Asante, Danke, Thank You!

This Thanksgiving is unique.  In the past month, I have broadened my horizons considerably and discovered myriad things for which I am unexpectedly grateful.  Time in a country far less developed than my own reveals how much I take for granted.  I am grateful that I am able to stay in contact with family and friends, even chatting with children and grandchildren 6000 miles away on a connection that was as good as if I were at home.  I am truly pleased that the cousins and the siblings will spend this holiday together, surrounded by love and attention from a grandmother and two grandfathers in person, not to mention a bountiful feast.  I am grateful that Mwanahamisi will bring Stephanie a chicken as a token of her love for the 6+ weeks they have known each other as teacher and student.  Each day’s thank you’s are precious to hear.  We have reminded them often to be encouraged, that we take some steps forward and some backward as we learn together.  It was touching to see Melania take Magdalena by the shoulders as Steph and I had done with her Pelagia some weeks ago, repeating our words “we take a big step forward and little steps backwards,” as they marched around the courtyard, in big steps and little steps.  I am grateful for a shower, even though it isn’t always hot water; a flush toilet, even though it takes 8 minutes to fill the tank and has 5 women using it!  I am grateful for a bed with a mosquito net—so many here do not have that.  I am thankful that our students confide very personal things because they trust us.  I am grateful that I have lived with three delightful young Australian women, traveling and sharing their time with GHTA.  Victoria’s laughter, organization, determination and sassy spunk remind me of good times a year ago at GHTA, and it makes me glad that I could share two months with her again.  Sacha is from Singapore, beautiful, articulate, burned out in her job, so she’s on leave for 4 months of traveling.  I have learned so much in just a few days with her.  John has been on the move for about 8 months, in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Mongolia and Sri Lanka before landing her with us.  I am grateful for his prowess in crepe-making!  Smiling faces and sincere (and prolonged) greetings with hugs and handshakes, chai and chapati, lessons and laughter, trekking and traipsing, triumphs and tears—all things part of our weeks here in East Africa.   I am so grateful for the daily jogs just after daylight, on a canopy road lush with the lavender blossoms of the jacaranda, the riotous colors of bougainvillea; the pale blue and white uniformed students on their walk to secondary school; the olive-and dark-green of the primary school students on their walk; “the regulars” we pass each morning, some walking, some cycling, some heavy-laden.

    To my friends and family, I miss celebrating Thanksgiving with you.  I am grateful that you have encouraged me, prayed for me, sent me messages, sent me photos and coloring, and allowed me this long time away. The Lord has blessed me so richly, each and every day with opportunities beyond imagination. Now I recognize His Hand in slowing my pace for a couple of days’ rest when I was too stubborn to do it on my own. I learned so much in those two days!  I look forward to sharing many more thankful thoughts along the way.