Gratitude blog

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, this blog is going to be a list of all the things I’m thankful for here in Nicaragua!

1. The beautiful sunsets that the Lord paints every night
2. My team and the way that we’ve grown close
3. Chicken kabobs and tajadas (plantain chips)
4. Incredible cooks who serve us so willingly day after day
5. Mombacho, the awe inspiring volcano in our backyard
6. 5 am prayer time to be with the Lord and start my day off right
7. New friendships with both people on my squad and from Nicaragua
8. Cool showers after a long hot day evangelizing
9. The way the Holy Spirit has been doing in our squad through prayer and intercession
10. The breeze that keeps us cool day after day
11. People who also love to play card games, specifically Rook, Monopoly deal, and spicy Uno
12. The lush and beautiful vegetation that surrounds us here on the farm
13. The Lord’s reminders to me that He’s in control and I don’t need to be because His way is always so much better
14. Rides in the trackbed to ministry every day
15. The simple, slow life of Nicaragua
16. Prayer room worship time in the mornings that are so sweet and simple
17. Squad bonding activities and the laughs we have together
18. The ice cream man who comes by every day 
19. Clean clothes to wear each day
20. A loving family at home and here
21. Walks to the tienda (a small store) down the road
22. Our micro-chruch kids and the way they remind me of doing ministry at church back home
23. Colorful birds and the wacky sounds that come with them
24. The bread man who rides around on a motorcycle with a big basket of fresh, sweet bread
25. Clean water that we can drink at any moment we want so easily
26. All the support I’ve felt form people at home
27. The church across the street that plays the loudest worship music I’ve ever heard
28. Adirondak chairs to sit in
29. Deep conversations at the dinner table
30. Silly conversations at the dinner table
31. The different traditions my squad-mates bring from home
32. Clouds that look puffier than cotton candy
33. Stops at maxi-pali (the grocery store) to get tubs of ice cream for the ride home from hospital ministry
34. The hospitality team and all the events they do to make everyone feel welcomed
35. Making cookie dough as a team to enjoy during team time
36. The Lord’s goodness that surrounds us day after day
37. Heath, that I haven’t been sick much
38. Worship music always playing on someone’s speaker
39. Days out in town to enjoy good food
40. The smell of coffee in the mornings, even though I don’t like coffee
41. God’s grace to us day after day
42. Leaders who love us well and always put us first
43. The horses and cows we encounter while walking to ministry
44. Saturday chruch in the pavilion
45. Iced tea at lunch and dinner
46. Soccer and baseball games to watch on the weekends
47. The lagoon where we get to spend a week relaxing and debriefing before we head off to India
48. The ability to translate end use this gift I have to bless others. 
49. 5 more incredible days of ministry here
50. Clear skies and bright stars at night
51. The fact that this is my life right now and the Lord has me right where He wants me

I know this blog doesn’t share much about what we’ve been doing, but it reminds me that I have so many reasons to praise the Lord