The other night my team played a little game.
First, we vented.
We had two minutes to get whatever we wanted off our chest.
We were given permission to complain about anything we wanted.
So we let it out for two minutes so that we would not need to complain about it again.
And yet in the midst of it, we found things were thankful for.
And so after our two minutes were up, and each of us had taken our turn,
We played the thankful game.
And I am amazed at the way we can turn any complaint into something to be thankful for.
So here goes the list…
It is so hot and I am so sick of sweating to death…
but the heat has made me so thankful for the little things like a freezer for our water, fans while we sleep and iced coffee everywhere we go.
The children are always jumping on me and grabbing me when it is already so hot…
and yet I feel so much joy and energy when I am around them and am reminded of the Lord’s love for me.
I hate that I do not have a car to go wherever I need whenever I want…
but I get to see so much more and meet new people and I get in some exercise too.
I really hate that I have had to carry this silly tent around all year and have only used it once…
but I am so thankful for that one month I did have it and I suppose that made carrying it around worth it. haha
It is frustrating that I cannot seem to make a decision without asking what the rest of the team is doing…
but I am so thankful for a community that is here to offer encouragement when I am down or is there to call me out of my crap.
I am sick of my clothes that have been worn since July…
but I am so thankful for the cheap markets around here to get new things if I want. And all my stuff fits in one bag, making travel days so much easier!
I am so tired of having to put my hair up all the time because of the heat and how gross my hair has gotten over the past 10 months…
and yet this has made me so much more thankful for my hair dryer and straightener; it has made the wait for it well worth it!
It is so hard to communicate with others who don’t speak the same language…
but sometimes all it takes is a smile or hug or time to let them know they are loved.
It is annoying trying to build and keep relationships with family and friends with so little communication…
but I am so thankful that we have had internet within reach every single month and that it is possible to stay connected with technology these days.
I am sick of packing up and moving every month…
but I am more than grateful for this incredible opportunity to see four continents and 11 countries. Plus, I have been able to settle in just fine in every place and make it home for the month.
I am done sharing my feelings and having to go deep all. the. time. …
but I am so grateful for these uncomfortable things because I have grown so much and would never trade it for the world.
I cannot tell you how important honesty has been on this trip.
I believe it is good to be honest with the Lord too.
And if we are all really honest…we are not always going to have nice things to say.
BUT…it is what we do with those complaints that matters.
If we dwell on them and let them drive our attitude and actions…no bueno.
But if we can turn our complaints into thankfulness…the Lord is glorified! He makes all things work together for our good!
So I encourage you to do the same. Write a list of your worries, complaints, anxieties. Then turn them into thankfulness, turn them into hope, turn them into good. 
And if you want, post them as comments here so it can encourage others! Ready, set GO!
