As I lay here in the guest bed at my parents house for Thanksgiving listening to the sounds of everyone preparing for our big meal today (except me at the moment!) I want to express my genuine thanks for many things. It’s really truly amazing, the things that we’ve seen, the places that we’ve gone and the stories that we’ve heard this past year.

Two and a half years ago I’d never left the comforts of home and to look back and realize how much my perspective has changed since my first trip to Mexico really blows my mind.

While we sit at our homes today with our families and friends, while we eat our meals and enjoy some football or the parade on t.v., while we drive or fly home again this weekend to go back to our jobs to continue making our money…

Be thankful.

More than 1 billion people — nearly a sixth of the world’s population — are faced with chronic hunger.

According to the World Bank, 1.2 billion people lack access to a reliable water source that is reasonably protected from contamination.

Those numbers have become more and more real to me as I’ve seen them first hand. As we’ve tried to share the stories of the forgotten and the neglected, of the widows and the orphans and of the persecuted, we hope that you have been able to take something from them. We hope that they’ve changed your worldview, even a little, that they’ve altered your thought process.

And in doing that…we truly hope that they’ve made you thankful.

On a quick personal note: You have supported us, encouraged us and followed us as we’ve journeyed around the world to share the stories that we’ve shared this past year. I am thankful for you. Thankful for your time, your commitment and your willingness that’s continued to make it possible for us to reach out to others and make a difference.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

-S

downtown Cairo…a trip and a place that I’m incredibly thankful for