Salamaat Po

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world” Matthew 5:8

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

They don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, so of course my team and I had to cook and treat them to an All-American Thanksgiving feast! Except….
My little 20-minute grocery store spree ended up turning into 3 hours. Turns out many traditional dishes we'd normally have at Thanksgiving they don't have  here. So, we compromised. (Also, we don't have an oven, which makes cooking more difficult) No stuffing, casseroles. pumpkin pie, or cranberry sauce. That's when it's time to get creative, and go on pinterest:)
Our dinner consisted of cream-cheese oreo chocolate covered balls, sauteed green beans, scalloped potatoes, mashed potatoes, fruit & well, you see the meat is very pricey here so instead of a turkey we had…
KFC!
Yes KFC for Thanksgiving! Haha, it was delicous though! All the boys loved it.
Soooo, as we're all eating dinner at our big table, we disscovered they really did not like mashed potatoes! Also, the best part of the night was after looking at their food, they ask us…"where is the rice!?" Haha, they really eat rice with EVERY single meal here. We all ended up cracking up laughing. It was such a fun day, cooking, hanging out with them, and eating together.:) Most memorable Thanksgiving ever:)

We all went around the table and shared something we're thankful for.  Always, I've tried to be a "thankful" person. However, I was, and still am so far from realizing my blessings. This trip has slowly opened my eyes, and given me a taste of how blessed I really am. In this world, it is so easy. SO easy, so overlook our blessings. And, it is beyond easy to look straight to our problems we're facing. I know, because I find myself at times doing it! However, slowly I am praying, and allowing God, especially right now to continually change my heart. My eyes have been exposed to so much these last couple of months, and if there is one thing I want people to get from reading this..it is to be thankful. Instead of focusing on the negative, look to the positive. & always, always, know you can lend a helping hand to somebody in need. We're all brothers & sisters on this big  earth & there is such a need for more willing hearts. More hearts that are thankful, and want to help people in need.
Here is a small,very SMALL, list I composed of a few things I am thankful for, that I easily overlook.

Living in America. Having an oven. Having a kitchen. Food. Friends. Jason & Virginia. A roof over my head. My health.A bed to lay in. A pillow to sleep on. The ability to see, hear, and talk. Clothing. GOD. My dogs. The Philippines. My 20 new brothers.Not having to worry when my next meal will come. An education. Soap. technology.The ability to read and write. The opportunity to travel. Music. Movies. My trials and struggles in life.( Without them, I would NOT be where I am. I also probably would be a spoiled girl who didn't appreciate  much. More, and more I realize just how amazing it is that God turns our struggles into something beautiful.)

THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights” (James 1:17).