But really, I don't want to be a whiner, so the best way to fight the grumps is to count my blessings, right? So here I go! (I'm including verses that have been on my heart lately as well).
1) Birthday cards. I received so many birthday cards from students and friends! These one's made me smile a lot:
-"Miss Norton, You just turned 30, go ahead and have fun. And maybe get dirty. You're the best teacher yet, the best I've met. Hope you live long!" (grade 6)
-"Live to a Millenium" (grade 6)
-"I hope you would live to be more than 100 years old. May you grow knowing about God and loving Him." (grade 5)
-"Birthdays full of cheer, yours is finally here. Friends and family, presents and cake, a swim in the lake. Birthdays full of cheer, Yours in finally here." (grade 6)
"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
2)Birthday cakes. 3 birthday cakes to be exact - all of which were delightful surprises. My friend Moses surprised our Bible study group with a cake a few nights before my birthday. The night before my birthday we had our KICS staff appreciate dinner at a restaurant called Republica. An amazing chocolate cake was brought along and shared after dinner, complete with purple chocolate icing. Trevor insisted that we go with the Ethiopian tradition of the guest of honor being 'fed' the first piece. It took quite a bit of convincing for me to give in to this tradition. If you know Trevor, you know why. :) Some of my friends went away that weekend because it was a 3-day weekend (I stayed home because I wasn't feeling well). So the following weekend my friend Micah came over and surprised me with a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. Oh my goodness. Amazing!
3) School. I have an amazing class this year. My students are thoughtful and creative and excited to learn about EVERYTHING. While sometimes this can make things hard in terms of "staying on subject", it really is a blessing to teach to these students. I also work with and for some incredible people. I love that we play together both in and out of school, we love to sing and praise God and give Him glory all the day long!
"Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." -2 Corinthians 4:13-15
4) Friendship. I am constantly reminded that I am hugely blessed by so many friends, both close and far. I am daily encouraged by all of you, and I am very grateful for that.
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." - 1 Corinthians 12:27
5) Skype. I love that I can skype my family and friends often. Seeing your faces as well as hearing your voices shortens the miles exponentially! One of my friends has not been able to video chat with her parents since she arrived in August. (She is SO excited that they are coming for a visit next week!) It helps me not take for granted the blessing of looking my parents in the face at least once a week!
6) Rain. I have been anxiously awaiting rainy season. I love rain! I was told that Rwanda has two rainy seasons. A short one (October-November) and a long one (Jan/Feb - April/May). The short season really was short. It would rain a little many afternoons, but it was plenty hot and dry by mid November through the time I left in December. When I returned in January it was still warm and dry. It rained a little the first week of February, but then it stopped again. It got SO hot!! Rainy season is VERY important in Rwanda as almost all of the industry and livelihood here is agriculture. No rain - no crops. People go hungry. Well, a few days ago the rain came back and it has been wonderful! Yesterday (Tuesday) it rained so hard it came right through the ceiling in my classroom! We had to finish class early and spend the last half hour of the day in the music room. The kids loved me when I let them go outside for a minute when the storm was at its heaviest, pelting pea-size hail (aka African snow)!! Not only is the rain a blessing to the crops, but it has cooled the temperatures to make it easier to sleep at night, and washed much of the dust out of the air.
"Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone." -Zechariah 10:1
7) Hymns. For the past few weeks our class has been learning about some of the more popular traditional hymns of the Christian faith. We talk about the authors, composers, and stories behind the hymns, as well as the theological meaning within each song. I love hearing the children's voices sing and it is a blessing to sing truth with them.
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs, from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."
-Colossians 3:16
8) Roommates. I live with two great women. They have strong faith and are very committed to their roles here in Rwanda. Living together as short term missionaries has it's pros and cons. The biggest 'pro' is that we share this common bond and experience of being "being in Rwanda". I love getting to know them, trust them, and just live life with them. The biggest 'con' is that this 'home' is short-term. Tickets for each of us have already been purchased to go 'home' this summer. Home is a different place for all of us, and each of us will be on a different continent next year. This thought helps us savor the moments here instead of wishing they would go by faster. I am ever grateful for the people that God brings into my life.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
9) Cookies. Well, cooking and baking in general. I love cooking and baking for my friends - I really believe it's my love language. I just wish I had more time to do it!! And a bigger oven.
10) Hope. Faith. Love. Last night at bible study we started going through the book of Colossians. At one point we focused in on the part that says, "the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven". These three words come together often in Paul's letters. While he stresses to the Corinthians that all are important, but the greatest is love, here, is explains that faith and love come our of our hope in heaven. We had an interesting discussion that led to a friend describing that when we are in rough, down, hard, trying times of our life, our faith, our love… it is our hope in heaven that can rekindle our faith and love.
It is Well With My Soul - We learned this song and story last week in Grade 6:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
