Happy Thanksgiving
Every year, in the fourth week of November, I revisit this topic. I learned this exercise when I first moved to the United States and was living in Arkansas. For the very first time, I celebrated Thanksgiving and discovered the practice of listing reasons for gratitude. It was completely new to me at the time, but it resonated deeply. In many ways, it felt like a perfect match for my personality.
I’m the kind of person who makes lists. I jot down everything that happens in my life, keeping mini-records of events. Back in the day, those lists lived in paper planners; now they’re stored in computer files. But no list stirs my heart like the one my wife and I make each year on Thanksgiving Day. I can confidently say it’s my favorite list of the year.
It’s more than just a habit—it’s a spiritual exercise. Take the massive book of Psalms in the Old Testament, flip through its seemingly endless pages, and when you come to Psalm 100 and head toward the final stretch, slow down. Because right there, in Psalm 103:2, you’ll find this treasure:
“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
It’s a command not to forget the blessings we’ve received from God. See? I’m not completely out of my mind here. One way I avoid forgetting is by putting it on paper—or, these days, in a Word document—and making those lists.
But if you’re still not convinced, keep reading. Toward the end of Psalm 107, you’ll find another gem:
“Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.”
Heed and ponder—two actions that call us to remember, to take inventory, and to reflect on the evidence of God’s presence and work in our lives. “These things” refer to the ways God acts and rescues people in all kinds of life situations, as described earlier in the chapter. And “the loving deeds of the Lord” point to the grand story of salvation through Jesus Christ: how God created, redeemed, and is restoring us and the entire cosmos.
There’s even a promise hidden here. Those who do this become wise—not with a wisdom that’s just about accumulating knowledge, but one that shapes character, deepens discernment, and fills life with meaning. It’s as if training our sensitivity to recognize God’s mercy and grace adds an extra dose of genuine joy to our lives. As if cultivating gratitude by recalling God’s grand story and our personal journey with Him is a tool the Spirit uses to produce peace, joy, and generosity within us.
It’s been working for me. It might work for you too.
Count your blessings. Don’t forget a single one.
Pay attention. Ponder the great love of God.
And don’t be surprised if this simple act starts to transform you. Don’t be surprised if gratitude begins to spring up in the most unexpected corners of your heart. Don’t be surprised if, out of nowhere, you find yourself glancing up at the sky and whispering, “Thank you, Father... That was You, wasn’t it?”
Now… As we wrap up, let me take a moment to thank you—truly thank you—for your friendship, your prayers, and your financial contributions. Your support enables the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego to continue its mission of serving, equipping, and spreading the good news of Christ in San Diego, Tijuana, and beyond.
As we approach the end of the year and look ahead to the next, I humbly ask you to consider including the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego in your giving plans for 2025. Whether through a year-end contribution or by designating us in your budget for the coming year, your generosity will help sustain and grow this ministry. Contributions can be made via our website at https://www.sdlutherans.org/donate. If you prefer to give by check, please make it payable to “Lutheran Mission Society San Diego” and send it to:
Lutheran Mission Society San Diego
8180 Tisha St
San Diego, CA 92126
Your partnership means the world to us. Thank you for walking alongside us in this mission.
P.S.: Take a moment to read bellow our 2024 list of thanksgiving. It’s a small way of sharing the many blessings we’ve experienced this year, made possible by friends like you.
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12 Reasons to Give Thanks for God’s Work Through the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego in 2024
1. New Missionaries
We welcomed new missionaries, including Gustavo Valderrama, Elvis Willians, Jake Jackson, and Dawa Jarso, strengthening our team to more than 30 leaders. These additions increased our missionary count and brought fresh energy to the mission field.
2. Partnering Churches
Churches like Community, Grace, First, Good Shepherd, University, Immanuel, Faith, and St. James have embraced our mission by partnering with us to identify missionaries and strengthen ministries—joining many others who supported us last year. We are steadily approaching our goal of connecting with 100% of LCMS congregations in San Diego County and Tijuana.
3. New Ministries Initiatives
God opened doors for new ministries, such as ESL classes, a Men’s Ministry, and a Spanish-speaking women’s Bible study reaching both San Diego and Tijuana.
4. Support for Existing Ministries
Through relationships with missionaries already serving in San Diego and Tijuana, such as Diego Zamorano, Elisabeth Martinez, Tere Montoya, and Kevin Zhang, we nurtured and strengthened existing ministries.
5. Missionary Gatherings
Monthly missionary gatherings have fostered community and encouragement. What began in 2023 has grown to nine gatherings in 2024, now hosted not only in homes but also by churches like St. Paul’s, Community San Marcos, and Grace San Diego.
6. Missionary Training
Missionaries like Gustavo Valderrama (enrolled at the Center for Hispanic Studies at Concordia Seminary) and Alex Parker (Cross-Cultural Mission Center at Concordia Irvine) have begun training to become church workers, equipping them for even greater ministry impact.
7. Equipping and Fellowship
Missionaries participated in events such as Best Practices, the All Workers Conference, the Lay Leaders Workshop, and Exponential West, equipping them for ministry and fostering fellowship.
8. New Ministry Opportunities
Exciting initiatives such as the motorcycle ministry and Taiwanese ministry reflect God’s creativity in opening new doors for outreach.
9. Unity Across Borders
Missionaries and leaders on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border are collaborating, sharing resources, and working together in a shared mission for Christ.
10. Generosity of Supporters
We give thanks for the generosity of our supporters, including individual donors and churches like Hope, Christ, Grace, and St. Paul’s, who included us in their budgets or blessed us with special offerings.
11. Organizational Growth
Our organization took major steps forward by completing strategic planning, building healthy systems, and laying the groundwork for the continuation and multiplication of our ministries.
12. Faithfulness of Board Members
Our dedicated board members completed two years of volunteer service, providing invaluable leadership and guidance to the mission.
We praise God for these abundant blessings and look forward to witnessing His continued work in the coming year!
