Exactly a year ago, I found myself back at school transitioning out of my return from Southeast Asia from my very first missions trip & first experience abroad without my family. By the end of day one in Thailand I knew I would have to go back. The people I had met, the stories I had heard, the things that I had seen – they could never be forgotten. Before going abroad, Thailand was just another country on a list of many with starving kids & corrupt systems of government. People who were far across the planet. But after the two weeks, I had never experienced something so real not felt the Spirit compel me so much. I never anticipated that returning “soon” would mean less than 5 months later.
My journey to Thailand in July of 2012 & later again along with stops in Cambodia + Korea during December were eye-opening experiences filled with tons of laughter, anger, confusion & love. Thailand was known as the “land of smiles” & to offer strangers everything you could (even when you had nothing to give,) to them was the norm. Those who lived by faith concentrated their worries into praises. They were so thankful for just being alive each day. To see God working & moving across the globe in a country so different than what I was used to helped me to see how minuscule my “problems” or worries were in comparison to those of the world.
It’s amazing how appreciative we forget to
be when we become comfortable. When we settle into patterns or routines that just get us through the next day, we tend to overlook the details & simple joys of life. As long as I remember to go grocery shopping, I can come home from school or work to a stocked fridge. Snacks & calories easily at my disposal. But now, to know that someone somewhere, be it Thailand, or Africa, or even downtown in your own city may not have these privileges makes me extremely grateful for what I’ve been blessed with. Watching the kids scarf down every grain of rice or to see them not take too much food in order to leave some for the others is so humbling.
Going abroad is like acting as the arms for His body. These are no more important than the legs or eyes as they help the arms to get to where they need to be. I am so thankful for all those who helped support me in prayer or financially last year as I went abroad with the team multiple times. So today, I thought I would use this opportunity to write my first blog post & share a bit of why I’m taking part in the Octoberfast with re:ACTS Ministries. re:ACTS has huge plans in store for the upcoming year & God has truly blessed the team with a vision to open their own children’s home! I’m so excited for them & am glad I could be a part of Octoberfast this year. I really needed to be reminded & humbled during a day of reflection. A day to focus on cleansing not just my physical, but my spiritual self.
“It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us; it is the very sign of His presence.“ – C.S. Lewis
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10/3/13 Update: Read the follow-up post on my Octoberfast experience here: http://bit.ly/19kOyFV
❤ & Cheers!
Courtney
[…] – I can’t believe how fast time flies by. Bo helped to found a non-profit that is truly near & dear to my heart, re:ACTs Ministries (check it out if you have time). Terry has even begun her own rental […]
nicely written! 🙂 My prayers go out to you during this time of reflection and meditation on our God. Jesus be with you!