For He is Good…

Being thankful. If facebook asked me what was on my mind today, that is what I would say. Giving thanks. The Bible tells us to give thanks to the Lord (Ps. 118:1), to magnify Him with thanksgiving (Ps. 69:30) and also to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:18). I’ve been trying quite hard to have a spirit of thanksgiving, especially in this season in which the Lord has called me to be out of my comfort zone, away from anything familiar, and relying on Him for everything. I’ll share the mental list I began making the other day…

I’m thankful for staying in this hotel in Ambo. There’s a showerhead you can stand under instead of like the guest house where it was a hand held device. It’s also nice to share the bathroom with just one other person, instead of 7. I’m thankful for that.

I’m thankful for Immodium AD, and the wisdom God gave man to make such a pill. I’m also thankful for Costco and their provision of a 400 ct. pack of Immodium. At first I thought buying that was a bit ridiculous, and when I brought only 200 of those pills with me on my trip, I still thought it. Now…I am thankful I brought 200, as I have used it every day and have dealt it out to team members as well.

I’m thankful for toilets that flush, and that I haven’t had any incidents where I would need to use the hole in the ground (aka toilet) at the school at Ambo. This area of thankfulness coincides with the one above.

I’m thankful for a heart that is broken over what I have seen. I would be concerned if I wasn’t moved, touched, or changed by my time here.

I’m thankful for our translators. They not only tell the children/street boys what I am saying, but I also get an idea of what the heck the kids are trying to tell me. I’m thankful for their availability and how quickly they come the moment we flag one of them down or yelp out their name. I’m also thankful that they have become my good friends.

I’m thankful that I remembered to turn the hot water heater on today. When I forgot to turn it on the other night and didn’t get to shower, I’m thankful I learned my lesson and things were different today.

I’m thankful for the team I have been ministering with the last month. While it’s true that there have been times they have gotten on my nerves or annoyed the stink out of me (which I believe is normal when you spend 24/7 with people for a whole month), overall it has been a joy to be on a team where we have one purpose and the same heart for being here. And we’ve laughed a lot. Always thankful for laughter.

I’m thankful that absence absolutely makes the heart grow fonder, and the love for my family has grown even deeper since I’ve been away from them. After seeing so many people who have no family, not even someone to love them, care for them, or a home to ‘go home’ to…I am so very thankful that I have all of the above.

I’m thankful for wet wipes, hand sanitizer and soap. Enough said.

I’m thankful that my dream of coming to Africa has come true.