Turkey and stuffing: Thai style.

This past week was Thanksgiving. 

And yes, even here in Thailand, us Americans gathered around a long table filled with the massive amounts of mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes, and miraculously...even turkey! Like usual, I ate too much and still have leftovers in my fridge. The holiday continued as I spent hours online yesterday looking at the Black Friday deals, as my friends and family in America fought over parking spots and big screen tvs. And even this afternoon, I hung up my strand of Christmas lights and package of ornaments in my room. 

It's that time of year. 

But this year is different. I sat in my pajamas drinking coffee as I skyped into my family's Thanksgiving dinners. As I shopped for Black Friday, I was sitting in a t-shirt and shorts staring at my computer screen. And no matter how much I believe it will happen, when I walk outside there is no crisp cool air and leaves on the ground. 

It seems unsatisfying at times. It's ironic actually. This holiday meant to be a time of thanks and gratitude has made me even more aware of the unfulfilled desires I have. Instead of resting in the blessings I have been given, my mind has been listing the many things that I don't have this year. 

But it's going to stop. Because although I may be thousands of miles away from so many friends and family, sweating while eating turkey leftovers, and missing out on waking up at 3am to wear an elf hat and join masses of other crazy people...

I am blessed. 

...in enormous ways. 

So while my "What I'm thankful for this year" list may be a bit different, here it is. 

Thank you, Jesus for new friends.

Thank you for Your light that overcomes the darkness. 

Thank you for a week of Pattaya Praise- to gather in this city and sing your praise. 

Thank you that Our God is Greater.

Thank you for parties in the slums and new ways to celebrate this holiday. 

Thank you for adorable little faces.

Thank you that rain will never stop the fun. 

Thank you Jesus, that while things feel unfamiliar and even lonely at times, You are enough. Thank you that you alone are enough to fulfill all my heart's desires.

"For such a time as this."

I've been working on this blog for about a week now...well sort of...

You see I came back from Chiangmai about a week ago (a northern part of Thailand) and it had been two weeks full of learning, meeting new people, and God revealing to me so many things. I came back to Pattaya excited and ready for new things and at the same time, drained and running on empty.   I also came back to a week of more interviews with Freedom Stones, a broken shower, no Internet, one less usable bathroom in my house, a week straight of massive thunderstorms and rain, oh and new hole in the ceiling in the middle of my room, which worked out really nice with the rain. 

It felt like a whirlwind. 

It's a new week and some of the parts of my house have been fixed. But I still don't have Internet and the interviews are still coming. This week is also Pattaya Praise: a week of worship throughout the city, with 20 teams coming from around the world to join. 

It still feels a bit like a whirlwind. 

But its has felt a little different lately. I'm not sure why or even how to explain it, but God has given me a new sense of trust in His timing. 

I watched a movie about Queen Esther on Friday. Esther is selected as one of the many women whom the king can select to marry. She goes through months of preparation, months of gaining the king's trust, and then finally she is given the chance to sacrifice her life for her people, the Jews. Esther has been taken from her home, separated from everyone she loves, been forced into a situation where she feels like an outsider, and then is told she must risk her life to stop the massacre of the Jews. 

When being told of the choice before her, she is told: "Who knows? Maybe you were made Queen for such a time as this." 

Maybe she went through those months of  spa treatments, reading before the king, missing her family...for such a time as this. A time to put her life on the line and save her people. 

"A time as this" was not a time for an insignificant task. It was big. It was a history making event. 

I've learned a lot lately. God has poured new information into me, introduced me to new people, broken my heart many times over the injustice and hurt around me...sometimes it still feels like a whirlwind. 

Perhaps one day...in a few weeks, months, years....I will hear "Kelly, you were appointed for such a time as this." 

Timing seems to be everything. Perhaps now it is my time to learn, soak in culture, gain wisdom, and sometimes do without Internet or a working shower. But I do know I am so excited for the day when for "such a time as this" comes. Right now I will rest in the timining of now. 

Maybe your "such a time as this" hasn't come. Maybe it still feels like a whirlwind. 

Rest with me in this time. Because honestly, I've been putting this blog off for a week now and I'm still not sure if what I've written really makes sense. I don't know entirely what is happening. I don't have the answers about the future.

I am just resting in what is now. Let's wait for "such a time as this" together.

So while this didn't share much about my time in Chiangmai, here are some pictures of while I was there : )