Many here in Ethiopia are excited for the season shift
that should be happening any day. The dry hot weather of May into June will
soon almost completely shift into three months of rain. Big clouds, cooler temperatures,
and frequent downpours… will be almost constant. This time, I’m also eager for
the shift and change of season. The sun has been too hot.
Besides the weather, other things are also in transition
here. We are leaving a school year behind. One of my schools, ETC (the
Evangelical Theological College) already finished. Our graduation was a few
weeks ago.
Hope College, my other school, is still wrapping up. I
just finished giving the final exam for my classes this past Wednesday. There
is just a little more grading that now remains. Yearbook pictures have been
taken and many of my best students are looking ahead with anticipation to
graduation day on July 8th. Many of these students I had four and five years
ago as freshmen. Makes me very teary eyed with pride to see them all dressed up
and grown up. They’ve passed through a lot.
Often in the morning, I see the sun coming up behind my
curtains… and I think… when will the season shift … transition? When will the
rains start? What will the new season bring? What will change?
Looking back on the school year overall, it was a great
year at both schools. Tons of great students, tons of teaching, and tons of just
life in general filled the days. I had close to 500 students between the two schools and seventeen different classes. Here are some of them ... :-)
So grateful and humbled to get to do what I do! Life is certainly a gift that needs embraced. It’s all
about experiencing the journey God gives us and learning as we go in the
seasons.
But seasons often change, transition, into different ones
for whatever reason.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time
for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born
and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to tear down
and a time to build. A time to weep and a time to laugh… a time to mourn and a
time to dance … a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them … a time to
embrace and a time to retrain… a time to search and a time to give up … a time to
keep and a time to throw away .. a time to tear and a time to mend.. a time to
be silent and a time to speak…
And when seasons shift or things change, if you’re not
ready…or even if you are… these times of transition can be hard.
Maybe you change jobs or change locations. Maybe you
start a new job or you retire. Maybe you get married or a relationship ends.
Maybe you have a baby or a death happens. What do you in that transition time?
Often change causes us to be uncomfortable. Normal
rhythms of life can get thrown off.
Most of us like comfort. We like to know what’s ahead. But
God doesn’t call us to comfort. He calls us to follow Him. And that often takes
us away from comfort or places of ease. He often wants to stretch us. And I
don’t like to stretch. But it’s good for me.
And life in general brings change.
So how do we handle that?
I think God uses transition times in my life, between
seasons … for many things.
He allows me to catch my breath and reflect. And He often
challenges me to check where my head is, where my heart is. He asks me if my
foundation is still Him, or is it on other things? Or people?
Where has sin or Satan gotten in? Where I have stumbled,
maybe repeatedly?
What do I need to let go of? What do I need to hold onto?
These are hard questions God often asks me in transition
times. And for those questions, though hard, I’m grateful. Because so often I
can go down a wrong path and get lost. And if I don’t get realigned before the
next big season starts, it can be a disaster.
I’m so thankful our good Father in Heaven goes with us. He
goes before us and shows us the way. And He loves us with a crazy love… it’s compassionate
and merciful and rich and unchanging.
Through all seasons, He’s the constant in change. The one
that doesn’t leave. But remains… holding my hand… your hand… through every
valley…up every hill. Over every mountain. Through every slide. He’s there with
us.
Malachi 3:6
I the Lord do not
change.
Psalm 73:23-24
…I am always with
you. You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel. And
afterward you will take me into glory.
When I look back at my life overall, I see God with me
through the changing seasons. He never left me. He’s wooed me, wowed me, and stretched
me. He’s taught me. Wiped my tears. Helped me to stand. Helped me to be quiet.
Humbled me. And given me boldness. He’s shown me my weaknesses, and then His
strength. SOOOOO much. I’m grateful for this Dad. Our great God!
And I also have been very blessed to have an earthly
father showing that same steadfastness through years of change in my life. This Father’s Day weekend… I can’t help but
give a huge shout out to the great and amazing, charming and handsome Jim
Garrett, my “Daddy in Dayton”!!!
I remember the YEARS of Him being there through the
changing seasons…
I remember elementary school days/years… and my Dad… kicking
the soccer ball with us after his work and mowing the grass as we played in the
water sprinkles. Taking us for French fries and making sure we got an equal
amount, so necessary and important for twins. J
Taking us to K-Mart to get school clothes. Swinging us in his arms and tossing
us in the air in the waves at pools. So fun and so active in our lives. He was
brave in storms and huge with a shovel in blizzards. His lap was always open
for us to climb in. And He always had room for two. J
Then there were middle school years… soccer and big hair
and school dances. WEIRD WEIRD time. Glasses and contacts and lots of hair
spray and funny styles… I remember moon shoes and suspenders. Did that really
happen? Ha ha. … but Dad was there… loving us through it all.
Then there was High school…. more soccer… dating,
leadership, activities. My Dad was always there cheering us on, giving advice.
Then came college, grad school, jobs, world travel… my
Dad continued to love and continues to love us.
I can’t say enough how proud
and honored I am to have this Dad. No words. He’s loved so much!
You might not have had a good earthly dad, but you have a
heavenly one, we all do.
Who loves you/us through every season, every change, and every
transition.
If you’re in a transition, a changing season now, or
approaching one… remember these promises:
Isaiah 43:1-5
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have
summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I
will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep
over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the
flames will not set you ablaze…Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in
exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you…
Psalm
48:14
For this God is
our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.
Matthew 28:20
…I am with you always,
to the very end of the age.
Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn
to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying,
“This is the way; walk in it.”
AMEN!
Prayer Requests
I have just a few big things remaining these final five
weeks before coming home for a few weeks of rest at the end of July…
-Please keep final grading in prayer as we wrap up the
semester at Hope. Also pray for our huge graduating class of 200 students- for
graduation day- July 8- that it will be a wonderful day and transition time and
that God will bless these students… also the ETC ones… as they move into the
next chapter of their lives.
-Please pray for a youth ministry training – mission trip
I will be leading in mid-July to Jinka, in the southern part of Ethiopia. A
team of seven of us will travel from Addis about 700 km south… to train about
100 pastors and leaders in youth ministry. May God bless this time. If you’d
like to give a special donation for this trip, please let me know.
-Please pray for final student celebration trips, my
Bible studies as we wrap up, that God will bless these final weeks of
transition.
-Please pray for my time at home in late July into mid-August.
That God will give me a good time of rest with my family, before heading back
to Ethiopia to begin teaching in late August. If you’d like to give for my
airfare home and supplies, I need to do special fundraising for that as well.
-Please keep my family in prayer… they are all well!
And Happy Father’s Day to the great Jim Garrett- and
everyone else celebrating dads this weekend!!!
May God bless you in the changing seasons and transitions
you’re facing! May He help us all as we
journey on! Please let me know how I can
pray for you!
Blessings from Ethiopia!
