Thankful!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1)

This season, I feel like I have lots to be grateful for and wanted to share just a few of the big and small ones with you (in no particular order):

• I’m thankful that I was able to sit down last week and work on the very first draft of the first two verses of the book of Ruth!  (Yes, I was encouraged to start with Ruth first, then go to the Joseph story.)  This is called the exegetical draft, and there are a gazillion more steps and thousands of other verses to go, but hey, it’s a start.  And I’m grateful, so many years after first setting foot in this country, to be able to have finally crossed this starting line.  (You can see this first draft in the picture above.)
• I’m grateful for some co-workers with more experience than I, who came to visit a few weeks ago!  Though it was a very full week, I was grateful for them coming, for their wisdom and direction, and for the fact that they could see my context and get together with lots of my people here as well.
• I’m grateful for running water!  My water here doesn’t often cut much, but the last few days it was cut a lot more than normal. I’m grateful that I usually have it, that it is back on now, and also that a friend from My People came by yesterday and brought me some water!
• I’m grateful for all of you, who pray for me, encourage me, and partner with me financially.  I feel like lately I’ve been realizing even more the need for prayer, and we know that in this day and age financial provision isn’t always guaranteed.  So thank you to all of you!
• I’m grateful for the expat community here, with whom I get together for meals, games, and Bible studies in English, and also with whom I get to celebrate certain holidays.
• I’m grateful for my My People team here – sometimes it’s messy, but I couldn’t imagine doing all of this without them and all the knowledge and patience they bring.
• I’m grateful that cool season has started, so the nights now dip into the 60s, even if the days will stay in the 90s.

The list could go on, but I’ll stop here so you have time to prepare your meal as well.  Thank you for rejoicing with me!