blessing it is to meet new people and make new friends. We have been praying for that feeling since we got here, and it is finally starting to feel that way. Even though we missed spending Thanksgiving with our families, I couldn't imagine being anywhere but here for this holiday season.
"Enter his gates with Thanksgiving, and his courts with PRAISE! Give THANKS to him; bless his name!" Psalm 100:4
One night last week Nathan made a suggestion to me. He told me we should write down all the things that we are thankful for. I knew that I could write for hours about all I was thankful for, but took out my journal and starting writing.
I'm thankful for:
1. My Father's unconditional and steadfast love
2. My loving husband who serves me daily
3. My mom and stepdad
4. My amazing in-laws
5. Meme, Pop, MeeMaw and Wally
6. Rachel, her friendship and her life
7. Curt and Sanghyun all the way in China
8. Rolling Hills Community Church
9. All my wonderful, supportive friends
10. All of Nathan's incredible friends
11. My health and my families health, the ability to wake up this morning
12. Living Hope and the vision that they share
13. Red Hill community- Lumka and Kennedy
14. My country and the freedom that we have thanks to our amazing troops serving all over the world
15. Our cozy little flat in Cape Town
16. The food that we eat everyday
17. Divine appointments with new people
18. New friendships
19. The ability to communicate with family back home, via. e-mail, Facebook, Skype
20. Spiritual growth that only YOU can provide
21. Moments of loneliness when you draw me back to you Father
22. The future you have planned for Nathan and I
23. YOUR constant LOVE and ENCOURAGEMENT
Father,
Today is a slow day in Red Hill. It is cold and rainy and I'm just sitting here in the office. I know I have told you that I'm feeling tired and I guess you heard my prayer and have given me a slow rainy day. Thank you for hearing my prayer. As I write down all that I'm thankful for today I realize how loved and bless I am. Father, the past month has been a whirlwind of emotions. I know that you know my heart and the things that I'm struggling with, but I just want to take a minute and say thank you for all of your blessings. This season of our lives is new, but you have continued to reveal yourself to me time and time again. I know you know my uncertainties and when I want to be at home, you quickly remind me of why I'm here. Whether that be a hug from a child, or a smile from someone I don't even know. There are so many things that I am thankful for and I just want to say thank YOU for this life and the opportunity to bring your Word to the nations. It is a blessing to know that you are in control always and you are always looking for ways to bless us. I pray that I can be this kind of blessing to those around me. You are ALL KNOWING and I pray that in my moments of loneliness you remind me how vast your love is and how you've gone before me and know my next step. Happy Thanksgiving to my loving Father. I am SO very thankful for you and how you have transformed my life. I love you.
This Thanksgiving was a beautiful reminder of all the things that are most important. I am thankful to be where I am during this time of the year and praying for God to use both Nathan and I in ways that we can't imagine. For the first time we aren't surrounded by the craziness of Christmas in the states. I pray that we can focus on the true meaning of this special season and remember to give thanks during it all knowing that everything comes from our gracious Father.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17
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