Landing back in Ethiopia in early January, I knew it was going to be a busy month.
I had my shoe laces tied and whispered a prayer on landing... knowing it was to going to be a sprint through January
God would have to help in a big way....
And guess what, He DID!
Looking back, it's only with God's help that I'm still breathing and smiling this early February weekend.
Here are some highlights from a busy but blessed January...
First came Ethiopia's Christmas on January 7th. On my return, this wonderful holiday arrived, but I was hit almost immediately with a bad cold and just overall not feeling well. I did travel to the home of the Kenna family and had a wonderful time with them as always. But I fought big illness the first ten days or so back in Ethiopia... so difficult.
I almost immediately also was overwhelmed with work. I had my semester at Hope to finish. Which included not just collecting huge stacks of homework and working through them...but also final exams...and grading through those exam stacks as well and final grading... At Hope it was about 120 students that I had to do grading for. I was literally buried in admin. But finally, this past week, I turned in those grades. God helped me!
Then I did teach an Intensive two week class at ETC (the Evangelical Theological College) in January. This class was 26 students and I had class every evening for three hours for two weeks. Intensives are so hard but God helped as I taught Intro to Youth Ministry. I was blessed by these students and their eagerness to reach youth through their churches.
I also started three new classes at ETC in the past two weeks. One being Cross Cultural Communication. Another- Communicating the Gospel to Adolescents (Teens). And a new course I've never taught before- Health and Sports in the Church. I was super excited to teach the Health Sports course because I can use my background in sports and as a personal trainer. The class is between 50-60 students. Please keep these new classes in prayer... may God make us strong as His body and His church in the world!
And a huge and much anticipated event happened in January also. A big beautiful wedding occurred for Hilina Hailu, one of my former students, who was also a long time Bible study/family member and friend, ...she married Peniel Yohannes, an outstanding guy.
I remember when Hilina first met Peniel, we call him "P", her now husband. I remember the dating years and all the ups and downs through that. And I was there when he proposed to her... one of the most touching events I've ever seen...
Then came the events before and after the wedding and the wedding itself.... no words for the overall experience! It was an honor for me to be a bridesmaid and to help usher my beautiful sister into this new season of her life. Here in Ethiopia, a wedding program is not fast and the events before and after... also very cultural and very long, from a western perspective.
First came the meeting of the elders. This was last year... when the elders of both families.. met. And a formal proposal of marriage was asked and made by one family to the other. I was there. And what a day :)
Then came the months of dress shopping and the detail planning prior to the wedding. I had some of my best girls to experience that with... Shali, Hidi, Tihut, and Redi.
Then came the bridal shower the week before the wedding. Some of the lovely ladies in Hilina's life gathered and we ate food and laughed at memories of Hilina and celebrated her with congratulation wishes and prayers.
Then came the actual wedding event. That started the night before and into the day of .
Most of you who know me know I'm not typically a girlie girl... hair, makeup, nails... have never been too much a part of what I think through. So for me, to get long nails of various colors painted and put on, to get eyelashes added and eyebrows waxed, etc, to wear a long pink dress for a very long day, for me it was almost comical. And at the same time uncomfortable. Ha ha. But God helped me.
The day of the wedding, after an early trip to the salon....we were at Hilina's house for hours to take pictures. It seemed the whole community came to her house to get pictures with the bride.
Then Peniel came and the groomsmen arrived and more pictures were taken.
Then came the church program ... where vows were repeated and rings exchanged. That was beautiful.
Then came the reception program, which was dancing and cake and dancing and food, for hours. The wedding party was center stage as we participated with the bride and groom as everyone watched and cheered. It felt like an entire gym workout, except in a long form-fitting dress, ha ha ha.
Then we were there at a hotel later when Hilina received a new family name from P's family... another cultural part of Ethiopian wedding ceremonies.
Then... we weren't done. Two more events followed. A few days after the wedding came Meles... where Hilina's family hosted a party for the new couple. Hilina and P came wearing traditional clothes, they looked like a king and queen. We were also in traditional clothes. Songs and prayers and food were shared. Then one week later, P's family hosted Kelekel .. where the families gathered again and got to know each other and parents said a final blessing over the new couple.
What a huge cultural experience for me and a blessing to be part of! I was so honored again to be part of the story of these two lives and families joining. May God continue to bless Hilina and Peniel as they continue their life together...
God also in the midst of all the busyness, helped my new work permit and residence visa process... not an easy thing here, so I thank God for that as well!
And we celebrated my great, handsome, amazing Dad's b-day on January 23 as well. So so thankful for my Dad.... his life, his example, his love
So now, as I sit here on this early February morning, I'm exhaling and saying a big big thanks to God for helping with all the activities of this past month.
I feel like I can now focus on the new year and new goals. I will share more in the coming days.
How was your January? Maybe you were busy, like me. Maybe life held transitions and you didn't do good in those or maybe you did. Maybe God is asking you to still hold in a position of hardship.
Wherever you are, remember God is with you. He has a plan. And He can hold you, lead you, and even yet- help you become all He's made you to be.
May this new year honor Him!
I think with sickness this past month and all these big life events, it's made me realize even more the need to maximize days and time. To embrace life and the seasons were given. Life is short and it speeds by. May we live well, love well, and learn well for our God. What an honor it is to be part of His family, His work, and His plan.
May we enjoy our life with Him and keep perspective and keep hopeful.. as the kids here in Ethiopia often remind me when they smile.
