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The rainy season is trying to kick-off here in Ethiopia...and with
it we've had some HUGE storms roll through in recent days. My mouth
has hung open in shock at the some of the sheer sizes of the clouds
approaching and walls of rain that could be seen in the distance. A
few times- I had to confirm with people that tornadoes aren't common
here. Some of the storms have been breaktaking, even beautiful
witness. But to be caught in a downpour unprepared- NO FUN.
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| a huge storm approaching Addis last week |
The rain has wreaked some havoc too. Rains have turned roads into
rivers- the road in front of our school being one of the worst.
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| the road leading to our school, in rain- it's a mess |
Students have been late for class because of transportation problems.
Power has been sporadic. Our internet server has been more down than
up. Weird forming puddles have dumped into my place. Also weird
bugs- seeking shelter. Not a fan.
Storms can cause: frustration, fatigue, disconnection,and isolation.
I've learned the hard way how to be prepared here in Ethiopia...
I must have a mop ready in my place and candles ready. I need to have the right shoes on or packed along with an umbrella, jacket,
flashlight, and my mobile phone charged.
In Kenya- when it rained- you could get soaked on your way to work
or home. People seem to speed up and aim right for puddles-
completing soaking those on the roads. I learned to pack extra
clothes for work and use my umbrella as a shield.
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| Nairobi, Kenya in rain |
What do you to when you get hit with a storm? Are you prepared?
God can speak to you in storms. One of the most powerful times I
ever experienced God speaking...was in a storm several years ago. It
was a lesson I've never forgotten...
Several years ago- I was working my way through seminary and
working a few jobs at the same time. I was tired and felt frustrated
with where my life was at overall. I had more questions than
answers. I felt like I needed to vent. My head was a storm of
emotion. For me one of the best ways to "vent"- is through
exercise, so I went to a local park and
decided to try to jog off my stress.
I was lost in my own thoughts
and frustrations. So much so, I wasn't paying attention to the
weather. Isn't it funny how easily that can happen? A storm could
be on the horizon or you could drive right into one and not even
notice until you're in it? Suddenly, the sky turned dark and a wind began to blow that
didn't feel normal. That's when I began to notice the weather. Then
it started to hail some of the biggest chunks of ice I'd ever seen.
This was in the middle of the summer. That's when I heard tornado
sirens going off. I thought- this is it. I'm going to get hit by a
hail ball and that's that. I was too far from my car to try to get shelter there. But I saw a picnic shelter in the far back field and I knew I
needed to sprint to that for shelter- so I ran.
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| the park "shelter"- looked like this one |
When I got inside, that's when God began to speak to me....
I was near one side of the shelter- and the rain and hail was
blowing sideways literally OUTSIDE... but INSIDE the shelter- it was
completely dry and calm. I was astonished. That's when I heard God
say- your life may feel like this storm but in the middle of it- My
PRESENCE is with you. You're not alone. He spoke that into my spirit, I remember it so well. Then He
said- and with me- I give you PEACE. An overwhelming peace came over me
right then. The storm raged, but the unexplained peace that only God
can give covered. It was such a strong feeling it brought
tears of joy to my eyes. Then God said- Holly- there's something
else I want you to remember. He said- turn around. I turned around
from where I was sitting...and a FULL RAINBOW was behind me and its
end was right at my back. I'm not kidding. Now some of you might be
thinking a hail ball hit me and I was knocked out at this point. But
it was there. I could see all the colors BURNING- I could reach and
touch them. And I heard God say- Don't forget- I have PROMISES for
you. I keep my Word.
Then as I watching- the rainbow literally backed up into the
clouds and drifted away....also the storm. The sun came out and it
was completely calm.
WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!!
I'm not sure how long I sat there- but I remember such a feeling
of WOW. God just did a Moses type thing here. This was like a Tent
of Meeting with God Himself. This happened and can happen in our
time. God is intimately involved in my life, in our lives. I was so
moved and almost giddy with excitement. I remember sprinting towards
my car- excited to tell someone about what had just happened. And I
remember saying, almost shouting- God that was AMAZING...is there
anything else you want me to know? And I'm not kidding, right after
I said that- the biggest wind I have ever felt, literally knocked me
into the bushes. I was stunned at its force- and thankful for a soft
landing. And I actually heard God say...don't forget my POWER. YEP.
I slowly climbed out of the bushes and said, okay that's good for
the day. :-) God's humor and how He makes His point- so nice.
I've never forgotten that storm experience and what He taught me.
God is PRESENT. In every season of life, in every circumstance we
face, we're not alone. A friend of mine serving in South Sudan
recently said: ...no network, roads are messy, no electricity, it's
been terrible, but one thing has been present: God's presence has
been evident. I thank Him as I serve the South Sudanese." When
God is with you, He can sustain, encourage, carry you if needed. What a God we serve!
God can also give you PEACE. He can calm the storm or let it rage
and give you peace in it. His peace can't be explained. But it's
available. Sometimes we don't ask for His peace. We try to figure
things out on our own. Or search for our own kind of "peace"
of mind in security or success or in watching movies for escape, or eating food, etc. But there's TRUE PEACE, deep PEACE from our God. We must make sure to
seek HIM, His peace.
