Gratitude
I don’t feel like my life is so different from others. We all sleep under the same stars and rise to the same sun, we eat and drink from the same earth. Our days may look a little different but there’s so much beauty in this, so different yet so much of the same. For some of us beauty and gratitude seem a little easier to find and for others we might have to search a little more. I have had quite a few people say to me over the past months "Wow you're really roughing it! I couldn't do that!" I've got to tell you that I am not "roughing" it. Many things in my daily life look different from "typical" life in America such as not having hot water, sporadic electricity and limited food options. I must say though that for everything that is different or challenging that it only increases my gratitude. This is not something that I have to make myself do but instead it catches me excitedly by surprise. The first time I boiled water on the stove to take a warm bucket bath was phenomenal! I wasn’t sad I didn’t have the bathtub of water to submerge in but was instead ecstatic at the simple comfort of warm water and thankful for having water at all. Eating a fancy meal prepared by a cook and brought to me is so much fun that you may think it was my first time in such a situation. Again, my gratefulness for the beautiful meal increases my gratefulness for the food I have available at my apartment on a daily basis. You see, a very wonderful thing is happening, the more simple life gets the more grateful I feel myself becoming and then in the "luxurious" moments more gratitude starts pouring in. I’m beginning to understand this in a deeper way:
I’m glad
in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing
such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about
me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of
needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever
my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with
little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands
full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through
anything in the One who makes me who I am.
I am not grateful because God has given me a pool to look at
today or because he has given me simplicity in daily life. I am just grateful, grateful for the
opportunity to love and be loved.
Grateful to know God is near and to know He loves me.
My heart is bursting with gratitude.
Walkin
Glenda, Nadieuda, Madam, Gano, Christina and Me at Christina's gorgeous house
Christina, Nadieuda, Glenda and Madam
Gano
So so special that we got to celebrate Nadieudas 10th birthday! I have been sponsoring her since May of 2011. We had such a fun party. This may or may not have been her first birhtday party. It was wonderful!
Birthday girl
Davney
Most of the Birthday group
We love to have fun
Christina and Nadiueda
We taught them "Zwazo rouj"(red rover). They LOVED it!
Shed-ny-love helped little sister Davney
Kayla had no mercy on the little ones
I love the smiles and laughter. And this all gets to take place in my front yard!
They taught us a game too which was hilarious!
Nadieuda wanted to watch a movie so all the kids piled into my place for X-Men VI
Got to take a scenic drive home sitting in the back of a pick up in plastic chairs. Awesome.
Sweet boys at the bakery
Great minds think alike
Sugar cookie making
Handsome little kindergardeners
Happy 2nd Birthday to Princess Katy
Selfies
They are simply amazing
Im trying
We both were :)
We had an afternoon adventure exploring
Kayla, Cassie and I hiked Mount Pignon with a two other missionaries one morning
I did that! I love playing with their hair. And theyre so gracious to me.
Nadieuda's little sister With-ny-love
Ovenson and Walkin show off their bread oven, they actually cook in here :) smart boys!
Sleepy babies Woodley and With-ny-love
Selfie on our visit to Gaspa
Roro's family lives in Gaspa. They took us out to see the amazing gardens. We got to eat fruit right from the tree and take ginger home that we dug up from the ground.
In school we've been learning colors
Gano and his friend
Little girl at the bakery
Wonderful dinner with Cassie and Caleb in Port-au-Prince. I went all out when it came to food...naturally :) It was pretty fabulous!
One of my best friends Cassie came to visit for two weeks. She was amazing! Everyday that we were home she would go out and play soccer with the kids after school. She didnt know a word of Creole but would still hang out with the kids on her own and they LOVED her!! She was such a joy to have. She fit right in and it just felt as if she'd been here the whole time. She is missed.
Teaching in Kindergarden. Look at those faces!!
Fishy face with Christina and Madam
Cassie and Me at market
Catsi, one of the vendors I buy vegetables from every Saturday at market
Typical: Cassie in a sea of children and laughter all around
Sunday walk to the river
Brazilians, Americans and Haitians playing phase 10. Lots of languages rolling around the table!
We got to serve at a malnutrition clinic with the ministry "Hope for Haiti". It was so neat to see what they do. This man has two sons at the ministry's orphanage. His sons are blind. He is receiving food since he is too old and frail to work now.
This is Mario. His father brought him to the clinic two weeks ago. He had to ride an hour on a motorcycle to come to clinic. The baby is premature and the mother could not feed him because she was sick. At the clinic he received formula and was given the option to stay for a while due to his frail condition. He politely declined due to his need to return home to his sick wife. Those at the clinic were sure little Mario would not make it. Two weeks later, while we were serving, dad walks in with Mario who look stronger and healthier! We supplied him with more formula and he'll be back in a few weeks. Sadly the mother died last week and the doctors still arent sure what specifically was wrong.
His weigh-in: 2lbs 12 oz
I got to feed this tiny angel
Happy little girl at clinic weighing-in and receiving food for two weeks
The ONLY people wearing rain gear in the rain! haha
Cassie and Aga
Port-au-Prince