List #2: Thanksgiving

I find at times when it seems things seem difficult, when I would rather mourn that which I don't have, it is better to be deliberately thankful. These are some things I am genuinely thankful for right now here in the Czech.

1) My roommates: Leah and Bonnie

2) My fellow ESI's

3) Erin 

4) Melissa

5) My Strakonice girls: Eva, Naomi, Lucka, Leni, Zuzka, Kakuse, Jana, Lydie, Hanicka, and so many more lovely ladies that teach me and encourage me.

6) Great neighbors: Alca and Martin

7) Friends and family that I know are praying for me and love me back home

8) Conversations on Skype at 1am

9) All the JV staff

10) Exit 316 Club

11) Elim Church and Youth Group

12) Getting emails from people I care about

13) The beautiful Czech countryside

14) Having time to simply love people

15) That my job is to build relationships

16) No homework

17) I have time to read

18) The All Star Girl's Bible study

19) The fact that I am growing up through staying young

20) The simple wisdom and encouragement of teenage girls

21) Cesky Budejovice Youth Group! (Kikina, Marketa, Martina, Dr. Eddy, Sarka, Anicka, Bara, Katka, Lukas, Marek, Honza and Petr H., and so many more awesome people!)

22) Trains

23) Having time to really think

24) Being humbled by everyday tasks (i.e. grocery shopping, going to the store, sending a letter, etc.)

25) My lovely flat and the park outside

26) Having more than I need

27) The fact that my roommates are always willing to eat my cooking experiments even when they fail miserably

28) Tea houses

29) That everyday I learn something new

30) That I can finally understand a lot of what I hear

31) Leah's translating abilities

32) Great Indian food

33) Learning how to be a conservationist Czech style. This culture is so creative with how they reduce, reuse, and recycle. I even turned a spaghetti jar into a fancy change container.

34) Laughing and making random comments with Leah when we watch movies

35) The leaves changing colors

36) Everyone in Tabor, especially Lenka

37) For being part of something bigger than myself

38) Being able to travel around CZ to visit old friends

39) God's abundant goodness and provision

40) families that shower their hospitality on me and show me what it means to live in community

I think that is enough for now. I am thankful that there are so many more things I have to be thankful about.