Thankful.

And then Thanksgiving came and went.  So did the last 3 months.  Wow.  Time really has flown!! This past week I had some great time to sit & reflect on what I was thankful for as I'm sure many of you did. There is no rhyme or reason to this list...just pure thankfulness from the bottom of my soul.

I am thankful for God's perfect timing.
I am thankful for God's provision.
I am thankful for God's protection.
I am thankful for discipline.
I am thankful for being stretched.
I am thankful for being lovingly broken and then put back together by the hands of the Potter.
I am thankful for getting to be a part of this GAP program.
I am thankful for each and every student that God has placed here.
I am thankful for all of those supporting me prayerfully, financially and emotionally.
I am thankful for family and friends back home loving me and supporting me.
I am thankful for the community God has given me here.
I am thankful for encouragement that comes in all different ways.
I am thankful for a God who is strong in my weakness.
I am thankful for sunrises at the beach.
I am thankful for accountability.
I am thankful for God's living Word guiding me every single day.
I am thankful for Leadership here at SCORE.
I am thankful for those who have patience with me.
I am thankful for the times where my spiritual gifts can be used to their fullest.
I am thankful for the new friends that God has brought along side of me.
I am thankful for the situations that I have gone through in the past, that they can help someone else.
I am thankful for the sun shining every morning.
I am thankful for a group of girls that want to run every morning.
I am thankful for hearts that are seeking after Jesus.
I am thankful for late night random talks.
I am thankful for new experiences.
I am thankful for God pulling and pushing me out of my comfort zone.
I am thankful for the path that has brought me to right here, right now.
I am thankful for beginning to see hearts as Jesus sees hearts.
I am thankful for running water.
I am thankful for good health.
I am thankful that I am able to serve.
I am thankful that I am able to find time daily to spend in the Word.
I am thankful that my brain hasn't shut completely off to learning new languages.
I am thankful that the times of small obedience has taught me how to be obedient in the big things.
I am thankful that God is bigger than EVERYTHING.
I am thankful that God reminds me daily of how big He is and how small I am.
I am thankful that no matter how many times I mess up, God still loves me.

And the list could go on, and on, and on.  I hope you have been able to sit and reflect this past week on what you're thankful for too. 

In less than 2 weeks we'll be home for Christmas break.  And what an amazing last 3 months it has been.  I have seen the kids grow in so many ways and it is so encouraging!  Their Spanish is amazing!!!  They're still running hard after Jesus, hearts are being broken and changed through circumstances and God's Word.  Attitudes are changing.  Walls are being broken down.  Humility is setting in.  Realizations of what a life lived for Christ are being realized, formed and strengthened.  And the fact that I get to be a part of that is amazing.  Not that I have been doing any of it...it's ALL GOD, but that He lets me see it and be a vessel is humbling. 

Please be praying for all of us as we go home (students and missionaries alike) that we can keep the testimony that we've began here and that the heart and life changes will stay strong.  That we will resist temptation, that our American culture shock would be minimal, that we would get awesome time with family and friends.  Please pray that the change in our lives is evident and permanent. 

As you're thinking about Christmas...and the true meaning of the season please keep in mind other opportunities you have to change lives down here in the DR.  Check out www.scoresponsor.org where you can sponsor a child, and/or donate to a specific ministry or missionary (I'm not yet on the website so if the Lord is putting it on your heart to donate to me, please comment below or shoot me an email and I can let you know how that's done).

¡Gracias & Adios!