Thanksgiving is a time for reflection, gratitude and connection. It’s easy to take for granted the abundance we often have in our lives, but when we step outside of our comfort zones, we quickly realize that many people have to fight for even the most basic needs. This year our Thanksgiving outreach focused not on giving away food, but on connecting and learning from those who have experienced hardship in ways many of us can’t imagine.
As part of our outreach to the homeless, we spent time not just distributing meals, but engaging in meaningful conversations. We asked one simple but profound question: “What are you thankful for?” What we learned in return was humbling and deeply inspiring.
Stories of Gratitude and Resilience:
One of the most powerful conversations we had was a man named Carlos. His journey, marked by hardship, faith and perseverance, left us in awe. Carlos, originally from Honduras, shared how he had faced unimaginable challenges. He had to leave his home country due to violence and poverty and found himself living n Haiti for some time. Despite the difficulties, he was thankful that God had kept him safe during those turbulent years.
Carlos’s story took an even more remarkable turn when he spoke about his journey to the United States. After enduring dangerous circumstances, he managed to cross over safely, carrying with him a sense of hope and gratitude for the opportunity to start anew. “I’m thankful for God’s protection and grace,” Carlos said, his eyes filling with a quiet but deep appreciation. “Even in the hardest moments, I felt His presence guiding me when I didn’t know where to go next. It’s been a hard road, but I know He’s been with me every step of the way.”
Finding God in the Struggle:
Carlos isn’t alone in seeing God’s hand in his struggles. Many of the people we spoke to shared how their faith had kept them going through times of extreme hardship. One man, despite the challenges he faces on the streets every day, expressed his thankfulness for the blankets that were passed out and the love and peace he felt from God, even when everything else seemed uncertain. “I was thinking it’s going to be cold this week and I don’t have a blanket,” he told us. “God provides in unexpected ways.”
A Reminder of What Truly Matters:
In the middle of our busy lives, it’s easy to forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving. As we listened to these stories, it became clear that true gratitude isn’t about what you have, but about what you recognize and appreciate, even in the midst of pain and uncertainty. The people we spoke to, despite their struggles, held on to a deep sense of thankfulness for the things that matter most: faith, safety, survival and community.
As we continue our outreach efforts throughout the year, we are reminded that our role isn’t just to give — it’s also to listen. By hearing these stories, we gain a deeper understanding of the resilience of the human spirit, the power of faith, and the importance of compassion. Our time together, even if brief, served as a reminder of the profound impact a simple conversation can have.
Moving Forward with Gratitude:
This Thanksgiving, we leave with full hearts, deeply grateful not only for the opportunity to serve, but also for the opportunity to learn. We are thankful for the lives we touched and for the lessons shared. In a season when we celebrate abundance, we are reminded that true abundance lies not in what we have, but in the relationships we build, the faith we share and the gratitude we cultivate.
We are thankful for the chance to serve, thankful for the lives we encountered and above all, thankful for the reminder that God is working in all of our lives, no matter where we are on our journey.
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 2 Corinthians 2:14
Luke 1:45



No comment