Courtesy of Kate Paulson, I decided to start keeping a journal of things that I’m thankful for. Gifts from the Lord. Because when I don’t – I’ve come to discover – I become selfish, self-centered, and ungrateful. I’ve found out that there’s always, always, always something to be thankful for. But it’s my choice whether I focus on it or ignore it.
So here’s a few things I wrote down for everyday of Month two! Dang, I really hope you enjoy reading all of them. I hope they encourage you and make you laugh.
October 10th, 2017.
Dipping Lucky Charm puffs in Nutella on our bus ride to Haiti.
An insanely gorgeous and clean and nice DORM (no tents. Praise.) With sheets, a PILLOW, and running water.
ICE!
October 11th, 2017.
Sunrise from the 3rd floor of the dorm building. Beaut.
First-time visit to the villages.
October 12th, 2017.
Washing dishes and singing songs with the team.
October 13th, 2017.
Cool morning breeze.
October 14th, 2017.
Dancing and laughing and headphone music during our tap-tap ride to the Cafe.
WIFI! Catching up a lil’ with people.
October 14th, 2017.
Mornings on the roof ALONE! Seeing the moon and stars at 6 a.m.
First Haitian church service.
October 15th, 2017.
Nilla wafers & Nutella with Daven and Ky. Also, just Daven and Ky in general.
October 16th, 2017.
God answering my (slightly ridiculous) prayer about getting to hold a baby. P.S. I got to hold TWO that day. Praise.
October 17th, 2017.
Not waking up drenched in sweat.
Paper to write some notes on.
October 18th, 2017.
COLD WATER.
Sunsets & dancing & talking & wrestling on the roof.
October 19th, 2017.
Conversation with Leonise – a woman of FAITH.
Late night tent conversations with Kate.
October 20th, 2017.
Kiddos ministry.
Meeting a 106 year old woman.
Community living. Conversations. Heartbreak with each other. Supporting each other. So sweet. What a gift.
October 21st, 2017.
Sleeping in a little!
October 22nd, 2017.
Markers & art!
Listening to a sermon with Nick and Kate. Conviction. Reading the Bible. Sweetness.
October 23rd, 2017.
Painting a house!
Sonja washing my dirty, painted hands FOR me.
October 24th, 2017.
Holding a 22 day old baby. Having that baby pee on me.
Zalineda. Laughing & playing.
October 25th, 2017.
4 shooting stars & spotting the Big Dipper… which I always look at from my house. Super cool, God.
October 26th, 2017.
SVT (ministry, house visits) – meeting Christine & learning a little ASL… and her giving me a sign for my NAME. Coolest ever. Sweetest lady.
Chocolate and espresso SHAKE!
October 27th, 2017.
Seeing Zalineda again.
Meeting Marcelis. What a guy.
October 28th, 2017.
BEACH – relaxation. Beauty. Beach volleyball.
Having Kristin PRAY for me. She didn’t even know me. Wow God. You’re pretty stinking cool. (Kristin was at the beach with her family — her and her husband run another ministry in Haiti. They actually hosted a World Race team awhile back! Coincidence, I think not).
October 29th, 2017.
Working out with Kate.
Chocolate cake for dessert at dinner.
Watching The Vow and drinking Coke with Kate and Josie on the roof.
October 31st, 2017.
Watching the Princess Diaries and eating Nutella with Kate.
Praying over our room with the gals.
November 1st, 2017.
Alone time. Processing. Music. Writing. Reading.
Kate’s trustworthiness. Her note of encouragement & intentionality.
Nice guy who bought our whole squad sodas for the heck of it.
Getting an oreo from a lady at Mission of Hope. I was craving one. Weird how the Lord works.
November 2nd, 2017.
PANCAKES!!
Video from Mama & Mr. Maiore. Made my day.
November 3rd, 2017.
Freaking Ky. Her trustworthiness, intentionality, and life. Being vulnerable. Talking for a long, long time. Learning so much.
God’s love means freedom and chains dropping.
Seeing Bri praying with Kyla after talking to her.
November 4th, 2017.
space to think and process and be ALONE!
November 5th, 2017.
Communion at church. Super cool. Church in general.
Real talks with Kate.
Finding out our ministry information for Botswana.
Watching Fried Green Tomatoes with Taylor, Kelly, Daven, and Kate.
November 6th, 2017.
Luna & Leslie. New best friends.
The laughs of the kiddos in Titanyen when I chased them around and we started skipping.
Kelly’s joy when she hung out with Garrison at the orphanage. Blowing kisses & kissing hands.
Feedback was SO GOOD.
November 7th, 2017.
PUMPKIN MUFFIN FROM ZIZOU on my LAST day. Ugh. Wow freaking pumpkin muffins are my favorite. Thanks a whole, whole lot Jesus. That’s really cool that you would do that for me.
November 8th, 2017.
Chatting with the fam using ACTUAL service and not Wifi.
Kelly, Joe, Hunter, Kate, THE WHOLE SQUAD – loving on my sick self and always making sure I was doing okay.
November 9th, 2017.
Fruit and yogurt on the plane.
La La Land.
Tea with Kate. Also, Kate in general.
Zach and Kate finding a random piano in the Qatar airport and playing it.
November 10th, 2017.
A HOT SHOWER. Wow Jesus – thank you. I really needed that.
NAP TIME & a real comfy bed.
November, 11th, 2017.
Krispy Kreme! (in South Africa?!)
Shopping and wandering with Kate.
The Lord providing words for me to speak.
The Hostel. Really cute and restful.
Pizza and GUAC for dinner with Kate. We’re real life pro chefs.
November 12th, 2017.
Breakfast with Kate at a cute, nice SOUTH AFRICAN restaurant. Bomb food. Better company.
Artisan market and making friends with vendors.
Snuggling with Ky. Also, learning to love physical touch. That’s very new.
I encourage you to do this. It realigns my heart and gives me a whole lot of perspective. Points me towards Jesus. It’s pretty cool to – not only NOTICE gifts that He gives me – but also THANK Him for them.
“And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And CULTIVATE THANKFULNESS. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.”
COLOSSIANS 3:14-17 MSG
Cultivate thankfulness today.
-Lyss
