Gratitude.

What does that word mean to you?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

When is the last time you have rejoiced? Have celebrated?

When is the last time you have told someone thank you?

Counting your blessings it can be easy when it’s a given time to celebrate like a birthday or thanksgiving but what when it’s not? What about when it’s hard week? A hard day at work? A rough time in a relationship.

So we just started our ministry in Ecuador

We are partnered with a volunteer organization called Dumanis

They help girls walk through healing from past hurt and trama. But instead of being upset about their past they are thanking God for where they are.

Since being here we have lost power twice.

But we went out and sat in awe of the stars.

We got to learn jujitsu and how thankful I was that I have never been assaulted or attacked and how thankful I am that I now know how to defend myself.

I have had to take a cold shower but then we got to be thankful to have hot water when it came back. And thankful to still have a shower at all.

We are so far away from city there is no yard waste bin so we had to wheel a wheel barrel of dirt and stone 15 mins down hill to a hole in the ground and then back up in altitude. So we were thankful for no rain to make the path slippery and for clouds when we started to get sunburnt. And it made me think how thankful I am for a yard waste bin that gets picked up weekly.

We eat fruit and veggies but they always have to be washed and peeled. How thankful I am to have vinager to clean and also to have filtered water to wash it.

I’m thankful to have a group of girls and boys surrounded me in this ministry supporting me and pushing me to Christ who provides everything I need and never complains about it.

So what does gratitude mean to you? And what are you thankful for?

please pray about financially helping me and the foundation here in Ecuador (https://adventuresinmissions.servicereef.com/events/adventures-in-missions-3/august-2025-world-race-3-months-south-america-25r09bre-leaders/participants/elizabeth-rykerx