Agradecido (Grateful).

....No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for those of you who belong to Christ Jesus.

-1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 (NLT)

To my dear friends,

I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week! I got to video chat with my family on Thanksgiving Day, and that was without a doubt the highlight of the day for me! My entire family was there at my house except for my sister Emily who is still studying in Rwanda. Although it was good to see and talk with my family, it made me want to be with them like never before!

But I am keeping busy here in school and doing other various activities with friends and church. In fact, so busy that I've had no time to blog and am supposed to be studying right now! But I am loving what I am learning and experiencing, and wouldn't trade this for anything. This past week was my first Thanksgiving away from my family, and although I missed them and the amazing food and time we normally share together, I enjoyed my time in Antigua. Instead of our normal meal of turkey, stuffing, pies, and all of our traditional food in the States, I ate typical Guatemalan food for dinner (which I like just just as much!) but I did miss my usual Thanksgiving meal and eating leftover pie for breakfast. This past weekend, however, I went to El Salvador with a friend of mine who needed to renew his passport. While he was at his home outside of the city, I spent the weekend some of my family's friends at their house in San Salvador. They are such a welcoming and generous family, and it was really nice to spend time with them! They also had leftover turkey and pies from Thanksgiving, so I was able to have some of the Thanksgiving food that I missed out on this year! :) They also have a place on a beautiful lake in a volcanic crater located just outside the city. We spent one day there, and it was so nice to be in the hot sun and swimming for the whole day.... a nice break from the chilly weather of Antigua!

Some other dear friends of my family also live in San Salvador and they run this amazing organization called Love Links. I so much wanted to visit them but didn't get the chance this time. I guess I'll just have to go back! :)

I, as always, have so much to be thankful for. In fact, I have everything to be thankful for, because "I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know the secret of living in every situation, whether with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything withe help of Christ who gives me the strength I need" (Phil. 4:12-13). But right now I want to take a moment to say how thankful I am for my parents, who are so gracious and wise. Being apart from them has made me realize how amazing they are in a way that I didn't see before. I know that they have my best in mind and they are so supportive of the dreams that I have. Their patience and love in raising me shows that the most important thing to them is that I, and my siblings, walk in the Truth. And not only am I thankful for their love for me, but I'm thankful that they reach out to others who don't have parents like my siblings and I have.

I am continually thankful for Jesus and His never-ending grace in my life. I am so thankful that He has lead me to Antigua and has given me this church and these friends. I am having the best time of my life, and all the glory is to God.

I really cannot believe that it is December already... :/ My time here has flown by all to quickly! I wasn't expecting it to pass like this, but I guess that it's a blessing that I love being here so much.

I know that as happy as I will be to see my family in a short time, I am not going to be ready to leave. This feels like home now. I've never wanted to be in two places at the same time so very, very, much. But I have to step out of my feelings and know that I must go where God leads, whether I feel like it or not. I must follow His way, not mine, knowing that I can have peace wherever I am and "laugh with no fear of the future" (Prov. 31:25), because He is the One who holds my future in His hands. If it's His will, then I will come back. I have nothing to worry about, and everything to be thankful for.