LIGHT IN THE DARK... Thoughts for Christmas 2019 and the New Year 2020

Darkness fills many people’s lives and hearts and homes. Sin and selfishness, shame and guilt chase us and cause us to hide. The darkness in us is there. The darkness in others is there. People we love can let us down and disappoint, and we can walk around deeply wounded. We can disappoint ourselves. Making the same mistakes and knowing better but not turning. We might try to show others a happy face and life- but the reality is… life has hard seasons, darkness is constantly lurking, and it threatens to overwhelm us.

We have to make sure to stay in the light- which is Jesus. It’s not a religion you commit to, it’s a relationship. It’s a choice daily to stay with Him. Jesus is the light we need- a hope that doesn’t fade, a peace that isn’t circumstantial, and a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He is our Savior, He runs to us when everyone else runs out. Through every season of life … this King, our Shepherd, our Merciful High Priest, the Lamb that was Slain, the Lion of Judah… walks with us and lights our way with His Word and His Presence.  There is light in the dark that we can hold to!

The Lion of Judah is our Friend - King 

This time of year, it’s easy to get caught up in the decorations, flavors, lights, and shopping of the season.

May we pause to bow a knee and dip our heads and hearts in reverence to the greatest gift given to us from God- His Only Son… to do what none of us could do…to offer payment for our sin so we can be part of God’s family forever.  A light that gives life to us was born. Jesus came to light up the darkness and to never leave us!

Is there light in your life? In your home? In your marriage? In your church? Or is darkness invading? Push it back and stay in the light. Stay with God.  Stay connected to Him and watch what He can do in you and through you!

Matthew 4:16

Those living in darkness have seen a great light…

John 1:5

The light shines in darkness and the darkness does not overcome it…

John 8:12

Jesus says.. “I am the light of the world, those who follow me will never walk in darkness…”

 I’m home now from Ethiopia for a few weeks, and I really do love this time of year. The Christmas season is for Christ and I’m so happy to get to spend time celebrating Him with my family.

It’s also a time to pause and think of the past year and plan for the new year.

What happened in 2019? What did God teach me? Did His light in me shine? What did I learn?

When I look back at 2019, it’s shocking how many hills and valleys were passed through.  Personally, professionally, there were ups and downs, valleys and mountaintops. There were great cries and great laughs, there were great tears and great smiles. Such is life. May we live it well and love God well and represent Him well… lighting up all places for Him!  

As a new year starts soon….  May we check the light in us and if darkness is lurking to run from it in the name of Jesus!

May our lives tell the story and show the story … that light wins…. Jesus wins! Satan and darkness loses.  God is our portion!

Know Jesus. Unwrap Him in your heart and life. Follow Him, allow Him to reconstruct your wiring so you’re connected to Him, and shining for Him!

Thank you for those who have faithfully given to me and prayed for me! You’ve helped keep me in Ethiopia and I’m so grateful.  I’m truly humbled to get to live for God in such a beautiful country with beautiful people. What an honor it is to be stretched there, broken there, lit up there for our great God!

This past fall season, God moved my life from impact over hundreds to thousands. And positioned me to be used by Him in a greater way. May God light my heart and life today, tomorrow and into 2020 and may all honor Him!  May God light up the dark ..using my life as He wills…in the new year!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year… filled with the light and love of Jesus!

Here are some pictures /highlights from this past year…

January 2019- Peniel and Hilina Wedding

My sister Noel and Mike's Wedding, June 2019

My Dad- three surgeries in 2019, both hips replaced

One full year of language learning

House renovated and clean, summer 2019

January Intensive Class 2019...Intro to Youth  Ministry

Health and Sport Class, ETC, Spring 2019

Intro to Youth Ministry, Fall 2019

Communication Class, Fall 2019

Health and Sport Class, Spring 2019

Health and Sport Class, Intensive July 2019

Integral Mission, Fall 2019

Kenna Family, all holidays celebrated with them

Hope Cup Football Tournament, Success, Spring 2019, HUC

HUC Graduation, July 2019

ETC Graduation, May 2019

Workout and gym time continued, 2019, All Year

Student Parliament ...New School Year October 2019

Student Parliament... Building Student Leaders

The Great Ethiopian Run with HUC Students

Hidi to Nigeria, she made it to the finals!

