Living Water Christian Mission

Remember to Give Thanks

Dearest friends,

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the name of Jesus!

I am sure that everyone has had their turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy surrounded by a hoard of other tasty things. And, as if that was not enough, most of us have concluded the meal with some pie. I have to say that I had several pieces. Just don’t try to figure out how many.

During the meal, if every family was like mine, there were jokes and memories that were shared. But I am almost sure that there were people who did not have as good a time as I had. One of my friends had a family member pass away yesterday. Others may be sick with some serious disease. Still others may have a broken heart for one reason or another. Yet we all need to give thanks, particularly today. We all need to do what the Apostle Paul asked the Thessalonians to do. “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for YOU,” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). So no matter what our circumstances are, no matter what our feelings are, we need to give thanks to God.

I am giving thanks for many reasons today. I give thanks for the fact that my best friend Daniel Petit-Frere is now teaching at the Séminaire Biblique Chrétien de la Caraïbe (Christian Biblical Seminary of the Caribbean) It is one of the schools of Living Water. I also give thanks because my brother Lucma is teaching at the same institution and those guys are training devoted and godly leaders to strengthen existing churches, to plant new churches and to spread the Word around the world. Seeing dedicated people training other dedicated people for the Lord’s service is a reason for me to give thanks today.

I am giving thanks because I have my own family and I am a welcome member in several families. They all love me and care for me. I give thanks today for all my friends, including my Facebook friends. I give thanks for my supporters — all the supporters of Living Water, wherever they are. God knows who they are and what they do for me, for Living Water and for my country Haiti. Those supporters are churches, organizations, para church organizations and individuals. I give thanks for my collaborators at Living Water. Such women and men work daily to make Living Water what it is today. They are everywhere in the USA, in Gonaives, in Marmelade and many other places. 

I also give thanks to God for the progress and the impact of Living Water. In 11 years God has done a lot for us. He has blessed us with three churches that we planted, with other churches we partner with. He has blessed us with two schools which are providing a quality education, in spite of our challenges. He has given us a health clinic, a feeding program, a Bible College, a vocational school and other ministries to serve His people in need. These are all great reasons to give thanks to God.

I have way many more reasons to give thanks today. But not wanting to be too long, I will keep the rest in my heart.

Remember the “giving thanks” does not finish with the last hugs and good byes of the day, of this weekend or early next week. The “give thanks” is “always.” So let us make it a habit to give thanks to God every day of our lives no matter what our circumstances may be.

May God bless you all and Happy Thanksgiving.

In Christ,

Salonique Adolphe and team