I don't know that you can go to the poorest country in the entire world back to America and not be more thankful for what you have.
I am very thankful. I knew I would be thankful for some things:
Nice house
Nice clothes
My car
My job
But it's really this list that I didn't realize would become so important:
Clean water, specifically iced water
A house built strong without holes in the side or the top
Paved, clean roads
Shoes to protect my feet from broken glass
A bed to sleep in that doesn't require special protection against bugs
School/Education
Church
Activities
Accessible electricity
Nearby stores for necessities
Medical facilities
I could go on for days, literally. I'm not saying we should give up any of these things, I just want to encourage people who are like me that have forgotten how much they rely on little things, to step back into a moment of thankfulness.
Also, if someone cared about you enough to make sure you got an education, thank them. If you have a nagging parent who was constantly watching what you did and who you were around growing up, thank them. If you had someone who sacrificed to work more hours to pay for medical care you needed, thank them.
In Haiti, there were so many more kids than there were adults, and the adults had to work during the day. Thankfully the community has learned to watch out for each other, but still, you can only receive a certain amount of belonging and care from someone who isn't your provider. Also, education is so slim around the areas we visited. The government makes it hard for the schools to welcome kids all the way up to 12th grade, and a lot of kids get pressured from parents to drop out of even elementary school to raise money for the family at a job. Lastly, after a lot of help from people's donation dollars, one of the medical facilities in Haiti got glasses and a machine used to fit kids for glasses so that they can actually SEE! They don't even realize they can't see well, and their eyes are being opened for the first time! This medical clinic is also providing necessary medication and doctor's attention to those in need for little to no cost at all. One thing that was common between the education and the medical clinic was that they always have to put their faith into action and pray hard just to make it to the next shipment of supplies. They are constantly being presented with hardships while they try to meet needs in the community.
It is so easy to get what we need in America, even if you are in a situation of need. I am not in any way coming down on anyone in America who is really struggling in a way I've described above, but a lot of people in this country are blessed with access to all of these things.
Laugh. Inspire. Believe. Love.