The 2013 holiday season is over. I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating our Savior’s Birth and the end of 2013 with friends and family. My husband, Kevin, and I had a wonderful Christmas with our global family. Anne Marie and Tony came from Singapore; David, Maggie and Eliot came from Chicago, and my mom came from Bellingham. We had a great time squeezing chaotic joy into our Mercer Island, WA, apartment home.
While they were with us, I dragged out letters we’d written our parents during our overseas years. One Christmas letter was written after we’d been overseas for eight years. It was a South American Jungle Christmas and we were far from family. We were homesick. As I read and remembered, and looked around the room with family gathered under my roof, I was reminded of the women we serve at the Thrive Retreats who weren’t with their family this Christmas. Many of them were probably feeling very homesick even as I was enjoying my family. It made me thankful. Thankful to be with family and thankful to be able to serve those who are far from their loved ones.
This year, as Thrive Ambassadors, you and I will have many opportunities to come alongside global women who may be homesick. Prayer is a very important way we serve. Please be in prayer for the volunteer women who are preparing to go to Turkey in just a few weeks. Please pray for the Leigh and Christina as they take care of the many retreat details and logistics. Please pray for Rachel as she prepares to speak. Please pray for the support the volunteer team members still need. Please pray for the women we go to serve-and their preparations for coming to be with us.
2014 will be a year full of service opportunities. I’m thankful to be serving with you! Happy New Year!
©2014 Thrive.