Back to School and Counting Down

As the college I'm teaching at started on Thanksgiving day, I felt that old yet strangely familiar anxiety surface of being back in school. What would my classes be like? What would the students be like? What would the professor be like? Uh-oh, I was the professor, lol. :-)

So then came “professor stress.” Could I teach these students? I was teaching English in Ethiopia. How would that work exactly? How would lesson plans be developed? What would happen if the students were on different levels? Could I do this? I felt like hiding.

But then I remembered...GOD CALLED THIS. And looking back on my life, most of His “calls” were not always comfortable or things I thought I could do. Just a few of those...a radio personality; Haiti missionary; foot nurse (ha ha); seminary student; youth pastor for five years; advocate for Africa for the past three plus years. God helped me do these and more. So why couldn't I do this and be successful with His hand in mine????

I COULD!

I remembered these verses...

2 Corinthians 12:9- my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

1 Corinthians 9:19-27...become all things to all men...run in such a way as to get the prize... 

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

As I entered the classrooms of this new God "call"- I was deeply inspired and touched by the students I met. As I heard their stories- from various “villages” and “communities” and faith backgrounds- I sensed sincere gratitude in these students to be given a chance to learn. There was a humility in them that gave me great peace. We were in it together. I am so humbled and honored to be their teacher and their advocate. I felt God breathe confidence into me and joy. 

When God calls a direction shift or position move- it can be scary, but we do not have to fear...we only need to lean on Him and trust. He doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. 

May He continue to dial my phone for crazy jumps and barbaric leaps like these, I WILL GO AND DO in honor of the One who did the most barbaric of all moves when He came down from on high, took on a body of flesh and humanity's sin and died on tree to pay for my sin and yours with His life.

How can we not honor and trust the One who loved and believed in us enough to give us His All?  We can trust Him.  I can trust Him. 

I've LOVED teaching so far while LEARNING how to do it as I go. Onward I run.... :-)

Some of my students....

While this teaching has kicked in, several countdowns have been going on as well. My sister Noel is now five days from leaving Ethiopia. She has been doing final home visits and meetings. What an honor it has been to be here with her. We haven't served in the same place, let alone in the same country, in a long time. To have been here together...incredible.  We've laughed, we've cried, we've gotten in sister fights. We've debriefed, we've celebrated. We've been sick together- so much. I'm so grateful for this time together to debrief where we've been, and where we feel God is leading.  It will be a time we will always cherish!

She leaves Ethiopia this Friday- will return to the Czech Republic for a week- then head to the USA for Christmas. Please keep her in prayer as she wraps up here and begins traveling. What a barbarian she is. I'm humbled by her life and her example. As she takes rest in Prague then the USA, please keep her in prayer as she prepares for a transition in ministry focus in the Czech in January.

Noel visiting families

For me, I'm in a countdown to Christmas too. A break from life here will be nice, though for me,it will be brief. I'm looking forward to celebrating what God has done and what He is up to. Toasting with a hot cup of chai latte by a warm fire and hopefully some snow- while visiting family and friends in the US of A, singing some Christmas songs, and remembering why we can continue to hope and have joy- a child was born, a Savior came. What a story we're part of!!! He left his riches to live among the poor- to give advocacy and mercy and the chance for right standing with God. So so so grateful for our King. So grateful to be part of what's He's doing on planet earth!

I hope to connect with many of you over Christmas as well- to hear what God is up to in your hearts and lives.

Thank you for your support of me, of us!!!

Please keep these praises and prayer requests on your list for this coming week....

-my final research for Hope in View is due on Tuesday when we have a final debrief meeting with the team- pray that will be concluded well

-praise for Viktor's continued recovery, he should be out of the hospital this week, continue praying for him and his family

-praise for my friend Katie and her family who came and visited Ethiopia this past week- and had a successful visit with their adopted daughter, pray the process on the adoption will continue to be smooth

-pray for my Noel's final week, as she wraps things up here and her travel to Prague on Friday

-pray for me- as I transition from her being here, that I stay healthy and find a good pace

-pray for my travel and visa arrangements to the USA and then back to Ethiopia- that all the details will come together for a quick holiday visit

-pray for moving- I will move to campus housing on Friday-Saturday from our current guesthouse

Thank you so much for praying!  It's a busy week for sure.  May we live hopeful, joyful, grateful and keep our hand in God's.

Merry Christmas Season to each of you. May we remember why He came...

Blessings and love from here!
Holly