Shali moves to Poland for a two year Master's Program

HUC... Student Dean Position...October 2019 to now

Culture Day December 2019

Prayer Requests…

-I still need to raise money for my airline ticket back to Ethiopia in early Jan 2020. I also need to continue to raise money for supplies. Please pray these needs can be met and if you want to still give ...send to my home address. Thanks so much to those of you who have given so far.

-Ethiopia- May/June 2020...there will be a big election in Ethiopia for the Prime Minister. Please pray for peace!  God needs to help!

-Please pray for this holiday time, though it's short, I can get needed rest and visit with my Dad, Mom, Noel and Mike and many of you.

-Please pray for my return back to Ethiopia in early January… Please pray as I adjust my schedule, that God will position me at both schools as He wills

- Please pray for the Student Dean Position I've been doing at HUC, that God will use my life to bless the 2000 students and staff at the school

Please write or call me and let me know how I can pray for you this holiday season and new year.. I would love to hear from you. 

Blessings to You Always, I'm grateful for you!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas 2019 and Happy/Blessed New Year 2020!

After the Rains...

I've learned to really love the rainy season here in Ethiopia.

I've always loved the sun...but having lived here in Addis for almost a decade and for most of the year- the sun shines... the gentle rains of June-July- August... almost feels like the fall season in the USA.

The fall season is my favorite time of year in US. I love the changing colors of the trees, football games, jackets, blankets, pumpkin candles and latte flavors.  I miss those days...

Well, the rains finished here in Ethiopia and the sun has been blazing.

With September, came Ethiopia's new year and new school years began for me and it has been a whirlwind. I've meant to to write an update many times, but days have zoomed.

I will do my best to share some of the big highlights in this blog post...

With the new year... I found myself and the three ladies that are like sisters to me (Shali, Hilina and Hidi)... praying over several huge things.  My Dad had two hip replacement surgeries...as most people know. The second one had some complications though, with the hip dislocating twice. So, on New Year's Day here (Sept 12)...my Dad had to have an emergency third surgery. That felt so stressful. Also in September.. Shali's sister was due to deliver a baby and Hidi's sister needed emergency surgery in Italy.  How do you celebrate life and a new year when your family is literally in hospital beds facing surgeries that could change their lives forever? I felt like we were all holding our breath and praying for miracles.. and we were.  And God did bless with huge miracles in September!  My dad's third surgery worked! Shali's sister delivered a healthy baby girl in South Africa and Hidi's sister also had successful surgery in Italy! God can take care of our families! Praise God! God hears us when we pray!  (ps... a church in Italy... was a great blessing to Hidi's sister...that will have to be written about in a whole other blog post...was so deeply touched by this church!)

 Other big things were happening / are happening with Hidi, Hilina and Shali...

Hidi won a place at GMA ...Africa... the Global Music Award competition. She is currently in Nigeria for 6 weeks competing against 30 gospel singers from all over Africa for the chance to win an international recording contract. To see Hidi chase her God dream was a blessing for us all. She's the only one representing Ethiopia.  Keep her in prayer! We are so proud of her!

Hilina and her husband Peniel...also gave us great and amazing news the past few months.  A baby is on the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We all all screamed in delight and cried and have already experienced with Hilina the illness and changing mood swings of early pregnancy.  ha ha. We can't wait to welcome this new little one next year. We got our first photo of him/ her this past week and are still smiling! God is good!

Dad to Be, Mom to Be with Hidi :-)

Shali is set to leave this week for Poland for a two year Masters Program. Super excited for this lovely sister and the chance God has opened up for her.  We will miss her here too much!  Keep her in prayer as these details come together and she jumps with courage into this next chapter of her life this coming week!

