America Fun Facts:
- If you have $10 in your pocket and no debts, you are wealthier than 25% of Americans.
- 7% of Americans claim they never bathe.
- McDonald’s has employed 1 in 8 American workers.
- One American consumes as many resources as 32 Kenyans.
- 8 Billion chickens are consumed in the U.S. each year.
I want to start by saying thank you. The words “thank you” do not convey all that I wish they could.
Thank You
Thank you for all of you that financially supported me. Your support allowed me to keep my savings, my savings. Your support allowed me to buy durable gear. Your support meant so much to me. I really can’t say thank you enough.
Thank You
Thank you for all of you that supported me through prayer. Every week I meet people or hear of people that prayed for me daily. Please know I felt your prayers and love. Your thoughtfulness, diligence, and daily conversations with God mean so much to me. I wish I could hug all of you!
Thank You
Thank you for all of you that sent me e-mails or commented on my blog. I loved hearing what was going on at home and your encouragement was priceless. It makes me want to be a better encourager. Encouragement is so important! Thank you for being a part of this journey!
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!!!!!!!!
Life in America is interesting! My first time grocery shopping was a challenge. It took me about 10 minutes to pick out a box of granola bars. It seemed like there were 50 different kinds and so many different prices. America has so many options.
I don’t like the two-ply toilet paper. It is so heavy! After a year of super cheap toilet paper, the one-ply seems like two-ply. I feel bad for flushing it, but am thankful that our pipes can handle it. America has really padded toilet paper.
I have too much stuff. It makes me sick how much stuff I have. I had one jacket for the last year. I have seven jackets in my closet now. I have a jacket for snow, rain, wind, going out, fall, spring, winter… same with shoes, dresses, salt and pepper shakers… I have one for every occasion. America is a consumer nation.
I kind of forgot about insurance and taxes. In other countries the price of the item- is the price of the item. There is not a sales tax. We have sales taxes, service taxes, state, national… we are taxed a lot! In other countries you have faith that circumstances/products will work out and if they don’t, that God will. Here we insure everything; our phones, houses, cars, our health, appliances, even our death. America likes to be prepared.
Machine laundry in America is not a chore. Hand washing all your clothes is a chore. Laundry has never been more fun to do. Thank you grandpa for the agitator!
The kids in the other countries seemed tougher. They were problem solvers. When you grow up with hardships I feel like it makes you more resourceful. Nelson Mandela said, “It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.” Let’s teach our kids how to problem solve and not just give them the answer.
The World Race has a no gossip rule. Communication guidelines are taught to help teams communicate well, learn from each other, call each other to greatness, and call each other out, when we are not doing or saying what we should be doing or saying. After a year of great communication, it makes me sad how much gossip there is. It makes me sad that people do not love each other well enough to say the hard things. When you love others well, you will say the hard things and the easy things, and you will not talk about them behind their backs. Let’s build each other up and their identity in Christ.
Let’s love our families better. We need strong families to shape strong communities. Strong communities will build a strong nation. I am so thankful for my family. In November my dad had two strokes and was in the hospital for most of the month. In May he had another one. I am so thankful he is alive, can walk, can talk, and that I was home to spend Father’s Day with him. My sister was my power of attorney while I was gone. In April someone got a hold of my social security number and thought it would be fun to open a credit card in my name. She spent at least 15 hours on my behalf with the credit bureaus, police, and credit card companies. (The same week that she filed a police report in my name in the U.S., I was filling out a police report in Botswana for getting mugged.) My mom took care of my dog. My dog is very energetic with a lot of personality. So she had her hands full with my dog and the two resident dogs. I am so thankful to come home to everyone alive and well.
Finally, let’s rely on God for everything. In America we have everything we need. We tend to rely on ourselves. We think we can control everything. We are NOT God.
I am so thankful and my heart is so full. At times I feel guilty for all the blessings I have. I know that I am blessed so that I can bless others. We all are blessed and we all can bless other people with our time, prayers, and finances. I want America to be the best country it can be. America is a great country, but we can do better.
So what is next? I will be back at Geneseo High School in the fall teaching Spanish IV and Spanish I. I also have plans/ideas for a high school girls’ retreat weekend, a national high school exchange program, and farm tours. (I learned that there is a great disconnect between the farm and the public.) I feel that I have a lot of work to do! I saw the need in South America, Asia, and Africa. Now I am home and see a lot of need here. We do not have to go far to see that people are hurting. If we all started loving our neighbors better, I think that would be a great start to many of our needs. (Really, if you do not know the people that live next to you, get out and meet them.)
Everyone has a story, and you just don’t know where his or her story will take you! Take time today to hear someone’s story.
Lots of love to you all!
May you feel God’s presence today and everyday!
