I am thankful

My sweet and encouraging friend Melanie inspired me with this reminder to give thanks. I realized how little I have expressed thankfulness on this page, and that absolutely must be remedied!

I am thankful for the opportunity to be in Haiti right now, on the mission field, where I've always longed to be.

I praise God for giving me a school to teach--something that is exactly what I like to do--along with such a fantastic dose of challenge with it that I'll never, ever get bored.

I am so glad I have Jesus! He is my wisdom, my righteousness, my friend, and my love!

I appreciate with all my heart that he has given me the precious students that I work with.

I am thankful for the good health and robust immune system that I've always enjoyed. If I didn't have that, I would be laid flat by now by the viruses and other bugs that have come against me.

I really, really like the fact that I was raised with adventurous taste buds. No food, no matter how strange, is unpalatable to me. So while some of my fellow missionaries have been losing weight and have been starving hungry almost constantly, I am fat and flourishing. I really like beans and rice with fish broth. I genuinely look forward to eating it, and take pleasure in the taste of the forkfuls that go into my mouth. Not everyone does. Thank you God, and Mom, for the fact that I'm not a picky eater.

Thank you, God, for guiding me into a place where I have something useful and concrete to do, where I'm not spinning my wheels in frustration or being smothered by boredom, where I have lots of stimulation and interest, and where there is lots and lots and lots of potential to expand into areas of useful service.

Thank you so much, Lord, for installing me as a member in an organization of this high caliber, with coworkers of this high caliber, and for blessing me so abundantly with bright godliness all around to encourage and build me up.

God, I'm so grateful to you for the fact that you have allowed me to live here in Club Indigo, where I am sheltered in security, peace, and comfort, which not every Haitian (or Haitian missionary) enjoys.

Thank you, Lord, for connecting me with the best-of-the-best of Haitian people--the sweet cleaning lady who loves Jesus, Pastor Emmanus, and so many more who have shown me that the power of the Gospel has already been at work here, changing lives and bringing the light of Christ into this place.

Thank you, Father--it's incredible to serve you and to be a part of your kingdom here. I love it.