Lesson number three: Thanks. 

I don't know how much of a lesson that is, but it's something I've realized even more since being here. All you have to do is own one pair of shoes and you already have more than some people. Own a cell phone? The number gets even higher. What about a computer? A car? 

Come to Africa and see the number of people who walk up and down the street with out shoes or a coat. You'll realize that, chances are if you're reading this blog, you've got a lot more than them. Yet what do we do with our possessions? Most of us take them for granted. We don't realize that we have half as much as we do until we see a man leaning against a phone pole with nothing. He might be wearing slippers if he's lucky.

Since I've been here, I've realized just how much I take for granted: shoes, clothes, my phone, enough food, everything I own or have access to. God didn't have to make me an American citizen. He doesn't have to let me get a new coat every winter. He doesn't even have to give me food everyday. But he does. And how do I repay him? Usually I don't. I often don't even utter a small thank you.

If nothing else, thankfulness is something I hope I never forget. I have so much more than most of the world; the least I can do is say thank you to God for providing me with much more than I could ever need.