Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful, and I have so much to be thankful for. From getting to spend my 18th birthday in Guatemala to the amazing people I work with at Reindom, I can’t stop counting my blessings.
Working with Reindom is actually so amazing. It almost never feels like work, it feels more like I’m hanging out and helping my friends. The people are so sweet, and the kids are so much fun to work with. They are all little bundles of joy. Lili reflects God’s love by being super intentional to sit and have Google translate conversations with me, and I can just see God’s love reflect through the way she cares for those kids. Danielle is so patient with us, and she shines the Joy of the Lord through her smiles and laughter. Loyda is actually amazing, she has such a gift of wisdom, and she does amazing teaching, but also having fun with us. Melody is so sweet, she is so loving, she is just such a joy to be around, and I love of she listened to God’s calling on her life to go to the Middle East. Jazmine is so sweet, and her smile is abousolty beautiful. I’m so proud of Ivan for listening to God’s calling to Israel and become an epitome of Isaiah 6:8. Renzo does a great job of messing around with us, and he’s a little bit funny. Oliver is pretty cool too, he’s great with the kids. The kids love to steal my phone and take photos on it, well, not steal it, I give it to them, but the photos are always so fun to look back on. There’s so much more I could say about Reindom, but that would go on and on forever.
Of course, I’m thankful for my team as well, from the tops of their heads, to the bottom of their feet they are people who intentionally chase after Jesus. Maggie-Claire is such an amazing leader, and she’s really good at role of logistics. Sophie is really good at loving people well, and she has a heart that just intentionally chases after God. Esme is actually so good at having those serious conversations, but also having the silly ones and I love her for it. Emilee is really observent and intentional, evidencenced by how when we’re riding the chicken bus together, she will let me take the window so I feel more comfortable. Ash, (Ashley), is such a good reflection of God’s love and joy by the way she interacts with the kids at ministry, they love her to pieces, and they don’t even speak the same language. Clara is an angel, she is so giving and loves loving others well. Libby is so sweet, she’s really intentional about making sure we all feel loved, no matter what time it is, or how little the instance may seem.
My birthday was made so sweet by all the people I’m around. My squad and my team were super intentional about making sure I felt loved. They got me some sweets, hot chocolate, and balloons that spelled out 18. It also happened to be an activation day, so my team took me to Chimal to get a Mcflurry, because my dad used to take me to get them after races, and they wanted to do that because he isn’t here to celebrate my 18th. It was really sweet, and then I got to look and see all the sweet messages people sent me, and I actually really loved all of them. The people at Reindom were so sweet and sung me happy birthday the day before, and they gave me lots of hugs the day after. I got a few messages from people right after they woke up, and I think that was actually the sweetest thing ever. I love how intentional the people I’m so honored to call friends, and found family are.
I’m so thankful to be a part of God’s plan, to be apart of a journey much greater than anything I could ever think of. His way is best, and I have seen such fruit, and definitely seen God’s hand, in my past. Now, I’m not saying I would want to do it again, not by any shot. What I’m saying is that God is so faithful, and so intentional with how He’s been healing my heart. Jesus came for the sinners not the righteous, because it is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick. The intentionality with which the people God has been placing in my life is actually so cool to see, and I’m so grateful for everything that He has done, and that I’m able to be apart of his plan.
