Counting my Blessings, One by One

One week ago today, we left the USA to return to Senegal. As we boarded the plane in Atlanta, our last flight out of the country, I sent a message to my two children we were leaving, to let them know that they are always in my heart and my prayers. I also grieved saying goodbye to friends and family, and comforts and conveniences that we do not get the privilege to enjoy, living in a developing African country.

After taking time to clean the boys’ room today, where I found items left by my older son, new tears began to fall. Instead of spending too much time grieving, I decided to take time to count my blessings. Yesterday, as we shared with a couple of our West African brothers in Christ (one, from Niger and another from Guinea Bissau), one of them encouraged us, “In the midst of all the grief and even the joys of the days ahead, never stop giving glory to God for all He’s done.”  God has done so much in our lives. And, I am very thankful!

I’m a list-maker. My Meiers-Briggs personality inventory says that I’m an ESFJ. That combination also makes me emotional as I make my lists sometimes. So, please bear with me as I share with you these lists:

What I miss in America:                                               

 

-Being with my two older children            

-Having well-stocked supermarkets nearby where I can get everything in one place.

-Having potable water that comes right out of the faucet!

-An abundance and variety of delicious foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables that we can’t get in Senegal (berries and broccoli!).

-Youth group, Christian fellowship and mature believers pouring into my two younger kids

-Bible study and fellowship in my heart language (English)

-Miniscule amounts of dirt, making house cleaning easy!

-CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING all over my house that works well.

-Frequent face-to-face encouraging encounters with other believers in Jesus.

 

 What I am happy to have in Senegal:

 

-Skype, email, and facebook so that we can keep in touch with our older children and other family and friends.

-Grocery shopping in various places where I have developed personal relationships with shop owners and workers and having real, meaningful conversations with them.

-A place in town where we can take our large water jugs and purchase 10 liters of potable water for about 20cents (and a pick-up truck so that we can transport the jugs).
-Delicious Senegalese food!

-Seeing my two younger children enjoying being with their Senegalese friends.

-Bible study and fellowship with African sisters in French, Sereer, and Wolof (I missed speaking these languages!)
-Visiting with my neighbors and friends and being warmly welcomed and told we've been sorely missed.

-A very helpful young lady that works for us, helping to keep the interminable dirt and dust down to a reasonable level (it’s all a matter of perspective!)

-An air conditioner in our bedroom that works adequately

-Being in a place where I can tell others about my Savior Jesus that I love SO MUCH, because they have yet to experience Him.

I could list so many other things, but I’ll just stop here for now. I have homeschooling, then more visiting to do, as I want to let my friends know- I’M BACK! Thank you, dear ones, for your faithfulness to pray. I hope that my list-making is a blessing to you, that for each trial and difficulty, you, too, can list how God’s grace makes everything alright. His grace truly is sufficient for us.