I kept a journal while I was volunteering in Nicaragua for 10 weeks with HELP International. Whenever I wrote, I tried to include something that I had been thankful for that day. I was looking over those jotted down notes today and thought that, when read alone like this, they are kind of a cool little insight to the daily experiences I had there. Enjoy!
-Ashley
May 6
I am grateful to be an American
May 7
I am grateful for real friends
May 8
Grateful for clean running water
May 10
I am thankful for trials that make us stronger
May 11
I am thankful for the LDS church
May 12
I am thankful for ice cream that stays good in the freezer
May 13
I am grateful for quesadillas. Just plain cheese in a tortilla. Still haven’t seen it here.
May 14
I am grateful for my bed at home
May 16
Thankful for soccer because it gives me a great topic to discuss with people.
May 18
Grateful for good examples
May 20
Grateful for clean bathroom floors at home where the whole floor doesn’t stay wet for hours after someone showers, and there aren’t dirty wet foot prints all over it that never seem to go away.
May 22
I am grateful for the language of love.. because everyone can speak it
May 23
Thankful for the yummy juices here
May 24
So thankful for 2% milk cold from Costco. Haven’t drank milk since I got here:(
May 26
I am thankful for the opportunities that I have been so blessed to have available to me. I hope I take advantage of them
May 28
I am grateful for growing up in the church and for primary songs
May 29
Grateful to be able to experience the real culture of a place and not just the tourist attractions
May 31
Grateful that I found some soccer friends today and I get to go play tomorrow!
June 4
Grateful that my team here is pretty cool
June 5
Grateful that this experience is opening my eyes in ways that I couldn’t imagine.
June 6
I am grateful that I got to eat macaroni and cheese today!
June 7
I am thankful that I can read. And speak. And hear and see.
June 10
Grateful for mmm EVERYTHING. Even our Nicaraguan home so that we don’t have to sleep with animals on a regular basis.
June 14
I am thankful for the little things I learn (like good qualities in a leader) everyday that I didn’t expect to be learning. Life really does teach you wisdom. I need to start listening to old people.
June 15
So grateful for people. And good/cool/awesome people especially.
June 21
I am grateful for the spirit and the Book of Mormon
June 24
Thankful for our little home here in Nicaragua that keeps us safe.
June 28
Grateful for the growing love and appreciation I have for people in general
July 5
Thankful for the way things worked out today, and pretty much this whole trip. It has been really good.