Blessings from here. Thank you so much for your prayers! and please let me know how I can pray for you as well!
We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed... but who believe and are saved...
Hebrews 10:39
I had my shoe laces tied and whispered a prayer on landing... knowing it was to going to be a sprint through January
God would have to help in a big way....
And guess what, He DID!
 |
| Day before leaving USA ... in the gym, preparing to jump |
Here are some highlights from a busy but blessed January...
First came Ethiopia's Christmas on January 7th. On my return, this wonderful holiday arrived, but I was hit almost immediately with a bad cold and just overall not feeling well. I did travel to the home of the Kenna family and had a wonderful time with them as always. But I fought big illness the first ten days or so back in Ethiopia... so difficult.
I almost immediately also was overwhelmed with work. I had my semester at Hope to finish. Which included not just collecting huge stacks of homework and working through them...but also final exams...and grading through those exam stacks as well and final grading... At Hope it was about 120 students that I had to do grading for. I was literally buried in admin. But finally, this past week, I turned in those grades. God helped me!
Then I did teach an Intensive two week class at ETC (the Evangelical Theological College) in January. This class was 26 students and I had class every evening for three hours for two weeks. Intensives are so hard but God helped as I taught Intro to Youth Ministry. I was blessed by these students and their eagerness to reach youth through their churches.
I also started three new classes at ETC in the past two weeks. One being Cross Cultural Communication. Another- Communicating the Gospel to Adolescents (Teens). And a new course I've never taught before- Health and Sports in the Church. I was super excited to teach the Health Sports course because I can use my background in sports and as a personal trainer. The class is between 50-60 students. Please keep these new classes in prayer... may God make us strong as His body and His church in the world!
 |
| Class One... stretching... :-) |
I remember when Hilina first met Peniel, we call him "P", her now husband. I remember the dating years and all the ups and downs through that. And I was there when he proposed to her... one of the most touching events I've ever seen...
Then came the events before and after the wedding and the wedding itself.... no words for the overall experience! It was an honor for me to be a bridesmaid and to help usher my beautiful sister into this new season of her life. Here in Ethiopia, a wedding program is not fast and the events before and after... also very cultural and very long, from a western perspective.
First came the meeting of the elders. This was last year... when the elders of both families.. met. And a formal proposal of marriage was asked and made by one family to the other. I was there. And what a day :)
 |
| Hilina and P's Dads agreeing |
Then came the bridal shower the week before the wedding. Some of the lovely ladies in Hilina's life gathered and we ate food and laughed at memories of Hilina and celebrated her with congratulation wishes and prayers.
Then came the actual wedding event. That started the night before and into the day of .
Most of you who know me know I'm not typically a girlie girl... hair, makeup, nails... have never been too much a part of what I think through. So for me, to get long nails of various colors painted and put on, to get eyelashes added and eyebrows waxed, etc, to wear a long pink dress for a very long day, for me it was almost comical. And at the same time uncomfortable. Ha ha. But God helped me.
The day of the wedding, after an early trip to the salon....we were at Hilina's house for hours to take pictures. It seemed the whole community came to her house to get pictures with the bride.
Then Peniel came and the groomsmen arrived and more pictures were taken.
Then came the church program ... where vows were repeated and rings exchanged. That was beautiful.
Then came the reception program, which was dancing and cake and dancing and food, for hours. The wedding party was center stage as we participated with the bride and groom as everyone watched and cheered. It felt like an entire gym workout, except in a long form-fitting dress, ha ha ha.
Then we were there at a hotel later when Hilina received a new family name from P's family... another cultural part of Ethiopian wedding ceremonies.
Then... we weren't done. Two more events followed. A few days after the wedding came Meles... where Hilina's family hosted a party for the new couple. Hilina and P came wearing traditional clothes, they looked like a king and queen. We were also in traditional clothes. Songs and prayers and food were shared. Then one week later, P's family hosted Kelekel .. where the families gathered again and got to know each other and parents said a final blessing over the new couple.
What a huge cultural experience for me and a blessing to be part of! I was so honored again to be part of the story of these two lives and families joining. May God continue to bless Hilina and Peniel as they continue their life together...
God also in the midst of all the busyness, helped my new work permit and residence visa process... not an easy thing here, so I thank God for that as well!
And we celebrated my great, handsome, amazing Dad's b-day on January 23 as well. So so thankful for my Dad.... his life, his example, his love
So now, as I sit here on this early February morning, I'm exhaling and saying a big big thanks to God for helping with all the activities of this past month.
I feel like I can now focus on the new year and new goals. I will share more in the coming days.
How was your January? Maybe you were busy, like me. Maybe life held transitions and you didn't do good in those or maybe you did. Maybe God is asking you to still hold in a position of hardship.
Wherever you are, remember God is with you. He has a plan. And He can hold you, lead you, and even yet- help you become all He's made you to be.
May this new year honor Him!
I think with sickness this past month and all these big life events, it's made me realize even more the need to maximize days and time. To embrace life and the seasons were given. Life is short and it speeds by. May we live well, love well, and learn well for our God. What an honor it is to be part of His family, His work, and His plan.
May we enjoy our life with Him and keep perspective and keep hopeful.. as the kids here in Ethiopia often remind me when they smile.
Blessings from here. Thank you so much for your prayers! and please let me know how I can pray for you as well!
We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed... but who believe and are saved...
Hebrews 10:39
