We are thankful for the people to whom God has led us to share His good news! So often we focus on meeting their needs, but the truth is they bless us in countless ways—through their beauty, strength, perseverance, and joy. When we recently asked our international workers to share what they love about the people among whom they serve, they were quick to respond.
Although we can’t publish all the replies due to space limitations, we think you’ll agree that the following adapted excerpts personify the generous spirit of the Thanksgiving season.
I have learned so much from my local friends, who put a huge value on hospitality and love having guests. They host with such joy and grace. They work hard; yet poverty is nearly everywhere you look. But they love to laugh—people here can be hilarious! Most of all, I have learned about perseverance, strength, and the deep wells of faith from my local believing friends, who live in a place that is spiritually oppressive. Their unbelieving friends and families can shun them; but their faith is strong, unshakeable. It’s like they can’t help but share what Jesus has done in their lives! —EB (Creative-access country)
Mongolians have a great capacity to memorize Scripture, poems—literature. Overall, the culture still has high respect for the aged and for the foreigner as well—two biblical values. Mongolian culture sometimes has more understanding of these values than our own. —Jeremy (Mongolia)
The blessing of working with the people whom God has called us to—those whom the world does not love and would rather forget—is that we get be a part of God’s love story for ALL people! God loves the people we serve; He cannot forget them. They are treasures we hold deep in our hearts. —BH (a remote, unreached people group in East Asia)
What I appreciate most about the culture here is the hospitality and prioritizing of relationships. Long visits in homes, or shorter visits over coffee—they love to spend time together! This has taught me that while ministry programs are good, investing in relationships is usually where the deep and more honest conversations happen. This has been good—and hard—for me as a more task-oriented person! —Connie (Kosovo)
God has blessed me with an amazing community here in Montevideo—I am receiving much more than I am giving. I have learned to be more laid-back, more flexible, more tranquila. I’m naturally a very independent person. Recently I’ve realized that when I ask for help—let myself be vulnerable—I receive God’s love from my Uruguayan friends in a tangible, beautiful way. —Teri (Uruguay)
The Cambodian people, particularly the believers, have an incredible ability to persevere in hardship without complaining. It is a winsome quality among so many here, who are faced with challenging life circumstances. I think of the Cambodian church leader who without complaint faithfully rode his bicycle 20 miles every Sunday to visit new believers in another village because he loved Jesus and wanted others to know Christ—even though he was an amputee with only one leg. —Dave (Cambodia)
I never cease to be grateful for the blessing of living in the Bible lands. Even though 2,000 years have passed, the people here are echoes of ancient biblical societies. The more I understand the culture of the people we serve, the deeper I understand the biblical narratives . . . Jesus has become more real to me because I feel like I know His relatives and friends. Living here has made my faith richer in so many ways. —Rachel (Middle East)
I have been living in Thailand for more than 34 years and have come to love so much about this wonderful kingdom—the greatest being her people. Thailand is home to some of the hardest working, friendly, accepting, generous, and non-aggressive people on the planet. I often remark to visitors, “Watch out—Thai people have a way of wrapping themselves around your heart and you will want to come back.” In serving these dear people, I have learned so much about slowing down and appreciating life, beauty, and friendship. I am a better person for having lived in this culture; it has become a part of who I have grown to be. —Janice (Thailand)
I often find that the people we are trying to reach with the gospel become “our people” and we become “their people”—we belong to each other through building a significant bond. This is one of the reasons I don’t look forward to the days of “getting the job done.” But I have found that when this is a hard goodbye, it means we did it right—we miss the ones we love! —Caleb (Germany)
I love the that Indonesians are willing to be what we would call “inconvenienced” to help someone out. For instance, recently my husband was out of town, and I was eating dinner with two young women I mentor. I was just going to take a Grab (like an Uber) home, but one of them wouldn’t let me. She took me home on her motorcycle, nearly 40 minutes roundtrip, after she had put in a full day at the office—all without complaint or any sign that she was doing me a favor! —Lora (Indonesia)