Give Thanks Always

Not only is this my first Thanksgiving apart from all of my family, but it's also the first Thanksgiving I've spent in a foreign country, in a country that can hardly relate (in a positive way) to this holiday. I don't think I've ever felt so much appreciation for Thanksgiving as I do now. Right now families all across the US are waking up, turning on the Macy's Day Parade or the football game, and being tortured with the aroma of turkey, boiling potatoes, stuffing, and pie. Americans are being surrounded with loved ones who have traveled from places near and far, all for the purpose of giving thanks, for being thankful for all the blessings God has poured over them.

Meanwhile, back in England, it's a normal day of routine. Wake up, breakfast, quiet time, lecture, lunch, work duties, dinner, outreach meeting, free time, bed. And as I'm sitting in my bed trying to stay warm, I can't help but be thankful for my American citizenship, for having one day every year where routine is broken and loved ones gather just to give thanks to God, for His goodness, provision, love, and everything else in between. I've taken advantage of Thanksgiving as an American in America, but now I'm an American in England, and there's a whole new significance to this day. And I hope I won't take it for granted any more.

I am thankful for Thanksgiving. I'm thankful to be American. I'm thankful for my family and my friends. I'm thankful for my dogs. I'm thankful for the body of Christ, who support me and love me. I'm thankful for being in England. I'm thankful for my DTS leaders, staff, and peers. I'm thankful for new relationships. I'm thankful for long-lasting relationships. I'm thankful for the love, hope, joy, peace that my God gives. I'm thankful for God's glorious provision. I'm thankful that God is a God of love and relationship. I'm thankful for sunshine, the ocean, hot sand, forests, clouds, rain, and a few minutes of SNOW today! I'm thankful for a roof over my head. I'm thankful, so very thankful. And even though I'm not home with my family and we're not celebrating Thanksgiving here, it doesn't mean that I'm not celebrating it here in my heart (and also a bit outwardly)! My prayer is that if you are able to celebrate this wonderful American holiday of thanks, that you give thanks! And celebrate it to the fullest!

Although we aren't necessarily celebrating Thanksgiving today, we did have a Thanksgiving-themed Love Feast this past Sunday. We attempted to make it as American as possible. It didn't nearly compare to a true American Thanksgiving, but it was as good as we could get in England, and Thanksgiving in England in itself is something to be thankful for! We had a game of real American football (not soccer!), a delicious feast, a slide show of what everyone on base is thankful for, a "No Talent Talent Show," and a viewing of "It's a Wonderful Life." Not bad, right?! Here are some pictures of the day. Enjoy!

"Be Constant in Prayer"

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
-Proverbs 12:25

I think the appropriate theme for this week would be titled FAITH.

Fall leaves and frost on the grass.

Early in my DTS I found out that our school would have the opportunity to go to Ireland for the tenth week of our lecture phase (I just finished my seventh). There, we would be doing some service work at a new YWAM base while having our lecture on church history (an appropriate location for this topic). The staff prayed about it and felt that that was where God wanted us to be for that week. So we forked up 100 pounds and bought our tickets, and it was all fine and dandy!

This week, however, the India outreach team (that is, my team) sent our passports along with our Visa applications for India. It didn't take long for us to realize a problem for the five American students and two American school leaders who would make a pastoral visit to India for a week. The Visa process for the Americans takes 15 working days. Unfortunately, we only have room for 11 working days before we go to Ireland. If we don't get our passports back before then, there's no way we could fly to there, and only a slim chance of crossing the border without a passport via ferry.

These are just the facts of the matter. But the TRUTH is that God is bigger than any Visa process and that He is FAITHFUL. We believe that God has told us to be in Ireland for this week and we believe He will take us there. We, as a DTS, have already seen God do miracles with Americans and their Visas in the process of bringing them here. This is no different. I believe this is just another opportunity to glorify God.

When we were first told of this situation, as well as after a time of seeking God and praying, I felt no worry, no sense of despair, not the slightest flicker of doubt. The other Americans affected by this felt the same way. We all have a sense of peace and joy. When we talk about Ireland, we don't say "if we go," but "when we go."

My roommates during our slumber party.

I want you to know that we are also open to other opportunities that God has yet to reveal to us instead of Ireland, but we are also confident in what the Lord has told us. I believe that we should be constant in prayer, coming to the Lord in almost an annoying way. The India team is meeting daily for a time of prayer. And individually, we are constantly lifting up prayers to our God--the God who hears and loves to answer our prayers.

If you are willing, I would greatly appreciate you joining in with our prayers. We are leaving for Ireland on 25 November, and would thus need our passports by the week before.

I also have another request of you:
I still owe about 700 pounds for my outreach phase. And with the pound increasing in its value, it takes more and more American dollars to reach this amount as time goes on. I am fully confident that God will provide the remaining funds for me, but I am asking that you join me in prayer for the remaining funds to come in, and to come in quickly. Also, if you would like to support me again or for the first time, you could contact myself at tiffanymats@gmail.com, Tom or Bev Matsumura, or Camarillo Community Church.

I want you to know that I am so thankful to have so much support, both prayerful and financial, back at home. If you only get one thing out of this blog, I ask that it is to join with me in prayer for the American passports (including mine) and my finances. Thank you so much and may God bless you.

Here are some photos from last weekend in London:

In front of Buckingham Palace

I became a pro at using and navigating the Underground system.

Outside Hillsong London before church (they rent out a theatre).