Shali with her Dad- Kenna, New Years Day Sept 2019

On top of all the above family and life events... both schools I work at started and Amharic learning continued...

ETC was first. I began teaching in late August three classes... Communication, Intro to Youth Ministry, and Integral Mission.  I love the continued opportunities God has given me through ETC to help build His church here and consider it a great honor to know these students and be part of their stories and equipping for God's Work in and through them!

Intro to Youth Ministry Class

Communication Class

Integral Mission Class

Hope University College also began and my role for this semester has changed. The Dean of Students is on leave in USA and Management has asked me to cover her role.  This has been a huge step up and opportunity. I love the students at our school and feel humbled and honored to work with them in a greater way this year. Please pray for me as I manage a huge work load- to be the Dean of over 1000 students on our campus - that God will give wisdom and favor. Orientations were last week and continue this week.  Keep those in prayer.

Amharic learning for me continues as well. Keep that in prayer also. May God help me learn quickly.

When we think of rain, we can often think of storms. And though "rains" have ended here and were cozy and needed... storms continue...bad ones...in other places...storms fueled by hatred and violence and clashes... here and around the world. I'm amazed to see the numbers of cities and countries in conflict with protests in so many places. So many people now feel storms of injustice and poverty and corruption and they want freedom and rights and change and yet it keeps raining for them...with no sun or relief yet in sight.

Even here in Ethiopia, those storms are here as well. This past week, I could see smoke from fires lit on roads of people protesting. It's shocking.

So- what can we do in the storms of life when they continue to rage? One thing God has been teaching me and reminding me is that storms will continue to come and may rage around us, but they don't have to be IN us. God can give peace, joy, a steady hand and heart...that speaks and shines in darkness. God can calm storms and can calm us.  God is our light and hope. We need to show people Him... He can bring peace. May God help us all..

In this world, you will have trouble... but take heart, I have overcome the world
John 16:33

One other note on this time of year...it's birthday time. Our wonderful and amazing Mom- Rosie Garrett- celebrates her birthday today- October 27.

And my sister- Noel- Oct 29...Tuesday.

So very honored to have my Mom and Sister to celebrate...two amazing ladies and examples for me. My Mom- she's stylish, classy, funny, caring, she has a pastor's heart and loves us so much... she's a great cook and a great writer. So many things and ways she blessed us. She's a model of a Proverbs 31 woman.  Happy Birthday Mom...no words for how much we love you! We will celebrate you here today!

And B...my younger sister by five minutes.  ha ha. No words also for Noel Garrett. She's the humblest person I know and always thinks of others before herself. She serves, she gives, she models Jesus and lives Him out in her life. I've watched her in USA, in Czech, in Ethiopia, in Haiti...around the world. She's a missionary and a true Jesus follower. Her obedience has impacted my life and continues to.  I really can't believe I'm so blessed to have this Sister and Mom as my own. And then there's the great Jim Garrett. No words for him as well. He's loved us all and has led us so well. Now we also have Mike Martin- my sister's husband. An amazing pastor. So humbled to be part of this tribe.  Thank you God! Wishing this tribe a great weekend of birthday celebrations and continued blessings!

My Mom and Sister

Mom and B, A (me) and Dad 

B and Mike

Mike and Dad

Please pray for this week... and the months between now and Christmas. For Shali- Hidi- Hilina...and Nigeria, Poland, Motherhood...for dreams and plans and families and life- that God will be honored through all.

Please pray for ETC and Hope Univ College- that classes and teaching and leading will be done with wisdom and courage

Please pray for Ethiopia- for peace for the leadership and that tension will calm. Next year is an election year and God needs to help here.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister, recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize; pray for wisdom as He leads here

For the hard rains of life that people are experiencing globally- that God's light will be seen and felt and that encouragement will come in and through God's church and in and through each of us.

I do need to raise funds to come home for Christmas. Please pray about that if God would lead you to give.

Keep my family in prayer. And Happy B-day again to the Garrett women the next few days.

How can I pray for you?

Blessings this late October / Early November.. may God be our strength!

With Love from Ethiopia