Season of Gratitude...A New Door Opens...

Our parents told us this past week they were putting up Christmas lights. I see people posting things online about baking pies and college football scores and chilly weather. Makes me think of turkey and the joy of this time of year. I look out my window here- and I see no cold weather. I see big birds flying, hear families walking down the street and neighbors greeting each other. I feel the warm sun streaming in...I see a cockroach dart across the floor, hear some dogs barking and donkeys braying (if that's what you call the sound they're making...ha ha)- it all mixes and today I feel nothing but sincere gratitude for it all and I have to smile.

There is much to be thankful for here. The past two weeks have been a whirlwind. There have been home visits and small group visits- where our hearts were touched by courageous faith.

A home visit

an amazing Mom and her daughters

There have been hair washes. Yep. HAIR WASHES. I'm convinced Ethiopians really know how to wash hair. Because of water issues at various times- we've had to go and get our hair washed- and that has felt more like an hour hair and head massage- and wow- we've felt thankful. :-)

We've felt so grateful for the recovery of Viktor, Noel's Czech co-worker. He's stable and his recovery- is nothing short of a miracle. We give thanks.

Viktor in Ethiopia

This past week, we had to process visas- no easy feat here. We faced long lines that really didn't have a clear direction and had us saying “chigger yellum” more than once. But, surprisingly, we were processed in decent time and we gave thanks yet again.

We also MOVED. Yep. We decided for our final month to stay in a nearby community at a different guesthouse that provided a bit more space. And this new place has been nice. It's more quiet. Just little dogs living in the compound gate that greet us in the mornings. And our room- gives us a view of magnificent sunrises- and we've felt grateful.

Our new "town"

Noel giving a "word of encouragement" to the little dogs :-)

amazing sunrises can be seen from our windows

And THE BIG thing I've been wanting to share about as well is about THE DOOR opening for me that I've been looking for. Many of you know that I've been praying about where God would have me serve next. The call to “use my life for Africa” is still there. But where was I to do that from and with who? Was it an Ethiopia base? A Kenya one? A Sudan one? A USA one? I didn't want just a good option. I wanted God's best option and waiting for that door- whew- took much faith.

I kept holding to these verses as I started to feel weary in the waiting...

...we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved (Hebrews 10:39)

...faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

...He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40: 29-31)

...I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future...(Jeremiah 29:11)

Well, just this past week, BAM...the door appeared. A new university was opening called: Hope University College. (don't you love the name) :-) And it is opening to give the poorest of poor students the opportunity to get a higher education. The staff called me and asked me to be a teacher for them. I love to teach, as many of you know and they asked if I would teach English and Communications. They want these young people to be able to represent themselves well and communicate effectively. As I met the staff and heard the vision- God confirmed through various details- that this indeed WAS IT. This was the next place God wanted to use me at. What an honor!!!!! It's back to school.... :-)

the campus

Now, shocking for me is the timing- I start THIS WEEK. :-) So, I've been getting ready, looking over books, and meeting my team.  This will be my main way of serving here in the time ahead. I will be teaching eleven classes a week. I'm excited for this because God called it. And when He calls it, He backs it. :-)

my fellow English teachers: Kume and Betty Lu

preparing for classes

orientation for students

lunch line

So, this is a big transition week for me.

I'm still trying to wrap up the stories I've been collecting and the interviews with NGOs I've been doing for and with Exodus and Hope in View- so pray I can do that well while also transitioning into this teaching post.

Please keep this and these other things in your prayers this Thanksgiving week:

-Pray for Noel as she begins to wind down her time here. She leaves Ethiopia in three weeks- will travel to the Czech Republic for a week, then to the USA for the holidays, then back to the Czech to begin in a new location. Pray she will stay healthy and will enjoy her final weeks here. Also- that we will enjoy these final weeks together, I'm not sure when God will cross our paths for this long again

-Pray for Ron and Carolyn Klaus, the founders of Hope in View. They arrived this morning in Ethiopia for a month. Pray as we meet with them and share notes that God will be honored and we will help encourage them and their team.

Pray for me as I begin teaching this week; that I will have courage and favor; pray for the staff and for the students- that it will be a great start to a wonderful semester of learning and relationship building.

Pray for Viktor as he continues to recover.

Pray for my friend Katie and some of her family traveling to Ethiopia this week to pick up their adopted daughter, that they will have a safe trip and all will be well.

Thank you again so much for your prayers. They've been felt. I'm so grateful for our global family.

May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

And if you're feeling down or discouraged, maybe weary in waiting for YOUR next door to open, know God hears you when you pray. He opens doors in His perfect time. Hold to hope. Hold to Him. Our God is faithful and is so worthy of our praise, our thanks, our trust, our ALL.

Running on with you in Hope...

Holly