1. Fresh Pineapple, Bananas, and Mangos
The fruit here is AMAZING and we are blessed enough to have contacts here in Tanzania that buy it for us on a daily basis! Yum!
2. Laughter
I am so thankful that I am part of a team who genuinely loves to laugh and have fun. Even in the craziest of circumstances, laughter can truly make all the difference. From laughing about difficult living situations to randomly bursting out in song (and usually rap) at any given time, I am blessed to say that I spend most of my days laughing and cutting up with some of my favorites.
3. Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are truly the world’s greatest invention… Aside from air conditioning and Qdoba chicken nachos. Since being in Africa, we have been living in homes that do not have air conditioning. This month, we have ceiling fans in every room and they are our favorite things ever! Even if they’re just moving the hot air around, the fact that the air is moving is a gift straight from God. I don’t know what we’re going to do without these beautiful creations next month!
4. I AM FULLY FUNDED!!!!!
After 10 months of writing letters, selling t-shirts, and begging on the streets, (just kidding, kinda) I am so happy to say that I am fully funded for the World Race! Our deadline for being fully funded is not until the end of December, but it is SUCH a relief to not have to worry about fundraising and focus my energies on being here and doing ministry. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I would not be here without the love, prayers, and support that I have received from each and every one of you!
5. Instant Coffee
It definitely isn’t as appetizing as real coffee, but it’s sure better than having no caffeine at all! My friends and family in America know that I am a bit coffee-obsessed, and instant coffee definitely gets the job done! It’s cheap, easy, and a great way to start your African day!
6. Contacts Who Want to Take Care of Us
HALLELUJAH! Most World Racers have at least one story to tell of a ministry contact who was… less than welcoming. We are no exception to that rule, but it is unfortunately those situations that make you more grateful for the contacts who are welcoming and hospitable. Our contacts this month are amazing. Pastor Albinus and his family have taken us in as their own. They buy us fresh fruits, make homemade bread for our breakfasts, and enjoy being around us and getting to know us personally. It is so refreshing, and makes our month here in Tanzania much more enjoyable.
7. Mosquito Nets
With two teammates who have already been diagnosed with malaria, it is important to take every precaution possible to prevent further illness. Mosquito nets are not the most fun to mess with every single night, but they keep us safe from those pesky little disease-carrying insects while we sleep.
8. Water Bottle Showers
Although they are not our preferred method for showering, God has definitely gifted us with a new perspective on these lovely little things. After having spent 4 days only being able to rinse off in a foot-deep creek in a village here, we all developed a new appreciation for our bottle showers! They are cold, make us feel clean, and don’t leave us with a bunch of sand in unfortunate places! Bwena Sifiwe!
9. I Have a Washer and Dryer at Home
Washing clothes in a bucket by hand is definitely better than not being able to wash them at all, but I am definitely more grateful than ever for the ability to throw a pile of clothes in the washer, then into the dryer, and have them come out fluffy and soft. But who doesn’t love that nice starchy feeling of your clothes from drying on a clothesline?
10. My Parents
I am so thankful to have parents who believe in what I am doing and are proud enough of me to make a PowerPoint presentation of my first 4 months on the Race to present to their Sunday School Class. They are amazing.
11. Squatty Potty Inside Our Home
Even though it is terribly smelly, I am so thankful to have a squatty inside our home. It is typically bug-free and easy to get to in the middle of the night. After getting to enjoy the company of several large cockroaches during my squatty time in the village, I have come to the realization that a stinky squatty inside is much better than not having a toilet inside at all!
12. Running Water
Even if we only have it every few days, it is nice to have running water in our home. On the days we have water, we rush to fill every bottle, tub, and bucket we have so that we can wash our bodies and our clothes. A day with running water is a little bit more lovely than a day without. And the days without water just help us to appreciate the days that we do actually have it!
13. Almost NO Ugali This Month!
After the excessive amount of ugali ingested last month, it is a blessing to have a break from this African delicacy. M stomach and I have never been more thankful for rice, chapati, the occasional pasta! Praise Jesus!
