Lots to Be Thankful For

These days there is so much to be thankful for, and I want to focus on the many blessings we've had in the last 3 months since I've written an update :)

I’m so thankful for my mom and dad – they got to visit us here in Swaziland during the month of March. Dad taught an expository preaching course at the Bible College, and Mom hung out with me most of the time. It was really fun having mom come to work with me. That way she got to meet many of the people that I talk about, and she got to see how cool my job is.  We had a really full schedule while they were here, because we all kept up with our regular work schedules. It was just great being able to do life together. We have lots of treasured memories. It was also perfect timing for Mom and Dad to come at that time because March is when Simo started walking! Dad was really excited to help her walk, and by the end of their visit she was walking around a lot.

We’re thankful for our daughter, Simo, who will be 18 months on May 1^st!  She continues to be such a joy to us, and it’s so fun watching her grow up. She has lots of teeth now and eats almost anything. Now she’s walking everywhere and often trying to run too fast for her little body to keep up with. She loves helping with anything that involves water or bubbles. A few weeks ago she got a cough and cold, and seemed to also be miserable from teething. Thankfully after about a week she got back to normal.

Zodwa & Simo

We’re also continually thankful for Zodwa, the auntie that I pick up and take to work with me to watch Simo. Zodwa is a blessing and Simo loves being with her.

We’re thankful for our jobs too. Mapile has been busy this school year keeping up with his classes, running the library, doing accountability group, and all sorts of odds and ins for the college. We love living at the Bible College and hanging out with the students.

I’m also thankful for the work that continues for me out at Project Canaan. We currently have 188 children. Lately we have been getting lots of severely malnourished kids. I continue to learn a lot from our doctor who visits twice a month, and just from working with so many kids. I love the staff that I get to work with, so that’s also a big blessing.

We’re thankful for car repair shops – and the guys who helped us out at Mega Glass in Matsapha to order a new window after our back left passenger window shattered on the way home from work a few weeks ago. It proved harder than we thought to find a window to replace it.

This season hasn’t been full of change or big things in our life, but it’s been one of those steady seasons where we just keep pressing on.  I’ve had several times of homesickness and sometimes aching so much for the life I knew in Indiana, but I know it was God that led me here, and I'm thankful for the life he has given me here.

With that being said, I have a few more things I’m thankful for: Mapile – he’s a great dad, and a wonderful husband. He is kind and patient with me, and continually forgives and loves me.

Most importantly I’m thankful for the Lord – for His presence in my life, and His word that continually corrects, rebukes, and encourages me. I’m so thankful that Jesus died on the cross, so that we can experience freedom, peace, and forgiveness from sin.

I'm thankful for friends who bring goodies from America! 

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins, and heals all my diseases.”

– Psalm 103:1-3 NLT