We had a great week and weekend celebrating Thanksgiving with various friends here in Ireland. We are so blessed in so many ways. I want to share seven things we’re thankful about this year.
Our Zoe offices…We’re so blessed to have three office spaces! These are places for us to meet with women in crisis who need a listening ear. (It’s also where we are able to work and where I write most of these updates.)
Our volunteers….With over 20 volunteers now committed to Zoe Community and helping women in crisis, we couldn’t be more blessed by the outstanding men and women willing to give of themselves to help. (We took 8 more volunteers in last week!)
Our church…Open Arms Church has been unbelievably supportive and loving to us. Through several transitions as a family, getting through covid lockdowns, and being behind Zoe Community, Open Arms has been family to us, and we’re so grateful for the leadership and friends we have here.
Our kids’ school…Ravenswell has been amazing for our children. Their heart to really teach and develop the kids of their community really shows in how they treat the kids and parents. We couldn’t be happier with the experience both our boys have had so far.
Our family…We have many missionary friends around the world. We’ve heard so many stories of the struggles they go through in leaving family behind to fulfill the call of God on their lives. So many times that struggle can be caused by family members, acting out of pain and fear, making our friends feel guilty for going. We are blessed beyond belief that our family has been nothing but supportive. Even in the toughest times…loss of family members, emotional and mental struggles, pandemics…we’ve had nothing but love and support from those who’s opinions matter most to us.
I (Blake) am writing this, so I get to add a sixth thing I’m thankful for. My family here. Katy and our beautiful boys make all of this doable and exciting. Together we’re on an adventure. Many ups and many many downs. But together, we make it through and have a really good time (mostly, haha).
We want you to know that YOU are our number 7 on this list (no particular order). Without YOU we could be here and do what we do. You and us, we’re a team. We’re working together to do something bigger than anyone of us could do on our own.
So thank you for making all this possible. We are believing and working towards big things. Bigger than any of us can imagine. We love and appreciate you all.
Happy Thanksgiving.