Hey folks. It's about that time when cultural stress starts to hit. I've been here for a month, so I'm right on schedule. The last two weeks have been a little difficult, living in a culture that is not the one that I've known. There's a lot of truth to what I said before about trusting God and that it's better to be okay with not being to go where you want when you want, but that's not always my reality. Sometimes I still am really frustrated with things here, and it's exhausting to deal with those stressors. People call to me and stare at other people (including myself) everywhere I go, power and internet are unstable things in my house, and the Spanish hadn't been rolling off my tongue as naturally as it usually does. So, I am taking a leaf out of a friend's book and I am deciding that it's time to start looking on the bright side and being thankful for what I do have to maintain a positive attitude and a thankful heart. So here is a small list of the things I am thankful for:
1. God is good. He's gotten me this far-more than sufficient proof that He will continue to carry me through.
2. I receive love and encouragement and support daily from this guy (I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend...and that he's coming here in 2 weeks!!):
4. And these lovely people (among others) (sorry for just stealing your picture Steph :) you're beautiful) :
6. The community that I've become a part of is incredible and so supportive.
7. My students are amazing and so much fun to have.
8. I get to do fun things with math every day. (cue name-calling ;) #hatersgonnahate )
9. The coffee here is divine.
10. Mango. (and fresh fruit in general)
11. Moto rides are pretty fun.
12. I get a cold shower every hot day.
13. I have internet in my house.
14. I get Dominican food made for me every day.
15. Spending time in the Word has been so natural and enjoyable to me lately.
16. I have a great group of people to work out with and even enjoy it!
17. When you kill a couple ants in your vicinity the others somehow sense it and disappear faster than they arrived.
18. I get to watch Gilmore Girls with my friend Katie all the time and it's awesome.
19. I have a fan.
20. I have less stuff and less space so my organizational skills have improved dramatically!
21. The day my backpack broke for good was the same day that a brand new, awesome one arrived (they're hard to find here when it's not the time right before school starts and Minerva got a shipment of clothes to sell that same day and magically had a backpack in that shipment!)
22. I have an awesome Bible study here that's one of the highlights of my week.
23. The buildings are so colorful.
24. It's always green here.
25. The school campus is gorgeous.
26. Coke has real sugar here.
27. I have a great relationship with my host mom.
28. I live in a safe place and have a lot of people to look after me.
29. Pizza and brownies.
30. I get to hang out with my students outside of school and have movie and cookie/brownie nights with them.
31. I sit on my second-story porch lots of times to work on things.
32. I have markers and colored pens.
33. I get to speak and listen to Spanish every day.
34. Butterflies.
35. Bachata (i.e. Prince Royce).
36. The mornings and evenings are cool here in the mountains.
37. The monkey that I pass every day on my way home from school.
38. God provided money that wasn't there for me to be here and move back with a little bit left.
39. I haven't felt this healthy or whole or strong in a very long time.
40. God is always with me, guiding me, protecting me, and giving me strength.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." -Psalm 118:1
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