14. Shorts Inside the House!
This month we are required to wear long skirts any time we leave our home. This includes church, ministry, meal times, and even walking next door to buy a drink. The African sun is definitely not kidding around, especially at this time of year, and the skirts typically hold in a lot of heat. However, by the grace of God, we are permitted to wear shorts inside the gate of our home! And you should see the way we classy ladies strip as soon as we hit that gate!
15. Chocolate
I have a fabulous team leader (Liz) and finance person (Cassie) who know the way to my heart. These girls buy chocolate for me any time they go into town! And not just any chocolate… Cadbury Mint Crisp chocolate! My favorite! They’re the best. And so is chocolate. And so is Jesus.
16. Cassie
Speaking of my finance lady, I am SO thankful to have Miss Cassie Baxter on my team. I already told you about how amazing everyone on my team is (if you don’t remember, see #2), but Cassie has become my other half. The call us Lassie, (our names mashed together) and we’re pretty much the same person. She knows basically every song on the planet and always joins in when I decide to randomly burst out in song. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have this girl to act a fool with.
17. Sleeping Pad
Yes, it’s very similar to sleeping on a pool raft, but my sleeping pad has been such a blessing this month. Without it, I would have been sleeping directly on the hard cement floors at our home and on the African dirt in the village. Plus, if I close my eyes and pretend really hard, I can almost convince myself that I’m floating on the water at Nolin Lake. Winning?
18. Beans and Rice for Almost Every Meal
While it can get rather repetitive, it is edible, relatively enjoyable, and nutritious. We get a healthy dose of protein from it, and it helps fill our bellies. Let’s be honest, I would take beans and rice over ugali and cabbage any day.
19. Cold Drinks Next Door
We have a small stand located about 20 steps from the entrance of our gate to our home. It is so nice to be able to walk over on a particularly hot day and buy a cold water or soda. I honestly think that that is what I miss most about America… ice cold beverages. When you get accustomed to drinking lukewarm (or hot) water every day, it’s nice to have the ability to treat yourself to a cold one every once in a while… Water, that is. Show some appreciation to your sweet iced tea, my friends… And really, just ice in general.
20. Only Sharing a Room With 2 Other Women
In Ireland, Ukraine, and Moldova, I shared a bedroom with all 6 of my other lovely teammates. Last month, I shared a small room with my 3 other female teammates… plus 2 female squad leaders for a week… plus a lot of “visitors” who tended to come and go as they pleased. I am SO thankful that this month, I am only sharing a room with 2 other ladies! Although the room is very small, it is nice to not have so many bodies around all the time, and feel as if I have a bit more privacy. Privacy on the World Race is few and far between, so I’ll definitely take what I can get and be thankful for it.
21. Mikala and Mary
I am so thankful that this month, my team was paired up with another team. That other team includes Mikala and Mary from my original team, Tikkun Olam! It has been so good to be reunited with them. I love being able to laugh with them about our old jokes, and talk about memories from our first 3 months. I have also loved seeing how much they have grown since being on their new team. I am so proud of these ladies, and will miss having them around next month while they get to be paired with a team that includes 2 other ladies from our original team. Jealous!
22. I Don’t Have to Earn the Love of Jesus
This month, we have spent a lot of time ministering to people of other faiths. It is one thing to teach people about Jesus when they have no faith. It is another altogether when they have a faith that is different from my own. While I respect other faiths, my eyes have been opened to just how blessed I am to be a Christian. Jesus paid the price on the cross so that we wouldn’t have to spend our lives working to be good enough. We do good because He loves us, not to make Him love us. I’m so, so thankful for that.
There you have it, folks! If I can make a list from here, you can definitely come up with a list in the good ol’ U.S. of A! If nothing else this Thanksgiving, be thankful for ice, washing and drying machines, hot showers, privacy, freedom, and Starbucks. You are blessed more than you know! Happy Thanksgiving, my darlings!
