I Tell Papa God Tenki!!

Gratitude

This word has been bouncing around in my head over the past 3 weeks. How thankful are we for what God has provided us? It seems so cliché and like this is what every missionary says after being in a third world country – so please forgive me if this is redundant. Thanksgiving is a day we celebrate in America with lots of food, football games, and more food. We may go around the table and say what we are thankful for and we give good answer (my family, this food, etc.). This week I’ve been wondering though, do we really know what it feels like to be truly thankful? 

The people here in Sierra Leone have blown me away with their kindness and resilient graciousness. They are faced with impossible circumstances, have lived through a treacherous bloody war, barely survive each and every day and yet they greet me with a smile and sincere concern about how I am doing. 

Today I was weaving in and out of a dental screening, interacting with the locals and trying to keep them calm (I was doing security). I was faced with people whose face was swollen to twice its size and you can see their pain clearly in their eyes. They have been standing there for hours waiting for help admist the chaos of Freetown. I ask them, “How da morning?” “They say “Fine, tenki” (Fine, Thank you) and I proceed to ask them “How da body?” (How is your body) and almost every response was the same. Their eyes soften and they look up saying “I tell Papa God tenki” 

I’m staring at someone who has every right to complain, who are expected to tell me they are in pain and can’t eat. They don’t, they say with all sincerity that they thank God for how well they are doing. After telling me this, they ask how I am doing and how I slept. This screening is about them and they are genuinely concerned with me – a complete stranger. You can tell by their eyes, when they hear that I am injured, they have genuine concern for ME and want to help ME! They may have a large facial tumor and their concern is for me. 

This Thanksgiving is going to be different for me. This Thanksgiving this is how I will think:

My head hurts: I tell Papa God tenki that I am able to live another day

I miss my family: I tell Papa God tenki that I have a family

I miss food from home: I tell Papa God tenki I get 3 square meals a day when the people I serve may not eat at all today

The internet is slow: I tell Papa God tenki for blessing me with the ability to communicate back home

I only get 2 minute showers: I tell Papa God tenki for making my soul as white as snow

I tell Papa God tenki for opening my eyes to see, showing me a new world, and using me in ways I would have never imagined. When life gets overwhelming just remember to tell Papa God tenki for the little things.