God has also given His Word. He keeps His PROMISES. We can hold to
them in any storm. Sometimes we "twist" what He's said then
say He hasn't kept His promises. What has He REALLY said about life,
about storms? It's important we claim the promises He's given us.
But not blame for things He hasn't said He'd do.
We must also not forget- God has POWER. Nothing is too big, too
small, too evil, too messed up or chaotic- for Him to take care of.
And not only can He clean things up, clear things up, move things
around, open doors, shut doors, etc- He can take a mess and make a
masterpiece. He loves that- making something from nothing. Don't
forget- His power.
I've been thinking this past week too about how sometimes storms are internal. They might not be from the
environment you're in. Maybe an old grudge is there. Or a hidden
sin. Or guilt about something. Or jealousy. Or pride. These cause
internal storms. How do you know if INTERNALLY you need God's
presence, peace, promises- power? Your words and actions often
display internal storms. Especially under stress- words can slip out
that reveal what's really at your core. Most of the people closest
to you can probably tell you if you have a storm inside or not.
Sometimes your words can lash out at people you love and you don't
even mean them too. An internal storm. God can take care of those
as well.
Other storms sometimes you can even cause without meaning to. I had students write last week about why they love their Moms and
something they learned from her. One student came up to me after and
said- I have no family at all. What can I do? I said there is God, He's your Father. Do you believe this? He
said Yes. I said- write about Him. The next class- when that
assignment was due, he was absent. I might have caused a storm in
that student without meaning too. Other students wrote me too that
they didn't have their mothers anymore. I didn't mean to cause storms
in student's hearts.
Storms will blow through for whatever reason. We can expect them.
James 1:2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face
trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
produces perseverance
1 Peter 1:6-6
In all this you greatly rejoice, though
now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds
of trials...
So what do you when the storm is inside
you? Inside of someone you love?
I think it's important to remember in
ALL storms...the same things apply: God is God. He's bigger.
Remembering His Presence, His Peace, His Promises, His Power- makes
the difference.
I'm grateful God gives us family and
community to help us through the stormy seasons of life. Moms for
example are great in storms. They calm. The encourage. I'm so
grateful for the Mom God gave me.
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| My Mom enjoying her first taste of injera, summer 2011 in Louisville :-) |
God also sends others who help you hold on and who give presence and
prayer as you go, I'm grateful. When I worked in Louisville, KY- God
blessed me with "Mary- and others who prayed me through so much.
God knows what we need when we need it.
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| "Mary"- my Louisville prayer partner, with my Mom |
In storms, we need each
other.
Proverbs 17:17
If storms are on your horizon now.
Or you're in one. Or a storm is in you or someone you love...
Keep these thoughts and VERSES in
mind...
GOD'S PRESENCE IS THERE
Psalm 139: 7-18
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your
presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; even the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand-when I awake, I am still with you..
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; even the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand-when I awake, I am still with you..
Psalm 31:20
In the shelter of your presence you
hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your
dwelling from accusing tongues.
HIS PEACE IS AVAILABLE
John 14:27
Peace I
leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Psalm 91:1-2
Whoever dwells in the shelter
of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say
of the Lord,
“He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
HIS PROMISES YOU CAN HOLD TO
2 Peter 1:4
1 Corinthians 2:9
What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human
mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love
him
Psalm 145:15
The LORD is trustworthy in all He promises
and faithful in all He does
HIS POWER IS STRONG ENOUGH
Psalm 147:5
Zechariah 4:6
I hope when storms come and the branches of me bend against the
wind and rain, I pray my roots hold. And I actually clap my hands in
storms. Trees can clap. And I pray my roots strengthen and
deepen during those times. And when the storm has passed- may my life be a testimony of
a girl who loves her God and is not destroyed by storms but is
strengthened and blossoms through them....
Psalm 92:12-15
The
righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a
cedar...
planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; He is my Rock...
planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; He is my Rock...
Onward in all seasons.
Thank you for praying for me as I pray for you!!!
Praises
- For my Mom- so grateful for the best Mom for me. God blessed me and my family so much with an amazing, beautiful, prayerful Momma.
- I give praise for my Dad- his back and neck continue to feel okay, let's pray that God will do a complete healing in him- for God's glory!
- I give praise for a good week of school this past week and so far this week
- I also give praise for continued good health overall
- And I give thanks that the sun is back this week and the weather is cooler, some rain- but not as much
Prayer Requests for This week
- Please pray for my sister and some of her teammates who are in England through Friday for a conference- pray God blesses their time and gives them safe travel
- Please keep our students in prayer this week, we're giving a big English test on Thursday
- Please pray I can find more time to write my book and balance my schedule well
- Pray I can be good salt and light to the students, staff, and community here
- Please keep my family in your prayers- for good health for us all, also healing for Dad
- Next week, I have two special staff members from Ginghamsburg Church visiting me as they travel through Africa, pray their few days here with me will be blessed and fruitful.
Thank you again for your prayers and know I pray for you as well!
May our lives be rooted in God's Word. And in when storms come- may our praise of Him still be heard and witnessed by a watching world.
Have a great week.
Blessings from Love from Ethiopia,
Holly
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