As we approach Thanksgiving, what is obviously absent here in Thailand is the Thanksgiving themed decor, and the American ingredients to make many of the typical Thanksgiving dishes. If I were in Hawaii, I’d probably be planning that day’s meal and coordinating with friends and family. It does make us homesick a bit but we are also excited to share in our first Thanksgiving meal with our ZOE family. Thanksgiving meal prep and food traditions aside, we cannot help but feel so blessed and thankful for where God has us.
In the last blog /update, Simpson shared a bit about some of the struggles we’ve had while here. I have to echo that it has not been an easy road. There is a “constant stress” that we seem to be under as we continue to transition and adapt to life in a foreign country. We miss family and friends most of all. But at the same time, we are so happy to be here. Recently, we were reminded by a missionary who has been here for over 27 years that no one can stay on the mission field very long if they are not called. This made us remember how very clearly God called us to be here and at ZOE. It gave us renewed strength and encouragement in the midst of the hard stuff.
I recently have been reflecting on a passage in the Bible from I Thessalonians:
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I want to acknowledge “those who work hard among us, and who care for us and admonish us.” Thank you dear friends and family for standing with us, praying for us, and encouraging us! We can be here because of your hard work and support. We are also so thankful for the leadership and co-laborers here at ZOE who work and love so hard. They continue to inspire us.
In this season of transition, God has definitely taught us to “rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.” We have pressed into God like never before and He continues to carry us and sustain us. He uses you to do this as well. We try to be in constant prayer – (to spend the day in a constant dialogue with God amidst our work) – and no matter how hard it has been, we give thanks! We are blessed to be alive, blessed to be here in Thailand, blessed to be able to serve with ZOE International, blessed to have family and friends who love and support us, blessed to be His children. So so thankful.
When things get hard, we try to live these verses: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18). What we have found is that soon our hearts and minds aren’t saying “this is so hard” anymore. Instead, we are recalling all of God’s goodness to us and our thoughts turn to all of you.
Happy Thanksgiving – every day, every hour, of every year!
